Let 's Wrap It Up!
Christmas is truly just days away now! It's time to get everything wrapped up and ready. I've been busy wrapping gifts for family, friends, and everyone on my list. As Jesus states in the scripture, Acts 20:35, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' That statement is profoundly true; it fills my heart with such joy to give to others!
I hope you all are enjoying these special days leading up to Christmas Day! This is the last BIG weekend of Christmas movie premieres. (We'll have only 5 (haha!) next week!)
I've included the NEW Christmas Movie Premieres below + some Extra Christmas TV Specials airing this weekend...
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Thursday, December 14, 2023:
Synopsis: Inspired by Mickey Guyton's song of the same name, Heaven Down Here tells the story of four disparate people who find themselves stranded in a local diner on Christmas Eve when a snowstorm hits the town. Imami (Brown) is a widowed mother of two who's having trouble making ends meet and reluctantly agrees to work the Christmas Eve shift, where she clashes with her boss Dan (Harmon), who doesn't exactly embody the Christmas spirit. Felix (Riedinger) is a local pastor desperately trying to secure food for parishioners while his faith is challenged by his alienation by his son. Clara (Lifford) is a hospice nurse with an obstinate patient (Rashad) and whose daughter is moving away, causing her to question her place in this world. Throughout the evening, these four bicker, bond and unwittingly provide each other with the answer to their respective prayers.
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Friday, December 15, 2023:
Synopsis: Bonnie (Ory) is a personal shopper who helps her new, widowed client Patrick (Russell) reconnect with his young daughter. Though Bonnie and Patrick's ideas of shopping couldn't be more different, she is determined to get Patrick and his daughter everything on their wish list.
If you love the bright and festive fashions seen in The Secret Gift of Christmas, you can find them on my sweet Sister's blog, It's a Wonderful Lifestyle!
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Saturday, December 16, 2023:
Synopsis: With her career on the line, a decorator (Abromeit) must work with an unexpected partner (McIntyre) to showcase a house for an upcoming Christmas gala.
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Saturday, December 16, 2023:
Synopsis: This holiday season, festive Carley (Findlay) sets out to conquer her list of abandoned resolutions from last year. Aided by coworker Wyatt (Roderick), she finds love and the confidence to chase her dreams.
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Saturday, December 16, 2023:
Synopsis: Travel columnist Sonny Kravitz (Tatyana Ali) and her ex-boyfriend Kip (Jesse Kove) are forced to team up to help their best friends Bree (Whitney Able) and Jarod (Geovanni Gopradi) get engaged. To set the backdrop, the four return to Sonny’s parents’ snowy chalet and set up twelve holiday traditions that are celebrated around the world to nudge Jarod to ask Bree to be his wife. But it seems that the proposal plan doesn’t just reignite the love between the engaged couple. Will Sonny and Kip rekindle what they once had?
Update: Please read Jane's review:
The Holiday Proposal Plan. Not family friendly. I had a weird feeling about this one when I saw who the writer/director was, and also two of the actors in the cast who are gay. Then I stumbled upon a short clip from the movie where those two male actors are definitely a romantic couple in the movie. I have no idea if they have a recurring storyline in the movie, but I have no intention of watching and finding out. Evidently, not all "Nicely" movies are nice for families. ~~Jane
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Saturday, December 16, 2023:
Synopsis: With the Holidays approaching, Cecilia (Jackée Harry) discovers that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, so she decides to make a surprise visit to her daughter Alexis (Ciarra Carter) who created and runs “Cyber Santa,” an online gift giving business. Seizing an opportunity to spend Christmas with her daughter and get back into the game, Cecilia becomes an intern at the start-up company and the two learn the importance of family during the most wonderful time of year, while also finding love.
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Sunday, December 17, 2023:
Synopsis: When insurance investigator Lana Lawton returns home Christmas, her only goal is to spend time with her mom and cheer up her nephew who is upset that his military father won’t make it home for Christmas. When she arrives, however, she discovers that a string of robberies along Main Street has the shop owners scratching their heads over who could have done it. Seeing her chance to earn a big promotion by doing some real P.I. work, Lana puts all of her efforts into trying to solve the case by any means necessary. Now, with Christmas Eve approaching and her suspect list narrowing, Lana must convince Nick, the police chief, to let her help on the investigation. As the pair start spending more and more time together on the case, they begin to see each other as more than co-investigators. Can Lana and Nick solve the case in time for Christmas and will Lana’s lead suspect disappear on Christmas even with a sleigh full of stolen goods? It may just take a lot of faith and a good bit of Christmas magic for a happily ever after!
*Note: This movie is also airing on PixL.
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Sunday, December 17, 2023:
Synopsis: In 12 Games of Christmas, a group of old friends and neighbors are transported into a Christmas-themed board game during a Christmas party.
