Hallmark Movies: Small Town Royalty Magically Celebrating Rekindled Love! - General Discussion

[twoods]

The kittens were so cute! And the leads still had great chemistry so I enjoyed the movie, though still not as good as the first one. I groaned at first when Marilee had a boyfriend but glad they broke up early in the movie so there wasn’t some breakup at the end. It made me enjoy the movie more. 
 

The movie next week with Bethany and Tyler looks cute. I like both actors so even with a crappy storyline I’m hoping they elevate it.

[absnow54]

Nine Kittens was fine, but not great. It’s a really great cast, and I thought Gregory Harrison was the best part. I could’ve done without the Marilee boyfriend subplot. Especially when she broke up with him for not dropping work to go on vacation, and in the next scene Zachary dropped his ski vacation so he could stay at work. I think I would have preferred the movie start with Zach and Marilee on the brink of breaking up for the same “why change a good thing” reasons and overcoming that. I can’t see myself watching this every time it’s on, but it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the first, so that’s a relief.

It makes me realize how silly all of these holiday movies are, where people take a full week+ to go home before the holidays even start. Shouldn’t the daughter still be going to school during the day? 

[norcalgal]

10 hours ago, Rootbeer said:

Paul Campbell has just a couple of lines in a single scene, but it was fun to see him.  As for the story; I enjoyed it quite a bit.  Like most sequels, just the fact that it isn't completely fresh and new makes 9K a little less than 9L.  However, the leads were charming.  I thought the reasons they didn't last the first time were plausible and in keeping with both characters' personalities and the plot point that brought them back into one another's orbit made sense.  And, how can 9 kittens (and Ambrose!) not be adorable?  

I thought it was well worth a watch and makes a nice bookend for the first film and I'd watch it again anytime.

IA with all the above.  As for the bolded, would it be sacrilegious for me to opine that I thought Paul & Kimberley had more chemistry in their brief 1 minute scene than Brandon and Kimberley did for most of the movie?  (Not to say I didn't feel the sparks between B&K, just that the scene between P&K seemed more "sparkly").

10 hours ago, NYGirl said:

I really enjoyed Nine Kittens so much.  I didn't want it to end!  I may have liked it more than the original.  The leads have such great chemistry.  I loved the story.  

Yes, I enjoyed this sequel more than the first movie. I think mainly because in the first, Zach's girlfriend was OTT in being a mustache-twirling villain. 

[WhyAmIHere]

The best parts of Nine Kittens were the kittens themselves and the Paul Campbell cameo.  I agree that Paul & Kimberley had more chemistry in that brief scene than Brandon & Kimberley.  I sure hope we get a movie with both of them in 2022.   

I've only watched a few of this year's crop of Christmas movies.   Other than Crashing through the Snow, there hasn't been one that I plan to re-watch.  

[GeorgiaRai]

I really liked 9K!!  All of the relationships - Zach & the chief, Marilee & her sister and niece, the chief and his wife, Zach and his work crew (and, of course, Z&M) - drew me in.  And no snowball fight or skating lessons!  The cats facilitating the make-up phone call was a little much, but otherwise, I had no complaints and was happy to see these guys find their way back to each other, just in time for Christmas! 

Tonight I have to choose between Bethany Joy & Tyler on Hallmark, and Reba & John Schneider on Lifetime.  (I can DVR, and know they'll both re-air, but I prefer to watch in real time, so this is quite the dilemma! lol)

[Guest]

I enjoyed Nine Kittens but I didn’t think it was anywhere near as well written as the first. There was too much focus on other characters and not enough of Zach and Marilee. 
 

14 hours ago, twoods said:

The movie next week with Bethany and Tyler looks cute. I like both actors so even with a crappy storyline I’m hoping they elevate it.

That movie is actually on tonight. 

[Darian]

NIne Live is one of the only "pre-diversity push" (beyond a Black best friend of store clerk who has two lines) Hallmark movies I watch and one of my favorites of all time (and Naughty or Nice), so I was glad the characters were revisited, though I didn't enjoy Nine Kittens much.  And I welcome a little reality in one of the couples not staying together after the big romantic ending. The problem for me is that they picked one of the only couples who had some kind of organically-developing relationship not depending on saving a Christmas cookie business or organizing a huge Christmas festival in a tiny town. Merilee and Zac had more of a chance at an actual lasting relationship that most of them in those cloying films. I don't know if it will lessen my enjoyment of watching Nine Lives, even though they end up together.

