Thursday, November 3, 2022

πŸŽ„11 ALL NEW CHRISTMAS MOVIE PREMIERES THIS WEEKEND as UPtv & Lifetime join in!πŸŽ„ SEE HERE:


Hold on to your Santa hats; on this first weekend in November, we have 11 all-new Christmas movie premieres on Great American Family, the Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries... and now, starting this Friday and Saturday, UPtv and Lifetime, too!

I'll guide you through all 11 NEW Christmas movies below, give you story details, and the date/time for each movie premiere!

So... get out your checklist... you'll probably want to check it twice! Hope we'll discover some new movies that are joyful and nice!

Here we go...



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Friday, November 4, 2022:




Storyline: Madison O'Hara performs as a singing elf for Christmas parties with her best friend Cooper, but her real dream is to be a singer-songwriter and to find the perfect man.

Friday, November 4, 2022
at 7pm/6c. on UPtv



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Friday, November 4, 2022:




Official logline: “When Summer’s mother Vivian moves in with her and her young daughter Chloe, her orderly existence is upended. Upon arrival, Vivian sets up an heirloom, miniature Christmas village resembling their town, and tells Chloe it grants Christmas wishes. As Chloe begins setting up the figurines, real-life events seem to mimic the scenes she creates. With a little help from the magic of the Christmas village, the family will be brought closer together and just maybe, Summer will learn to open her heart to love again.”

Friday, November 4, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel



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Saturday, November 5, 2022:




Storyline: As an up-and-coming magazine writer and a successful architect battle over ownership of an idyllic Christmas cottage, they soon discover that their cozy holiday getaway may not be the only thing they love.

Saturday, November 5, 2022
at 7pm/6c. on UPtv



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Saturday, November 5, 2022:




Storyline: Looking to escape his Royal life, a dashing prince comes to the United States to start a business in a small town in upstate New York and winds up falling for a former Olympic ice skater.

Saturday, November 5, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family



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Saturday, November 5, 2022:




Storyline: Alex (Jodie Sweetin) has wonderful memories of Christmas with her best friend Beth (Mikaela Lily Davies), until Beth starts dating Alex’s ex, Jesse (David Pinard). Because she has missed the last few Christmases with family due to her demanding job as an architect, Alex is excited to spend the holidays with her mother, Caroline (Jane Wheeler), who is opening an inn in Switzerland. Much to her dismay, she learns that Jesse and Beth are also visiting for the inn’s opening. When Alex meets Liam (Tim Rozon), a single father and the manager of her mother’s inn, Liam attempts to show her all the Christmas traditions and culture of Switzerland and helps Alex open herself up to love and forgiveness this holiday season.

Saturday, November 5, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime



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Saturday, November 5, 2022:




Official logline: “When a holiday rom-com movie shooting in her town needs a costume designer, Kerry, a local shop owner, steps into the role. While working on the movie, she rediscovers her passion for costume design and finds herself falling for Brad, the film’s famous leading man.”

Saturday, November 5, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel


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Saturday, November 5, 2022:




Official logline: “Erica is a rancher who has spent her whole life working the family farm with her mother and sister. When Aaron arrives and disrupts her plans, she starts to question what it is she actually wants.”

Saturday, November 5, 2022
at 10pm/9c. on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries


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Sunday, November 6, 2022:




Storyline: When Julieanne is mistaken for her glamorous boss at a Masquerade ball by a notoriously aloof businessman, she continues the ruse over Christmas. Will she be able to find real love in the makeshift Fairytale world they’ve created?

Sunday, November 6, 2022
at 7pm/6c. on UPtv


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Sunday, November 6, 2022:




Storyline: For as long as she can remember, Angie’s favorite part of Christmas has been the Christmas Eve tree lighting in town square. But this Christmas, her first without her mom, Angie doesn’t feel much like celebrating… until she learns her mom had always dreamed of winning the annual tree decorating contest and seeing her tree lit up in town square. Angie realizes winning the contest and decorating the town’s tree is the perfect way to honor her mom. What Angie isn’t expecting is her high school sweetheart David and his adorable daughter Gabby to enter the contest, too.


