Hallmark For All Seasons

2020 is finally coming to an end.  We all hope and pray for better things in 2021.  I count it a miracle of its own kind that Hallmark was able to present a total of 68 movies to us this year, given all of the difficulties they had to work through. Last year we had 80 movies, so I’m impressed at the network’s ability to give us almost as many movies, INCLUDING a full slate of 40 Christmas movies. It’s also a testament to Hallmark that *overwhelmingly,* this year’s movies received much higher scores than the 2019 batch of Christmas movies. Last year some movies were in the 40s and 50s for percentages, and this year the lowest one is 61.3%.   That’s really, really good.

The Bottom Five

As always, we’ll move from the least liked to the favorites.

40. Chateau Christmas (air date: Oct 25) – 61.3%

Plot: Margot, a world-renowned pianist, returns to Chateau Neuhaus to spend the holidays with her family and rediscover her passion for music. While there, her ex-boyfriend and former bandmate Jackson, convinces her to headline the annual Christmas Concert and working together brings back all their old feelings..

My thoughts: This movie wasn’t bad, per se, so much as despite it having good actors and a plot with real potential, it fell far short of what it could have been.  Add in very poor fake piano playing by Merritt Patterson as well as not allowing Luke Macfarlane to actually play the cello, and I was very disappointed by this movie, which aired the first weekend out of the gate.  That disappointment stayed with me the entire run of Christmas movies.  Do I think the next two movies were WORSE?  If I’m honest, yes, but I cannot stress just how high my disappointment was in this movie.  It was just a nothing movie, and there’s nothing worse than that.

39. USS Christmas (air date: Nov 28) – 61.4%

Plot: Maddie, a reporter for a Norfolk newspaper, embarks on a Tiger Cruise during Christmastime where she meets a handsome naval officer, Billy, and stumbles upon a mystery in the ship’s archive room.

My thoughts: I wanted to like this movie, especially since it starred Jen Lilley, one of my favorite Hallmark leading ladies.  Another thing of interest to me was the naval storyline, given I was a Navy brad as a kid.  I should have loved this movie!  Unfortunately, it was lackluster and barely held my interest and therefore ended up in my bottom 5.

38. If I Only Had Christmas (air date: Nov 29) – 63.2%

Plot: Kansas City publicist Darcy ventures to the Emerald Educational Trust for the job of a lifetime, helping VP Glen Goodman and his team find the know-how, courage, and heart to help a charity in need for Christmas. Darcy and Glen begin to realize they have everything in common. However, Glen’s surprise revelation at the big Christmas gala just may put an end to their promising romance before it has really gotten started..

My thoughts: This movie was supposed to be an homage to “The Wizard of Oz” but only caused confusion and frustration while I watched it. The plot of the movie was so convoluted and that made me sad because Sarah Montana wrote a brilliant script for Two Turtle Doves last year.  “If I Only Had Christmas” was the 2nd most-watched Christmas movie for Hallmark Channel, but that is ONLY because of the CCB fans turning out for it.  The movie was awful.

37. Meet Me At Christmas (air date: Nov 15) – 63.9%

Plot: When her son’s wedding planner quits, Joan must coordinate his Christmas Eve wedding with the help of Beau, the bride’s uncle. They realize their fates and pasts are intertwined.

My thoughts:  The movie was simply lackluster from beginning to end and generated NO excitement or feels while I watch it.  It’s like the movie was shot full of with novocaine.

36. A Christmas Tree Grows in Colorado (air date: Nov 24) – 64.1%

The Lower Middle of the Pack

While these movies weren’t terrible, they weren’t that great either.  I can only see two movies from this section being ones that I would actively choose to seek out and watch again: “Our Christmas Love Song” and “Write Before Christmas.”

35. Jingle Bell Bride (air date: Oct 24) – 68.7%

Plot: Wedding planner Jessica Perez (Gonzalo) travels to a remote town in Alaska to find a rare flower for a celebrity client and is charmed by the small town during Christmas, as well as Matt, the handsome local helping her (Rowe).

My thoughts: This was the movie that kicked off the entire Christmas season and when it was over I was a bit worried about this year’s crop of movies.  While it wasn’t terrible, it felt heavy, or bogged down.  I never got a sense of lightheartedness that I expect with a KICK OFF movie on Hallmark.