I do like that she made her decision to move home based on her own needs and wants, and not because of Zac, but they did reconcile. So there's that. 

Finally started watching holiday movies since there are so many and thanks to diversity, I will be watching a lot of them (Lifetime's been way ahead of Hallmark but this Hallmark's stepped up some). I watched, I think, three and they're already blurring.  

[Cetacean]

1 hour ago, Darian said:

The problem for me is that they picked one of the only couples who had some kind of organically-developing relationship not depending on saving a Christmas cookie business or organizing a huge Christmas festival in a tiny town.

While shown at Christmas, the orginal didn't beat you over the head with Balsam Hill overkill decorations, Christmas was kind of secondary to the story.  No "Christmas miracle" crap that is so pervasive in every single Hallmark movie at this time of year.  I think that's why it is so popular, a nice story in and of itself.

Nine Kittens was OK but didn't live up to the orignal in my book. I won't go out of my way to watch again.  But I do enjoy KImberly immensely, she has nice comic timing.

[Kaoteek]

A Kiss Before Christmas was unexpectedly likeable, despite being very tropey. Hatcher & Denton had fun chemistry (obviously) and I was (happily) surprised that Hallmark didn't go for the obvious, ie Teri Hatcher as the main protagonist having her wish granted. Been there, seen that.

Nine Kitten was... okayish. Honestly, as much as I liked the Routh/Sustad couple, some of the supporting characters and the cute cats, the first movie was barely a Christmas movie per se, and could have been set around Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, in summer, or whatnot. Having recently rewatched it, it's a very 2010-2015 Hallmark movie, with all the tropes, and so on.

This sequel... is more of the same, just as autopiloty as the first one was, as far as the plot is concerned, and just as carried by its leads. It was fine for what it was, the kittens were cute, but overall, it wasn't very memorable. I didn't expect it to be, though, sequels rarely are.

(funnily enough, I felt Routh's acting was a little broader in this one, probably a consequence of his years working on Legends of Tomorrow).

Edited November 27, 2021 by Kaoteek
spelling is hard

[shapeshifter]

I did like One December Night, which will air again a few times: tvpassport.com/movie/one-december-night/3132096 (hope this link works--it might be related to my temporary cable service).
It stars Peter Gallagher and Bruce Campbell as old rock stars, with impossibly good looking Brett Dalton as Bruce Campbell's character's son, who he really looks like he could be!

[StaceyNotStacie]

Nine Kittens was a cute movie. The story wasn’t too bad (no villains) and the characters were all likable. The kittens were adorable and the sweaters were nice. I hate wearing bulky winter clothing but enjoy seeing the cute winter outfits (sweaters, coats and boots). A winter movie can be awful, but if there are a lot of pretty sweaters and coats, it stays on my watchable list. 
 

I will probably watch the Tyler and Bethany movie sometime this week. It’s throwing me off, though, seeing Tyler without a beard. I didn’t even recognize him in the commercials. 

[absnow54]

On 11/25/2021 at 9:14 PM, MerBearHou said:

I noticed that too!  Tyler, this is a great look for you — run far away from the slicked-back, looks-like-a-mullet toupee style!  

I know a lot of people liked his movie last year, but I could hardly watch it, because his hair was so bad! I loved him in Unexpected Christmas this year. He was very charming, and I loved the family dynamic! I thought he and Bethany Joy Lenz had good chemistry too. 

[MsNewsradio]

Really enjoyed Unexpected Christmas...and did anyone else who watched notice the Andrew Walker sighting? Everyone seems to be cameoing in the other's films this season!

[Artsda]

They had good chemistry in Unexpected Christmas. I liked the family more than Jamie. Lol I the family preferred Emily than Jamie too. 

 

[Irlandesa]

On 11/26/2021 at 10:25 PM, MsNewsradio said:

Really enjoyed Unexpected Christmas...and did anyone else who watched notice the Andrew Walker sighting? Everyone seems to be cameoing in the other's films this season!

Damn.  I keep missing these cameos.

