Happy Thanksgiving,
dear "It's a Wonderful Movie"
Family and Friends!
My heart is, once again, full of gratefulness for another wonderful year, and I'm very much looking forward to sharing Thanksgiving Day with my family... as my momma, sister, and I prepare the meal together and everyone comes home once again for Thanksgiving dinner. There's nothing quite like seeing all of those beautiful faces lit up by the glow of candlelight around the full Thanksgiving table as my daddy leads us all in prayer! Oh, what joy the Holiday season brings!
Each season, just like the right spice, adds just the right flavor to our lives! This entire week, you can enjoy many NEW Christmas movie premieres! Come hungry - because you are definitely going to get your fill with this feast of films!
See all of the details for the 15 Christmas movies being served during this Thanksgiving weekend below + don't miss Jen Lilley and Jesse Hutch hosting the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade...
Wednesday, November 22, 2023:
Synopsis: Maddy's (Farber) adopted son Wesley (Jacobson) has just one Christmas wish — to meet his brother Cody (Dalman), who was adopted into a different family. Cody's father Paul (Penny) is a widower who is not ready to have this conversation with his son, so he turns down a meeting. However, circumstances bring the two brothers unknowingly together and they become fast friends, while sparks fly between Maddy and Paul.
Premieres Wednesday, November 22, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Chicago Thanksgiving Parade
The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Celebrates 89 Years of Entertaining Families Across the City and Country with Marching Bands, Giant Balloons, Festive Floats, Staged Performances and Equestrian Units, All Led by Celebrity Co-Hosts and Stars of Great American Family, Jen Lilley and Jesse Hutch!
Jen Lilley expressed her excitement for hosting via the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade website: “I am absolutely thrilled to be co-hosting the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade! As an ambassador for the ‘Christmas Is Not Cancelled’ non-profit, which raises funds for families across the nation to receive Christmas gifts, I’m grateful for this opportunity to help spread the word and to spread joy for families and children in need!”
Jesse Hutch shared the sentiment: “I look forward to supporting the amazing people of the windy city and hosting the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade with Jen. To say that I am thankful is not only true but also fitting for the day of celebration and reflection.”
Where to View the Parade...
The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade is Live Streamed (free) on Pluto TV across the country and broadcast live in Chicagoland on The CW26
Chicago Thanksgiving Parade
Airs Thursday, November 23, 2023
9am/8c. to 12pm/11c.
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Synopsis: Avery Quinn is an aspiring news anchor who's finally getting her big break on her station's Christmas morning newscast. But that's put in jeopardy when she captures an intruder in her home wearing a red suit claiming to be Chris, Santa's son, who is on his first mission. A night of adventure ensues as they find themselves being pursued by the police as well as some shady characters. Along the way, they connect over living in the shadow of their parents and inspire each other to go after their dreams.
Premieres Thursday, November 23, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Friday, November 24, 2023
Synopsis: An army reserve doctor (Candace Cameron Bure) tracks down her family’s military history with the help of a new romance (Gabe Hogan).
Premieres Friday, November 24, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family
Friday, November 24, 2023
Synopsis: When young siblings receive a magic pen from Santa that appears to be granting wishes, they request a Christmas gift they want more than anything – for their separated parents to reunite.
Premieres Friday, November 24, 2023
at 6pm/5c. on Hallmark Channel
Friday, November 24, 2023
Synopsis: Nine strangers, stranded at an airport during the holidays, unite for a Christmas road trip to Denver. Misadventures lead to unexpected bonds and heartfelt conversations.
Premieres Friday, November 24, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Synopsis: When a European Duke (Damon Runyon) arrives in the US, he realizes that his bags have been lost in transit. He has no choice but to be styled, and ultimately inspired, by Bella (Danica McKellar) the owner of a local boutique.
Premieres Saturday, November 25, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Synopsis: Famous soccer star, Graham Savoy (Moseley), has always been too busy for love, but when he comes home to Notting Hill for Christmas, he changes his mind after meeting Georgia (Ramos) – a visiting American and the one person who has no idea who he is.
Premieres Saturday, November 25, 2023
at 6pm/5c. on the Hallmark Channel
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Synopsis: As the holidays approach, Emily (Chabert) and Jared (Brown) are looking forward to celebrating the holidays together again, this time as a couple. Emily, now embracing Evergreen Lane's uniquely festive spirit, is ready to work with Jared, Ned (Tobolowsky), Mary Louise (Travolta) and Pamela (Peterman) to make this year's Christmas celebrations the best yet – even if being the HOA president's girlfriend doesn't stop those dreaded decorating citations. When a house on the block goes up for sale, it causes quite a stir with residents. When the soon-to-be neighbors turn out to be holiday royalty (Morris, Aspen), it looks like this year's competition is about to heat up. As the welcoming committee prepares for the new arrivals, only one thing is certain – this Christmas, Evergreen Lane is going to sleigh!
Premieres Saturday, November 25, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Synopsis: When ex-TV host and socialite Lex (Teri Hatcher) finds herself faced with the possibility of spending Christmas sharing a luxury chalet with her son, ex-husband, and his new girlfriend, she volunteers to work in the chalet to avoid things getting too close to home, while documenting her every move for a new wave of followers who are loving this new chapter of her life.
Premieres Saturday, November 25, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Premieres Sunday, November 26, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Synopsis: Kate Snow loves everything about the holidays. From Christmas sweaters to Christmas crafts, Kate loves it all, but what really makes her jolly is Christmas time at her shop, Treasures from the Heart, that’s been in her family for generations. This year, however, a developer is moving into her quaint neighborhood and trying to turn everything she loves upside down. To make matters worse, Kate had an electric moment with a handsome stranger on a bus, but never got his name and now has no way to find him.
Mark Goodwin may wear expensive suits and has a big job, but underneath it all, he loves Christmas and everything that comes with it. When he has a moment of connection with a particularly beautiful stranger – dressed as a Christmas elf no less – he goes on a mission to discover exactly who she is to make his holiday romance dreams come true. But when Mark and Kate discover that they are on opposite sides of a very personal battle, it will take all the Christmas magic in the world to bring these two together in time for a truly magical holiday.
*Note: this movie is also airing throughout the Christmas season on PixL.
Premieres Sunday, November 26, 2023
at 7pm/6c. on UPtv
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Synopsis: Olivia (Paxton-Beesley) is a single mom who returns home for Christmas. Her mom secretly enters her into a mural contest; she wins but partners with teacher Will (Jeannotte) to create a Christmas masterpiece.