 

34. Heart of the Holidays (air date: Nov 23) – 68.7%

33. Christmas Comes Twice (air date: Dec 13) – 69.5%

32. Christmas She Wrote (air date: Dec 6) – 69.6%

Plot: When writer Kayleigh has her column canceled before Christmas, she heads home to reconnect with family. Sparks fly when she gets an unexpected visit from Tripp, the man who canceled her column.

My Thoughts: The main thing that saved this movie from getting a lower ranking was Danica McKellar.  She went against the types of roles she normally gets from Hallmark and played a plucky, more relaxed character, which I greatly appreciated.  Sadly, a lack of romantic chemistry and a boatload of plotholes caused this movie to get a low score.

31. Christmas Tree Lane (air date: Oct 24) – 70.4%

30. A Godwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love (air date: Nov 22) – 70.8%

Plot: After 15 years, Pat moves home from Hawaii with his two sons and through a series of coincidences, or Godwinks, ends up stuck in traffic next to his high school sweetheart, Margie at Christmas.

My Thoughts: I loved the first Godwink movie, and while the second one was disappointing, I had high hopes for the third one.  The third one has convinced me that they should stop making Godwink movies.  Not even the winsome Brooke D’Orsay could save this movie for me. It was a slog to get through and I even fell asleep a couple of times trying to get through it.  That’s not good.

29. The Christmas Ring (air date: Nov 7) – 72.5%

28. The Christmas Doctor (air date: Nov 15) – 73.5%

27. Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas (air date: Dec 5) – 73.9%

Plot: Five guests are mysteriously invited to an inn to celebrate Christmas. With the help of the owner Ben, Sarah discovers that an event from the past may connect them and change their lives forever.

My Thoughts: I liked this movie, but on the other hand I didn’t.  I liked the IDEA behind the movie, but not the execution.  Lacey Chabert is always a winner, and I liked her in the movie. But I didn’t feel any romantic chemistry between her character or that of Steven Huszar. It was a major sticking point for me.

26. A Christmas Carousel (air date: Dec 19) – 74.4%

25. Holly & Ivy (air date: Oct 31) – 615 pts – 74.9%

24. A Little Christmas Charm (air date: Dec 6) – 75.0%

23. A Nashville Christmas Carol (air date: Nov 21) – 75.1%

22. Cross Country Christmas (air date: Dec 20) – 75.1%*

Plot: Former classmates Lina and Max are traveling home for the holidays, until a storm hits and they have to work together to make it home in time, no matter the mode of transportation.

My Thoughts: I didn’t review this one, but I feel like I need to watch it again because I read on social media so many rave reviews that I think perhaps I was distracted while I watched it.  I just know I came away thinking, “I liked it okay, but not enough to spend the time to write up a synopsis.”  That tells me it didn’t hold my interest upon my initial viewing.  So I’ll put an asterisk next to this one and update it’s ranking if I have time to re-watch it.

21. Christmas in Vienna (air date: Nov 14) – 75.1%

Plot: Jess, a concert violinist whose heart just isn’t in it anymore, goes to Vienna for a performance. While there, she finds the inspiration she has been missing, and a new love in Mark, a diplomat living with his kids in Vienna. Jess ends up becoming caretaker to the kids for the week when their current au pair has some scheduling issues.

My Thoughts: I love Brennan Elliott, and knowing this was filmed on location in Vienna I knew I’d love the scenery.  It was worth the wait and I enjoyed it, but there were SO many good movies this year that this one slowly dropped in the overall rankings as more movies came out this Christmas season.  If this movie had come out LAST year its 75.1% score would have placed it in the Top 5.  That’s how good the movies were this year.

The Upper Middle of the Pack

This is where we’re starting to get to the movies that I more actively liked.  And while I may not watch some of these multiple times in one season, I can see watching them year after year going forward.

20. Swept Up By Christmas (air date: Dec 19) – 75.4%

19. The Angel Tree (air date: Nov 21) – 77.8%

Plot: A writer seeks the identity of the person who helps grant wishes that are placed upon The Angel Tree, and in the process, reconnects with her childhood friend.