I liked Unexpected Christmas as well.  The breakup reason made sense from the perspective of the male lead.  I just wish the movie gave more time for them to talk it out because it was a pretty good example of "male toxicity" to be afraid that his career was stalling while his girlfriend's was taking off.  And it was a terrible way to end it. 

But the chemistry was good, the performances good and a lot of humor so I ended up really enjoying the movie.  Paul Campbell wrote it so I think I can safely declare that he's winning this Hallmark Christmas with this movie, Santa Stakeout and his came on Nine Kittens (which I missed...ugh.  Where in the movie was it?)

Speaking of Nine Kittens, I'm glad people enjoyed it but it wasn't for me.  The first movie was very good and very well written but I never got into that couple as much as I've gotten into other couples in these movies.  So 9 Lives of Christmas is one of those movies that I understand why so many will rewatch it every year and yet I never felt the same personal compulsion. I'll watch if it's on and if nothing better is on.  Yet I think I needed to care about the main couple to invest in the underwritten sequel with its unnecessary love interest and lack of genuine humor that made the first work as well as it did.

But good news for those who miss Hallmark movies with regressive and infuriating plots.  This weekend, Christmas CEO also debuted and it was infuriating.  I wanted to throw things at my TV.  I ended up watching more than I wanted to watch because I was cleaning the kitchen but whoo boy did my blood pressure go up. So spoiler warning for those that didn't but, for the love of all that is good, spare yourselves.

It was about two best friends who started a toy business together but he ended up walking away because he wanted to make toys that "matter" (i.e. no electronics or bells and whistles) and she was focused on profit margins and business sustainability.  And in his eyes, her desire to run a business like a business made her someone he didn't know.  And that's all that made her bad.  It's not like she cut employee pay or vacation to increase profits.  Nope.  It was just being aware of profit margins. 

She grew the business and another toy company wants to merge with her and she'd become CEO of this new bigger company.  However, she can't merge without his signature so she goes to find him. And is taking care of her niece at this time too because I guess it's a requirement that there be a kid to show her how wrong she's doing life.

The whole movie is him basically mansplaining to her about how she's doing life wrong for wanting this major professional goal.  He agrees to sign if she does a toy charity drive with him.  As they put together the toy drive, he remembers that he has been in love with her his whole life.

So he tells her.  And he says that spending the past few weeks with her, he believes he was seeing "the real Christmas" again (Her name is Christmas, BTW--so he's talking about her). Now, at this point, I was maybe a little excited that they'd salvage this otherwise infuriating movie because she actually called him out on his "the real Christmas" line. CEO-wannabe and charity drive creator are all "the real her" and even though she did this charity thing, she's still doing the merger. 

And because she has the audacity to disagree with his vision of the real her, he walks away.

So does he come around? Or realize the bologne he spews?  Nope.  She decides to stop the merger and walk away FROM. IT. ALL. so she can go back to him and they can start from scratch and build a new toy company the way they always envisioned.

So if you want to hate a Christmas movie, I recommend Christmas CEO for that purpose.

tl;dr He mansplains over and over because the businesswoman runs her business like a business until he beats her down that she walks away from it all.  And yet, they never resolved the central conflict that she is always going to be more money oriented than he is.  Now this is a Hallmark couple I believe will and should break up.

Oh so infuriating.

 

Edited November 28, 2021 by Irlandesa

[norcalgal]

2 hours ago, Stacey1014 said:

Nine Kittens was a cute movie. The story wasn’t too bad (no villains) and the characters were all likable. The kittens were adorable and the sweaters were nice. I hate wearing bulky winter clothing but enjoy seeing the cute winter outfits (sweaters, coats and boots). A winter movie can be awful, but if there are a lot of pretty sweaters and coats, it stays on my watchable list. 
 

OK, here's another pet peeve of mine. So often, we see the kind of luggage a character brings with them. To my mind, the small luggage means there should be very little wardrobe changes, yet, the character does have many multiples of clothes. It's esp. egregious if the clothes are winter clothes because they are bulkier, but I'm supposed to believe all those clothes were able to fit the size of the character's luggage?!  The most recent example that comes to mind is Christmas Together with You when Frank carries basically a weekend bag, yet is seen in different clothes every day. I guess Frank has one of those magical Mary Poppins bags!

1 hour ago, absnow54 said:

I know a lot of people liked his movie last year, but I could hardly watch it, because his hair was so bad! I loved him in Unexpected Christmas this year. He was very charming, and I loved the family dynamic! I thought he and Bethany Joy Lenz had good chemistry too. 