Premieres Sunday, November 26, 2023
at 6pm/5c. on the Hallmark Channel
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Synopsis: Lucy Hardgrove (Lenz) is a screenwriter who lands the job of a lifetime when she's hired to pen the script for a remake of the beloved, holiday movie classic, His Merry Wife!, which was filmed in 1947 at the beautiful, historic Biltmore House. When the head of the studio isn't satisfied with the ending Lucy wrote because it deviates from the original's feel-good conclusion, he sends Lucy to Biltmore Estate for research and inspiration. While there, she unwittingly discovers the ability to travel to the 1947 set of His Merry Wife! through the help of an hourglass. While on set, she and Jack Huston (Polaha), one of the film's stars, spend time together and become close. But her sudden appearance has set off a chain of events that put the production in jeopardy. Before she can return to the present, Lucy must make things right or threaten to alter the future forever.
Premieres Sunday, November 26, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Premieres Sunday, November 26, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime
BONUS: MONDAY MOVIE PREMIERE!!!
Monday, November 27, 2023
Synopsis: Valerie Warrick is shocked to learn the land passed down from her grandparents isn’t in her family’s name. To save her family’s legacy and their dairy farm, she teams up with handsome veteran Walker Jennings to dig into her family’s past. Can they solve the mystery of who really owns the land in time for Christmas?
Premieres Monday, November 27, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family
Thanksgiving Week Programming:
*The annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will air Thursday morning, Thanksgiving Day, on NBC. Please read my caution for this program - here.
*Freeform will be airing Christmas classics - Thursday through Sunday, including the Home Alone movies, The Santa Clause trilogy, and more!
*The Disney Channel premieres The Naughty Nine, on Wednesday night, November 22, 2023. In this movie... "a boy realizes he must be on the Naughty List since he didn't get a present from Santa on Christmas morning, so he gathers eight other naughty kids to pull off an elaborate heist in Santa's Village at the North Pole to get their presents." *Please note: I haven't seen this movie, so I don't know if it is family-friendly for children. Encore airings will play throughout Thanksgiving weekend.
*Hallmark Drama will have a marathon of episodes from The Waltons all week, ending with the Reunion Movies on Sunday, which include A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain and A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion.
*FX will also be airing The Santa Clause trilogy on Friday and Saturday, and the Home Alone movies on Sunday, and other Christmas classics!
*TNT is airing Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Year Without a Santa Claus, etc... Friday through Saturday. On Sunday, TNT will be airing a day-long marathon of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation leading up to (I believe) the Television Premiere of "A Christmas Story Christmas" (2022) starring Peter Billingsley.
*TBS has The Polar Express, The Year Without a Santa Claus, and a marathon of Elf, Friday to Saturday.
*BYU-TV is playing 3 heartwarming movies... Christmas Jars, Shoelaces for Christmas, and Christmas Oranges.
*The Christian Channel, TCT, is airing Christmas at the Holly Hotel (2022), Friday at 5pm/4c. and Saturday at 5:30am/4:30c. This is the storyline... "When Kathy's parents, the owners of Michigan's historic Holly Hotel, ask her to return for Christmas, things become less clear for her. She reconnects with family, finds the career that she truly enjoys, and falls in love with a handsome and kind police officer."
*AMC is airing Christmas with the Kranks back to back Sunday night, and be sure to catch these endearing religious Christmas cartoons Monday morning - Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey and Little Drummer Boy Book II. Also, look for more beloved Christmas classics on Monday, including The Story of the First Christmas Snow, Twas the Night Before Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street (1947), White Christmas starring Bing Crosby, and more!
As I count my blessings this Thanksgiving week, please know, that I am so grateful for each and every one of you who takes time out of your busy day to visit here and share with others. Whether you share a review or just say hello, THANK YOU so much for visiting It's a Wonderful Movie!
Be sure to look for the NEW Christmas movies in my Christmas Movie Schedule - *HERE*!
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.
Note: I haven't pre-screened 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 the comments below. Thank you so much to everyone who participates in this.
See the current 2023 Christmas Movie Reviews - *HERE*
Savor this Thanksgiving week, everyone! I pray you make many precious memories with those you love!
Have a Happy, Blessed Thanksgiving!
God Bless Us, Everyone!
Net
🌟 SHINING HIS LIGHT 🌟
"Rejoice always, pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
So many good looking movies, not enough hours in the day to watch them all!! 😅
ReplyDeleteI'll try to watch some of Hallmark's new ones, but some I'll have to record and watch at a later date due to DVR schedule space.
All 3 of GAF's picks are at the top of my watch list
Definitely have plans to record both of Lifetime's picks.
And I'll also record Mistletoe Connection (I've had recording issues with the other 2 new UP TV movies, which is why I haven't gotten around to them just yet.). Hoping I have an easier time recording this one, because these don't rerun often!
Also gonna record Christmas at the Holly Hotel. (I like TCT).
Happy Thanksgiving! -Maria
Thankful for you and all you do to keep us informed about upcoming movies and programs! Wishing you a Blessed Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteI am falling way behind on my movie-watching. But just wanted to say, in case anyone is interested, there's a very cute Lifetime movie from 2015 that they're playing this weekend. I'm sharing because they rarely rerun it and it's not available on dvd, so it's a good opportunity to record it (I accidentally deleted my previous recording - oops - so I'll be recording, also). It's called "A Gift Wrapped Christmas". The lead actress reminds me of Kate Hudson and they're actually sister-in-laws. Lifetime is airing it Sunday, 11/26, at 10pm and again Monday, 11/27, at 2am.
ReplyDeleteHoping all have a warm and cozy Thanksgiving!
~~Jane
Jane, Same here! Been trying to catch up a little, but this is such a busy week.
DeleteThank you for adding the reminder of "A Gift Wrapped Christmas"! I know I've shared before that it is my absolute favorite Lifetime movie! Gwen and Charlie Baker are the best and that little Owen melts my heart! So glad you'll have this chance to record it again. It's been on my DVR for years now, and no one is allowed to touch it! haha!!!
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!!! Net
Wow this week is jam packed! Thank you Net for being such a great resource for all of us! I am most excited for the Hallmark ones and the mystery one. I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving however you spend it!
ReplyDelete~Paula
Haul out the Holy - maybe. The first movie was very silly, throughout the movie i felt constantly sorry for all the cast. I am hoping the second one will be better.
ReplyDeleteCatch me if you Claus - i like both actors but probably no but will wait for a reviews and then decide.
