Countdown to Christmas 2024

[DanaMB]

On 12/7/2024 at 1:02 AM, EtheltoTillie said:

I had to quit the Christmas Dance movie and the Christmas Under the Lights. Too boring. 

I was going to ask what others thought of A Dance in the Snow. I agree it was so boring. 
 

I know I watched Christmas Under the Lights, but I sure don’t remember it. Which is all I need to say I guess. 

18 minutes ago, absnow54 said:

Sugarplummed was fun. I like when Hallmark is silly and self referential. I think it would have been fun to have more clips from Sugarplummed films sprinkled throughout. I still think A Christmas Movie Christmas (an UPtv movie) did Christmas movie satire better. 

I enjoyed this one, too. It wasn’t anything new but I enjoyed it. 

[MerBearHou]

8 hours ago, absnow54 said:

Sugarplummed was fun. I like when Hallmark is silly and self referential. I think it would have been fun to have more clips from Sugarplummed films sprinkled throughout. I still think A Christmas Movie Christmas (an UPtv movie) did Christmas movie satire better. 

It really was fun for that very reason — Hallmark poking fun at itself.  Maggie Lawson seems to have had speech therapy because her voice didn’t drive me to change the channel.  I liked her so much on Psych but her manner of speaking in recent years really bugged me (hard to describe what bothered me but IYKYK).  Janel Parrish was perfect for the Su Garplum role and looked like she was having so much fun.  It’s not a “great” that I’d seek out to watch again and again but it’s cute!

The cameos were a delight — love that Hallmark does that from time to time.  

Edited December 8 by MerBearHou

[bankerchick]

38 minutes ago, MerBearHou said:

I liked her so much on Psych but her manner of speaking in recent years really bugged me (hard to describe what bothered me but IYKYK).

To me, it sounds like she's trying to swallow and talk at the same time.  She did one with Paul Greene a few years ago where this tic was so bad I couldn't believe they released the movie.  I deliberately skipped this movie last night for that exact reason, but if you're saying it's better, I may check it out as it appears lots of people loved it.

[MerBearHou]

3 hours ago, bankerchick said:

To me, it sounds like she's trying to swallow and talk at the same time.

That is a perfect way to describe it — I couldn’t come up with that.  She’s so much better here, though to warn you, every once in a while, I’d notice it a little, like an old habit she’s trying to break.  

[twoods]

Christma Quest was fun, but Holiday Crashers has still been my favorite so far. Too bad it was shown all the way in October instead of closer to the holidays. 

[EtheltoTillie]

Sugarplummed was great fun. 
 

Leah’s Perfect Christmas was so boring I turned it off early. I never made it to the part with the awful mother everyone is talking about. So that’s the third movie this year with an awful parent. 

[Kaoteek]

Sugarplummed was fun, but I gotta admit it kinda sorta lost me slightly in its last third, when everything became less fun and more life-lesson-y. Still, one of the better Hallmark parody out there - and there's been a lot of mediocre ones.

[kirinan]

I finally watched Sugarplummed last night and really enjoyed it. In addition to being one of my favorite kinds of movies, with a magical bent, it was light, fluffy, didn't take itself seriously—it just went with the craziness—and just plain fun. I liked everyone in the cast, too. I would watch this one again. 

Edited December 9 by kirinan

[Badsamaritan]

I'll say it again, HM holiday movies this year have been seriously underwhelming. There are only maybe 3 or 4 I enjoyed enough to want to watch again. Last year there were at least 12-13 movies I know I've already watched multiple times. The only movie left that I'm looking forward to is The Santa Class because I can watch Kimberley Sustad read the newspaper and be entertained. The ones I can say for sure I'll watch again are The Finnish Line, The Christmas Quest, and Scouting for Christmas. I missed Three Wiser Men and a Boy so I'll have to catch that to see if it will be added to the rotation or not. 