Color me surprised that I liked this one, and initially had no intention of watching until I caught the commercial for it, and thought:  what the heck - I'm not doing anything else.

1 hour ago, MsNewsradio said:

Really enjoyed Unexpected Christmas...and did anyone else who watched notice the Andrew Walker sighting? Everyone seems to be cameoing in the other's films this season!

YES!  I saw that. I wonder if Hallmark will do this a lot more now, having one of their regulars cameo in a Hallmark movie.

@Irlandesa Yikes! Thanks for summing up Christmas CEO. You saved me from what sounds like a ginormous step backwards for female empowerment.

[Clawdette]

I loved the kittens- and the movie. The explanation of their separation was believable and I could still see chemistry. I have already watched again.

ETA:  And tonight we got an Andrew Walker cameo in Joy & Tyler’s movie. 

Edited November 27, 2021 by Clawdette

[twoods]

I liked that Merilee wore the same jacket every day, which is more believable than the women that come with a weekend bag and have lots of expensive and bulky coats. I can barely fit one in a small luggage when I travel. 
Good to know that Unexpected Christmas was a good movie and worth the time, unlike Christmas CEO.

[absnow54]

8 hours ago, MsNewsradio said:

Really enjoyed Unexpected Christmas...and did anyone else who watched notice the Andrew Walker sighting? Everyone seems to be cameoing in the other's films this season!

How am I supposed to half watch these movies while holiday shopping on my phone with all these cameos?

[absnow54]

On 11/9/2021 at 6:27 PM, bankerchick said:

 

On 11/9/2021 at 6:10 PM, MerBearHou said:

Now, if only Paul Campbell were a firefighter...

Too bad they didn't cast him as a co-worker of Zach at the fire house.  Kimberly Sustad and Paul Campbell have serious chemistry together, it could have created an interesting storyline.  Maybe he was the one who broke up Zach and Merilee!

I was digging through this thread for something else, but it’s a Christmas miracle!

I’m guessing Unexpected Christmas and My Christmas Family Tree were filming at the same place at the same time, since Tyler Hynes showed up in that one. 

[Kemper]

I really liked Unexpected Christmas; then again, I may be in the minority of really liking Bethany Joy Lenz. And for maybe the first time I see the sex appeal in Tyler H; his hair was finally fabulous - then again, I thought hers was, too. The “kissing” at the end was pretty passionate for a Hallmark movie. The premise was kind of ridiculous ( isn’t it always) but the entire cast sold it. The kind of “snide-ish” humor of the leads, especially Tyler H, was what made it fun to watch.  His voice is like “melted buttah” - so there is that.

At this point I have to grab the remote when the Candace Cameron Bure and the actor who is in their upcoming movie promos come on. And those promos seem to come fast and furious. She is overly perky and gushing; and the maniacal grin is off-putting. The movie itself looks like it could be cute but at this point, the “push” for it is exhausting and makes me not want to watch.  Just me?

Edited November 27, 2021 by Kemper
Spelling error

[bankerchick]

1 hour ago, Kemper said:

At this point I have to grab the remote when the Candace Cameron Bure and the actor who is in their upcoming movie promos come on. And those promos seem to come fast and furious. She is overly perky and gushing; and the maniacal grin is off-putting. The movie itself looks like it could be cute but at this point, the “push” for it is exhausting and makes me not want to watch.  Just me?

Not just you.  Though I find W Network is like this for every single movie.  They usually only promote the next movie coming up but they do so during every single commercial break (sometimes at the beginning and end of the same break) so by the time it airs, I'm already sick of it.

10 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

But good news for those who miss Hallmark movies with regressive and infuriating plots.  This weekend, Christmas CEO also debuted and it was infuriating.  I wanted to throw things at my TV.  I ended up watching more than I wanted to watch because I was cleaning the kitchen but whoo boy did my blood pressure go up. So spoiler warning for those that didn't but, for the love of all that is good, spare yourselves.

I agree with every word of this.  So far I have been disappointed by Paul Campbell, Andrew Walker and Paul Greene movies this season so if the Travis Van Winkle movie is bad (chances are good) that will be an 0-for-4 season for Hallmark husbands/boyfriends.  This leaves Tyler Hynes (haven't watched Unexpected Christmas yet) to overcome the Bethany Joy Lenz annoyance and save the season for me.

