Bronx Babe

I love the title Christmas at the Golden Dragon -- for some reason it sounds like an old fashioned Nancy Drew mystery set around the holidays, filled with all kinds of "exotic" adventure, lol. But it will probably just be the typical save-the-store/restaurant Hallmark scenario, drat.

Apparently! But I'm such a wuss, afraid of getting needles or ornaments or something falling down on me, lol. Brendan Penny, ah...(shows you how much I know about fine Canadian actors -- zilch!) I'd like to see more of his work.

In my best Johnny Carson voice: I did not know that!

Just finished In Merry Measure -- did anyone else initially think that dorky bespeckled Adam and the black football coach were a gay couple? They sat around the local coffee shop drinking peppermint whipped cream lattes (and in true Hallmark fashion Adam proclaims it "The best I ever had!") and were very touchy-feely later on, not that there's anything wrong with this. I liked the actor -- what is his name, Brendan Perry? Is he American or Canadian? I thought he had some interesting charisma. Also unfamiliar with the lead actress, whose face to me looked like a beaver with those cheeks and teeth, lol. Nice British pub (complete with a photo of Queen Elizabeth behind the bar) in the unlikely heart of what was supposed to be Dayton, Ohio. Understated, tasteful Christmas decorations (gorgeous Provence-style house, particularly the kitchen and living room; love those chandeliers) but they just had to add an inflatable snowman on the lawn, The sister and niece are cheerfully building their gingerbread houses while at the same time passive-aggressively insulting New York City with references to cockroaches. Then the niece tries to tone it down by telling Aunt Darcy "but New York must be so romantic this time of year" Too late, lol.

The only thing I liked about Ghosts of Christmas Always was the little old Asian ghost -- she was given some cute lines: "What do you think, we died yesterday?", "You poor strange guilty man"

Thank you, anniebird, even though I didn't care for the way her character was portrayed, I did appreciate this actress nevertheless, not a cookie cutter type at all. Never, not even with an artificial tree! With respect I ask: why? lol

Of course it was Happily Ever After with "Brad Baxter" I didn't care for that actress -- even though she looked refreshingly "normal" for a Hallmark heroine, she looked very glum and well-worn -- but at least there was no vocal fry or obnoxious perkiness.

Picture a Perfect Christmas: grandma hobbles out of her home with a cane (she recently broke an ankle) to greet the visiting granddaughter who you think would say something human like "Oh grandma you shouldn't have come outside just to meet me, you need to stay off your feet" But we know there is nothing really human about Hallmark, lol.

Fits right into a Hallmark movie. I guess when I posted that Marlo has a great plastic surgeon I should have said relatively speaking. (has anyone seen Joyce Meyer or Suzanne Somers recently? Scary) Did I dream a scene in Noel Next Door where Jeremy sees her holding a box of tampons at the grocery store, and she tells him "It happens every month"

So many wtf moments -- what's the one where the male lead shows our heroine how to fully enjoy a decorated live Xmas tree by having them lay on the floor AND PUT THEIR HEADS UNDERNEATH THE TREE, where hopefully no pine needles drop down into their eyes. Marlo Thomas is I believe over 80 years old and has a very good plastic surgeon.

Lights, Cameras, Christmas -- Hallmark spoofing it's own image. Why Carrie turned down the New York designer job is beyond me, especially since she missed her chance all those years ago in that city to expand her creative horizons.

More insanity: (I don't remember the name of this one) We all (those of us on planet Earth) know how evocatively it smells like Christmas when we immediately walk onto a lot selling Xmas trees, but not this particular Hallmark heroine, who finds one she especially likes, breathes in the aroma and exclaims "You even smell like Xmas!" What do the others smell like, chopped liver??

,Welcome to Garland, Alaska and stay at the ugliest inn ever, then when you get hungry walk around the corner to Hattie's Diner where you can order Cocoa Cornbread Stuffing -- whatever on Gods's green earth that is -- as an entree, plus pork belly braised in......egg nog. Do not tell me the scriptwriters are from this planet.

A Christmas Treasure, one of those infamous Hallmark Pavlovian productions where the word "Christmas" is literally in every other sentence out of the character's mouths.

I'd like to see an Ordinary People version of a Hallmark Xmas movie. "Maybe this is how they talk in the real world but we're not in the real world anymore"

"When the kismet cookie is under the pillow at night you will dream of your true love" CLICK

Thanks, bankerchick! I've unfortunately only been acquainted with Canada through Hollywood with Nelson Eddy who made a very stalwart and handsome Mountie. And the scenery must be glorious.

Funny, I was thinking of that very phrase, suspension of disbelief, but I can't even work up to that for a Hallmark movie. Works better for me with crazy horror movies like The Alligator People than Hallmark, lol. I would sooner believe a man can turn into one than an American girl be hired as governess to a prince's royal daughter and flown to their European monarchy, next step, marriage.

The one time the gay couple were too busy to mingle with Piper and Austin was when all four of them were planning a picnic in "Central Park" (some equivalent place in Toronto I'm guessing) so instead sent a bicycle messenger with two baskets of food, where he miraculously found them. I'm still waiting for my very own handsome, hunky Canadian mountie. Do they exist in real life up your way, bankerchick?

Noel Next Door, another winner, lol. Yes, the skating. "Jeremy" explained he was able to do so because it was "using other muscles" wtf After the rabbit escaped, how did it manage to get into his apartment. Hallmark seemed to want to get in some relative "reality" -- Noel talks to her ex about "Your mistress" And the son was worried about his mom not doing enough information on her dates, explaining that she may be going out with serial killers.

I haven't lived in my hometown of NYC for decades so I checked the drive time from Manhattan to Brooklyn Heights and it's about 35 minutes -- not that long and Piper talked to Austin's mother literally about three minutes before scooting out of there and running to his publisher....still it seemed like the nice gay couple were waiting outside with her luggage no matter how short or long it took, lol. I am analyzing a Hallmark movie for sense and reality, boy am I setting myself up for failure.

I seem to be obsessed with Autumn in the City, lol. Piper has a last moment ephiphany about her self-worth so leaves her luggage with the gay couple who as usual are just standing around in front of their cafe instead of working. She hops in a cab headed for Brooklyn Heights -- which is not a short drive -- then after meeting there with Austin's mother, heads for his publisher to "pitch" her illustrations. Meanwhile, after all this time the gay couple are still standing in front of their cafe with Piper's luggage (instead of taking it inside and also doing some work) when Austin shows up. Of course I could be confused about this timeline -- he could have shown up immediately after Piper left but I doubt this as Hallmark is rarely if ever logical.

SPOILERS FOR AUTUMN IN THE CITY So apparently Piper never resolved her problems with the unsupportive parents as we didn't see any final wrap-up with Mom and Dad in their car on the cell phone. Where did she quickly find a second sublet? Seemed like it was in her old building since the rooftop and scenery looked the same.

The nice friendly gay couple from Autumn in the City seemed to spend more time with Piper and Austin than running their cafe. You'd think they were living in some slow-paced Canadian town instead of bustling, business-driven Manhattan. Oh, wait....

I don't blame you, Dana, lol