It feels like they leaned heavily into their 2nd and 3rd string actors and some newbies, and it hasn't paid off for me.  I really wanna see those ratings.....

On 12/8/2024 at 10:31 AM, DanaMB said:

I was going to ask what others thought of A Dance in the Snow. I agree it was so boring. 
 

I know I watched Christmas Under the Lights, but I sure don’t remember it. Which is all I need to say I guess. 

I enjoyed this one, too. It wasn’t anything new but I enjoyed it. 

Both those movies were on Hallmark Mystery, although there was nothing particularly mysterious about the storylines. They did much better last year with Mystery on Mistletoe Lane, which turned out to be one of my faves and a movie I'll watch repeatedly. 

[Daff]

I will say one thing about Dance in the Snow. I really appreciated the voice overs while texting. I’m so sick of stopping the action, getting up, and walking to the screen to read them. All movies should do this. When email began appearing in films and tv shows, they provided voice overs for those, why not texts?

[KaveDweller]

I really liked the leads on Leah's Perfect Christmas Gift, which made it enjoyable to watch. I appreciated that they were a pretty solid couple.

But I thought it was ridiculous that the mother was being such a bitch to her and no one really said anything. Who doesn't at least pretend to like a Christmas gift from a guest in their home? Then at the end she's just all, "I'm sorry, I really do like you" and it all worked out?

[absnow54]

Leah’s Perfect Christmas Gift wasn’t particularly great, but the subplot about visiting in laws and starving the whole time was sooooo relatable. We always made a point of eating right before we arrived because for some reason family gatherings meant lunch was canceled and the oven wasn’t preheated yet even though turkey was on the menu. Half my luggage was snacks. 

[Badsamaritan]

11 hours ago, KaveDweller said:

I really liked the leads on Leah's Perfect Christmas Gift, which made it enjoyable to watch. I appreciated that they were a pretty solid couple.

But I thought it was ridiculous that the mother was being such a bitch to her and no one really said anything. Who doesn't at least pretend to like a Christmas gift from a guest in their home? Then at the end she's just all, "I'm sorry, I really do like you" and it all worked out?

So this is the 3rd HM movie this season where a parent is an extreme asshole to the significant other. I know that happens in real life but I don't watch HM movies for real life and these over the top parents this season are not cute or fun to watch, I just kinda wanna slap them. Get it together, HM. 😒

[Orcinus orca]

25 minutes ago, Badsamaritan said:

So this is the 3rd HM movie this season where a parent is an extreme asshole to the significant other.

It appears the writers have added it to their list of tropes this season.  That and filming in exotic locations as an attempt at pretending to do something different.

19 hours ago, Badsamaritan said:

The only movie left that I'm looking forward to is The Santa Class because I can watch Kimberley Sustad read the newspaper and be entertained.

Ditto.

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

9 hours ago, Badsamaritan said:

So this is the 3rd HM movie this season where a parent is an extreme asshole to the significant other. I know that happens in real life but I don't watch HM movies for real life and these over the top parents this season are not cute or fun to watch, I just kinda wanna slap them. Get it together, HM. 😒

Muddled through Leah's Perfect Christmas Gift. What a huge__ turd in the punchbowl that was. Sorry Hallmark, you really shit the bed with this one. The movie made you want_ to slap the shit out of the Mom for being such a bitch. Later that night I watched A Christmas Star on another channel that was delightful with Liam Neeson  narrating the story . Wonderful movie for the kids.

[Ele]

On 12/10/2024 at 7:57 AM, Badsamaritan said:

So this is the 3rd HM movie this season where a parent is an extreme asshole to the significant other. I know that happens in real life but I don't watch HM movies for real life and these over the top parents this season are not cute or fun to watch, I just kinda wanna slap them. Get it together, HM. 😒

HMM’s remaining movies look better. This Thursday’s movie has a recycled plot, but the leads are some Hallmark’s better ones so I’m going to try to tune in. 