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Sunday, December 17, 2023:
Synopsis: As Christmas nears, financial advisor Beth (Patricia Isaac) finds that her fortune is hinting all around her. She starts seeing a recurring number: 624, an angel number that will help make her heart’s secret wish come true. It mysteriously becomes the time she wakes up, how far she bikes and the countdowns she sets. Taking on a pro-bono financial case for the local children’s theatre, Beth meets Nate (Andrew Dunbar), whose financial inexperience may cause the theatre to shut down. The two must work together to raise money for the theatre and possibly find love along the way.
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I hope you all are enjoying these special days leading up to Christmas Day! This is the last BIG weekend of Christmas movie premieres. (We'll have only 5 (haha!) next week!)
I've included the NEW Christmas Movie Premieres below + some Extra Christmas TV Specials airing this weekend...
Thursday, December 14, 2023:
Synopsis: Inspired by Mickey Guyton's song of the same name, Heaven Down Here tells the story of four disparate people who find themselves stranded in a local diner on Christmas Eve when a snowstorm hits the town. Imami (Brown) is a widowed mother of two who's having trouble making ends meet and reluctantly agrees to work the Christmas Eve shift, where she clashes with her boss Dan (Harmon), who doesn't exactly embody the Christmas spirit. Felix (Riedinger) is a local pastor desperately trying to secure food for parishioners while his faith is challenged by his alienation by his son. Clara (Lifford) is a hospice nurse with an obstinate patient (Rashad) and whose daughter is moving away, causing her to question her place in this world. Throughout the evening, these four bicker, bond and unwittingly provide each other with the answer to their respective prayers.
Premieres Thursday, December 14, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Friday, December 15, 2023:
Synopsis: Bonnie (Ory) is a personal shopper who helps her new, widowed client Patrick (Russell) reconnect with his young daughter. Though Bonnie and Patrick's ideas of shopping couldn't be more different, she is determined to get Patrick and his daughter everything on their wish list.
Premieres Friday, December 15, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
If you love the bright and festive fashions seen in The Secret Gift of Christmas, you can find them on my sweet Sister's blog, It's a Wonderful Lifestyle!
Saturday, December 16, 2023:
Synopsis: With her career on the line, a decorator (Abromeit) must work with an unexpected partner (McIntyre) to showcase a house for an upcoming Christmas gala.
Premieres Saturday, December 16, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family
Saturday, December 16, 2023:
Synopsis: This holiday season, festive Carley (Findlay) sets out to conquer her list of abandoned resolutions from last year. Aided by coworker Wyatt (Roderick), she finds love and the confidence to chase her dreams.
Premieres Saturday, December 16, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Saturday, December 16, 2023:
Synopsis: Travel columnist Sonny Kravitz (Tatyana Ali) and her ex-boyfriend Kip (Jesse Kove) are forced to team up to help their best friends Bree (Whitney Able) and Jarod (Geovanni Gopradi) get engaged. To set the backdrop, the four return to Sonny’s parents’ snowy chalet and set up twelve holiday traditions that are celebrated around the world to nudge Jarod to ask Bree to be his wife. But it seems that the proposal plan doesn’t just reignite the love between the engaged couple. Will Sonny and Kip rekindle what they once had?
Premieres Saturday, December 16, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime
Update: Please read Jane's review:
The Holiday Proposal Plan. Not family friendly. I had a weird feeling about this one when I saw who the writer/director was, and also two of the actors in the cast who are gay. Then I stumbled upon a short clip from the movie where those two male actors are definitely a romantic couple in the movie. I have no idea if they have a recurring storyline in the movie, but I have no intention of watching and finding out. Evidently, not all "Nicely" movies are nice for families. ~~Jane
Saturday, December 16, 2023:
Synopsis: With the Holidays approaching, Cecilia (Jackée Harry) discovers that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, so she decides to make a surprise visit to her daughter Alexis (Ciarra Carter) who created and runs “Cyber Santa,” an online gift giving business. Seizing an opportunity to spend Christmas with her daughter and get back into the game, Cecilia becomes an intern at the start-up company and the two learn the importance of family during the most wonderful time of year, while also finding love.
Premieres Saturday, December 16, 2023
at 10pm/9c. on Lifetime
Sunday, December 17, 2023:
Synopsis: When insurance investigator Lana Lawton returns home Christmas, her only goal is to spend time with her mom and cheer up her nephew who is upset that his military father won’t make it home for Christmas. When she arrives, however, she discovers that a string of robberies along Main Street has the shop owners scratching their heads over who could have done it. Seeing her chance to earn a big promotion by doing some real P.I. work, Lana puts all of her efforts into trying to solve the case by any means necessary. Now, with Christmas Eve approaching and her suspect list narrowing, Lana must convince Nick, the police chief, to let her help on the investigation. As the pair start spending more and more time together on the case, they begin to see each other as more than co-investigators. Can Lana and Nick solve the case in time for Christmas and will Lana’s lead suspect disappear on Christmas even with a sleigh full of stolen goods? It may just take a lot of faith and a good bit of Christmas magic for a happily ever after!
