'Tis the weekend again, friends, and time for more NEW Christmas movie premieres!
Are you ready to take this ride?
You can see many favorite TV movie actors this weekend in new movies, including Candace Cameron Bure in her first of two new Christmas movies for Great American Family with Eric Johnson, When Calls the Heart's Kevin McGarry stars in a new holiday movie on Hallmark Mystery with Taylor Cole, while Andrew Walker and Ashley Williams are paired together in a new Hallmark Channel Christmas comedy, and Lifetime begins their launch of new Christmas movies this weekend, with one of the films starring Maria Menounos.
See details on these festive Christmas movies and more below...
Thursday, November 14, 2024:
Storyline: In order to earn her trust fund, Evie (Cole) is tasked with granting Christmas wishes to the people who saved her life on the night of her birth. To aid in her cause, she employs Kyle (McGarry), a handsome local attorney, to track down those who helped and attempts to secretly learn what they might want while maintaining her anonymity. With Christmas fast approaching, the heiress and the attorney can’t resist falling for each other's charms as they ramp up their gift giving efforts. But as time ticks down, will she be able to accomplish the mission and grant all of the wishes by Christmas Eve?
Premieres Thursday, November 14, 2024
at 8pm/7c. on Hallmark Mystery
Friday, November 15, 2024:
Storyline: For Asha Singh, Christmas is the most important time of the year. But when she's stuck working at the hospital during the holidays, she wishes for some much-needed Christmas magic. Enter Jake, her former high school classmate, who unexpectedly reappears in her life. After a magical year together, Jake proposes. But their first Christmas as an engaged couple isn't exactly the fairytale they imagined. When they head home for the holidays, they quickly discover their picture-perfect romance is about to get a serious reality check: their families couldn't be more different! Juggling various holiday traditions, big personalities, cultural differences and complicated family dynamics proves to be a challenge as Asha and Jake have to learn if they can bridge their two families and survive a Christmas with the Singhs.
Premieres Friday, November 15, 2024
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Saturday, November 16, 2024:
Storyline: When an egotistical social media influencer's dog is kidnapped, her long-suffering assistant teams up with a charming local vet to find the puppy before Christmas. As the two investigate suspects, they form a romantic bond along the way.
Premieres Saturday, November 16, 2024
at 7pm/6c. on UPtv
Movie Review:
🎄 "Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays. One part early in movie is not family friendly. I deleted the movie so I don't know about the rest of it. The main actress is on a phone call with her mother about coming home for Christmas and bringing a friend to stay. The mother says "[She] can stay in your sister's old room, she can't come home this year because she's headed to Florida with her new girlfriend to meet her family". Main actress says "Ah! It must be serious.". And the mother says "Finally!! And are you seeing anyone special?" ~~Jane
Saturday, November 16, 2024:
Storyline: A local business owner finds an audio cassette in the player of her recently departed dad’s classic red truck. The message instructs Desi to go on a holiday road trip down memory lane where she meets a man who needs her help and who offers help in return.
Premieres Saturday, November 16, 2024
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family
Saturday, November 16, 2024:
Storyline: Avery (Ashley Williams) is an unadventurous schoolteacher whose sister secretly signs her up for The Great Holiday Dash, a Christmas-themed reality competition show where she's paired with former hockey player Wes (Andrew Walker). Despite clashing at first, Avery's puzzle-solving skills and Wes' physical prowess help them excel as they travel from city to city and compete in festive feats that have a local flavor. It's not long before a real connection between these opposites begins to blossom. But when Avery overhears a conversation between Wes and a show producer it threatens to derail their budding romance. Keeping their eyes on the prize, the duo continues to dash to the finish line but there may be a more personal adventure for them still in store.
Premieres Saturday, November 16, 2024
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Saturday, November 16, 2024:
Storyline: Margot Stone (Maria Menounos), a beautiful rising architect in New York, discovers a magical Christmas secret in an English countryside manor she unexpectedly inherits. Experiencing Christmas across the pond may make Margot a fish out of water, but an unforeseen romance (Kyle Pryor) and sense of belonging give her a breathtaking new blueprint for love.
Premieres Saturday, November 16, 2024
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime
Sunday, November 17, 2024:
Storyline: Christmas in the English countryside wasn’t in Emma’s plans until her sister, Amy, plans her wedding for Christmas Eve. Dylan, Amy’s co-Christmas market owner, teams up with Emma to bring order to the whirlwind wedding.