Christmas in Notting Hill - maybe, not sure yet.
Mistletoe Christmas - silly plot but will give it a try.
Our Christmas Mural - yes.
A Biltmore Christmas - yes.
Christmas at the Chalet - i've already seen it and it was nice. Terri is playing her usual silly, over the place character she has played so many times before but it's enjoyable movie.
So thankful for everybody on this site! Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving everyone!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a great week of films!!! So many! I'm leading towards Candace's, Biltmore Christmas, and Danica's. I'll even give Lacey's a try. But I'll probably skip the cheesy scenes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Net! This is always helpful. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!🍁🍊🍗(Pretend the peach is a pumpkin, closest I could find. LOL ;)
A Season for Family is a very sweet (and clean) movie! -Maria
ReplyDeleteI watched Christmas With the Prince is available on streaming platforms. It’s all about African American Christmas movie
ReplyDeleteChristmas With the Prince is family friendly After a series of events, a fashion designer named Grace returns to her hometown, where she meets a handsome gentleman to spend the holiday season with. A turn of events finds a fashion designer spending her Christmas with a prince named Robert
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving to you all
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving Day
ReplyDeleteChristmas Time is available on streaming services
ReplyDeleteChristmas Time is family friendly about a physics teacher's obsessive dislike for Christmas is put to the test when a reservation mishap sends him and his family on a trip to Lapland, a tourist destination dedicated to Christmas & surprisingly near the North Pole.
Happy Thanksgiving, Net! Thankful for you and the blessing you are by creating this blog. You truly shine His light!🧡
ReplyDelete~Kaitlyn 🥰🍁🍂
Thankful for this site and those that post here! I will be watching the 3 GAF movies. I don't know which Hallmark ones yet.
ReplyDeleteMisty
Catch Me if You Claus is family friendly is like reimagining Home Alone. Avery Quinn's shot at anchoring news clashes with a Santa-suited intruder named Chris, who insists he's Santa's Son on a first Christmas mission. They unravel a career-making story together. Twas the night before Christmas at Avery Quinn’s when her slumber’s disrupted by a would-be burglar.
ReplyDeleteShe creeps through the house to check out the clatter & spies a Santa-clad man she thought would be Father. Avery jumps into action & ties him up tight, but he pleads for his freedom so he can finish the night. He claims to be Chris, Santa’s own son, who’s got to get going and finish his run. His Dad will be angry & kids will be sad, if they rise Christmas morning with no gifts to be had.
Avery thinks he’s the "Santa Crook" who’s been on the news & is bound and determined to not let him loose. The aspiring news anchor gets a great thought—she’ll take him to the cops and tell them he’s caught! Solving this crime wave will boost her career, but soon Avery & Chris will have much to fear.
A series of mishaps lead them to take flight from the police & the bad guys searching all night. Avery & Chris go place to place as Avery begins to crack this big case. The two work together to figure it out and soon Avery sees she has nothing to doubt. Chris brings gift for Avery a new boots & he points up his finger to bring up snow. They’re on Santa’s sleigh 🛷 with reindeer.
Oh my goodness, haven't been able to see any yet, work is busy....
DeleteBut whomever spun this lovely tale, Great Job👍👍
Dr Seuss would be proud!!
Review: A Season for Family -
ReplyDeleteFamily-friendly? Yes -
Keeper? Yes -
I'm amazed at how many movies this season have the love story take a back seat to relationships among family members...and all of them have been keepers for me. Here we have developing relationships between two brothers who have been adopted by different families, become friends, but don't know they are brothers. We also have the dad of one boy who is struggling with whether-or-not to tell his son he is adopted. And yes, we have the romance between the dad and the mother of the other adopted boy. I thought that how the parents handled the relationships with their children and with each other was handled very well, very sweetly. And while Brendan Penny did another fine job here (he was great in Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas), I was not familiar with Stacey Farber, and I thought she was really, really good, with a great range of emotions. An unusual and wonderfully told story makes this a keeper for me.
I really liked this movie--of course it brought tears to my eyes, but I also liked the fact that the lead was male--and a great HM one at that. Brendan Penny did an amazing job.
DeleteLoved My Christmas Hero! Candace and Gabriel Hogan were perfect together. The military theme of the movie brought it all together nicely. Also loved they mentioned Jesus as the meaning of Christmas.
ReplyDelete-Jennifer R
Holiday Road is clean, and probably 1 of my favorite Hallmark movies this Season. -Maria
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas Hero is another huge win for GAF and Candace!! I absolutely 100% recommend you all see this fantastic movie! -Maria
ReplyDeleteLetters to Santa is family friendly about when young siblings named Sam & Izzy receive a magic pen 🖊️ from Santa that appears to be granting wishes, they request a Christmas gift they want more than anything — for their separated parents named Rebecca & Enrique to reunite them. Sam writes to Santa & Izzy draw it, put them in the colored envelopes. Camilla or Candace gets Santa’s letter each night or early morning. Rebecca works at Hines Publishing for the books📚. Camilla gets the family a dog. Enrique plays guitar 🎸 & sing 🎤. Sam & Izzy find their parents on bed 🛌. Sam gets a gift: PlayStation 5. Izzy gets a gift: Letters to Santa book to read.
ReplyDeleteHoliday Road is family friendly. It’s a true story. Every holiday season, over 7 million of us take to the skies… Unless you’re one of thousands of flights that get cancelled.
ReplyDeleteIt’s an inspired true events
Holiday Road is family friendly is based an inspired true story about a group of holiday travelers are stranded at an airport for holidays due bad weather & agree to rent a van due a road trip to Denver. When their expected journey leads them into uncharted territory, they must navigate a series of misadventures that brings them closer together. A tech entrepreneur, a travel writer, a devoted Mother & her Son, a stubborn Senior, an enigmatic woman with a hint of mystery, a couple traveling from HK, & a social media influencer agree to rent a shared van to embark on the road trip to Denver. Those travelers are at Maya’s place who is alone at Christmas. They bring some food & eat together.
ReplyDeleteThe preview turned me off. Sarah Canning seemed way too intense and annoying. Looking forward to the one in the Diner instead.
DeleteA Season for Family was such a sweet movie! Brendan Penny is one of those actors who can do the romantic comedies and dramas really well, he did an amazing job. I could really feel his inner conflict of wanting to give his son his brother but also protecting him from what he didn’t know for fear of how he would take it, as well as grieving doing that without his wife. The sister was great in her role, Iv seen her in another movie but can’t remember the title. Family friendly, would definitely watch again.