Premieres Sunday, December 17, 2023
at 7pm/6c. on UPtv
*Note: This movie is also airing on PixL.
Sunday, December 17, 2023:
Synopsis: In 12 Games of Christmas, a group of old friends and neighbors are transported into a Christmas-themed board game during a Christmas party.
Premieres Sunday, December 17, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family
Sunday, December 17, 2023:
Synopsis: As Christmas nears, financial advisor Beth (Patricia Isaac) finds that her fortune is hinting all around her. She starts seeing a recurring number: 624, an angel number that will help make her heart’s secret wish come true. It mysteriously becomes the time she wakes up, how far she bikes and the countdowns she sets. Taking on a pro-bono financial case for the local children’s theatre, Beth meets Nate (Andrew Dunbar), whose financial inexperience may cause the theatre to shut down. The two must work together to raise money for the theatre and possibly find love along the way.
Premieres Sunday, December 17, 2023
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime
Weekend Christmas Programming Notes:
While Great American Family, the Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, UPtv, and Lifetime will have new and old Christmas movies airing all weekend long, here are some extra Christmas movies you may be interested in...
Bravo TV:
*The beloved classic It's a Wonderful Life airs TWICE Friday night at 7:30pm and 10:30pm on Bravo.
TCM:
Saturday-
*Meet Me in St. Louis - 12pm
*Little Women - 2pm
*The Shop Around the Corner - 4:15
*Holiday Affair - 6:15
Sunday-
*King of Kings - 1:30pm
*The Greatest Story Ever Told - 4:30pm
*It Happened on 5th Avenue - 11pm
PixL:
*Christmas movies are sprinkled in PixL's schedule - Thursday through Sunday...
A Grandpa for Christmas (I love this movie so much!), Love's Christmas Journey Part One and Two, Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus, Meet the Santas, The Christmas Gift, Help for the Holidays, A Boyfriend for Christmas, Santa Switch, Mistletoe Connection, Matchmaker Santa, The Christmas Card and more!
AMC:
*Throughout the weekend, see Christmas cartoons and movies... 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, Elf, The Polar Express, White Christmas, The Polar Express, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Christmas with the Kranks, and more!
TNT:
Sunday, December 17th:
*Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas - 5:03pm
*A Christmas Story - 5:33pm
*A Christmas Story Christmas- 7:33pm
UPtv:
*Love's Christmas Journey Part 1 and Part 2 stars Natalie Hall, Greg Vaughan, Dylan Bruce, Sean Astin, JoBeth Williams, Charles Shaughnessy, and one of my favorites, Ernest Borgnine! These two movies will air at 1pm and 3pm EST. on Friday, December 15th. The last movie includes a sweet telling of the nativity story with young children.
Fox Movie Channel:
*On Saturday, see Miracle on 34th Street (1994) and Dr. Seuss' The Grinch.
CBS:
*Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - 8pm
*Frosty the Snowman - 9pm
*Frosty Returns - 9:30pm
Disney Channel:
Saturday, December 16th:
*Home Alone - 7pm
ABC:
*CMA Country Christmas airs Thursday night at 8pm.
*The Sound of Music airs Saturday night at 7pm.
NBC Specials:
*Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors airs Saturday night at 8pm.
BYUtv
*See Christmas Jars Saturday night at 7pm and Christmas Oranges Sunday night at 9:30pm.
Freeform:
*See movie marathons of Home Alone and The Santa Clause, plus Miracle on 34th Street (1994) and more! The precious cartoon The Little Drummer Boy airs Saturday morning at 7am.
Hallmark Movies Now: (streaming)
*An Ice Palace Romance, starring Celeste Desjardins and Marcus Rosner, begins streaming Thursday, December 14th, on Hallmark Movies Now.
Synopsis: A journalist faces old fears when she returns to her hometown ice rink to cover a story. With the help of the owner and his young daughter, she begins to reevaluate her life’s purpose.
UPDATE - Read this Review:
Just letting you all know, that the HMN streaming movie ,Ice Palace Romance is not family friendly. Within the first ten minutes, an over the top gay coworker discussing his fabulous first date with another man. I couldn't get past that scene and quit watching. Very disappointing as I was looking forward to watching it. Sad but not surprised anymore! ~Anonymous
Please note: I haven't pre-screened the NEW Christmas movies listed above. If you'd like to post a review on whether a film is family-friendly, please share in comments.
My Weekend Christmas Movie Picks...