I have tried to skip over the 9 Kittens comments since we don't get the movie until next Sunday and it's one I'm really looking forward to, but seems like the comments are mixed.  I do know to watch out for the Paul Campbell cameo, though.  I look forward to coming back to these comments after I've seen the movie.

[ECM1231]

2 hours ago, Kemper said:

really liked Unexpected Christmas; then again, I may be in the minority of really liking Bethany Joy Lenz. And for maybe the first time I see the sex appeal in Tyler H; his hair was finally fabulous - then again, I thought hers was, too. The “kissing” at the end was pretty passionate for a Hallmark movie. The premise was kind of ridiculous ( isn’t it always) but the entire cast sold it. The kind of “snide-ish” humor of the leads, especially Tyler H, was what made it fun to watch.  His voice is like “melted buttah” - so there is that.

 

Although he's not the most handsome of the Hallmark leads, I find him incredibly sexy and I too think it's because of his voice.

I found myself nodding while reading your post b/c I agree with everything you said. I'm a big fan of Bethany Joy Lenz and only know her from Hallmark. She's so pretty and her acting is a notch above many of the female leads. She and Tyler had great chemistry and her hair was fabulous. Tyler looked fantastic. I'm a big fan of beards, but he looked so much better clean-shaven. I had to do a double take but once I heard that sexy voice ...swoon.

Glad Hallmark is being more diverse but one minor quibble. I thought Jamie's boss being instantly attracted to his sister was a stretch. I mean what were the chances of that happening? 

 

ETA: Exactly where and when was Andrew Walker's cameo?

Edited November 27, 2021 by ECM1231

[SusanM]

10 hours ago, twoods said:

I liked that Merilee wore the same jacket every day, which is more believable than the women that come with a weekend bag and have lots of expensive and bulky coats. I can barely fit one in a small luggage when I travel. 

Now that you mention it this was also the case in the original Nine Lives as well.  Merilee had a very basic wardroble with at least a few things that she wore on several occasions.  It was a nice touch that they would realize that someone working in a pet store to put herself through school would not have a walk in closet filled with designer clothes!

Edited November 27, 2021 by SusannahM

[Cetacean]

1 hour ago, bankerchick said:

So far I have been disappointed by Paul Campbell, Andrew Walker and Paul Greene movies this season...

Glad to know I am not the only one and Campbell and Walker have been consistent so this is a disappointment.

1 hour ago, bankerchick said:

I do know to watch out for the Paul Campbell cameo, though. 

Don't get too excited, it's only a few seconds long.

[WhyAmIHere]

I was disappointed with an Unexpected Christmas.  The family constantly talking over each  other drove me nuts during the first half of the movie.  Then I got bored during the second half.  I did enjoy clean shaven Tyler Hynes though.  

Maybe I'm just not in the mood for these movies this year.  

[SusanM]

Having a quiet Saturday at home and just started watching One December Night.  So far so good but oh wow did I get a shock when I realized the elderly waitress is played by Didi Conn!  I still see her as the elderly teenager in Grease!  

ETA:  just finished this.  I really liked it!  Maybe just in the right mood but touching, funny and just plain enjoyable.

Edited November 27, 2021 by SusannahM

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, SusannahM said:

Having a quiet Saturday at home and just started watching One December Night.  So far so good but oh wow did I get a shock when I realized the elderly waitress is played by Didi Conn!  I still see her as the elderly teenager in Grease!  

ETA:  just finished this.  I really liked it!  Maybe just in the right mood but touching, funny and just plain enjoyable.

I watched One December Night yesterday. I think having better actors makes a lot of difference.
There was a lot of sad drama in the story, but the acting made it worth watching, IMO.

[GeorgiaRai]

4 hours ago, ECM1231 said:

ETA: Exactly where and when was Andrew Walker's cameo?

Andrew walks in behind Emily & Jamie when they go to the bar. I think he even gave his name to the hostess, but haven't been able to re-watch to make sure.

[SonofaBiscuit]

Okay, I thought An Unexpected Christmas was hilarious! A Hallmark movie starring one of my favorites (Tyler Hines), written by another of my favorites (Paul Campbell)? Perfect.