ReplyDelete~Paula
I’m very impressed that so far this season hallmark has only had 1 movie with lgbtq content in it. Every week I come to check reviews and I am pleasantly surprised
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking that same thing. It's pretty much a miracle that we have gotten this far and there has been only one instance so far.
DeleteMy Christmas Hero is beautiful in every way, plus great military tribute. family friendly.
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas Hero is the one Christmas movie that EVERYONE should watch. The scene with the young soldier who was suffering from PTSD was so heartbreaking and knowing that a lot of our soldiers suffer the same way it had me crying, The story was very well written. Candace, Gabriel, Robin, Andrew and Terri were all excellent. This is one I will be watching again and again.
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas Hero is family friendly. It’s heartwarming & tearjerker. It’s about U.S. Army reservist & orthopedic physician named Dr. LJ Nicole Ramsey is dedicated to serving military service members & their families at the Joint Military Base in Lacey, Washington. This Christmas, with the help of many dedicated heroes, Dr. Nicole Ramsey is on a mission to honor a special fallen soldier & bring much-needed healing to her own family. Nicole’s Grandfather was WWII Veteran & Purple Heart. She tracks down her family’s military history with the help with Major Daniel Ross that lead them to Joseph Murray’s place to talk to Joseph’s Dad about Nicole’s Grandfather was WII veteran with him. A military tribute of those personnel when it lit up “US Army”, “US Marine Corps”, “US Navy”, “US Air Force”, & “US Coast Guard 1790”. Joseph Murray’s Father introduced The Ramsey Family about Future Home of The CPL John T. Medlen Center. It’s Tribute of Military Veterans & Families. CPL John T. Medlan & Dorothy Medien are Nicole’s Grandparents & Nicole’s Mother’s parents.
ReplyDeleteI'm five minutes into A Christmas Hero and I'm loving it!! Their meeting is so cute! And his name is Daniel... one of my favorites in the Bible. If the Lord ever blesses me with a husband, I hope to have a little Daniel of my own.😊
ReplyDeleteReview: Catch Me if You Claus -
ReplyDeleteFamily-friendly? Yes -
Keeper? No, no, no, no, NO! -
To be frank, this is one of the absolute worst movies I have ever seen on Hallmark!! I am not even going to begin to describe the various unbelievable plots and subplots - you can get an idea by reading the synopsis above - but a movie that portrays Santa's son as a bumbling idiot? And one that also includes crooks, cops, and, oh, a gangly musical troupe? I am guessing that they were going for comedy here (perhaps given the success of Three Wise Men and a Baby?) - at least I hope they were - but anything resembling humor falls completely flat. I can't tell you how many times during the movie I kept thinking to myself, "I don't believe this...I don't believe this..."! So, I am pretty sure that if you watch this movie, you will be sorry that you wasted a couple of precious hours. I know I am!
I enjoyed A Season For Family. The only issue I had is that I could not see Brendan Penny and Jessica Sipos as siblings-- I kept seeing them as the married couple they played on Chesapeake Shores.
ReplyDeleteYes! That casting was very, very strange!!! Other than that, great movie.
DeleteSuburban prep - Oh my, I knew Jessica Sipos was in the movie, but I had no idea they would portray siblings. Yikes! That does sound very odd.
DeleteI think that would have been a nice gesture for Chesapeake Shores fans if Brendan Penny and Jessica Sipos could have been romantic interests in the movie. That's too bad, but I'm glad to know you and Savvy Girl still enjoyed the story.
Merry Christmas!!! Net
As nice as Christmas in Notting Hill looks, I wouldn't consider it to be entirely clean: Men in drag are included before the1st hour is up. -Maria
ReplyDeleteA Royal Date for Christmas had me smiling from ear to ear! -Maria
ReplyDeleteCatch Me if You Claus Is family friendly and hilarious. I don't watch as much Hallmark as I used to, but decided to watch the beginning of this one just to see. I was laughing out loud after just a few scenes. Never thought about Luke MacFarlane playing slap stick comedy, but that's basically what this was in the beginning of the movie! Good movie!
ReplyDeleteMy Christmas Hero is great! Can't watch this movie and not shed some tears! What a great honor to our military! All of the cast did outstanding performances! Loved this one. A must see!
ReplyDeleteJoyce, I wholeheartedly agree! My Christmas Hero is truly wonderful! I'm so glad to know how much you enjoyed it, too!
DeleteMerry Christmas to You!!! Net
Hallmark’s “Catch Me if You Claus” was neither family friendly nor entertaining. Despite being a big fan of Italia Ricci, I had to bail on this film when her character and Santa’s bumbling son (played by Luke Macfarlane) took refuge during a not-so-funny cops and robbers chase in the Rainbow Club, which featured a troupe of homosexual actors. Creepy and stupid are the only words I can think of to describe this clunker – Italia deserves better.
ReplyDeleteNo surprise there, given Luke's lifestyle choices AND that awful autumn movie he did a month ago. -Maria
DeleteThanks for the heads up! I did not preview this one yet as I am wary to watch anything LUke is in as of late, especially after learning of is personal life. Such a waste, will be sure and skip this one
DeleteAre you sure about the ":troupe of actors?" Or are you making an assumption. I've read two reviews so far that don';t indictae this at all.
DeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I don't recall the troupe being homosexual. I remember them being method and Shakespeare troupe. As for Luke, he may be of a persuasion I don't agree with, which I've known for years, but he has really good chemistry with his costars. You forget, and for me, it's about entertainment.
DeleteReview: Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up -
ReplyDeleteFamily-friendly? Yes -
Keeper? No -
I didn't care for the first Haul Out the Holly movie, because everyone (except for Lacey) was too self-centered for my liking. Same with this one, except now we have more self-centered people with the arrival of the new neighbors. So because of this, plus the over-the-top storyline, this sequel is a non-keeper for me.
Letters To Santa….Bummer because I feel like there was potential to be so much more with this storyline. The magic of Santa is always an exciting storyline for me, as I know many others love these movies as well. The magic pen writing letters was something new I hadn’t seen before but the relationship between the parents kind of ruined the film for me. I mean, they both clearly still had love for one another but neither seemed to be putting in the work. His whole reason for giving his mom the loan was “you have to help family” yes that is true, but to an extent. No one expects someone to abandon their parents when they marry but his new family was his wife when he married her so he should have acknowledged how she felt betrayed and apologized for not communicating with her. Then she admits she never asked for help/expressed herself growing up but doesn’t seem to want to change. I also don’t understand why the assistant Candy was even in the film. To throw a curveball in their working toward repairing their marriage? She wasn’t flirtatious with him, nor was he with her. No one was trying to play matchmaker with them so it was just strange to even have her in the film. The salsa class scene made no sense, and neither did her inviting the guy from her editor office to the holiday Christmas sweater party. I actually wanted to stop watching many times but wanted to be able to give a review to others so I continued watching. My favorite part was the grandma taking the letters from the mailbox and getting excited about playing Santa, but not enough to watch it again.