My lighthearted movie picks for the "weekend" (Thursday through Sunday) are The Secret Gift of Christmas and Designing Christmas with You. Both movies appear to be fun and cheerful!
It seems it's been a while since we've seen Meghan Ory in anything other than Chesapeake Shores, and I'm looking forward to seeing her in The Secret Gift of Christmas. She was always fairly serious as Abby O'Brien, a businesswoman and single mom, so it should be nice to see her play the opposite side of that as she steps into the role of Bonnie Parker, a perky and confident personal shopper. By the way, The Secret Gift of Christmas was also written and directed by Christie Will Wolf, who has produced numerous great TV films: Eat, Play, Love, Five Star Christmas, High Flying Romance, Love in the Forecast, Christmas Time is Here, Christmas on Candy Cane Lane and lots more!
I'm also looking forward to seeing Designing Christmas with You, starring Susie Abromeit. I've enjoyed all of Susie's previous movies on Great American Family - A Hot Cocoa Christmas, Love in Bloom, and Romance at the Vineyard. Love in Bloom is especially my favorite of the bunch! Plus, who can forget Susie's performance as the mean girl in Hallmark's Snow Bride? She was truly phenomenal in that role as the vindictive, catty ex-girlfriend. I think of her now as such a sweet, likable actress, but it's obvious she can portray any role, naughty or nice. And from the promos given for Designing Christmas with You, it appears Susie Abromeit also brings a bold, savvy spirit to this character.
Speaking of Love in Bloom, Susie's co-star in that movie, Julian Haig, is starring in the new UPtv Christmas mystery movie on Sunday night, Dial S for Santa. By the way, this movie is also airing on PixL.
For my more meaningful Christmas movie pick this weekend, I'm choosing Heaven Down Here and hoping Hallmark doesn't disappoint. I think it may be interesting to see how these distinctly different people, who may be going through a tough season in life, come together to celebrate Christmas.
Please share your Christmas movie picks in the comments below...
SPECIAL LINKS:
Visit the *Christmas TV Schedule* for the dates and times of NEW Christmas movies airing in December.
You can find the NEW 2023 Christmas Movie Review post *here*.
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
Net 🎄
SHINING HIS LIGHT:
I love how God is in all of the little details. How special that the first Gift of Christmas was also wrapped...
"And so it was, that, while they were there,
the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger;
because there was no room for them in the inn."
~Luke 2:6–7
Ahhh, last weekend for new Hallmark movies for me! 🥳 My last picks will be that wonderful looking Friday movie and the spectacular looking HMN movie.
ReplyDeleteMay take me 2 days to watch Heaven Down Here (just hope my paranoia about it is just paranoia).
Only 2 of Lifetime's new movies are my picks for this weekend, alongside UP TV and GAF.
-Maria
Maria, I hope you enjoy all of your Christmas movie picks this weekend! I look forward to hearing your thoughts on them.
DeleteMerry Christmas, my friend! Net
Hello! I have read that "The Naughty Nine" is NOT family friendly on Matt Walsh's website. It contains young boys talking about how other boys are 'hot' and other things of that nature. I will not be watching this one, and thought you should know. Merry Christmas and may God Bless.
ReplyDeleteJoAnne, Thank you so much for sharing this. I should've known with Disney's track record these days. I caught the first 15 minutes of this movie on Freeform after Home Alone went off yesterday, and I thought it looked cute. Of course, they also have to add in something woke.
DeleteI appreciate you taking the time to share... I will remove the movie above.
God's Blessings & Merry Christmas to you! Net
I read Christmas Movies Review on FB
DeleteREVIEW: The Naughty Nine - Disney+
When Andy finds out he's on Santa's "naughty list," he pulls together a group of nine "naughty list" kids to steal the presents they think they deserve from the North Pole.
So. If you don’t like movies where the kids are all obnoxious geniuses & all the adults are inept buffoons, you might want to give this a miss.
If you can stomach these (or you have no choice because a few years ago you decided making a Facebook page to review Christmas movies was a good idea🫣) then strap yourself in.
It’s actually quite clever how they have made nine children all obnoxiously uppity in their own ways. That took some thought! But to remove all doubt, that doesn’t make this movie at all endearing or enjoyable.
The script is painfully juvenile. The characters beyond unlikeable. The story, stupid beyond belief. The ending - a complete confusion, which was also abrupt and nonsensical leaving us wondering why we sat through this torture only for such unresolved nothingness. All portrayed by a bunch of kids some of which couldn’t act their way out of a paper bag. It’s like they auditioned for 9 roles and only 4 kids turned up. And then they had to beg their second cousins to fill the other roles.
And let’s not overlook the gaping plot hole where kids of this age would still believe in the big red guy. (And while we’re on that subject, what maniac at Disney thought Danny Glover playing Santa was a good idea? Danny, is your career such that you needed to resort to this movie???