Sunday, November 6, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family



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Sunday, November 6, 2022:




Official logline: “Lisette is a popular R&B singer who’s getting ready to travel home to New Orleans for Christmas. When the media mistake a photo of her with her music producer ex as an engagement announcement, her family insists that he join her on the trip.”

Sunday, November 6, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel



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Sunday, November 6, 2022:


Storyline: Fashion designer Rachel Rocca (Mercedes de la Zerda) lands a spot in a design competition to create a tuxedo for one of the city’s most eligible bachelors, Brett Stone (Franco Lo Presti), for a Christmas charity gala. As Rachel begins to unthread his well-spun public image, she discovers the true reason behind his Christmas charity, and find themselves falling in love.

Sunday, November 6, 2022
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime



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We certainly have many *NEW* Christmas movie options this weekend. And, yes, I'm still catching up from last weekend. So far, I've watched 4, and somehow, I already feel like I'm behind. How is that possible? Anyone else feel the same, especially with 11 all-new movies coming our way this weekend?

Anyway, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has shared movie reviews with us, thus far. You are a blessing to so many who visit here.

I have seen Christmas in the Pines, which is premiering this weekend on UPtv, and I can tell you it is a family-friendly film. You can read my full review - here. (Be sure to scroll down to the UPtv movie section.)

If you'd like to check out the 2022 Christmas Movie Reviews shared by It's a Wonderful Movie family members and myself, please visit here.

To see more Christmas movies coming up, be sure to visit the Christmas Movie Schedule.

Disclaimer: Please know when I share a movie, this is NOT an endorsement of any of the actors involved, personally or professionally, with their other TV/film projects.

Please note: I haven't pre-screened ALL of the new Christmas movies airing this weekend. If you'd like to post a review on whether a film is family-friendly, please share in comments. Thank you to everyone who participates in this.


Joyous Blessings to You All, Net





SHINING HIS LIGHT:

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
We have seen His Glory, the Glory of the One and only Son,
who came from the Father, full of Grace and Truth."

(John 1:14)

63 comments:

  1. It's GAF and UP TV for me all weekend! -Maria

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    1. Maria, Same here! I've gotta get my DVR set for the weekend!

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    2. I think I’ll be sticking solely with the GAF and UP movies. I don’t know that I’ve seen it mentioned but one of Hallmarks Christmas movies promos is definitely not family friendly. It’s disheartening to be watching one of the older movies and have it keep popping up at every commercial break. Becky F.

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  2. Thank you for all you do, I really enjoy this site.

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    1. Pam, Bless you for sharing that! It truly means so much to me. I'm so glad you're here and part of this It's a Wonderful Movie family! :)

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  3. To be perfectly honest, most of these don't seem that interesting to me. I'll probably only check out a couple of them.

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  4. Loved Christmas in the Pines! I bought this dvd after Net mentioned that it was playing on FoxNation last year (I have a subscription but somehow I missed the fact that they run good movies on there!!). Christmas in the Pines would be fun for the whole family. Fun, quirky, cast and good Christmas "feels". It's a keeper. :)
    ~~Jane

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  5. I don't want to be always complaining but this is overkill!

    I'll avoid the movies with single parents although I don't mind Merry Swissmas since both parties have previously been married.

    A Maple Valley Christmas with Andrew Walker is, of course, a must watch and I like the look of Lights, Camera Christmas (unlike many here I quite enjoyed John Brotherton's Christmas movie with CCB last year) and Well Suited For Christmas.

    I've already seen two of these.

    An Unperfect Christmas Wish which unfortunately I personally thought was a silly, fatuous movie with poor acting and of little merit and I wouldn't recommend to anyone.

    Rating 2

    Christmas In The Pines.