[Daff]

On 12/9/2024 at 9:15 PM, KaveDweller said:

I really liked the leads on Leah's Perfect Christmas Gift, which made it enjoyable to watch. I appreciated that they were a pretty solid couple.

But I thought it was ridiculous that the mother was being such a bitch to her and no one really said anything. Who doesn't at least pretend to like a Christmas gift from a guest in their home? Then at the end she's just all, "I'm sorry, I really do like you" and it all worked out?

Some people, obsessed with “perfect (reflects on ME), are really like that. The ending mea culpa was simply to end the movie on a harmonious note. Poor Leah is in for a life of coping and will probably form a tougher shell against the MIL’s neurosis.

[Ele]

Tomorrow is Hanukkah on the Rocks. It’s one of the movies I thought sounded interesting. Hope it isn’t a letdown.

[Dimity]

On 12/9/2024 at 11:32 AM, kirinan said:

I finally watched Sugarplummed last night and really enjoyed it. In addition to being one of my favorite kinds of movies, with a magical bent, it was light, fluffy, didn't take itself seriously—it just went with the craziness—and just plain fun. I liked everyone in the cast, too. I would watch this one again. 

I was just coming to see if anyone else had watched this one.  Am in the middle of it now and so far so good!

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

The reviews sound like it's a delightful change from most Hallmark movies,I'll look for it !

[Daff]

I forgot to mention, in Believe in Christmas Reardon’s H&R co-star, Kevin Hanchard (Superintendent “Joe”) played a guest staying at the family’s inn.

[Chippings]

I hope this is the appropriate place to mention that The Daily Show  on Comedy Central put up an elaborate spoof of a Hallmark Christmas movie last night!  The cliches unfolded one by one -- sprightly heroine walking briskly down a New York street (in a great coat) to her powerful job; then goes back home to her parents' generously decorated home in her old hometown; mother mentions that she isn't married; along comes former boyfriend, dressed in a lot of red and a plaid scarf, and points out that he's now a widower with three lovely children who ask her to be their mom.  Et cetera.  All so beautifully done.

Who'd have thought that the Daily Show would suppose enough of its audience would know about Hallmark Christmas movies for this to work for them.  They put a lot of work into the piece.  Very surprising, and fun.

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

The Daily Show isn't my cup of tea. will look for the clip on YouTube skit ,sounds quite cheeky. 

[Ele]

I missed the first 40 minutes of Hanukkah on the Rocks, and there were the usual silly, signature Hallmark misunderstandings at the end, but I still enjoyed it. I like Stacy Farber and it was a treat to see Marc Summers.

I want to catch the rerun and watch the first half to see what all happened in the beginning. 

- Marc Summers is 73. Time does not stop, but my mind is blown! 

Edited December 14 by Ele

[One4Sorrow2TooBad]

I missed this one,  I'll have to catch it next time. Tell me it was wonderfully done!

[bankerchick]

It was good.  I enjoyed it.  Serious chemistry between the couple and the lead actor is pretty cute.

[EtheltoTillie]

8 hours ago, One4Sorrow2TooBad said:

I missed this one,  I'll have to catch it next time. Tell me it was wonderfully done!

Really well done. Writer Julie Sherman Wolfe knocked it out of the park again.  Better than her Chiefs movie, which has been a huge hit for this year.

She has a good sense of humor for the Hanukah movies. She apparently has a background in writing sitcoms.  I’m Jewish so I really enjoy the Hanukah movies.  Just like in Hanukah on Rye, food is central to the theme. Also they did a good job with the candle search standing in for the symbolic oil lasting for eight days. 

Edited December 14 by EtheltoTillie

[EtheltoTillie]

Also I really like that the couple likes each other through the whole movie and doesn’t have to go through the standard difficulties. Only the silly misunderstanding at the end, which was quickly resolved. 