In our minds, it will be tough to find a worse movie this season. We can think of two, but it’s a close race.
We couldn’t stomach giving this so much as a single pine needle out of 10.
So we give it minus two. ❌❌
For those who are wary of it there is a touch of the supernatural about Merry Magic Christmas.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise it's a just okay watch - a bit slow and not a great deal of chemistry between the two leads - Florence
Oh Net, we all know the real reason you are looking forward to The Secret Gift of Christmas, and it is not because of Meghan (wink-wink)!
ReplyDeleteMark, (this is best said with a dramatic southern voice) My goodness... whatever do you mean??? (feigning ignorance here completely!!!)
DeleteBut truly, I do love the fashions in this movie, too! I'm hoping this will be a sweet one, like "A Gift Wrapped Christmas"! :)
Merry Christmas!!! Net
Hi Net! Such exciting times with all the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas! We have been so busy all month but such fun things, especially with our children. It makes me a little sad though as the time is just flying by….Our daughter is in kindergarten and I have had to dress her up for the “12 days or Christmas”, very fun for her but kinda stressful for me, each day is a new Christmas theme haha 😊
ReplyDeleteSo many of these movies look great! I’ll be recording Heaven down Here, The Secret Gift of Christmas, Sealed with a List, and Dial S for Santa, as I did enjoy the last UpTv mystery. Maybe A Christmas Intern as I sometimes enjoy Jackee Harry) As for the rest I’ll wait on some reviews.
Have a blessed weekend everyone!
~Paula
Paula, Oh, that sounds like such fun with your daughter in the “12 days of Christmas” skit! Out of curiosity, what is her costume?
DeleteCherish all of these special moments with your family!!!
Blessings to you all & Merry Christmas!!! Net
Net, forgot to ask, where can I watch Pixl? I have been wanting to watch Matchmaker Santa for so long and I never see it playing on tv. We have Comcast/Xfinity, which has a lot of on Demand movies from Hallmark and other networks including Peacock and stuff like that but I cannot find it anywhere.
ReplyDelete~Paula
Paula, I watch PixL through Frndly TV. It's also available on DISH, Sling TV, and Amazon Video (with a subscription).
DeleteThe PixL channel is especially great because they don't have any commercials. We watched A Grandpa for Christmas yesterday and it was wonderful not having to worry about the commercial breaks.
I haven't watched Matchmaker Santa, yet, but it's one of the many Christmas movies I recorded on their channel!!! By the way, I love it, too! :)
Merry Christmas!!! Net
Would Heaven Down Here be a religious movie?
ReplyDeleteNet, thanks for the update. I appreciate the Family-Friendly notification on the movies.
ReplyDeleteMovies that interest me:
“The Secret Gift of Christmas” looks fun and entertaining. Oh, do I like the outfit feature for Bonnie (Ory). I sew and that coat is beautiful. Along the same line, “Designing Christmas for You”, with Susie Abromeit should be enjoyable. I enjoy a mystery so will be watching “Dial S for Santa”. Is the actress from Mystery 101?
Everyone enjoy these days before Christmas- that Blessed time of the year!
Merry Christmas,
-Gabe’s Mom
Gabe's Mom, You are exactly right! Actress Sarah Dugdale portrayed Officer Claire Tate on "Mystery 101." I always liked her on the show with Bud (Preston Vanderslice). It's so nice to see her get a lead role.
DeleteHappy Christmas movie watching this weekend!
A Very Merry Christmas to You, too!!! Net
I keep forgetting to mention an oldie but goodie Christmas movie found on YouTube- “The Christmas Secret” (2000) staring Richard Thomas of “The Waltons” and Beau Bridges from many Hallmark movies. Thomas is a zoology professor that is studying if reindeer can fly. He ends up meeting Santa, played by Beau Bridges. Thomas and his family are so endearing. Children of all ages will love the movie. Who can resist an adventure with Santa Claus.
ReplyDeleteI like the movie so much I found a dvd on eBay. There are so many movies coming up during this busy season, however; this one is guaranteed to charm.
Merry Christmas & God Bless.
-Gabe’s Mom
Awww Gabe's Mom, I remember that movie so well! Such a sweet one. I love a good, wholesome North Pole story.
DeleteI remember when it premiered years ago on local TV! We didn't have all that many new movies then, so it was something special, plus since we already adored Richard Thomas from "The Waltons," that made the movie even sweeter. Thank you for mentioning it's on YT; I love finding treasures like that there.
By the way, speaking of Richard Thomas, I just caught another one of his Christmas movies the other day from 1991, "Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus," and it is airing again tonight at 10:30pm on FMC, Family Movie Classics. If you haven't seen it, it is such a beautiful, meaningful film. You can probably find it on YT, too.