    I would endorse everything Net has said about this - a really lovely Christmas themed family movie with everything you could want from this genre but without bringing forth all the old cliched Christmas ploys.

    Plenty of humour, a bit of drama you can lose yourself in this for an hour-and a-half and it holds your attention.

    The two leads were great and the ensemble cast all combined well together.

    One of the better Christmas movies in the past few years.

    Florence's rating 9

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  6. The one that I might like is Maple Valley Christmas.

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  7. I can't find A Christmas Masquerade to set up to record. Is anyone else having the same issue?

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    1. Grace, In case you missed it the first time, there's an encore showing today at 3pm! Hope that helps. :)

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  8. The movie deluge is ramping up! I'll check comments on this post and pick a Hallmark, HMM, or Lifetime movie that it seems no one else is planning to watch. :-)

    ~Alicia

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  9. New commenter here...For the first time in at least 14 years, I will not watch the Hallmark/Lifetime Channels for their premieres this Christmas as I'm trying to support GAF to help it become successful (the more the merrier right). I will eventually read all of the reviews on here and via other social media before I DVR or watch the other channels (not based off of social issues, just if the movie and cast seem interesting - plus, I'm wanting to scale down my tv time and do other things). Not saying I won't watch other movies, but the amount of movies this year is going to be exhausting and I'm not sure I can deal with them all. My only hope is that GAF will not try to make more than what they have now. I appreciate what you do here Net and everyone who gives a review. Thank you! - SouthernGirl

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    1. Southern Girl, Thank you so much for sharing with us! Welcome to commenting here at It's a Wonderful Movie!

      I know just what you mean about the quantity of movies this year; it can definitely be overwhelming. I used to watch every single one, but that's just not possible any more, and so many now, are ones I don't even care to see (like you mentioned) due to the content included these days.

      Whatever you do watch, if you'd like to share a review, we'd love to hear from you.

      Thank you, again, for sharing and visiting here. God's blessings to you!!!

      Delete
  10. Looking most forward to Maple Valley Christmas. Love the "ranch" themed Christmas movies (Christmas in Montana is a fave). Hopefully, it's family friendly. It's on late--10 pm EST, but I will try and watch. If not, I can catch it another time, but I will leave my review!

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    1. Thought movie was a good addition. Was family friendly and fit more with what HMM used to be. Was a believable storyline that deals with family issues. Only left me with wondering how the dad had had his eye on the property for awhile. Kept thinking it might go back to when Aaron was there when he was young.

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  11. The comment I have about Saturday probably won’t come in time for tomorrow, but as in years past, Lifetime has a movie airing at 10 CST and 11:30 CST on Saturday mornings which means each movie is 90 minutes. :)

    The other thing is I have seen a couple movies listed on the E! Network. I guess it’s due to my age, but I really like the leads in the mistle-Tones which is one of the movies airing on E! It is rated PG, and I have watched it several times and don’t recall specific things which were not family-friendly. I believe the competitiveness between the leads definitely went overboard at times. It has a good ending, and if you like music, you may want to check it out.

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  12. A Magical Christmas Village is family friendly about a woman named Vivian Todd tells her young Granddaughter named Chloe, that her miniature Christmas village can be magically grant holiday wishes. as Chloe begins setting up the figurines; real life events seem to mimic the scenes she creates. Vivian moves in with her Daughter named Summer & Granddaughter named Chloe and immediately sets up a miniature Christmas village. Vivian is a firm believer in magic & her Daughter Summer who doesn’t believe in magic & Granddaughter who does believe in magic. Chloe playing with figurines to make Summer & Ryan together alongside the way to cross the path when the Christmas village lit up like magic. Ryan meets with Summer’s Mom named Vivian by saying that his Brother named Chris bought her house. Christmas Village seems Magical. Chloe tells her Mom; Summer that’s him whose turned out to be Ryan when her Mom tells her he’s Toy Drive Donations. Ryan meets Matt Dutton & Chloe. Matt tells Ryan that he knew his Brother; Chris. Summer’s Sister named April & her Brother in Law named Matt Dutton have children on their own. Summer is totally into Ryan when he kisses her they dressed in costumes. Chloe makes a snow in Christmas Village when comes true when her catchphrase “Best Christmas Wishes Ever”. Summer shows Ryan a Christmas Village & when they go outside & sees the snow.