[absnow54]

I liked Hannukah on the Rocks, but Mark Summers is not old enough to be Daren Kagasoff’s grandfather. Make him his grumpy uncle! lol, I’m the same age as the two leads and Mark Summers was Nickelodeon’s dad growing up. 

[Ele]

1 hour ago, absnow54 said:

I liked Hannukah on the Rocks, but Mark Summers is not old enough to be Daren Kagasoff’s grandfather. Make him his grumpy uncle! lol, I’m the same age as the two leads and Mark Summers was Nickelodeon’s dad growing up. 

Definitely not old enough to be the grandfather. Uncle would have made more since.  I enjoyed seeing him in the movie bc of his Nickelodeon fame.
Hallmark Channel made 32 Christmas movies this year. This was the first move I’ve watched to the end. There are three movies left. The ones with Sustad and D’Orsay look fine. I like those actors. The final one has Lowndes who I’m not a fan of. 

[Notabug]

8 hours ago, Ele said:

Definitely not old enough to be the grandfather. Uncle would have made more since.  I enjoyed seeing him in the movie bc of his Nickelodeon fame.
 

Mark Summers is 73 and Darren Kagasoff is 37.  It would only work if Summers and his son were early teen fathers.  I guess they wanted to use the grandfather angle to make it more plausible that he'd want Kagasoff's character to take over his business.  They probably also figured Summers could play a few years older than his actual age and Kagasoff a few years younger to make the difference more reasonable.

Otherwise, it was one of the more enjoyable holiday films this year.  The leads were appealing and had chemistry and the story was original enough that it wasn't the usual retread of an older film.  I also liked that they included the spiritual aspects of the holiday including showing them all gathering to light the candles and sing each evening and the female lead's nephew reading a children's book about the Maccabees.  I also liked how they incorporated the traditional holiday foods and showed the cook doing variations on them for the bar crowd like so many establishments do with the usual Christmas treats.  Made me want some latkes. 

[Irlandesa]

The Santa Class is probably going down as the highlight movie of the season for me. Too bad this was undersold because it was a good time from the beginning until the end and better than it had any right to be...or at least for me.  It had so much going against it in my personal pet peeves column. I love Kimberly Sustad but Benjamin Ayres tends to be bug me for some reason even though I find him to be a competent actor.  This had not one but two silly schools that would never survive (Santa school), a silly competition that doesn't exist, and a real Santa as a plot but none of that mattered. 

Kim and Ben had really good chemistry and I absolutely loved their first kiss/second kiss sequence because it conveyed real passion.  The angst at the end wasn't about a misunderstanding.  The band of misfits in the Santa school were a lot of fun.  I liked that no villain stayed a true villain.  The amnesiac Santa was a great twist. 

And of course, Paul Campbell!  I thought it was just going to be a quick cameo, but no, he showed up a lot and practically stole every scene he was in from "Paul Campbell, actor" to...well I won't spoil it but from his first line to his very last.  There were so many fun callbacks for us viewers who know way too much about Hallmark movies.  

[Trini]

On 12/13/2024 at 12:12 PM, Chippings said:

I hope this is the appropriate place to mention that The Daily Show  on Comedy Central put up an elaborate spoof of a Hallmark Christmas movie last night!  The cliches unfolded one by one --....

This, I assume?

The Anti-Holiday Rom-Com We Deserve After Surviving 2024:

 

[absnow54]

5 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

And of course, Paul Campbell!  I thought it was just going to be a quick cameo, but no, he showed up a lot and practically stole every scene he was in from "Paul Campbell, actor" to...well I won't spoil it but from his first line to his very last.  There were so many fun callbacks for us viewers who know way too much about Hallmark movies.

When they had to name the three wisemen and couldn’t remember the last one, and Paul exclaimed, “It’s me! Paul Campbell is the third wiseman!”

[tv echo]

FYI, lots of Hallmark stars at this con this weekend (I believe Hallmark Channel started this con in 2019)...

