Christmas Movie Reviews: Hallmark Movies

 

Here are a few Holiday Movie Reviews from Hallmark:

Christmas on Duty:

Military

Friends to Enemies to Lovers

Saving Christmas

The banter between the two leads was fantastic

Delivering the toys was sweet

The problems getting the toys were entertaining and I chuckled a few times.

I recommend this one.

Three Wise Men and a Baby

This is my 3rd watch

It's still funny

I love the nods to Three Men and a Baby

I adore the Christmas dance

Highly Recommended

A Royal Montana Christmas

She's a Princess, but loved the Christmas she spent on the ranch with her father. She goes back when the pressure of the royal world becomes too much.

Fish out of water

They met as children

Sweet Moments

The prep for the dance seemed a little over the top, but it worked.

I enjoyed this one; I'm a sucker for royal romances.

A Newport Christmas:

After her father tells her he's arranged her marriage to a man she's never met, Ella goes out in her sailboat where she sees a comet and makes a wish. She lands in 2025 - in the same boat.

Time Travel - the boat is mine - is entertaining

Woman has always been told she's too much

Spreading joy 

Sharing with those less fortunate

Finding home in a person

Fish out of water - Loved the Boss lady moment

This was a charming movie - high recommended

* I do think I recognized some places from Newport - but none of the famous houses.

Have you seen any of these? Did you like them?

Do you have a Christmas movie recommendation for me?

Watch That, Read This (6)

It's been a minute since I did one of these posts.

But I watched a few Halmark movies (their passport of love series) recently and they reminded me of books. 

So here goes:

 

This book is set in Italy, but it's SO good!

Paris:

 

One YA and one Adult

Not just a romance

  

This one has a little bit of adventure mixed with the romance

All the ice cream!

 

 

Christmas Movie Reviews (4)

Another round-up of some fun movies.

Magical Christmas Village

All about mothers and daughters. 

When her grandmother moves in, she brings her Christmas village. And tells her granddaughter to make a wish. Which she does. 

It was cute - but the ending was a little strange.

Not my favorite of the bunch. 

My Southern Family:

A reporter travels South to write a story on Southern Christmas - and the man who just happens to be her biological father. But she doesn't tell him who she is.

Sweet story

Moria Kelly (Cutting Edge) is in this one!

I loved the sister moments

Another fun movie to watch. 

Haul out the Holly 

Emily travels home for the holidays after a breakup

Her parents are leaving for a trip

And she's watching the house for them

Where the HOA is serious about Christmas

Against her wishes she becomes heavily involved with the events.

This was really funny and sweet. Loved the friendship moments. All the events looked really fun. 

A must watch movie - this is my second favorite Hallmark movie this year. 

 

Watch That, Read This (5)

Just two for this round...

Wedding Veil Trilogy from Hallmark with a trilogy from Jenny Holiday

 

The Perfect Pairing with Brewed Awakening - both have main characters dealing with amnesia. 

Watch That, Read This (4)

Yesterday, I talked about Ted Lasso and what sports romances to read.

And I kind of forgot about this post idea which I started last year.

And I've been watching some fun shows.

 

Lost Loves

The Lost Valentine is a Hallmark movie with Betty White

 

 or 

Gilded Age

This new series is on HBO Max. New Money vs Old Money in New York Society 

entertainmentdaily.co.uk

Baking Shows

Great British Baking Show is on Netflix

College/20 Something Life

How I Met Your Father is on Hulu

Did you miss my list for Emily in Paris 

Holiday Movies (2)

Just a few Christmas movies I've watched this year:

A Castle for Christmas (Netflix) is about an author who gets into hot water with her fans after killing off a beloved character. She travels to Scotland to find the castle her father told stories about. When she learns the castle's for sale, she decides to buy it. But the Scottish Duke doesn't want to sell, even though he can't afford to keep the castle.

This one was super cute AND written by YA author Ally Carter. I loved the knitting group. I loved the banter between the heroine and the hero. And Drew Barrymore was a surprise!