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  13. Unperfect Christmas Wish is a beautiful movie! -Maria

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  14. After reading all the wonderful comments from Net and others, I will be sure to record Christmas In The Pines. I plan to watch GAC movies.

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  15. A Royal Christmas on Ice is family friendly about a dashing Prince of Donegel is looking to escape his royal life z& he comes to United States of America to start a business in small town in upstate New York & winds up falling for a former Olympic Ice Skater. He meets up with Dylan Blake is a Creative Consultant. Prince John fondly of hockey. He has a Brother & Marshall. Abbie returns on Ice for Christmas Ice Parade at Evanston Ice Area. Prince John Lackston of Dongel takes a duo or duet with Abigail to take a bow

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  16. Light, Camera, Christmas is family friendly about a fashion designer named Kerry Devine signs on to be a costume designer for movie called; “My Favorite Santa”, that’s shooting in her hometown in LA. While rediscovering her passion for crafts, she winds up falling for film’s famous leading man named Brad Baxter.
    Jill & Caleb and Brad Kerry get together

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  17. A Maple Valley Christmas

    Erica Holden has spent her whole life working toward a set of goals: buy back the half of Maple Valley Farm her mother Ina had to sell years ago when money was tight and now allow her mother to retire. As Christmas time rolls in and Maple Valley Farms begin their week-long, unforgettable Christmas activities, Erica is about to reach those goals when Aaron Davenport shows up to put an offer in on the land for his family’s business. While Erica fights to protect her farm & resist her growing attraction to Aaron, she is presented with opportunities that has her rethinking her commitment to the family plan. With Christmas in the air, will Erica change course and search for a different dream, and will Aaron realize that some things are not for sale?

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  18. A Royal Christmas on Ice is very beautiful! -Maria

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    1. My only thought is that it left a lot of things up in the air. Maybe a lead in to a sequel.

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  19. Christmas in the pines was so fun! I loved it. -Maria

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  20. Christmas in the Pines is family friendly about Ariel is an up-and-coming magazine writer, and Mark, a successful architect, battle over ownership of an idyllic Christmas cottage, they soon discover that their cozy holiday getaway may not be the only thing they love. The two people at first disliking each other because they both want to own a cottage.

    Magazine writer Ariel Colt is headed for “the least Christmassy Christmas ever,” when her boss drafts her to write an antithetical Christmas story less than a week before the holiday. He’s interested in sensational stories rather than the sappy ones his father sought when daddy owned the magazine. So he wants her to write about a Grinch, a Scrooge, somebody who hates Christmas and doesn’t think twice about it.

    Never mind that this is galactically bad planning on his part. Never mind her reluctance to write such a story, even if it wasn’t on such short notice. This leads her to the cottage she just bought in Winter Springs, N.C.

    Or rather, the cottage she thought she bought. When her agent gives her a tour of her new property, she encounters Mark Henderson with his own agent. Turns out that Ariel and Mark submitted the same offer to the genial old Mr. Noel, who owns the place and accepted both offers.

    Here, the movie turns into something akin to The War of the Roses. The contrived way that this double-ownership problem is to be solved is negotiation under duress. Possession being nine-tenths of the law, as the saying goes, neither Ariel nor Mark can leave the property without forfeiting their claim to ownership. And if they don’t come up with a deal by Christmas, both lose the right to buy it.

    The water’s been shut off. There’s no food. They’re adversaries. How will they survive this?

    Enter their families, each secretly summoned by the other with warfare in mind. But the families unexpectedly get along, supply missing pieces (info, food, holiday companionship) and slowly Ariel & Mark grow on one another. Sensational starts listing toward sappiness.

