There isn’t much I don’t love of about a Kristoffer Polaha Hallmark movie…..until this one.

I’m so sad I have to type that!

I knew this would be different as we start with a married couple going to a counseling sesh….but I was truly hoping it would take my heart on a journey, and I guess it did. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the warm and cozy kind.

So here’s how I break it down:
5 categories, 5 hearts possible in each

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️ Is it just me, or could Polaha have chemistry with an alpaca? When he delivers the sweet, romantic lines, they just land. I’m not sure if it was the storyline or his partner that made it hard to get into…..but the spell was broken every time Becca spoke to Robby. I never believed she wanted the relationship repaired…..and yet, poor, lovesick Robby tried his darnedest time and time again.

STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️Ugh. When you come to Hallmark Christmas movie universe….you want love and magic and romance…..not real-life marriage struggles and full-town immersion therapy. I get that it’s nice to mix it up a bit, but we don’t even get a glimpse of happiness hope until the very end….it all felt very depressing 😦

SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️ ❤️ Hey Pascale! Cute little Therapist Cameo from another Hallmark leading lady! I would be remiss if I didn’t point out the real star of this entire flick: JERRY the dog. Also, I did giggle at the inn owners, Cindy, and the Cheese Guy. Where do I get a shirt that says “Sweet Dreams are made of Cheese. Who am I to Dis-a-Brie?” Sign. Me. Up.

FEELS ❤️❤️ ❤️ So much of this movie made me feel icky….or sad….but the parts when Robby is trying to melt Becca’s heart: Those were sweet moments. That, and when they watch Jerry in the parade like proud parents…my heart warmed. Also the town decor was amazingly-over-the-top Hallmark magical, and I loved that!

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(what made this different from typical Hallmark movies)} ❤️❤️❤️ Starting off with a married couple is obviously different…but I was actually expecting the alpacas to have a larger role in this film with all the advertising and the movie poster focus. LOL! Again with the excessive drinking and hangover at the Sip and Shop? Hmm, Hallmark…. this is the wholesome, “family friendly” content you’re pushing? Not a fan of that.

14/25 I do not care to watch this again. It made me sad. I would, however, love an Alpaca-gram. That would be cool.

WELCOME BACK to the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!!!

I honestly wasn’t going to do reviews this year……I gave it up mid-2021 season after getting a little burnt out. Since watching the first movie of Christmas 2022 though….I feel like I need to sit on my hands cuz I’m too darn excited to contain the urge to start writing these things up!

So, here goes nothing! I’m watching all Hallmark AND GAC Family movies this year, so we will see how this plays out (or, more to the point….how long I can keep up) That’s 58 movies, my friends. Pray for me.

Straight out of the gate, Hallmark packed some BIG punches with “Noel Next Door”. Is this Hallmark’s new direction? Or were they just trying to turn all the heads right away?

So here’s how I break it down:
5 categories, 5 hearts possible in each

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Holy smokes! Natalie Hall & Cory Sevier made the best of every scene they were in together! The flirting was cute and sincere….the quiet moments were very heated. It all worked between these two!

STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I was nervous that the storyline would be similar to “Christmas Next Door” circa 2017, but was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t resemble it at all. It was nice to see Jeremy’s character have two very different sides….I think that’s super important for people to see/realize….not everyone is all bad/all good. The conflict and resolution had me on my toes too…unexpected in a good way.

SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Did we have some characters! Dearest Henry: I feel for this kid, but dude’s a little liar….happy he fessed up in the end. Noel’s blind date: every internet troll rolled into one? Jeremy’s blind date: most uncompassionate person ever? Horrible customer man? Ex-husband that cheated on his wife with dental hygienist/living in family home/trying to take Christmas day away from mom? Noel & Jeremy’s friends and family were alright…..but really, the only person that I liked was Luis, the poor HOA guy, and obviously he is getting great therapy wherever he is going because he deals with some real crap and still manages positivity!

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️ Noel and Jeremy’s chemistry really carried this movie for me. Every diner scene made my heart swell! The leaning in over the apple pie….the smooth talking Jeremy forgetting his food….so much good dialogue between these two!