I loved the humor, and the Christmas show at the end had me snort-laughing like Bethany Joy Lenz’s character.

The Andrew Walker sighting is one hour into the movie. He comes in for a table and says, “Walker, for two.” 😆

This is the type of Hallmark Christmas movie I enjoy...fun, with a plot that is not overly-Christmas (no parents that are secretly Mr. and  Mrs. Clause, or Christmas themed stores in threat of being closed down, or anything involving “Christmas magic,” etc.). I tend to mostly enjoy the movies that happen to take place around Christmas but otherwise don’t have much to do with the holiday.

[NYGirl]

2 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I watched One December Night yesterday. I think having better actors makes a lot of difference.
There was a lot of sad drama in the story, but the acting made it worth watching, IMO.

I just watched it and I loved it.  I agree that the actors do make a difference and I liked the storyline.  It could have taken place at any time of the year and didn't have to be Christmas.  I liked the secondary story too.  I did have tears in my eyes though.

I'm watching Unexpected Christmas now even though I hate Bethany Joy Lenz.  She looks a little trashy in this movie though.

Edited to add:  Unpopular opinion.  I hate his family except the sister.  My goodness if you look up OTT in the dictionary their picture is there.

Edited November 27, 2021 by NYGirl

[oakville]

17 hours ago, Artsda said:

They had good chemistry in Unexpected Christmas. I liked the family more than Jamie. Lol I the family preferred Emily than Jamie too. 

 

Yes, & his sister really told him off for lying to the family.

This movie was hilarious compared to the average Hallmark Christmas movie.

[Bronx Babe]

Lacey Chabert at an Irish castle tomorrow.

Will whiskey be put into the hot chocolate?

[EtheltoTillie]

17 minutes ago, Bronx Babe said:

Lacey Chabert at an Irish castle tomorrow.

Will whiskey be put into the hot chocolate?

I think it’s on tonight. 

[Cetacean]

27 minutes ago, Bronx Babe said:

Will whiskey be put into the hot chocolate?

As opposed to cold chocolate. Hallmark is so tedious.

[Bronx Babe]

16 minutes ago, GussieK said:

I think it’s on tonight. 

I hope not  -- I've got my heart set on Svengoolie this evening -- "The Devil's Rain"!

[Irlandesa]

19 hours ago, Bronx Babe said:

Lacey Chabert at an Irish castle tomorrow.

It's tonight.

It will be the second movie in my Christmas Castle double feature after Netflix's A Castle For Christmas.

Edited November 28, 2021 by Irlandesa

[EtheltoTillie]

21 minutes ago, Bronx Babe said:

I hope not  -- I've got my heart set on Svengoolie this evening -- "The Devil's Rain"!

We’ve been. Trying to watch the end of that. We missed it a whole back. Thanks n

[bankerchick]

1 hour ago, NYGirl said:

I'm watching Unexpected Christmas now even though I hate Bethany Joy Lenz.  She looks a little trashy in this movie though.

Edited to add:  Unpopular opinion.  I hate his family except the sister.  My goodness if you look up OTT in the dictionary their picture is there.

 

1 hour ago, oakville said:

Yes, & his sister really told him off for lying to the family.

I tried to watch this earlier today and only made it a short way.  It's on PVR and I will get to it at some point, probably in small doses, but I was just coming here to post this memo to every character in these movies:  if someone says to you, 'I have to tell you something' on several different occasions and you keep ignoring them, talking over them or changing the subject, you don't get to be mad when you find out whatever it was they tried to tell you.  And to the person with the confession:  if they keep ignoring you, talking over you or changing the subject, you need to get their attention and refuse to engage until they listen to what you have to say.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Cetacean said:

As opposed to cold chocolate. Hallmark is so tedious.

Is this a regional thing because I have only ever heard people call it hot chocolate or hot cocoa? If someone just says chocolate or cocoa it is a completely different thing. 

[SusanM]

2 minutes ago, Dani said:

Is this a regional thing because I have only ever heard people call it hot chocolate or hot cocoa? If someone just says chocolate or cocoa it is a completely different thing. 

Where I am you would typically say hot chocolate or cocoa but never hot cocoa.  What would cocoa mean where you are?

[gutbuster]

I was so excited, last night there were three movies on I hadn't seen yet. 