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  21. "A Magical Christmas Village" -- free from same-sex content. However, the grandmother is a bit of a free spirit type who was living with some man we never meet before he sells his house and moves away. She is very into "the universe" working things out. Also confused about Alison Sweeney's character and her daughter's father—we just hear that she moved nearer family when she "decided" to have her daughter. I enjoyed parts, including Alison's acting and, especially, the daughter, who is sweet and imaginative and not a brat! But, for me, the movie is not going to make the favorites list.

    ~Alicia 

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    1. Alicia, I totally agree with you! I had a feeling I wasn't going to like this movie because of the "magical village" thing, but on top of that, they go on about relying on "the universe". Whatever happened to praying for help and guidance?? And that ending, where Alison totally interrupts Luke when he's handing out gifts to the kids? Ughh! I won't be watching this one again!

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  22. I decided to watch A Maple Valley Christmas on HM. It was good but it is so hard to watch movies on Hallmark because I am always waiting for some woke message to be slipped it. There was none in this movie but I could not really enjoy the movie. I am going to just stick to GAC family movies. So far I have 3 still saved on Frndly to watch.

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    1. Ken, I know exactly what you mean. I decided to come here before watch a movie to see if its non-woke and family friendly. It's too tiring to watch while wondering if every little line or person that shows up is going to present an issue for me.

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  23. "All Saints Christmas" -- family-friendly. This is a gently-paced movie that I enjoyed on a sleepy Sunday night. Not complicated, but had sweetness, family, some nice music, and a touch of humor. Loved the dad's rule that unmarried couples stay in different rooms. πŸ™‚

    ~Alicia

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  24. Love at Christmas Contest is family family us about Angie enters a tree decorating contest to honor the memory of her Mother. Angie seems seems surprise that her High School Sweetheart named David & his Daughter named Gabby have entered the contest too

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  25. A Christmas Masquerade has lots of great humor! And is all around sweet. -Maria

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  26. Love at the Christmas Contest was really fun and sweet! -Maria

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  27. I liked most of Maple Valley Christmas. I didn't get to see the beginning, so I can't say 100%, but from the part I saw, it is family-friendly and had no LGBTQ or woke garbage mixed in. I was just so annoyed at the end. At first, I thought, oh, wow! They are going to allow them to pray over their meal! I was so pleasantly surprised that woke Hallmark would actually allow movie characters to pray, and then the more they got into the prayer, the more annoyed I became. It was the strangest "prayer" I have ever heard! They didn't address the prayer to anyone. They didn't close their eyes. Of course, they didn't end the prayer, "In Jesus' name." Not that I expected them to ever allow the name of Jesus to be mentioned in a respectful way, but I don't even think they said "amen" at the end. If I remember right, they just ended the "prayer" by saying, "Merry Christmas" or some other phrase. It just really sickened me the way they made a mockery of prayer, and if they think they were appeasing Christian viewers by "praying" so disrespectfully, then they are even more lost than I already knew they were. Either pray right and leave God and Jesus in the equation or don't put that part in there at all.

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    1. Wow, that is so sad to hear. I was looking forward to this one. So dishonoring to our Lord who not only created us and gave us everything, but gave is beloved Son to die for us. Our world is changing and everyday Jesus's name is being more erased.

      This film might be family friendly, that that right there is more than enough for me to pass it by. Thank you so much for sharing this!

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    2. I thought the same thing about the dinner

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    3. I thought the same thing about the before dinner speech. I agree why say a blessing if you are not going to pray to God. I was going to post about it but I didn’t want to be petty. Hallmark does not want to Offend its atheist viewers. They are such a joke.

      Delete
  28. Review: Love at the Christmas Contest -
    Family-friendly? Yes -
    Keeper? No -

    I just couldn't get into this movie - it just seemed to plod along.
    You know how some people like to make fun of these kind of movies for being to cheesy or whatever? Unfortunately this seemed like the kind of movie that would make an easy target for them. So-so plot, so-so acting, very predictable with a lot of the usual happenings (snow-ball fight, building a snowman, baking Christmas cookies, decorating a tree, etc.). And in the story, unless I missed something, he turns down a job offer in London, but in a later scene he says he is leaving for London because he has taken a job there. Sorry - not for me.

