Tag: #countdowntochristmas2022

Hallmark Movie Review: Lights, Camera, Christmas!

Image via: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/lights-camera-christmas

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Yes Hallmark! It’s corny romcom night! I LOVE this movie!! Here’s a quick recap and my two cents 😉 

Quick Recap

Kerry is thrown into costume designer on the movie My Favorite Santa, which is being shot in her hometown. She runs into Brad Baxter, the leading actor of the movie several times. She doesn’t fawn all over him, which makes him interested in her.

My Two Cents

Wow! What wasn’t there to love about this movie?! Corny comedy, killer casting, and a great plot! I loved every dorky cheesy moment! The first 90 minutes had me constantly giggling and Jeff wondering what was in my water tonight. 🤣

I was in stitches over what a tool Brad was! From the smoldering looks to the conceited phrases. Plus the winking and perfect hair 24/7. It all contributed to the overly corny romcom. And I loved every minute.

I especially loved the Caleb and Jill lovers to haters to lovers side romance. And Jamie replaying what each of them said when the other was standing right there. Priceless! They were so funny to watch.

I think the only thing missing from this movie was a Paul Campbell cameo. Actually, I’m missing the cameos in general this year. I really enjoyed them last year! I’m hopeful Hallmark will bring them back in the future!

Before I finish this, I want to give a shout out to Kimberley Sustad and John Brotherton! They were great together! Kudos you two! And one other quick shoutout to everyone else! The casting was great on this movie!

Romcoms like these are my bread and butter movies. I’d watch them everyday/all day. But I know there will be many who find it too corny and too dorky. If you decide to watch this, please keep in mind that they intended it to be every bit as dorky as it is. Every wink, joke, and goofy moment was intended to be lighthearted comic relief. If that isn’t your thing, don’t watch this movie. If it is, then enjoy the fun!

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Hallmark Movie Review: A Magical Christmas Village

Image via: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/a-magical-christmas-village

Rating: ⭐⭐

I’m sad to say I barely made it through this movie. It couldn’t hold my attention for more than a few minutes at a time. Here’s a quick recap and my two cents 😉 

Quick Recap

Summer’s free spirited Mother, Vivian needs a place to stay, so Summer offers to provide a home until she can find one. Vivian brings a Christmas village with her and tells Summer’s daughter that it’s magical if you believe in it. As Summer’s daughter starts moving characters around on the board, her Mom and Ryan start acting out the scenes she’s making.

My Two Cents

Oh man, I really wanted to love this movie. It has so many wonderful pieces. A magical Christmas village, Alison Sweeney, Luke Macfarlane, and a free spirited Mom. But for some reason, these pieces didn’t come together right for me. I couldn’t get into it.

Maybe where it lost me was when Summer explains that she was responsible for ensuring the bills were paid. She lost part of her childhood taking care of her free spirited Mom and always felt like she didn’t have a choice.

Movies like this are usually on HMM. They lack the light hearted romcom feeling I usually love about Hallmark movies.

I also didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between Luke and Alison. They felt like best friends going around doing stuff together. Not potential love interests.

Anyhow, I was glad it had a Hallmark happily ever for everyone. Summer and Ryan even wore the outfits from the Christmas village. Super cute. Unfortunately, I almost fell asleep several times and really couldn’t get into it. I might try this again to see if it’s a me not being in the mood tonight thing. Sometimes that happens.

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Hallmark Movie Review: Jolly Good Christmas

Image via: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/jolly-good-christmas

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jolly good fun! Or was it? Maybe! I struggled with the beginning, but the end was certainly jolly good fun! Here’s a quick recap and my two cents 😉 

Quick Recap

Anji is an aspiring writer and struggling personal shopper. She accidentally switched packages with a stranger who had intended to buy his girlfriend a gift card for Christmas. After learning of the switch Anji tracks down David to switch back the packages. David realizes a gift card probably isn’t the best Christmas present and offers her double her normal fee for helping him find the perfect gift for his girlfriend.

My Two Cents

I LOVE Reshma Shetty. Once upon a time Jeff and I watched Royal Pains and she was one of the leads on that show. I hadn’t seen her in a long time, so when the Jolly Good Christmas previews started, I was very excited to see this movie!

Despite being excited, I struggled to get into it. I’m not sure if it was me or the movie. Once again I was cranky when the movie started. So, quite possibly it was me. I kept thinking about how similar this movie was to 12 Gifts of Christmas, which admittedly kept me distracted.

Eventually I got into the movie and ended up enjoying it quite a bit. I liked the havoc created when David and Anji continued to run into Charlotte. Like when Anji’s purse became stuck in the Christmas tree and David accidentally shoplifted. I also giggled a little bit when David fell into the water and Anji commented about Americans. 🤣

There were a few good British references, which I appreciated. I like when they use local words for where they’re suppose to be. Anji said Mum instead of Mom and I think she called the trunk of the car the boot at one point. It’s the little things that I enjoy sometimes. 😉

I’m going to keep this review a little shorter, because Christmas Bedtime Stories is on and honestly, it’s already better than this movie. Why is it always the movies I’m not looking forward to that capture my interest?!