Fun Fact: There was supposed to be a younger brother of the Duke. And he would have gotten his own movie for Valentine's Day.

This is a sequel from a movie several years ago based on a book from Sheila Roberts. This movie takes place 5 years later. Both the main characters have moved on (sort of) from each other and are making waves in their professional life. But when she comes home for Christmas - the chemistry is still there. 

The kittens in this movie are adorable. It was nice catching up with these characters and seeing how their lives have changed. 

Lara's mother convinces her to enter in a local Christmas contest where the winner earns money for their favorite charity. Lara's happy to learn she's secured a spot - until she learns that her ex-boyfriend also secured a spot. Ben broke her heart and she hasn't let go of her hurt feelings. The moments between them are full of banter and anger - until they begin to remember why they fell for each other.

I have mixed feelings about this one. I wasn't a huge fan of the hero. I did warm up to him by the end. I did enjoy the Christmas contest activities. And I loved Lara's team. 

Congressional Aide is sent over Christmas to an Air Force Base her boss wants to close. Erica's supposed to uncover a reason to close the base. But the more time she spends, the more she realizes that it would be a tragedy to close this base - especially with the celebration of Operation Christmas Drop.

This was a really interesting movie from last year - based on a real operation that's been happening since 1952. It's a heartwarming tale - and a fun movie. 

Having just been fired from their job, sisters Brooke and Margot travel to Ireland to find their relatives. During a castle tour, they overhear the owners mention their event planner for the party has backed out. Margot immediately volunteers them - giving them their formers boss's name as her sister's name. Things of course spiral out of control.

This was super fun - with the party planning, the scenery, and the moments between the sisters. Of course the truth comes out at the worst possible moment - but things have a way of working out. 

Holiday Movies

The Christmas Prince trilogy:

 

I re-watched the first one and then the next two. The first one was very enjoyable. The second was terrible, it lost the charm of the first one. I wanted to smack the characters. But it did have some charming moments. The third one was also enjoyable - I enjoyed the treasure hunt and uncovering the thief.  

There's someone robbing Christmas parties - and they all have the same Santa Claus. A rookie detective teams up with a fellow detective to uncover the mystery thefts. When they discover a house for rent next door to their key suspect, they move in an set up a surveillance operation. But their cover is blown and instead they're forced to play a newlywed couple and join in the neighborhood's festivities. 

This one was super cute. I loved how they were forced to join in. It almost makes me wish for a neighborhood like this. Lots of banter and holiday cheer. And of course - getting the bag guy. Plus this has one of my favorite Hallmark actors in it. 

When Paige comes home for Christmas, her parents don't tell her it's the last Christmas at their inn. They're thinking of selling their successful inn and start traveling the world. But when the potential buyer arrives a month early - everything is up in the air. Paige believes he's just a guest at the inn and she's helping him and his son have a great time. But...

This was great. I loved the moments decorating and creating the inn's festive party. Lots of charming moments here. 

A daughter returns home after several years after being away because her estranged father was hurt in an accident. She comes for Christmas with her own daughter. Both are excited about the holidays, but he is not interested

This one was funny with the grandfather warming up to the granddaughter. Also a second chance romance. Enjoyable.

An older movie - but a sequel is coming this year, so I wanted to watch it.

A fireman isn't interested in marriage. He goes through a series of women who are all wrong for him. He ends up running into a woman studying to be a vet. She has a secret cat in her apartment. Long story short - she ends up renting a place from him.

This one was charming and of course the cats are super cute. I really like the actress - she's one of my Hallmark favorites. I'm really curious to see where the sequel goes. 

Watched in July

A mother's never been without her children on Christmas, but since her divorce he husband and his girlfriend are taking the kids over the holidays. The girls are sad until the new girlfriend invites the mother to join them all. 

This was a cute story about blended families - with some jealousy and competition thrown in. The kids were cute and there's a fun romance.

Have you seen any of these? Are you a fan?