Christmas Con, December 13-15, 2024 (Edison, NJ)
Guests: Lacy Chabert, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker, Paul Campbell, Kimberley Sustad, Jen Lilley, Melissa Claire Egan, Stephen Huszar, Rachel Skarsten, Jessy Schram, Michael Rady, David Hayden-Jones, Maggie Lawson, Christopher Russell, Cameron Mathison, Nikki DeLoach, Danica McKellar, Sam Page, B.J. Britt, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Chad Michael Murray, Arieele Kebbel, Meghan Ory, Catherine Bell, James Denton, Catherine Disher, Sarah Power, Jodie Sweetin, Corbin Bernsen, Jessica Lowndes, Drew Seeley, Cindy Busby, COrey Sevier and Marc Blucas
https://www.thats4entertainment.com/christmasconnj 

 

Video clips from this con that are posted on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/thats4ent/reel/DDioFGERS__/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/thats4ent/reel/DDjFsOKxA9-/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/thats4ent/reel/DCMsKIixcaJ/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/thats4ent/reel/DDiqyx-xt2m/?hl=en 

Edited December 15 by tv echo

[EtheltoTillie]

Everything was great about The Santa Class.  This and Hanukah on the Rocks are my top two this year. 

I’m also really into Mistletoe Murders

Edited December 15 by EtheltoTillie

[Daff]

18 minutes ago, EtheltoTillie said:

Everything was great about The Santa Class.  This and Hanukah on the Rocks are my top two this year. 

I’m also really into Mistletoe Murders

Just finished ranting about not buying streaming on the other thread. I’m hoping that after the initial bait value wears off it will appear on HMM. Maybe next year to tease a second season on the streaming. I can wait-seems like time flies with age.

[Orcinus orca]

I wonder who does the closed captioning for the Hallmark movies.  

Edited December 15 by Orcinus orca

[anniebird]

17 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

The Santa Class is probably going down as the highlight movie of the season for me. Too bad this was undersold because it was a good time from the beginning until the end and better than it had any right to be...or at least for me.  It had so much going against it in my personal pet peeves column. I love Kimberly Sustad but Benjamin Ayres tends to be bug me for some reason even though I find him to be a competent actor.  This had not one but two silly schools that would never survive (Santa school), a silly competition that doesn't exist, and a real Santa as a plot but none of that mattered. 

Kim and Ben had really good chemistry and I absolutely loved their first kiss/second kiss sequence because it conveyed real passion.  The angst at the end wasn't about a misunderstanding.  The band of misfits in the Santa school were a lot of fun.  I liked that no villain stayed a true villain.  The amnesiac Santa was a great twist. 

And of course, Paul Campbell!  I thought it was just going to be a quick cameo, but no, he showed up a lot and practically stole every scene he was in from "Paul Campbell, actor" to...well I won't spoil it but from his first line to his very last.  There were so many fun callbacks for us viewers who know way too much about Hallmark movies.  

I loved this movie -- it is far and above the best movie of this season and, while I was watching it, I was thinking that, other than the cast, this was like a real Christmas movie, not a Hallmark one. Kimberly Sustad never fails (and I totally agree with you about Ben Ayres) but Paul Campbell stole the show and I laughed out loud at his "audition." 

Edited December 16 by anniebird

[MerBearHou]

The Christmas Class was such a delight.  Kimberley Sustad and Benjamin Ayres were absolutely great together and their banter and chemistry were perfect.  The real Santa was a wonderful, touching heart of the movie.  The ragtag group of North Star Santas was a hoot and I loved that they embraced their quirkiness as part of the story.  And not enough can be said about Paul Campbell — he was so, so funny and totally into his “Paul Campbell, actor” character but never tried to overtake the balance of the scenes and the other actors.  Looooove him.  I will happily watch this movie again. 