Blessings & Merry Christmas to you and yours!!! Net
I am watching it now! Good movie. -Gabe’s Mom
DeleteNet, your sister's site is so cute and feminine!! She reminds me of you! Merry Christmas, my friend! It's almost here!!!
ReplyDeleteAbigail, That is sooo sweet, the best compliment! My sister and I are close in age, so we've been best friends all of our lives. I am truly beyond blessed!!!
DeleteAnd you are so right; her blog is such a beautiful place! I'm always so touched by the way she shares the love of Jesus with all who visit!
Thank you, Abigail, for being such a dear friend! I hope you and your family are immensely enjoying all of these wonderful days leading up to Christmas!!!
God's Blessings to you, honey, and a very, very... Merry Christmas!!!!
Hugs!!! Net
Aww! I feel like I know her already! My brother and I are 10 months apart, so I know what you mean about being best friends. But anyway, siblings do make the besties!! No one knows you like family!
DeleteIs she where you get your Lacey Chabert clothing info??😍😊
Abigail, That is so true! We know each other well; we pretty much know what the other is thinking, can finish each other's sentences, etc...
DeleteAs for the fashion, we both love that, too! We've been shopping together and sharing clothes all of our lives!
And, I remember those beautiful Lacey Chabert dresses you are speaking of! The sweet dresses from Hill House, seen in my fashion post on "The Wedding Veil." I was so excited to find those lovely dresses and share with everyone. Those floral prints are my favorites, too... so pretty and feminine.
Blessings to you & your family!!!
Merry Christmas, my friend!!! Net 🎄
Heaven Down Here…..I loved so many things about this movie: the constant talk of God, scriptures, faith etc. There was also great acting from Clara, she was my favorite! Some scenes were hard to watch like the poor little boy having the panic attack and Clara being verbally abused by her patient, you could see the pain in her eyes. With all that being said, there were things I did not like and I wish would have been left out as it kind of made it a one time watch for me. I didn’t like the joke about spiked eggnog by the pastor at the beginning by the pastor, or how they drank cider, don’t know if that contained alcohol? I also do not understand why they had to add the little romance between the pastor and Imani….I feel it was unnecessary and slightly inappropriate. I think they should have kept the pastor in just a role of being the peacemaker and a light to everyone that night, no need for the little eye looks and dancing in the kitchen together. Nothing really over the top just didn’t feel right to me.
ReplyDelete~Paula
I ended my review without mentioning the end of the movie, the scene between Felix and his son was so beautiful. My favorite takeaway from the movie was how God always provides, he provided for his Christmas dinner for the homeless, he had no idea how he would get the food but kept the faith. So there is many things I enjoyed, but did not appreciate the flirting throughout.
ReplyDelete~Paula
Paula, Thank you so much, honey, for sharing this review with us. It's good to hear your likes and dislikes. I'm especially glad to hear this one is wholesome. I was hoping, but you never can be too sure these days. That is wonderful to hear that it is filled with scriptures.
DeleteGod bless and Merry Christmas to you!!! Net
Just letting you all know, that the HMN streaming movie ,Ice Palace Romance is not family friendly. Within the first ten minutes, an over the top gay coworker discussing his fabulous first date with another man. I couldn't get past that scene and quit watching. Very disappointing as I was looking forward to watching it. Sad but not surprised anymore!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this update with us, and making us aware of this content in An Ice Palace Romance. I am bummed to hear this, as well. I will be sure to add your review above so others will be informed.
DeleteBlessings & Merry Christmas!!! Net
Just thought you'd like to know that February's Hallmark lineup will all be Jane Austin inspired movies. -Maria
ReplyDeleteSusie did an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Here's the link to it:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/susie-abromeit-on-christmas-movies-self-tapes-1235752783/
-Maria
Ok...a Christmas question for you...was I the only one??... As a kid or teenager opening a Christmas present in secret?? My brother and I used to sneak down to the tree while my parents were sleeping, choose one signed to the both of us and open it carefully so the paper didn't rip and then seal it up again.😲 We normally did it once a year. Now a funny memory. I was just telling my family this and it brought on a lot of laughter.😂😂
ReplyDeleteNot I Lol
DeleteI was always too scared to try plus there’s no way we would be able to open without ripping, but I grew up in the 90s, it I was a kid growing up now I could probably find a video on social media to show how to do it 😂
~Paula
Oh, Abigail... I never did do that! We were always told that Santa and God were always watching... so I didn't want to take any chances.
DeleteWas it hard to pretend you didn't know what was inside? I can just imagine the giggles and glances you & your brother exchanged while reopening the gifts. What a fun Christmas memory!