ReplyDelete~Paula
Movies I liked so far ( I do not have GAC). Navigating Christmas, A Very Scottish Christmas, Holiday Hotline, A Season for Family, Hall out the Holly--Lit Up. Out of these I really liked Holiday Hotline the best--great chemistry with the leads, and then A Very Scottish Christmas. Loved Lacey and Scott as brother and sister again. All family friendly, of course. Looking forward to A Biltmore Christmas tonight.
ReplyDeleteI watched this Elf Me on streaming service on Prime. It’s Italian Christmas movie was release on Prime last November 24, 2023
ReplyDeleteElf Me is so typical movie is like Small Soldiers. Trip is an unconventional elf. As Santa's helper, he seems to succeed only in building bizarre weapons rather than toys. Fate will lead him to meet Elia, a shy and unconventional boy pursued by a gang of bullies. The two will help each other and together discover the value of friendship Trip whose portrayal as an unconventional elf that builds weapons instead of toys adds a humorous note to the film. Things take an unexpected turn in his life after he befriends a shy, bullied boy Elia. Together they embark on an adventurous journey to save Christmas from a haughty, merciless businessman.
My Christmas Hero was wonderful! At first it was hard for me to get Norman out of my head but Candace and Gabriel had great natural chemistry so their relationship was believable to me. I do appreciate how they touched on mental health as I don’t recall seeing much of that in recent years. I also saw it in Hearts in the Game on Hallmark when the baseball player had a panic attack on the field. The scene in My Christmas Hero where the soldier was having one was so heartbreaking, I teared up with him, you could just feel the weight on his shoulders. Not only from being a husband and a father trying to provide for his family but then you add the PTSD on top of it….praying soldiers and veterans around the world have access to resources to help them like the ones in this movie. And of course that there are more people to be the light in this world and spread the good news of Jesus to them, who is the ultimate healer. Definitely will watch this one again!
ReplyDelete~Paula
Our Christmas Mural is family friendly about a single Mother named Olivia returns home for Christmas with her Son & she teams up with a teacher named Will to create a mural for holiday contest & Benjamin Ayres makes a cameo at the beginning of the movie.
ReplyDeleteA Christmas for the Ages….this movie was so enjoyable! Family friendly and fun!! It was exciting to see Cheryl Ladd! I loved the relationship between the generations and the throwbacks to decades past, including the costumes, decorations, and food! It was some funny, but I was really impressed with how often they talked of God, having a man who loved God, and knowing God will work it out the way it should be. It’s probably the movie that talks about God the most! Refreshing. Natasha is a really good actress. I like her better than her mother. The dates were very off though. Someone needed to calculate the math a little better between the third and fourth generations. Oh well. It’s definitely one I will be watching again! -Anonymous1
ReplyDeleteI truly LOVED A Christmas Hero!!! It was inspirational, heartwarming, cute, and funny. The military movies are always my favorites, but this one was definitely a winner! So pleased the GA Family is all for Jesus is the reason we celebrate!! That's what won it for me!
ReplyDeleteI especially loved how kind everyone were to each other and they enjoyed each other's company. Her parents were sweet, Daniel and Mark were likeable, funny and kind. And so were Marilyn and Nicole.
A Biltmore Christmas is absolutely amazing!! -Maria
ReplyDeleteAgree A Biltmore Christmas is a great movie. Hallmark is making more holiday movies that are family friendly maybe because they see people are leaving and going to GAC.
DeleteA Christmas for the Ages is family friendly about 4 generations of women celebrate Christmas & family in the style of 40s for Great Grandma Marie, 60s for Grandma Joan, 90s for Kristi, & today for Savannah’s clothing festive parties each family & friends prompted by their Granddaughter named Savannah.
ReplyDeleteSavannah’s Great Grandmother (Nana) Marie, Grandmother (Granny) Joan, Mother Kristi, & Savannah sing together for Nutcracker Suite onstage with their guys!
Reviews:
ReplyDeleteChristmas at the Chalet was quite fun. Even though I was mostly distracted while watching it.
A Christmas for the Ages is absolutely amazing!!
-Maria
Hallmark’s “Christmas in Notting Hill” fell flat for me because it’s hard to believe that the sister visiting from the USA would not have known her future brother-in-law was a world-famous soccer player. Secondly, the film makes reference to the sister living in London co-habitating with her soon-to-be fiancé, and it includes a totally unnecessary scene of a Christmas drag show (in which a 10-year old girl was watching). Shame on Hallmark for promoting this kind of depravity and ruining a promising story with wokeness.
ReplyDeleteDidn't care for this at all. Just had it on for background waiting for Haul out the Holly to come on, but the actors were not great and no chemistry at all. Didn't seem like a Christmas movie at all.
DeleteMovies like Christmas at Notting Hill is the reason I hate watching the Hallmark channel. Why do the always need to slip in woke messages. I loved all 3 GAF Thanksgiving weekend movies. I loved a Christmas for the ages talked about God many times.
DeleteA Christmas for the Ages
ReplyDeleteI have absolutely loved the new Christmas movies on GAF this year. I have so many new favorites that it is hard to pick my most favorite ….A Paris Christmas Waltz, A Christmas Blessing, My Christmas Hero, A Royal Date for Christmas, Twas the Text Before Christmas, Bringing Home Christmas, Destined 2, A Dash of Christmas, Christmas Keepsake…..They have all been outstanding. However……I am shocking myself, but I think A Christmas for the Ages just might be my number one pick!!
I knew I was going to enjoy this movie, but I didn't expect to love it this much! It is a wonderful movie. Everything from the script, production, actors, set decorations, and wardrobe were so professional and heartfelt!! I loved that the storyline was different and focused on family relationships with a sprinkling of romance. It was just so fun to watch but also pulled at the heartstrings. It also incorporated faith in such a positive way that was natural and not forced. All four ladies were just fabulous throughout the entire movie but they really shined in the finale! GAF needs to sign them all up for more movies! Natasha Bure was just delightful in this movie!
blessedgigi23, I agree with everything you said about this movie! I too enjoyed it more than I thought I was going to, for all the reasons that you mention. Let me just add that Natasha surprised me with how good she was - her acting is definitely on par with her mother's!
