Hallmark For All Seasons

Countdown to Christmas 2020

Five Star Christmas

“Five Star Christmas” aired on November 27, 2020 on the Hallmark Channel. The screenplay was written by Alfonso H. Moreno, who has previously worked on “When Calls the Heart” and “When Hope Calls.” Christie Will Wolf directed, having helmed many a Hallmark movie since 2014. It was filmed in Vancouver and Langley, serving as Connecticut this time out.

In a nutshell

Since I was a week late watching this one, I saw a lot of people gushing about how great this movie was, and how it made it onto their Top 3 lists so far. I think I was influenced by that high praise because while I enjoyed the movie, it just missed out being on my Top 10.

Plot of “Five Star Christmas”

When a travel writer shows up unexpectedly at their dad’s B&B, the Ralston family all pretend to be guests in hopes of a good review. Lucy falls for guest Jake but can’t share her secret.

Actors

First, my goodness Victor Webster is very tall. Either that or Bethany Joy Lenz is tinier than I thought. I really enjoy both of them when they pop up in movies, and appreciate that they always pick good projects.

Five Star Christmas — Image: Hallmark Crown Media

Chemistry

I did enjoy the chemistry between the entire cast. One thing I love about Lenz is that she is able to make her dialogue seem really organic and unscripted. It’s the little things she does in her delivery, and I love that. I appreciated that this movie had enough space to let most of the family members have their own subplots without making them feel shoehorned in. As a result, I truly did feel like these people were all a close-knit family.

Tropes

Main character is heading home for the holidays from the Big City. We got the drone shot of a single car on the road surrounded by nature. Lucy sang carols to herself in the car on the drive home. Lucy got some hot cocoa and carried it in an empty coffee cup.

We got some snowman building followed by a trip and fall. They bought a Christmas tree and did some decorating. Everyone went to a Christmas festival/market. Then we had legit carolers at the market.

After Lucy discovered Jake’s secret, we saw CGI snow while they argued about it.

Bingo Card Score for “Five Star Christmas”

I only covered six spots on my bingo card. Feel free to download my free bingo cards and play along!

Did I Hear/See That Right?

You know what Hallmark writers need to stop doing? Have someone go into someone else’s room and look at their computer and discover a big secret. It’s not appropriate, it’s an invasion of privacy, and it drives me crazy.

A B&B HAS to have good cell phone/internet connection unless it bills itself as being unplugged., The Ralston Inn doesn’t appear to be the type of place to be unplugged and yet Beth didn’t have cellphone service while she was visiting.

Feelgoods

You know what I’ve appreciated with this season of Christmas movies? We’ve only had a couple almost kisses. Last year it seemed like EVERY movie had one, and after a while they became annoying. This Christmas season, we’ve only had a couple of them, and the rest of the movies have legit kisses about 75% into the movie. THANK YOU, HALLMARK.

At one point Lucy and her sister are going through their mother’s recipe box and Lucy mentions seeing a card for a Peanut Butter and Jelly Grilled Cheese. Now, I think that sounds disgusting, but I think the “cheese” part was just a figure of speech. For years I have made grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I love them, and my daughter loves them. But we don’t put cheese on them. But I love that someone else out there grills PB&J sandwiches.

This movie had dancing to a Christmas song, but it was a song, not a carol. Big difference, and I approve.

Re-watchability

I think I would watch this again, but I’d have to be in the mood for it.

The Ranking

“Five Star Christmas” just missed out on being in my Top 10 for the year. Literally by one point when you look at raw score! It’s a solid movie, and definitely one worth watching.