Merry Christmas!!! Net
One year my dad we heard our dad come down the steps and her turned on the kitchen light! We had a open floor family/kitchen area. We hid behind the couch and upholstered rocking chair. He never saw us. I thought to my self " Oh! We're in big trouble!!"😂😂 I told my mom(who laughed) this and as it turns out, she used to as well. But she would play with her toy for the whole day and re-wrap it. Her parents were away for the day. Now I know where we got it from.
DeleteLots of wonderful movies on so many channels this weekend.
ReplyDeleteAn Ice Palace Romance - did not like the main actress. She looked very self absorbed throughout the movie and it was distracting. I usually like movies with Marcus but this one i am definitely deleting.
ReplyDeleteI was soo looking forward to this movie but the only thing i liked was chemistry between Meghan and Chris. I hope there will be at least one more movie with them. Why is so many Christmas movies about dating and dating apps? Aren't Valentine's Day movies reserved for that? I love my Christmas themed movies calm, uncomplicated, slow-paced, etc. but with dating plots it usually become messy, over the top, awkward etc. I'll probably try to watch it again but probably only scenes with the main two.
ReplyDeleteThe Secret Gift of Christmas is clean and adorable enough for a 1 time watch. -Maria
ReplyDeleteI started watching The secret gifts of Christmas and I had to stop. In the 1st 5 minutes ORY character asked is it a He she or they. If this is the only woke reference I will continue watching because I like Meagan Ory a lot but if this is a woke movie I am done. Can someone who watched let me know. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThat was the only reference in the movie. The rest of the movie is family friendly. Three Christopher Russel movies this year for Christmas. Woo!
DeleteIt was the only reference. -Maria
DeleteIn my opinion, it was asking if the job was for a male, female, or family not referring to anything woke.
DeleteDesigning Christmas with You was adorable. -Maria
ReplyDeleteMovie is ok. Beware of promos ads for movie not promoted here. Thank goodness for DVR’s and fast forward feature. It’s the Hallmark Creep. I guess if they keep throwing it at you, you will eventually accept. Sorry Hallmark, no way.
ReplyDeleteCouple things I forgot to mention:
ReplyDelete1st trailer for the Rose Parade was shown during the movie. And on their IG, GAF payed respects to 1 of their team members who passed away last week. 😢 -Maria
Maria, I saw that, too, and was so surprised. Lisa Colangelo will be missed so much; I remember her so well and her incredible support of Great American Family.
DeleteReview: The Secret Gift of Christmas -
ReplyDeleteFamily-friendly - Yes -
Keeper - No -
Those of you who may have read some of my other reviews know that I am not a big fan of Christopher Russell. However, I must admit that I thought that he did a fine job here - he did not come across as conceited like I found him in other films. And the actress playing the little girl was okay - not as good as some of the other younger ones in films of past years, but still good. But I cannot say the same for Meagan Ory. I did not think that her acting was that good, and her character came across at various times as pushy and/or immature. Plus, I found it very odd she never asked about a budget to spend or wanting facts about some of the people she was buying for. It seems she took it upon herself to spend big bucks on fancy items! (Based on this and her personality, I would have fired her right away!)
This was not even worth a one-time watch for me. For a much better movie with a similar theme, I would highly recommend Hallmark's Twelve Gifts of Christmas.
Mark 25, Agreed! Her character was so annoying. I would've fired her, too (for multiple reasons)!! 🤣 ~~Jane
Delete12 Games of Christmas is fantastic! -Maria
ReplyDelete12 Games of Christmas is family friendly about a group of friends named Kelsey, Ethan, Dan, Liam, Nora, & Laurie are magically transported inside a Christmas-themed board game called “12 Games of Christmas”, during a holiday party. They must play through the game's levels to return home with snow globes when they heard the bell chimes & they shake snow globes to return home. They work together to survive and escape back to reality. They meet Mayor Thomas, Luke, Jenna, Gabriel, Phoebe, Monica, Amelia, & Grandma Connie are in 12 Games of Christmas
ReplyDeleteUPtv’s “Dial S for Santa” is a family-friendly mystery about a series of burglaries and a not-too-complicated plot that children can enjoy. The romance between Lana, an insurance investigator (Sarah Dugdale) and Nick, a local police detective (Julian Haig) is sweet and fun to watch, despite Lana’s overzealous approach to discovering the perpetrator of the crimes.
ReplyDeleteHello everyone,
ReplyDeleteSo far we watched "Heaven Down Here", "“The Secret Gift of Christmas” and "Sealed with a List". We did not like "“The Secret Gift of Christmas”. "A Gift Wrapped Christmas", which this movie seemed to be a remake of, was a thousand times better! I found Megan very annoying and I felt she did not have any chemistry with Christopher. I also felt the movie was slow and boring. However, we both thoroughly enjoyed "Heaven down Here". It was heartfelt and lovely and it was so great seeing Phylicia Rashad again. She is still stunning and she was really good in this movie. I also really liked the pastor. It was a touching story with loads of Christian goodness. :-) Also, my husband and I also enjoyed "Sealed with a List". It started out slow but once it ramped up we were hooked. Katie was enchanting. I have always liked her as an actress. The movie was funny and sweet and had some really genuine moments that tugged at the heartstrings.