My Thoughts: When I know Jill Wagner is in a movie, I know the movie is going to have strong energy, a little bit of humor, and a lot of heart.  This movie lived up to the bill for me.  While I worried that she wouldn’t mesh with her co-star, Lucas Bryant, I found them charming together and completely at ease as old friends reunited.  At in a timely storyline about empathy and helping others, and this was a nice movie for 2020.

18. Cranberry Christmas (air date: Oct 31) – 78.6%

17. The Christmas Bow (air date: Nov 8) – 79.4%

16. Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing (air date: Dec 5) – 79.9%

15. Love, Lights, Hanukkah! (air date: Dec 12) – 80.0%

Plot:  As Christina prepares her restaurant for Christmas, a DNA test reveals that she’s Jewish! The discovery leads her to a new family and a new, unlikely romance over eight crazy nights..

My Thoughts:  Last year’s movie that came in at #15 hadn’t even reached a 70% grade yet, and now here is this delightful Hanukkah movie reaching 80% and hitting the 15th spot.  This year was so great. The entire cast was great, the story was great, the emotion and feel of the movie was great.  It is one I will definitely watch year after year.

14. Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater (air date: Nov 7) – 81.2%

13. Five Star Christmas (air date: Nov 27) – 81.2%

12. A Glenbrooke Christmas (air date: Dec 12) – 81.2%

11. Unlocking Christmas (air date: Dec 12) – 81.3%

Plot: When a mysterious key and holiday riddle land on their doorsteps, Kate and Kevin embark on a Christmas adventure they’ll never forget.

My Thoughts:  I enjoyed this movie from beginning to end.  Taylor Cole and Steve Lund were great together, and even if I knew exactly who left the first clues, I didn’t care and it didn’t keep me from enjoying the ride.

My Christmas-y Good Top Ten

These last ten movies are movies just pure Christmas-y goodness.  I have already watched a few of them multiple times. A couple of these will maintain a permanent spot on my Tivo to be enjoyed all year round. This is an incredibly well-done Top 10.  Proof that Hallmark did it RIGHT in 2020.

10. Christmas by Starlight (air date: Nov 26) – 81.3%

Plot: When her family’s beloved eatery, The Starlight Café, is slated for demolition, Annie vows to put a stop to it before Christmas.

My Thoughts: What happens when Paul Campbell and Kimberly Sustad get the greenlight to make a movie? This delightful movie that opens my Top 10.  Witty writing, great acting, a good story – there’s a reason this movie was given Thanksgiving Night to air. It was fabulous and so, so fun to see these two on screen together again.

9. Christmas Waltz (air date: Nov 29) – 81.5%

Plot: After Avery’s storybook Christmas wedding is canceled, a dance instructor helps her face her fears in life and fulfill her dream of learning to dance.

My Thoughts: While it only reached #9 on my list, rest assured I love this movie.  Lacey is the official queen of Hallmark this year (this was the most watched Hallmark Christmas movie this season), and her debonnaire co-star Will Kemp is nothing to sneeze at either.  This is also the most searched movie on my site, thanks to the nesting dolls and the song featured at the end of the movie (click on the movie title to get the links for both).

8. Christmas With the Darlings (air date: Nov 8) – 82.2%

Plot: When assistant Jessica gives her final notice, she is drawn into helping Max, the charming, younger brother of her wealthy boss as he looks after his orphaned nieces and nephew through Christmas.

My Thoughts: Katrina Law was great in the movie.  Carlo Marks was great in this movie.  THE KIDS were great in this movie.  This is one I’ve already watched a few times.  It is so Christmas-y and so fun to watch, and definitely one of my faves.

7. Deliver by Christmas (air date: Oct 25) – 82.4%

Plot: Bakery owner Molly meets Josh, a widower who recently moved to town with his young son, but she is also charmed by a mysterious client whom she’s never met in person and she doesn’t realize that they’re the same man.

My Thoughts:  This is one of the few HMM movies to be in my Top 20.  It was so well done, and the story well told.  The actors did most of their scenes on the phone, and despite the physical separation that resulted, you could feel them becoming connected throughout the movie.