One Royal Holiday (air date: Oct 31) – 722 pts – weighted score: 121.8 (85.5%)
On the 12th Date of Christmas (air date: Nov 1) – 707 pts – weighted score: 119.2 (83.6%)
The Christmas House (air date: Nov 22) – 710 pts – weighted score: 118.6 (83.2%)
Sweet Autumn (air date: Oct 17) – 693 pts – weighted score: 118.5 (83.1%)
Good Morning, Christmas! (air date: Nov 25) – 698 pts – weighted score: 118.2 (82.9%)
A Timeless Christmas (air date: Nov 14) – 700 pts – weighted score: 117.7 (82.6%)
Deliver by Christmas (air date: Oct 25) – 697 pts – weighted score: 117.4 (82.4%)
Christmas With the Darlings (air date: Nov 8) – 691 pts – weighted score: 117.2 (82.2%)
Christmas Waltz (air date: Nov 29) – 694 pts – weighted score: 116.1 (81.5%)
Christmas by Starlight (air date: Nov 26) – 689 pts – weighted score: 115.9 (81.3%)
Five Star Christmas (air date: Nov 27) – 688 pts – weighted score: 115.8 (81.2%)
Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater (air date: Nov 7) – 681 pts – weighted score: 115.8 (81.2%)
The Christmas Bow (air date: Nov 8) – 676 pts – weighted score: 113.2 (79.4%)
Cranberry Christmas (air date: Oct 31) – 650 pts – weighted score: 112.1 (78.6%)
The Angel Tree (air date: Nov 21) – 670 pts – weighted score: 110.9 (77.8%)
Matching Hearts (air date: Feb 8) – 640 pts – weighted score: 109.0 (76.5%)
Winter in Vail (air date: Jan 4) – 623 pts – weighted score: 108.8 (76.4%)
Wedding Every Weekend (air date: Aug 15) – 639 pts – weighted score: 108.3 (76.0%)
Love in Store (air date: Feb 22) – 637 pts – weighted score: 108.2 (75.9%)
Christmas in Vienna (air date: Nov 14) – 636 pts – weighted score: 107.0 (75.1%)
A Nashville Christmas Carol (air date: Nov 21) – 634 pts – weighted score: 107.0 (75.1%)
Love on Harbor Island (air date: Aug 8) – 634 pts – weighted score: 106.9 (75.0%)
Holly & Ivy (air date: Oct 31) – 615 pts – weighted score: 106.8 (74.9%)
The Secret Ingredient (air date: Feb 15) – 617 pts – weighted score: 105.2 (73.8%)
The Christmas Doctor (air date: Nov 15) – 605 pts (weighted score: 104.8 (73.5%)
Country at Heart (air date: Oct 3) – 611 pts – weighted score: 104.1 (73.1%)
You’re Bacon Me Crazy (air date: Apr 4) – 591 pts – weighted score: 104.0 (72.9%)
My Best Friend’s Bouquet (air date: Oct 10) – 599 pts – weighted score: 103.4 (72.5%)
The Christmas Ring (air date: Nov 7) – 609 pts – weighted score: 103.3 (72.5%)
Fashionably Yours (air date: Apr 11) – 594 pts – weighted score: 102.6 (72.0%)
Follow Your Heart (air date: Oct 4) – 585 pts – weighted score: 101.6 (71.3%)
A Godwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love (air date: Nov 22) – 587 pts – weighted score: 100.9 (70.8%)
Christmas Tree Lane (air date: Oct 24) – 574 pts – weighted score: 100.3 (70.4%)
A Valentine’s Match (air date: Feb 1) – 562 pts – weighted score: 99.8 (70.0%)
Love On Iceland (air date: Jan 18) – 563 pts – weighted score: 99.4 (69.7%)
Hearts of Winter (air date: Jan 25) – 561 pts – weighted score: 98.2 (68.9%)
Heart of the Holidays (air date: Nov 23) – 570 pts – weighted score: 97.9 (68.7%)
Jingle Bell Bride (air date: Oct 24) – 558 pts – weighted score: 97.9 (68.7%)
Just My Type (air date: Mar 28) – 565 pts – weighted score: 95.4 (66.9%)
Meet Me At Christmas (air date: Nov 15) 532 pts – weighted score: 91.1 (63.9%)
Bad Date Chronicles (air date: Feb 28) – 520 pts – weighted score: 91.0 (63.9%)
Love in Winterland (air date: Jan 11) – 508 pts – weighted score: 90.7 (63.6%)
Nature of Love (air date: Apr 18) – 520 pts – weighted score: 90.3 (63.3%)
If I Only Had Christmas (air date: Nov 29) – 535 pts – weighted score: 90.0 (63.2%)
USS Christmas (air date: Nov 28) – 521 pts – weighted score: 87.5 (61.4%)
Chateau Christmas (air date: Oct 25) – 502 pts – weighted score: 87.3 (61.3%)
Amazing Winter Romance (air date: Jan 20) – 487 pts – weighted score: 85.6 (60.1%)
Love Under the Olive Tree (air date: June 20) – 473 pts – weighted score: 85.0 (59.6%)
In the Key of Love (air date: Mar 14) – 470 pts – weighted score: 82.5 (57.9%)
Love in the Forecast (air date: Jun 13) – 440 pts – weighted score: 72.5 (50.8%)
Midway to Love (air date: June 26) – 410 pts – weighted score: 69.0 (48.4%)
Falling at Look Lodge (air date: Sept 26) – 350 pts – weighted score: 64.0 (44.9%)
Romance in the Air (air date: Aug 1) – 367 pts – weighted score: 63.2 (44.3%)
Follow Me to Daisy Hills (air date: Sept 19) – 337 pts – weighted score: 62.8 (44.1%)
How to Train Your Husband (air date: May 16) – 350 pts – weighted score: 62.5 (43.9%)