I will try to finish the other movies, on our dvr, before Christmas.
Merry Christmas Net! Thank you for keeping it real and authentic and for continuing to provide a safe place for us to come to. We don't have to be embarrassed by our beliefs. :-)
Also, Merry Christmas to all of my friends who I have never met but you all feel like family to me! I would never have gotten to know you all without you Net. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing us all together. I am looking forward to the new year!
Joan
Joan, Thank you, honey, for these delightful reviews and your sweet message. It blesses me so to know how much you enjoy your visits here and engaging in conversations with others who share your love of faith, family, & film!!! I am so grateful for your friendship!
DeleteI pray you have a very, very Merry Christmas!!!
Blessings to you, my friend! Hugs! Net 🎄
Net,
DeleteYou are welcome! :-) And thank you so much for your sweet comments and wonderful holiday sentiments. I love this time of year because I get to share in the joy of the faith, fun, family and fun! God is good!
Blessings and hugs to you as well my dear friend!
I’m curious if anyone has seen the extended version of Three Wise Men and a baby that is available on hallmark movies now? I would like to watch it as I haven’t gotten around to it yet but wasn’t sure if it was still clean. It’s possible that they threw in some non-family friendly content into the extended version.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Rebecca
I didn’t know they had an extended version….how much longer is it?
Delete~Paula
The version available on hallmark movies now is 94 minutes long. I think they’re normally 86 or 88? But I’m not entirely sure.
DeleteRebecca
Heaven Down Here is a truly inspirational and heartwarming movie! It is one of the best Christmas movies of this season, and it is a perfect family watch. It is more like a Hallmark Hall of Fame style movie, and it does not have a central romantic focus. The main focus of the movie is the importance of family and family and helping others during the Christmas season. Hallmark did a beautiful job with this faith-based movie! Laurie
ReplyDeleteSECRET GIFT OF CHRISTMAS **clean** (if you don’t count the “he/she/they” comment but I did not interpret this as a non-binary pronoun reference, as already mentioned by Jane)
ReplyDeleteI did not like this. Unfortunately, I felt Meghan Ory was not the best choice for female lead for this. I think the movie could’ve been a bit better with another actress. I agree with others - she came across annoying and immature. Way too over the top. The storyline was alright. Chris Russell was alright. I just couldn’t get past Meghan Ory’s portrayal of the character and it killed the whole movie for me.
HEAVEN DOWN HERE **clean**
This was so touching. The storyline is unique, not a cookie-cutter Hallmark movie. I loved the way the story came together and developed. That last scene of Felix and his son really broke my heart. How hard it must be for him to be vulnerable and showed up to apologize. I agree with melnewlife that the definition of Heaven in the pastor’s sermon at the end was off. Also, I was a bit confused with the direction of the romance. There was not much romance going on honestly. It seems like they are trying to pair Imani and Pastor Felix as a couple, but there were not much focus on this and it felt more like a friendship. The romance was a bit forced in my opinion. The only “romantic” scene was the dance in the kitchen which lasted 3 seconds. This movie was more focused in family relationships and there was no conclusion on Imani and Felix’s relationship.
SEALED WITH A LIST **clean**
ReplyDeleteThere were some things I liked about this. I really liked Katie Findlay as the lead actress. As some has mentioned, her acting is unique, and I totally agree. I liked the storyline about wanting to conquer resolutions and have more adventures. The family relationships and conflicts made a good storyline also. However, I only sensed friendship vibe between Wyatt and Carley. In my opinion, the romantic chemistry could’ve been better.
OUR CHRISTMAS MURAL **clean**
This was a DELIGHT! I truly enjoyed it from beginning to end. Dan Jeannotte has definitely became one of my favorite actors in Hallmark/GAF. I always look forward to his movies. Alex Paxton-Beesley was new to me, but she was so great and natural here. Their chemistry was wonderful. Loved the writing and the dialogues. Very cute banters. Even the supporting characters were great. On the surface, it seemed that this is an ordinary Hallmark offering, but the execution, the acting, and everything was great and made it special. I appreciate how Olivia was truly struggling to accept the new feeling she had for Will, because she was hanging on to her passed husband’s memory. The ending was just lovely. I also liked that Olivia and Will didn’t share their kiss on the stage during the mural unveiling (I thought that’s what was going to happen), but instead they shared a private moment.