DeleteMy Christmas Hero
ReplyDeleteI have a new favorite CCB movie! We are so blessed to have Bill Abbott and CCB creating a network that is bringing us high quality entertainment that is family friendly, faith based, and honors our country! I loved everything about this movie! It was fun and festive but also heartfelt. It also incorporated faith in such a positive light. The ages of the main characters do not quite line up with WWII, but I am choosing to ignore it because I just loved this movie! The entire cast was just phenomenal! It was nice to see these familiar faces. I hope we see more of this cast in movies on GAF in 2024. Gabe Hogan is a wonderful addition to GAF and I hope GAF can bring him back for more!! Now we need Candace’s production company to make more than two movies a year for GAF. Her company makes great movies!!
A Royal Date for Christmas
ReplyDeleteI have absolutely loved the new Christmas movies on GAF this year. Danica is just as beautiful and sweet as ever in this movie. I enjoyed the storyline and it had me smiling and chuckling throughout the movie. Danica and Marcus are wonderful together and had great chemistry. He really rocked the English accent. The wardrobe team and set decorators did a great job too. Danica was just stunning in the last dance scene. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie from start to finish! We are so blessed to have Danica at GAF! She truly supports this network and always speaks so positively about it on social media!
Oooh!! I just adored A Biltmore Christmas. My favorite of the year so far!! I could watch it over and over again! Family friendly and great chemistry!! Kristoffer was terrific for that time setting. Loved the two of them singing in a old Jazzy style, the wardrobe, and the characters were all very charming. This is one that I'll buy, wish we could see more films in that era.
ReplyDeleteI love how Hallmark has been putting inside jokes, mentioning other movies during a film and it was fun seeing Wes Brown and Rachel Boston.
I hope Hallmark puts this one on blu ray!!!
DeleteHello. I have used this site for several years to determine if there was content in Christmas shows I wanted to avoid. I don’t see the specific webpage that has the movies and commentary, however. Anyone have a link to that page? Are all the movies referenced above, free from lgbt content? (15 new monies premier) To each their own, but I’d like to avoid it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHello to you! I'm so glad to hear you enjoy reading the reviews here at It's a Wonderful Movie.
DeleteYou can find the main Movie Review post with all of the 2023 Christmas movies here:
https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2023/10/2023-christmas-movie-reviews-from-its.html
Enjoy reading and choosing which Christmas movies to watch! :)
Blessings! Net
My Christmas Hero is such a wonderful and heartfelt movie! Candace Cameron Bure and Gabriel Hogan brought such a natural and genuine relationship to the screen. I enjoyed seeing them together. The supporting cast was great too. And of course the story itself - honoring the military - was so full of heart. I was so touched by the young soldier's PTSD moment, it brought tears to my eyes. They see terrible things in a war, and it's so hard for them to come back to normal life, they need all the support and love. And I like that this movie brings this topic to the screen. There were a lot of funny moments too. I escpecially enjoyed the friendship between Daniel and Mark.
ReplyDeleteAnd the most important thing, I was so happy to hear references to Jesus and God, it is so rare on TV now. So thankful they brought the real reason for the season.
Such a great movie.
~Oksanka~
I would like to add that PTSD isn't limited only to soldiers.
DeleteMistletoe Connection - no, no, no. I've stopped it around 20 minutes in. What are those writers thinking while writing these scripts? Another example of movie where secondary character, usually best friend of the main character, is pathologically nosy. She knows the main male character is trying to close their shop and she still thinks it's really good idea to help him to get closer to the main female character, her boss and friend? Why the story can't be organic like some other movies from Hallmark? Without sketchy, convenient interference of anyone around the main character? Why the main character never meddle in secondary characters lives, let them make their own life's decisions but the main character has to be manipulated into everything? Sorry for this but i am really disappointed.
DeleteA Biltmore Christmas - i am not really sure if i've even planned to watch this but i gave it a try because i hoped it will be a little bit realistic, silly me, it was basically fairytale with clear message "older is better". Want to add, i just watched 15 minutes or so. I know that Hallmark and Hallmark-like movies are already known as unrealistic romantic fantasies but i probably sometimes forget about that. It will be (probably) a bit hit but it's definitely nothing for me.
Christmas in Notting Hill - nice, one time watch. Didn't understand the meaning of her dream job, travelling special edication teacher? To travel internationally? I've studied something similar and i've never heard about this occupation. Not everywhere people speakenglish so i don't understand how this could work.
Haul out the Holly Lit up - i have to agree with others, it's unbelievably silly movie. Lacey plays the only sane character in these movies. Wes character is slightly less irritating in this one but still unbearable most of the time. Only scenes that are worth watching are romantic scenes between Lacey's and Wes's characters.
I'm planning to watch Our Christmas Mural either today or tomorrow and i hope it'll be worth of my precious time.
Review: A Biltmore Christmas -
ReplyDeleteFamily-friendly? Yes -
Keeper? Yes, with a caveat -
I have a problem with time travel movies, because unless a person travels back just to observe and does not become part of the past events, there are always holes that can be found...because when a person become involved in the past, they must be part of what actually happened - no one can change what has happened in the past. So when Lucy goes back to 1947 and becomes part of that setting, she had to actually had been there in 1947...which apparently she was, since she broke the hourglass. But then, why wasn't she the actual candy/cigarette girl in the film when she was filmed on the set? But here's an even bigger hole - what has happened to Lucy in the interim period? And what about Jack - what happened to him between 1947 and when he arrives in the present? Non-existent?
I know, I am probably analyzing this way too closely and should just go with the flow. (But that is why I have trouble with time travel movies.) So, if I just go with the flow, yes, this is a really good movie. The Biltmore was beautiful, the acting (and singing!) by Bethany Joy and Kristoffer was top-notch with great chemistry between the two, the cinematography was right on, and the storyline - time-travel aside - was unique and interesting. Plus, I loved the cameos and their reference to their movie! So for these reasons, yes, it is a keeper, but it is also why I enjoy last year's A Holiday Spectacular more - a setting in the past without any time travel.