Christmas CEO was so, so bad, but the cheesy title should've given that away. I actually managed to find some small things I liked. I liked the niece, I thought the actress did a good job in being natural and came across like a normal child. I also liked that the female lead wore practical flat shoes to work and run around in and not Hallmark's standard-issue four inch stilettoes. Everything else was terrible. I like Paul G and even a brief shirtless shot of him wasn't enough to spark an interest. I was too distracted in that scene anyway, as it really looked like he was waking up in someone else's bedroom after a one night stand. That bedroom just looked decidedly feminine. Not that a man couldn't have a bedroom like that, but it somehow seemed very purposefully feminine to me.

I liked Unexpected Christmas. Enough to watch it again. I am not immune to Tyler H and I share the unpopular opinion of enjoying Bethany Joy Lenz for the most part, even if I might dislike some of her characters. I think she is one of the better actresses by Hallmark standards. I wasn't sure that they would work together but I think they kind of did. 

I thought a lot of the comedy was predictable but still effective. Tyler's spit take at the baby comment made me laugh out loud. But I agree that the family dynamic was a bit too clownish and OTT. But I lol'ed at the exterior shot of the house with the twenty inflatables crowding the front lawn.

I liked the setup of the movie starting with the two main characters having just broken up, that was something different at least. After having to watch a second time to catch Tyler H in the Family Tree movie, I caught the Andrew Walker cameo on the first viewing in this one (but only by accident because I was actually looking at the screen when it happened). The cameos are really fun, they could've done a little Hallmark Bingo type thing to get viewers involved, just for fun, to encourage people to watch.

Nine Kittens was fun, mostly for nostalgic reasons I think.  I wish they'd have done a different kind of setup. I don't know why Marilee and Zach couldn't have just been together this entire time and the conflict could've centered around the same thing they broke up over. I guess being together for seven years without "progress" or the "more" Marilee wanted might have been hard to sell, but they've given us worse, less plausible things. I just would've preferred the conflict be external. Having to adopt out the kittens was a fine plot point. But instead of them being broken up, maybe the Fire House was in trouble or Marilee's clinic could've been in trouble and they've have to trope it up to save them.

I just would have preferred a movie of the two years they were together that we didn't get to see. It's been two movies and we've really barely seen them together romantically. It seemed like they were apart more than they were together here, as well. And Marilee (or maybe Kimberly S) just seemed a little bit sad through the whole thing.

Hallmark seems to think that the romance ends once a couple gets together, or that the only interesting when the couple is broken up. I think this movie should've been done All My Heart style, with the sequel being of the couple together, facing some kind of challenge/adventure together. 

I did like seeing some of the familiar faces. I liked seeing more of Sam and his relationship with Zach. 

I was wondering if they'd possibly be using the same cats from the first movie, or if they'd have them be gone, what with it being kind of long ago in cat years. I was happy Ambrose (although I'm assuming that was not the same cactor) was still there but surprised he was a bit sidelined.

I was distracted by Harriet wanting to adopt two cats because it "had been so long" since she and Sam had had cats, when in the first movie Sam clearly says Harriet is allergic to cats. I can't stop thinking about it!

Where were Jaclyn's dogs? She and Kyle had four dogs in the first movie. It's sad to think they'd all be gone seven years later or that they wouldn't have adopted more along the way.

I think I must be immune to Paul Campbell, at least to the degree that he is adored here. But I do like him quite a bit in movies, and his movies, though. The movie with Brianna(?) Evigan as the princess-in-hiding is one of my favorites. I was excited to catch his cameo here on the first viewing! It was really cute how he was snuggling and cheesing with that kitten. 

I got a kick out of Zach saying his adoption listing of the kitten looked like a mug shot, lol. And one of my favorite Hallmark moments is Marilee choosing ice cream in the first movie, so it was fun to see a call back to that here.

 

[Guest]

8 minutes ago, SusannahM said:

Where I am you would typically say hot chocolate or cocoa but never hot cocoa.  What would cocoa mean where you are?

Most people I know exclusively say hot chocolate. Hot cocoa appears on some menus and powered drink mixes. To me if someone just says cocoa they are usually referring to the baking powder. 

[shapeshifter]

31 minutes ago, gutbuster said:

But I lol'ed at the exterior shot of the house with the twenty inflatables crowding the front lawn.