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(what made this different from typical Hallmark movies)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ This entire movie was pushing the boundaries for Hallmark Channel. I thought it was a Lifetime movie, but and the very least it deserved to be on “Hallmark Movies & Mysteries”: Multiple mentions of Ex-husband’s mistress, heavy drinking, custody battles….sure, it’s “real life” but is that why we come to watch Hallmark? I mean, unless we’re just waiting for the “plug” for Tampax 😉 See what I did there?

Oh, and real quick….can a person who walks with a cane really ice skate that well? or kick a soccer ball like that? Honestly asking here…….

21/25 I feel like I almost need to watch it again to truly feel the warm & fuzzies that Natalie & Cory brought to the plate while being prepared for all the hot buttons Hallmark was trying to push.

Merry Christmas to All!

As I embarked on the 2021 Hallmark Christmas Movie season, I had high hopes of reviewing all 41 movies for you….but as life got busy, as most lives do….something had to give.

Was I still going to make time to watch all 41 movies? You better believe it! I mean, I did start an entire Hallmark Christmas Movie Showdown Bracket that included 32 of them already, so might as well watch them all, right?

Unfortunately for those few that enjoyed my more comprehensive public reviews, I will be going about them in a style more similar to this one. Short and sweet. Kind of a quick list of Best to Worst….and since we are at the end of this 2021 season, this one is all comprehensive, but in the future, I’ll be keeping a living/working list of new premeries…..don’t worry, if it doesn’t make sense now, it will!

My Ranking System has 5 categories……and stills Features 5 hearts.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️LOVED LOVED LOVED IT! meaning: this movie gave me ALL THE FEELS! Leads had amazing chemistry….Storyline was fun/super touching/inspiring/tear inducing….maybe all of the above! I would seek out to watch again!

❤️❤️❤️❤️Really Really Enjoyed It! meaning: this movie was almost a LOVE LOVE LOVE. Almost all of the feels, but maybe didn’t quite hit all the right notes. Just missing a little something, but overall really great!

❤️❤️❤️Liked it. meaning: I liked it. It was a fun watch. I enjoyed the story or the characters, but maybe not both at the same time.

❤️❤️It was Okay. meaning: I liked it ok. I could see how many people would love it, but it wasn’t amazing to me. Maybe the storyline was too far fetched or one we’ve seen too much.

❤️Meh. meaning: Didn’t spur huge emotions from me either way. Perhaps boring. May have fallen asleep (even with eyes open) awful. no chemistry between leads. storyline doesn’t make sense. had to power through to even finish the movie….

Now, please remember, I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with Hallmark in anyway. These are just my opinions of the movies after I have watched them….and I have watched a LOT of Hallmark.

Now, without further Ado….

Here are my Rankings of Hallmarks 41 Christmas Movie Premieres:

(movies in each category are in no particular order)

❤️ Meh. meaning: Didn’t spur huge emotions from me either way. Perhaps boring. May have fallen asleep (even with eyes open) No chemistry? No plot? No likey

❤️❤️It was Okay. meaning: I liked it ok. I could see how many people would love it, but it wasn’t amazing to me. Maybe the storyline was too far fetched or one we’ve seen too much.

❤️❤️❤️Liked it. meaning: I liked it. It was a fun watch. I enjoyed the story or the characters, but maybe not both at the same time.

❤️❤️❤️❤️Really Really Enjoyed It! meaning: this movie was almost a LOVE LOVE LOVE. Almost all of the feels, but maybe didn’t quite hit all the right notes. Just missing a little something, but overall really great!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️LOVED LOVED LOVED IT! meaning: this movie gave me ALL THE FEELS! Leads had amazing chemistry….Storyline was fun/super touching/inspiring/tear inducing….maybe all of the above! I would seek out to watch again!

So, there you have it!

Have you watched them all? Or most? Or some?

Agree or disagree with me?

At any rate…..maybe this will narrow down your must watch list a little!

Happy Hallmarking!

Winter movies start January 1st! 😉 ❄️

After Laura Osnes’ Hallmark debut last year in One Royal Holiday….I was so excited to see this movie…

my expectations were so crushed, I still don’t think I’m over it.

What am I missing on this one?

I feel like I was in the twilight zone the entire time I was watching this….

also, I spent way too much time googling who “Train” was than I care to admit.