Mark25, Oh, you had me snorting I was laughing so hard!! I never actually read the details for this movie, I just knew it was set at the Biltmore (which I love!), and it had two favorite actors in it, so I was looking forward to watching it after I clear some of the other movies off the dvr. I, also, am not a fan of time travel and I have an over-the-top logical and analytical brain so your first paragraph had me so confused and I couldn't stop laughing. Thank you, for that!!! 😄 I will try to shut off my brain and go with the beautiful flow when I eventually watch this one. ~~Jane
DeleteA Biltmore Christmas was wonderful. Bethany and Kris were prefect together. Their on screen chemistry literally jumps off the screen!! I'm not a real big fan of time travel but this one is different. Of course I was happy to see the Biltmore featured in a movie since it's located in my state!! It's a magical place and was a perfect setting for the movie. Instant classic!!
ReplyDeleteHOLIDAY ROAD **clean**
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched a lot of Christmas movies this month but this one was sooo good! Honestly, it might be hard to top. I was skeptical when I read the synopsis but it was nothing like I imagined. It was so enjoyable and really really fun to watch! It was like watching 7 Christmas stories in 1 movie. Some parts were so funny, some were touching, some parts were heartbreaking. Loved the banter between the leads which couldn't be more different, but opposite definitely attracted :) My favorite scene was when Ember sang Amazing Grace and the group broke into tears. This was such a beautiful movie. Really well done!
CH Mom, Yay!! You're still here! I was missing your reviews! Glad you found time during this busy season to watch a good movie. I'm looking forward to watching this one, too! ~~Jane
DeleteCH Mom / Jane -
DeleteAwww... Jane, how sweet of you to share this sweet message! I feel the same when I see dear friends like CH Mom share a review.
It's so nice to hear from you again, CH Mom! I always appreciate your wonderful reviews, too! :)
Merry Christmas to you both!!! Net
Thank you both for your sweet words. I have missed you both! I haven't been watching a lot of Hallmark lately, but thanks to the Frndly promotion, I am back to watching :) I have so many Christmas movies to catch up on, which is a good problem to have, ha!
DeleteNAVIGATING CHRISTMAS **clean**
ReplyDeleteThis was quite a sweet movie, although I can already tell it would probably be a bit forgettable for me. It was still enjoyable throughout. The struggle about being a mom of teenagers is real and something I am going through currently, so I can totally relate to the female lead character. I agree with what Jane said about Stephen Huszar - i feel the same.. he had always seemed to be so stiff, aloof and not showing too much personality. He was a bit better here than on some other movies.
UPtv’s “Mistletoe Connection” is family-friendly and features wonderful chemistry between the two leads (Jessica Sipos as Kate and Markian Tarasiuk as Mark). I especially liked the clever ending, and means by which Kate was able to avoid the corporate buy-out and save her beloved boutique.
ReplyDeleteHallmark’s “Our Christmas Mural” is a family-friendly story featuring Alex Paxton-Beesley as Olivia, a painter looking for inspiration; and Dan Jeannotte as Will, an art teacher who teams with Olivia to paint a mural for their town’s Christmas celebration. The dialogue was upbeat and fun, and the romance was sweet.
ReplyDeleteGAF’s “Christmas in Maple Valley” is a family-friendly and touching story about Valerie (played by Emily Alatalo), a woman trying to grow her family’s dairy farm and prove the rightful ownership of the land. The story includes a number of flashbacks to WWII and the wartime relationship between her grandparents who were supposedly the original owners of the farm. With the help of a local doctor (played by Marcus Rosner), Valerie uncovers the secret behind the mysterious deed for her farm, and of course romance ensues. I’m quickly becoming a fan of Emily Alatalo too! One of my favorites of the season thus far.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to catch up in the Christmas films since I'm sick. Watched Haul Out the Holly 2 last night. I will say I liked it better the first, I love the happily ever after sequels. When we can see the 2 main cast as a loving couple. And these two(Jared and Emily) were greatly paired. No strife, and in stressed moments they supported one another. Both of them did a great job acting.
ReplyDeleteNow, the neighbors were harder to watch. Way to childish. I probably skipped about 1/3 of their scenes.
I also tryed Danica's movie, but couldn't get past 30 minutes. I didn't care for the pairing.
But, my top favorites...
1. A Biltmore Christmas
2. My Christmas Hero
3. A Christmas Paris Waltz
Abigail, I am so sorry to hear that you are sick! I hope you feel better very soon!!
DeleteAbigail, I hope you are feeling better, honey! Some of my family got sick over Thanksgiving, too. Thankfully, they are better now, and I pray you are improving, as well.
DeleteNice to see your Christmas movie favorites, so far!!!
Blessings & Merry Christmas! Net
Thank you Mark 25 and Net! I'm not 100% yet, but getting closer every day. Net, I hope your family is doing better. Maybe this means we won't be sick on Christmas! ;)
DeleteAbsolutely loved A Biltmore Christmas. What a perfect movie. The last time I felt like this about one of their movies was Crown for Christmas. A Biltmore Christmas was original and the chemistry was perfect between Bethany and Kristopher. I especially loved Margaret and Winston. Bravo, Hallmark! Well done.
ReplyDeleteI loved Margaret too! Her enthusiasm for helping her go back in time was refreshing instead of her trying to stop her.
Delete~Paula
Savvy Girl - So wonderful to hear from you! I'm glad to hear how much you enjoyed A Biltmore Christmas! It sounds like everyone loved it. I can't wait to see it! :)
DeleteBlessings & Merry Christmas! Net
I was watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer & Santa Claus 🎅🏾 Coming to Town last night on CBS
ReplyDeleteCHRISTMAS IN NOTTING HILLS **clean**
ReplyDeleteWe are a big soccer family in our home and as someone who watches English Premier League football/soccer.. this movie is right up my alley. It did make me cringe a lot at a few of the small details. The game scene in the stadium of course had to be creatively recorded somehow, but it just looked fake. For someone who claimed to like soccer, how could Georgia not know who Graham was? It was not quite believable. Also I am not sure about the ending. Did Georgia move, but she took the special Ed job? I am confused. Other than that, the movie was quite sweet. Probably forgettable, and definitely won't be the best one this year.
I loved A Biltmore Christmas! The dialogue, costume, location, music, it was all so lovely and magical. I have never seen Bethany & Kristoffer together but they had such a natural chemistry. But honestly I am so confused on the ending, can someone please explain….