Edited December 15 by MerBearHou

[kirinan]

25 minutes ago, anniebird said:

I loved this movie -- it is far and above the best movie of this season and, while I was watching it, I was thinking that, other the cast, this was like a real Christmas movie, not a Hallmark one. Kimberly Sustad never fails (and I totally agree with you about Ben Ayres) but Paul Campbell stole the show and I laughed out loud at his "audition." 

I agree with you about this being the best movie of the season (although I've always liked Ben Ayres). I just love Kimberley Sustad; she is so talented at writing AND at acting. And the Paul Campbell appearances were such a bonus. I think what I loved about this movie is that it didn't take itself too seriously and just leaned into the silliness and even made fun of the Hallmark tropes. Just a win-win-win all around, IMO. So far, my top two of the season are this one and 'Twas the Date Before Christmas with Robert Buckley, another movie that didn't take itself seriously.

[EtheltoTillie]

4 hours ago, Daff said:

Just finished ranting about not buying streaming on the other thread. I’m hoping that after the initial bait value wears off it will appear on HMM. Maybe next year to tease a second season on the streaming. I can wait-seems like time flies with age.

I purchased an Hplus subscription through Prime. I will cancel next month. It’s been worth it. I will subscribe again next year. I do have peacock also but I keep that year round. 

[EtheltoTillie]

I see a bunch of older Hallmark movies are on Netflix this year. 

[Irlandesa]

6 hours ago, EtheltoTillie said:

I purchased an Hplus subscription through Prime. I will cancel next month. It’s been worth it. I will subscribe again next year. I do have peacock also but I keep that year round. 

I got the Black Friday deal for two months as well and I'm glad I got it. I don't watch movies with it but I am enjoying the series like Mistletoe Murders and Holidazed.  In fact, I love Holidazed. 

I even enjoyed Finding Mr. Christmas, although I'm surprised they chose who they did.  It'll be interesting to see if he's as bad in his movie as he was on the show.  i feel like I'm going to mostly skip that movie.

[EtheltoTillie]

3 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

I got the Black Friday deal for two months as well and I'm glad I got it. I don't watch movies with it but I am enjoying the series like Mistletoe Murders and Holidazed.  In fact, I love Holidazed. 

I even enjoyed Finding Mr. Christmas, although I'm surprised they chose who they did.  It'll be interesting to see if he's as bad in his movie as he was on the show.  i feel like I'm going to mostly skip that movie.

I want to watch the movie because it has dogs. I’ll have to try Holidazed, as I loved Mistletoe Murders. I did not get into Finding Mr. Christmas. I gave it only a few minutes. 

[Daff]

Same here, knowing I wouldn’t see the finale, and the contest tasks were lame.

[Daff]

Just saw an ad for Friday airing of AN EXTENDED VERSION of the Chief’s movie. This sort of indicates the network viewed this movie as the “hit” of the season. Truthfully, I never could identify any additional scenes in the 3 Wise Men extended version.

[EtheltoTillie]

I really liked the Yonder Star movie even though it was religious. Brooke D’Orsay is a fave since Royal Pains, and the stars had great chemistry. This weekend Hallmark hit a triple.  

Edited December 16 by EtheltoTillie

[tv echo]

From Christmas Con...

Full Good Witch Panel Xmas Con * Catherine Bell * James Denton * Cathy Disher * Sarah Power *
Charmed Enchantress   Dec 15, 2024

[Notabug]

6 hours ago, EtheltoTillie said:

I really liked the Yonder Star movie even though it was religious. Brooke D’Orsay is a fave since Royal Pains, and the stars had great chemistry. This weekend Hallmark hit a triple.  

I liked it, too.  The religious aspects were quite subtle; I don't have a problem seeing characters who belong to a church and are open about their beliefs.  They weren't out there forcing their views on others, weren't talking about non-believers going to hell.  That the male lead found comfort in his faith after the untimely death of his wife only made him more appealing, IMO.