Anyhow, Jeff gave up on this movie early on. He called it dull and left. I don’t think it’ll appeal to everyone because of the slow start and David’s friend is a gay married man. I’m giving it a 3.5, but since I don’t do half stars, I’m leaving it at 4. Give it a shot! You might like it!

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Hallmark Movie Review: A Cozy Christmas Inn

Image via: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/a-cozy-christmas-inn

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

We had a divided house here tonight! Jeff liked this a lot more than I did. Here’s a quick recap and my two cents 😉 

Quick Recap

Once upon a time (prior to Dr. Brunel), Erika dated Andy in Seattle. Unfortunately, Andy left her and returned home. Erika still works in Seattle. Her boss wants to acquire an Inn in Garland, Alaska and sends Erika there to close the deal.

My Two Cents

In case you don’t know, back in 2014 there was a movie called Christmas Under Wraps. It starred all the same leads, except the female lead was Candace Cameron Bure. It had a similar plot. Dr. Brunel came to Garland, Alaska as the town’s new doctor. She falls in love with Andy and we presume they lived happily ever after.

In this movie we find out they did NOT live happily ever after. 😭 Dr. Brunel left Garland to take a fellowship offer she could not refuse. Leaving Andy girlfriendless.

I loved Christmas Under Wraps. It had magic, cuteness, corny jokes, and of course, the now famous, “that’s Garland for ya” tag line. I think if I had never seen Christmas Under Wraps, I would have enjoyed this movie more.

A Cozy Christmas Inn was cute and funny in it’s own way, but I feel like it lacked some of the magic of the first movie. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly why. Maybe because the elves weren’t as obvious? Rudy was missing? Andy’s plane was missing and a telescope took it’s place? Or maybe it was the overuse of the tag line? I’m not sure.

Honestly, maybe I didn’t enjoy it for a very simple reason…maybe I was mourning Dr. Brunel and Andy’s relationship ending. I think I would have handled it better if she had unexpectedly died, because at the end of the first movie she had changed and she was happy to be the local doctor. Not a big fellowship doctor.

Even if I was mourning Dr. Brunel and Andy, I did enjoy Erika and Andy together. They were a cute couple and the story line was interesting. I liked how they discussed their past relationship and what went wrong. I loved the Inn – it was beautiful! And I loved the ending with Andy and his Dad resolving who will take over the family business.

Even though I wasn’t a huge fan, Jeff definitely preferred this movie. I think it’s because it had less magic – he doesn’t like movies with magic. But it could also be that he likes Jodie Sweetin more and I tend to like Candace more.

Whether you saw the first movie or not, I think this one is still worth seeing. You don’t need to see the first movie to see this and it might be better if you don’t. This is definitely a solid Hallmark countdown to Christmas movie. Give it a try!

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Hallmark Movie Review: We Wish You A Married Christmas

Image via: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/we-wish-you-a-married-christmas

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

At a solid 3.5 (rounded up to 4 for ease), this movie is another cute and funny romcom. Here’s a quick recap and my two cents 😉 

Quick Recap

Becca and Robby’s marriage is in shambles. After 13 years, they’re ready to call it quits when their marriage counselor recommends a trip to Gracious, Vermont. They try to call it quits again after the first night, but a freak snowman accident keeps them in Gracious a little longer. While waiting for their car to be fixed, they begin to remember what their relationship use to be like.

My Two Cents

I can sympathize with Becca and Robby. I’ve been with my husband for almost 20 years. Sometimes I pause and ask where did the last 20 years go? College, dogs, houses, kids, it’s all made the time pass in the blink of an eye.

It’s true our relationship isn’t what it was when we first met. In many ways it’s better than it was back then. But we both put in the effort. Without that, it’s easy to let things slide and drift apart.

Becca and Robby let it slide too much, but they were willing to put in the effort to bring it back together. Luckily, they had a marriage counselor who knew of a special place they could go to reconnect.

I loved a lot about this movie! The ornament falling on the car, all the little tasks the B&B owners assigned Becca and Robby, becoming locked in the Christmas storage area, llama grams, and so much more! I especially loved the chemistry between the two leads.

My heart melted when Becca and Robby were decorating their stockings and Robby opened up about the baking class and his reasons for taking it. I loved how open and honest he was. Apologizing for what he’s done wrong.

I swear I could listen to Kristoffer Polaha (and Luke McFarlane) all night long. I loved his monologues. Both men should record stories for the Calm app. Not that I’ve used it, but I might if they were reading me stories!

Squirrel!

Not everyone will like this movie, but I think the majority of people who like romcoms will. And if you make it through until the end, the last 15 minutes are totally worth it!

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