So here’s how I break it down:
5 categories, 5 hearts possible in each

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️There was just something about Claire and Ryan I couldn’t get behind. I didn’t buy this relationship at all…..I have to admit that it had something to do with the fact that although Kyle Selig is 29, he looks like he’s closer to 20….and Laura Osnes is a gorgeous 36 year old woman….who needs a MAN. Sorry. I said what I said. They did make out up with it at the end with the longest kiss ever in the history of Hallmark movies though….where in the world was that heat all movie?

STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️ok, so here’s what I don’t understand….you have cast Laura Osnes, a killer broadway star as your lead, and she doesn’t sing? And, Kyle Selig (who I had to google) a broadway star in his own right….is the “CELEBRITY SINGER” but only sings backup….to Pat Monahan of Train (who I ALSO had to google–that one embarrassed me), who is hiding that he wants to be a singer…but ends up as an opening act to an acapella group that WAS NOT GOOD…AT ALL. Was this suppose to be a parody?

SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️So, Train. At first I thought I hadn’t heard of this band because I was too young….I mean, Jackson looks like a lounge singer, right? Turns out, after a little research….I’m too old? Listen, I KNOW all of the songs Train has made famous. I just didn’t know who sang said songs….or what the group/singers looked like. Apparently when you are pregnant forever and raising little babies, you don’t take the time to looks up band names or singers anymore. LOL! Oops. Sorry, Train, I actually love a lot of your songs. Now, was Pat Monahan an amazing actor. Short answer: no. Songs were good though.

FEELS ❤️❤️Aside from the BIG OL’ Monster Kiss at the end….this movie was fairly blah for me….they could have at least gave us the whole variety show! That would have been entertaining!

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(what made this different from typical Hallmark movies)} ❤️3 HUGE musical talents in one movie…and barely utilizing them. Surprise in the wrong direction.

9/25 Sadly, do not want to ride this Train again

Dare I say….this may be my favorite CCB Christmas movie….

….so far….

So here’s how I break it down:
5 categories, 5 hearts possible in each

CHEMISTRY _{(between the leads)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ with all the hype about a DJ & Matt reunion…I really went into this guarded. I didn’t love Fuller House. (Full House was far superior in every way…I’ll fight you on that) BUT. This Ben and Lana: sign me up for everything they do together! Wow! The bickering, the flirting, the honesty…whispering in her ear….I loved it all! Something about this relationship just seemed so real…like, not Hallmark hokey. yes 👏 to 👏 it 👏 all 👏

STORYLINE _{(overall plot of the movie)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ This competition was so fun! Loved how they shot it like a reality show and had them speak to the camera! Loved the moms, grandmas, and kids playing a part. Again, this was just written so well! Our characters both grew and learned so much over the course of the story!

SUPPORTING CAST ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Lana’s mom was like a REAL mom! Not Hallmark perfect and I was here for it! I loved how she was totally a mama bear on her daughter’s side….but then also saw how life just isn’t black/white…and Ben’s grandma was so sweet too! Gotta love when the moms/grandmas shake their groove thangs!

FEELS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Ben and Lana made me laugh out loud so many times! Too many cute lines to name…and then too many moments that made me swoon. Ben was a smooth operator! I’ll tell you what, I’ll never get over being charmed by him 😏 and then the head-to-head convo by the fire….and just when I thought I wasn’t going to cry this movie….CCB goes and rips apart her Christmas tree in tears 😭

HALLMARK SURPRISE _{(what made this different from typical Hallmark movies)} ❤️❤️❤️❤️ there were so many times I felt like the writers poked fun at typical Hallmark plot points! “Like what, she’s just going to burn her MBA and buy a tree farm in the country?” 😂 but mainly, I was surprised by the real conversations and dialogue in general…..just when I thought it would get cheesy, it didn’t.

NEW (ungraded) CATEGORY no hearts given, but I feel like some of the “traditions” or decor in these movies NEED a little spotlight. I mean…

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?!?!

1. This contest! How fun! What a great Christmas activity!
2. Also, going to look up those gold bling glasses 🤓 the ladies were wearing! I want!

24/25 this will be added to my “watch every year” list!