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  29. Congratulations to Andrea Brooks on her upcoming baby boy! This will be her second time filming while pregnant. I pray God's blessing on her and her little one!

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  30. Lights, Camera Christmas. Okay, that was a lot of fun!! Well-acted all around. Not so much a warm, fuzzy, Christmas “feels” kind of movie where they make gingerbread and such, but it was sweet and funny with good banter between the leads. The only thing that didn’t thrill me was the resolution of the conflict, it didn’t ring completely realistic and almost seemed like someone else wrote the ending or was a bit like they patched it in at the end because they didn’t know how to resolve it; but still a good movie. Family friendly. I think it’s a keeper (at least for now).
    ~~Jane

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    1. I loved "Lights, Camera, Christmas!".Kimberley Sustad & John Brotherton were a great pairing. Family friendly.

      While "A Magical Christmas Village" was a good, Family Friendly, there was talk of chakras, feng shui, & magic. I'm considering deleting it.

      Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

      Delete
  31. Unperfect Christmas Wish. Ugh. I’m sitting here thinking of all the better ways I could’ve spent those 90 minutes. And I’m guessing I’m probably going to be in the minority on this one and others will think this was a super cute movie. I am so NOT the UPtv demographic but every once in a while they have a movie that is super cute and not too silly for my taste so I keep tuning in and watching. Unfortunately, “Unperfect Christmas” was not one of those hits for me. I knew after 15 minutes that it wouldn’t be perfect but I kept watching and hoping it would improve. For me, the whole movie was a bit silly and low-budget but the worst part was the lead actress and her immaturity and lack of acting and singing ability (which was a shame since the whole thing was about her and her self-centered, precious dream of a singing career!). I think if she had had the voice of someone like Jessica Lowndes or Laura Osnes or even Kellie Pickler it would have been easier to watch her poor acting skills. None of the movie really hit a good chord with me, but I thought the lead actor did an okay job with his role of taken-for-granted-bff who is secretly in love with his childhood sweetheart. And I thought there were a few fun moments with his brother and the roommate of the lead actress. The movie is family friendly and has a sweet premise and would probably be good for a family of varying ages to watch together. It would also probably be a good movie for tween-age girls who have a crush on a cute guy at church and dream of singing together at the Christmas Eve service and someday getting married in the same church…. or something silly along those lines? But, unfortunately(?), I am long past those days.
    ~~Jane

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    1. I'm a big fan of UPtv but thought this was their worst movie this year and rated it a 2 - Florence

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  32. Merry Swissmas. Overall, I liked this movie. The production felt natural, I didn’t feel like I was watching an overly-ornate, fake Hallmark movie set. It was probably filmed in Canada, but I actually felt like I might be in Switzerland. The chalet was cozy. The family together around the table playing board games was cozy. The scenery was beautiful. The village Christmas market was sweet. The snow was real. The sledding was real and fun for the whole family and not just an excuse for the lead actors to end up rolling around in a snowy embrace (and, thankfully, the directors didn’t even use that tired old ploy!). They even had an advent wreath that they lit every Sunday (of course, they missed the real meaning of the advent wreath, but it’s Hollywood so I didn’t expect it to be otherwise). I’m not a huge Jodie Sweetin fan but I thought she was fairly believable in her role. All of the cast was good, including the children; the lead actor was good but sometimes his whispery voice bothered me. Of course, there were some things that were not believable. For instance, the lead actor supposedly used to manage some of the largest, most expensive and prestigious hotels around the world but he claims to be “underwater” just helping her mother open a small guest chalet and therefore desperately needs Jodie’s help (and that “help” entails him being her tour guide all around the Swiss village – eyeroll !?!). So, I liked this movie and thought it was a refreshing production but, ultimately, probably not a keeper for me, although I’m not sure yet. It was family friendly except it was mentioned (maybe twice?) that Jodie’s former boyfriend is now dating her former best friend and they are living together, back in the U.S., before they get married. Jodie’s reconciliation with her best friend (and getting over her childish anger about the two of them now dating) is a major part of the movie but the living together thing was only a brief mention and it was never shown.
    ~~Jane