6. A Timeless Christmas (air date: Nov 14) – 82.6%

Plot: Charles Whitley travels from 1903 to 2020 where he meets Megan Turner and experiences a 21st Century Christmas.

My Thoughts: It’s a time travel movie!  It has Erin Cahill!  It has Ryan Paevey who was pretty funny in this movie!  What’s not to like about it? (answer: not much)  I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and its attempt at true fantasy storytelling in a year of heaviness and repair.  It was fabulous.

5. Good Morning, Christmas! (air date: Nov 25) – 82.9%

Plot: Two squabbling TV hosts, Brian and Melissa, are sent to a festive small town over Christmas. While pretending to get along for the sake of appearance, they discover that there’s more to each other than they thought.

My Thoughts: I adored this movie.  Sweeney and Blucas were great together.  They are remarkable actors in that they seem to form chemistry with anyone they act with, so putting them together a second time was a no brainer.  This movie wasn’t perfect, but it was just sp much fun to watch these two play off each other that this one will definitely be a repeat watch for me.

4. The Christmas House (air date: Nov 22) – 83.2%

Plot: Working through some difficult decisions, Mitchell family matriarch Phylis and patriarch Bill, have summoned their two grown sons – TV star, Mike Mitchell and Brandon Mitchell – home for the holidays. It is their hope that bringing the family together to recreate the Christmas house, will help them find resolution and make a memorable holiday for the entire family and community. As Brandon and his husband Jake make the trip home, they are anxiously awaiting a call about the adoption of their first child. Meanwhile, Mike reconnects with Andi, his high school sweetheart.

My Thoughts:  Oh my gosh.  I LOVED this movie so much.  It held its balance between funny and sweet, between sentimental and slapstick, without going into saccharine.  It was so, so fun and so, so good.  The entire cast was perfect together, and Robert Buckley was alloed to be delightfully funny.  I have watched this one four times already, which tells me just how much I love it.

3. On the 12th Date of Christmas (air date: Nov 1) – 83.6%

Plot: Jennifer and Aidan, two seemingly incompatible game designers, team up to create a romantic, city-wide scavenger hunt themed for the “12 Days of Christmas.”

My Thoughts: I’ve watched this one three times since it originally aired.  It’s another one where Hallmark allowed comedy through Hynes’ character’s acerbic wit. I knew it would likely have some comedy now that Hynes has shown he can handle comedy very, very well.  Add in the delightful Mallory Jansen, whop at times channeled an Audrey Hepburn look, and I had a smile on my face throughout this entire movie.

2. Project Christmas Wish (air date: Dec 20) – 85.4%

Plot: For years Lucy has played Santa to her small town’s community. As she grants a little girl’s wish for a “Christmas like it used to be,” she unexpectedly finds her own wishes coming true.

My Thoughts: This movie was so unexpected.  It was the last movie to air of the whole season and it was spectacular.  A nearly perfect script with a great story and some incredibly acting, and this is another that I’ll be watching repeatedly over the next few weeks while I’m in denial that Christmas has come and gone.  It was so, so good and the very best way to end the Miracles of Christmas.

1. One Royal Holiday (air date: Oct 31) – 85.5%

Plot: When Anna (Osnes) offers a stranded mother (Clark) and son (Tveit) shelter in a blizzard, she learns that they are the Royal Family of Galwick. Anna shows the Prince how they do Christmas in her hometown, encouraging him to open his heart and be true to himself.

My Thoughts:  You guys.  I didn’t just love this movie,  I adored every minute of it from beginning to end.  For those that are new to Hallmark movies, THIS is what they used to be all the time.  Check out “Window Wonderland” (2013) or “Naughty or Nice” (2012) and you’ll see that Hallmark Christmas movies used to be funny and fun.  “One Royal Holiday” was a refreshing return to that tradition and I am HERE FOR IT.  I’m disappointed they didn’t air this one FIRST to kick off the season, given how wonderful it is.

Time to Share Your Lists!

How do my rankings line up with yours?  Did I rank anything lower than you would have?  Give more credit to something I should not have?  Comment below with your own opinions on this year’s batch of Hallmark Christmas movies!