ReplyDelete~Paula
As charming as Letters to Santa looked, it was lame. -Maria
ReplyDeleteHello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! :-)
ReplyDeleteI watched both ‘A World Record Christmas’ and ‘A Biltmore Christmas’ last evening. And, I have to say both movies brought me so much joy. The cast in both movies was exceptional. Let’s breakdown why both of these gems are now on my favorite Christmas movies of 2023 list. 😊
‘A World Record Christmas’ was wholesome and so realistic. It was refreshing to see a family dynamic that was authentic in every way possible. Oh my gosh Nikki and Lucas was phenomenal together. The love they had for Charlie was so moving and it was nice seeing a solid couple who weren’t trying to find out how they fit. Nikki and Lucas already figured it out and together they built a relationship that most people strive for and pray for. I highly recommend this sweet movie.
I LOVED ‘A Biltmore Christmas’ so much! I also highly recommend this movie as well. Full disclosure, my husband and I have been vacationing in Western North Carolina since 2011. We visit multiple times a year and we even went once during the first year of covid. There is a lovely B & B, where we stay, that I knew would be a safe haven. So, this movie hold’s a special place in my heart because Biltmore is one of my favorite places on earth. The way the brought the estate to life with lighting and clothing and dialogue. It was exquisite. And memorable and just beautiful. I thought Kristoffer and Bethany were perfectly cast. Their onscreen chemistry was off the charts. This movie has now replaced ‘A Paris Christmas Waltz’ as my favorite Christmas movie of 2023. Time travel movies can be tricky, if they aren’t done right, but for me, this one checked all of the boxes. Also, the cameos were priceless. The 1940’s are my favorite era and this movie made me so very happy. 😊 This one is a keeper!
Joan, Thank you for these delightful reviews. I did have a nice Thanksgiving weekend, and I hope yours was pleasant, as well!
DeleteSo good to hear your warm enthusiasm over both of these movies! I love when a movie leaves me feeling good inside after I watch them and based on your reviews, it sounds like these two do just that!
Merry Christmas and Blessings!!! Net
Hi Net,
DeleteI am so glad to hear you had a nice Thanksgiving. Mine was lovely.
And, you are welcome. I really enjoyed both movies. They were different but both were excellent in their own right. I have to say, overall this Christmas movie season has been better. I haven't liked some movies but overall the quality has improved with several movies including storylines that are not so boring and overused. Plus, some of the movies are ones I will purchase on DVD so I can re-watch them again and again.
Merry Christmas and blessings to you as well! :-)
Biltmore Christmas……This was the one movie I was really looking forward to and so happy to report it was really great! Family- friendly! Funny, nostalgic, and just very well done. Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristopher Polaha were perfect. I love all the nods to classic Christmas movies. I think they based His Merry Wife roughly on The Bishop’s Wife. The male lead in Merry Wife was quite similar to David Niven and Kristopher Polaha could pass for Cary Grant, though not comical. They also had scenes similar to Shop Around the Corner, White Christmas, and of corse Clarence from It’s A Wonderful Life. That just made it so special! The actors were great and the photographer friend was so funny!!! I’m glad they included her in a more important role! Usually a character wouldn’t share a time traveling secret but I’m so glad they did! I usually do not like the time travel movies. They’re just sort of weird. But I don’t know how anyone could not like Biltmore. I wanted to watch it again as soon as I finished! ***Spoilers**** The end was still pretty weird. I was thinking, don’t tell me they’re not going to end up together, but then they did and that really didn’t make sense. Where was he for 80 years? Floating through space? Strange! Plus, how is she going to explain it to everyone? I do wish they would’ve let the photographer meet him at the end. That would’ve added another funny scene to sort of complete the movie.
ReplyDeleteThis is a must watch movie for everyone especially old movie fans!!! Well done! -
The scene with Rachel and Wes was funny too. And did anyone else notice who the director was in that end scene? Mary McDonough who played Erin in the original Waltons. That was neat! —Anonymous1
Anonymous1, Thank you for this wonderful review for A Biltmore Christmas. I just love how this movie reminded you of so many great Hollywood classics. I'll be sure to look for those similar scenes/references when I watch!
DeleteBlessings & Merry Christmas!!! Net
Hello Anonymous1,
DeleteI too am very confused on the ending….I mean, I’m happy they were reunited but I don’t understand how it all happened and yes how will she explain to everyone, like if they were to get married, won’t everyone notice he is the actual famous actor? I don’t know, maybe like Mark25 said we are thinking too much into it but I’m just confused….
~Paula
Hallmark’s “Holiday Road” is a touching and family-friendly story about nine travelers forced to share a van from Portland to Denver for Christmas, after their flight gets cancelled. I mostly enjoyed how they became friends during the journey as their personal stories and life circumstances were shared among each other. The romance and chemistry between Dana and Clay (played by Sara Canning and Warren Christie) is classic Hallmark, and both were a joy to watch.
ReplyDeleteMPT, I enjoyed reading your review for "Holiday Road." I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this one, but I'm pleasantly surprised to hear how much you and others liked this one.
DeleteThank you for sharing!
Merry Christmas to you!!! Net
Christmas blessings to you and your loved ones. MPT
DeleteReview: My Christmas Hero -
ReplyDeleteFamily-friendly? Yes -
Keeper? Most definitely!
Everything wonderful about this movie has already been said - a super-heartwarming story, lovely religious moments, great acting (so nice to see Gabriel Hogan again - it seems like it's been awhile), a military motif, etc. I did think that some of the nervous romantic banter between the couples seemed over-the-top and overdone, but this is a minor quibble in what is overall a great Christmas movie that certainly puts one in the Christmas spirit!
Mark 25 - Thank you for adding this great review for "My Christmas Hero." I agree, it was nice to see Gabriel Hogan again, especially in a lead role. I hope we'll see even more of him on GAF now.
DeleteMerry Christmas to You! Net🎄
Thankful to see all the good reviews for the Biltmore. I started it, but stopped once I realized it was a time travel, which isn't my favorite (for Jane's reasons above). But with all the good reviews, I'll give it another try! And I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Holiday Road. I tend to like more the deep-heart drama stories but that one had just the right mix of light and depth.
ReplyDeleteBILTMORE CHRISTMAS **clean**
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I was so happy to be surprised by this movie. I did not read the synopsis of it nor saw the preview before watching it. I just knew that with Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha as the leads, it's a must-watch. I have a soft spot for old movies and I couldn't love this more. I honestly did not know what to expect and I was totally engaged from beginning to end. This movie has everything: a little suspense, a little Christmas miracle, a ton of chemistry. It was a delight to watch and I was sad when it ended... I wanted more, ha! Kris Polaha was just soooo charming and Bethany Joy was incredible. This will be hard to top. Well done, Hallmark!