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    1. Jane, your fabulous review makes mine look like a magnet message left on the fridge. 🀣 You've summed up this movie masterfully, my friend!

      ~Alicia

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    2. Ah, Alicia, I wish I could be less wordy and more articulate, eloquent and succinct, as you are! I loved your fridge-magnet review for this movie -- it said all that we really needed to know. :)
      ~~Jane

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  33. Well Suited for Christmas. So, I loved almost all of this movie. All the actors were great. It was fun, romantic, witty, warm, family was very important to the characters, and there was a nice emphasis on the needs of foster children in society, etc. But…. ultimately, it was NOT family friendly and I’m going to have to delete it. Such a shame they ruined it. Here’s the scoop: the main actress is a menswear fashion designer in NY city. Do I need to say more? 😊 It is not unusual to find male fashion designers who are gay, so it’s not surprising that one popped up in this movie. In the very beginning of the movie there is a scene with two people working in the design shop that are sort of genderless? Just a quick, vague scene (but unnecessary). Then later five top designers are chosen to design tuxedos for five famous bachelors. The top designer chosen out of the bunch will win a prize and people at the charity gala all get to bid on a date with the various bachelors to raise money for the lead actor’s charity, which benefits foster children. Anyway, towards the beginning of the movie one of the male designers says “I bid on a bachelor here in 2009” and someone responds “Yes, I attended your wedding in 2010”. That was it. It's completely up to your imagination to decide whether he is gay and whether he married a man; but it's really rather obvious (unless you're clueless about such things?). The designer is one of the lead actress’s friends and he seems a bit flamboyant but nothing else is shown or mentioned until the very end of the movie when you see that same designer in the background dancing with arms around the guy who I’m guessing is the one he married. So, it’s not family friendly and I guess I should have quit in the beginning. But, boogers!, it was a cute movie with a fun cast. Oh well, more space on my dvr now!
    ~~Jane

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  34. Does anyone else love the opening credits of these Christmas movies? They often use stock video footage but I don't even care. I just love seeing the snowy town or big city all decorated for Christmas!!
    ~~Jane

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  35. A Christmas Masquerade. I quite liked it! I’ve said before that I’m not a huge UPtv movie fan, mainly because I feel that I’m not their target younger audience. And this particular movie was very predictable and silly in places and, of course, unrealistic. But it was also sweet and fun and warm and a nice, lighthearted way to spend an evening. I enjoyed the characters and the relationships and I loved the sets for the different homes and the talk of Polish traditions. Not a keeper for me, but good for a one-time watch. I think it would be a fun movie for the whole family; and if you like “royal” movies, this had a bit of that kind of feel. Family friendly, but a couple of very mild notes of caution. I thought one of the ballgowns was a bit low cut (but that might just be me). The whole mistaken identity thing is allowed to continue, so that would mean everything is based on a lie; but this is often the plot for many of these type movies. Also, her best friend is like part of the family as well as being her boss (the one she was mistaken for) so they switch and pretend to be each other until they can land the new client. While doing this, the best friend uses her time babysitting the other’s daughter to “decide” if she wants to have a baby on her own. There’s no boyfriend, fiancΓ©, or husband in the picture, she just sort of clinically makes the decision that she’s “ready” and can handle single parenthood after she babysits the preteen girl for two weeks. Huh??? What happened to husbands and fathers??? (By the way, the main character’s husband died sometime in the past. How Hollywood convenient!!).
    ~~Jane

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  36. For me, Christmas In The Pines was the best movie of all. This is a keeper for me. Loved everything about it.