Especially when they all deflated right after a depressing line was uttered by one of the actors/characters
--don't recall exactly what or who.

 

[NYGirl]

Making Spirits Bright.  I really liked this one.  At first I thought the male lead was not so great looking but as the movie went on it turned out he was cute.  The leads had pretty good chemistry.   l liked the story..completely different than any of the other movies and how about this?   NO MISUNDERSTANDING!!!!!!  Along with no cocoa, no ice skating and minimal snowball fighting.  A breath of fresh air.

My only complaint is that they were Christmas light decorators and their designs were just meh.  The competition was someone who's lights would give anyone seizures.

[MissyPoo]

I'm really digging all the new approaches to the movies this season to go with their new and unique posters. 

Loved An Unexpected Christmas. I was going to skip it until I saw a preview and it looked funny. Plus, I'm with the unpopular opinion of liking Bethany Joy Lenz. I have a soft spot for her since The Christmas Secret and love that she can do drama there and has good comedic timing in her later entries. I tend to like her movies as of late. 

The movie was funny in all the right parts, has that quippy Paul Campbellness, and everyone seemed like they had fun with their respective roles, even if the family seemed over the top. It kind of reminds me of old school xmas movies like Will You Merry Me? that just went for it and ran off with the fun. No cocoa (there was booze!), a passionate end kiss, some realistic plot lines, fun characters, and an ending that had me on the floor rolling made this one of my new faves.

Thanks @Irlandesa for summarizing Christmas CEO. I watched it after Unexpected Christmas and it was indeed regressive in more ways than one. I tapped out after half an hour and for some reason I couldn't shake why it was bugging me until your post. Love me some Paul Greene (and the more shirtless scenes of him, the merrier) but this was a bust after such an enjoyable movie.

Based on @NYGirl's description, I'll have to check out Making Spirits Bright if it's another one against the grain. Off to the DVR!

 

[KaveDweller]

1 hour ago, Dani said:

Most people I know exclusively say hot chocolate. Hot cocoa appears on some menus and powered drink mixes. To me if someone just says cocoa they are usually referring to the baking powder. 

Yes, I would think the same thing if I heard someone just say "cocoa." That it is the baking powder or some other type of unsweetened chocolate meant for baking. Hot cocoa I know they mean what I would call hot chocolate.

In Unexpected Christmas, the thing that bothered me was that the family thought Emily and Tyler were still together, but they were sleeping in separate rooms. Wouldn't they expect a long term couple to be sharing a bed/room. They are both 30-something and I can't believe the family didn't think they were having sex. They didn't seem particularly old-fashioned/strict. I know Hallmark doesn't like to acknowledge sex exists, but they didn't need to show anything.

[SusanM]

1 hour ago, Dani said:

Most people I know exclusively say hot chocolate. Hot cocoa appears on some menus and powered drink mixes. To me if someone just says cocoa they are usually referring to the baking powder. 

Ok I see what you mean.  I guess around here it would depend on the situation but I've never heard someone offer "hot" cocoa.  To be honest though being offered cocoa is a pretty rare event.  It takes a lot more effort to make cocoa than it does to make hot chocolate - which may be why IMO cocoa tastes so much better!

[Cetacean]

10 minutes ago, KaveDweller said:

Wouldn't they expect a long term couple to be sharing a bed/room.

The Hallmark Pearl Clutchers would never allow such tawdry behavior or the slightest hint thereof!  In Hallmarklandia even married couples sleep in twin beds.

[gutbuster]

8 minutes ago, KaveDweller said:

In Unexpected Christmas, the thing that bothered me was that the family thought Emily and Tyler were still together, but they were sleeping in separate rooms. Wouldn't they expect a long term couple to be sharing a bed/room. They are both 30-something and I can't believe the family didn't think they were having sex. They didn't seem particularly old-fashioned/strict. I know Hallmark doesn't like to acknowledge sex exists, but they didn't need to show anything.

I thought the same thing. I was waiting for someone in the family to say something, especially when we find out they'd been together for two years. They could've had him sleeping on that uncomfortable looking sofa in the bedroom while she took the bed, but then we wouldn't have gotten the cute shots of his violent sleeping on the pullout.

I get Hallmark's MO but things like this really do kind of pull one out of the story, however briefly.