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  37. "Merry Swissmas" -- Family-friendly except we are told two of the characters are living together unmarried. Nothing is shown. Other than that, I'd say it's a fine movie for a one time watch. Merry Christmas!

    ~Alicia

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  38. ‘Masquerade Christmas Ball is family friendly about 'When Julieanne is mistaken for her glamorous boss at a Masquerade ball by a notoriously aloof businessman, she continues the ruse over Christmas. Will she be able to find real love in the makeshift Fairytale world they’ve created?''

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  39. Hey Net - A couple of days ago I wrote a (positive) review on Lights, Camera, Christmas! Did you get it? I don't see it posted anywhere. Thanks!

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    1. Mark 25, Oh, no.... I'm so sorry, but I've looked high and low, through the spam comments, etc... and I cannot find your review for Lights, Camera, Christmas!

      Would it be possible for you to share your thoughts again? I feel so bad... I truly apologize for this inconvenience. I cannot imagine what happened to it. So very, very sorry.

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    2. No need to apologize, Net - somehow it just got lost in space. (Kind of like my mind sometimes!) Anyway, here is what I can recall in my comments...

      I went into this movie with some trepidation, but it turns out I really enjoyed it. It reminded me a little bit of A Christmas Movie Christmas, which also had a character playing a stuck-up actor. (In fact, I found it amusing that in both movies the stuck-up actor talks to a character named "Evie"!) I thought the chemistry here was right on, and the two leads looked like they were having a lot of fun. It had some humorous moments, which is always a plus for me. And what do you make of Kimberly's wink to the audience at the end of the movie? For me, I think she was just saying, "Well, what did you expect for an ending?" (Like I said, humorous.) This one's a keeper for me!

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  40. All Saints Christmas is family friendly about Lisette is a popular R&B singer who's getting ready to travel home to New Orleans for Christmas. When the media mistakes a photo of her with her ex as an engagement announcement, her family insists that he join her on the trip. Lisette is a successful R&B artist traveling with her music producer—and ex boyfriend—before the holidays. As she prepares to return home to New Orleans to celebrate Christmas with her family, the press accidentally interpret a photo of Lisette and her ex as an engagement announcement. Her family can’t wait to meet him, and pressure Lisette to bring him alone.

    Lisette & Matthew back together & he proposes to her in front of her family & Gia Cole with cameraman see the snow

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  41. Thanks for all the comments on Christmas in the Pines. I don’t think I’d have watched it otherwise, and I really enjoyed it. I so appreciate all the commenters here (and Net of course) for helping me sift through all of the movies to find the good ones.

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    1. I'm so delighted to hear you enjoyed it and all the reviews here! So grateful to everyone who contributes.

      Blessings to you!!! :)

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  42. Review: A Royal Christmas on Ice -
    Family-friendly? Yes -
    Keeper? No -

    I think after having so many "royal" Christmas movies lately, it is going to take a really special one for me to recommend it. And this isn't it. The main problem I had is the lead actress - maybe the script called for it, but she seemed so gloomy throughout the movie, especially at the beginning. Whenever she smiled - which was rarely - it seemed forced. (She's not even smiling in the poster.) And maybe that's why there didn't seem to be any chemistry between the leads. For me, not a fun movie at all!

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  43. MAPLE VALLEY CHRISTMAS

    Family friendly, with the exception of how the divorce topic was handled, probably part of Hallmark's agenda of normalizing those. The plot is just completely overdone, but I think it is still worth watching with all the family conflicts. Andrew Walker is charming as always. Didn't have a good first impression with Erica's character, but she kinda grew on me as the movie progressed. I can totally relate to her type A personality. Aaron's relationship with his Dad was just heartbreaking and painful to watch. The odd prayer/saying grace in the end. Really, Hallmark? You can't even call it "saying grace", or let them say "Amen". Overall, I enjoyed it, but it wasn't a keeper for me.

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