Premieres Sunday, November 17, 2024
at 7pm/6c. on UPtv
Movie Reviews:
🎄 A Very English Christmas. Ugh. No. Couldn’t make it all the way through. This movie had almost everything I dislike about Reel One movies. Frustratingly horrible (!*@!*#!) sound issues – either too soft and muffled or too loud (Reel One needs to fire all their sound people!). Ridiculous story premise (but that could be said about many Hallmark/GAF/UpTv movies, as well). Loud music that, annoyingly, overpowers every scene (seriously, need new sound people). Lack of attention to detail – one minute it’s sunny and the next minute after walking one block away it’s pitch-black nighttime. Editing and filming need some help. Horrible acting, mainly by the lead actress. The whole thing just feels like it was written, directed and produced by a tweenager on an adolescent’s budget. The movie did have some nice Christmassy decorations at the craft market and most of the other actors were okay-ish. I think if they got a new lead actress and a new director, had an adult re-write and tighten up the script, and got rid of the technical issues, it could have been a cute low-budget film good for a one-time watch. Who knows? Maybe it got better in the second half? The part I saw was clean, except the sister getting married is already pregnant (so, oops). ~~Jane
🎄 A Very English Christmas - Dear, oh dear. oh dear. 90 minutes of utter boredom, slower than slow-pace, little happening , poor and stilted dialogue. Originally called Christmas in the Cotswolds (a hilly country region in England). Perhaps a Christmas market in a small settlement could be successful at the weekends with tourists etc but in cold and frosty weather it opened early in the morning - utter nonsense. Little chemistry between the leads and the female lead's half-sister whose wedding she has come to organise is already pregnant so not family friendly. I can only offer one piece of advice - if you get the chance to watch this - DON'T. - Florence's rating
Sunday, November 17, 2024:
Storyline: Firefighter Liam and quilting teacher, Amy, come together to make the perfect quilt for Liam’s sister’s Christmas wedding. Two headstrong people discover the importance of putting personal differences aside to create what is most important at Christmas.
Premieres Sunday, November 17, 2024
at 8pm/7c. on Great American Family
Movie Reviews:
🎄 Reel One's A Cozy Christmas Quilt is clean and very sweet. -Maria
🎄 A Cozy Christmas Quilt - This was a surprise - a low budget movie about a fireman and a quilting teacher joining up to make a Christmas quilt for the fireman's sister's wedding. Sounded like a sure-fire recipe for 90 minutes of boredom! But hey, the two leads Kyana Teresa (Amy) and Harmon Walsh (Liam) both previously unknown to me were perfect together with great chemistry.
It was engaging to se Liam try to keep on top of his burgeoning feelings. It started off nicely with friction between Amy and Liam as he had to fail Amy's premises in a fire inspection and there was a side plot of the business threatened with going under.
The movie was full of warmth and humour and the mechanics surrounding the production of the quilt turned out to be fascinating. A little bit different and an unexpected delight - Florence Rating 8.5
🎄 A Cozy Christmas Quilt. Completely agree with Florence - this was a thoroughly enjoyable movie! I was expecting a low-budget movie with typical audio issues and subpar acting, but this turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The acting, writing and directing were well done. (I looked up the director and it turns out he’s been the director on a lot of the bigger-name Hallmark/GAF movies.)
The actors were new to me but I thought they were all good, including side characters. The lead actress, Ferelith Young, was excellent; she was so natural and believable and sincere and warm - I never felt like I was watching someone act. And the lead actor, Harmon Walsh, is a cutie patootie, reminiscent of Kevin McGarry; the chemistry between the two leads felt realistic.
This whole production felt a bit more polished and mature than a lot of the “first-string” movies out there this year (and I appreciated that there was no ridiculous and overblown conflict or big misunderstanding between the couple). The sweet relationship between the brother and sister was a nice bonus.
This one would be a keeper if I had it on my dvr but right now it’s only available via streaming (previously it had been showing on XumoPlay but they took it off and as of January 2nd it’s now playing on the Roku channel – catch this cute movie while you can! Maybe also available on Amazon streaming?). Family friendly. ~~Jane
🎄 A Cozy Christmas Quilt – This movie is like a warm, cuddly blanket… it’s cozy, comfortable, and sweet! And it’s family-friendly, too!
Sparks fly the instant when Liam, a firefighter, and Amy, a quilting teacher, meet. Liam’s sister is getting married and he asks Amy to help him with the task of making a quilt for her wedding present. It’s a traditional wedding gift in their family, and Liam wants to ensure his sister has one on behalf of their deceased mother.
As Liam and Amy work together, it’s plain to see a romance is gently flaring up – as the two are obviously attracted to each other.
Amy is known for working with candles lit around her, which is a terrible fire hazard especially around fabric. I found it to be adorably cute and responsible how Liam would constantly go around blowing them out.
Both characters felt like such real, authentic people. Liam’s the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it, and as far as being kind and giving is concerned, Amy seems to be cut from the same cloth.
This movie is one of those lighthearted, feel-good movies that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. ~Net
Sunday, November 17, 2024:
Storyline: Settie Rose (Kinsey), a quirky family matriarch, enters her town's annual holiday letter-writing contest but needs help, so she hires struggling novelist Juan (Santos) to craft the perfect letter. When a mix-up leads to the rumor that Juan is engaged to Settie's daughter Lily (Lillian Doucet- Roche, The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening), the whole family scrambles to keep up the charade. As Juan bonds with the Roses and overcomes his writer's block, Settie learns that embracing her imperfect family is what truly makes her story special. *Features a cameo appearance by Brian Baumgartner (The Office)
Premieres Sunday, November 17, 2024
at 8pm/7c. on the Hallmark Channel
Sunday, November 17, 2024:
Storyline: Real estate developer Gracie's (Tamara Almeida) ambitious new project faces an unexpected roadblock when she stumbles upon a quirky detail from the past: the charming Christmas tree farm she has purchased once raffled off tiny one-foot deeds to local families, each holding a sentimental piece of the land. To salvage her vision, she must team up with local historian Jack (Cody Ray Thompson), embarking on a heartfelt quest to track down these families and persuade them to part with their cherished slices of the farm.
Premieres Sunday, November 17, 2024
at 8pm/7c. on Lifetime
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Please share which Christmas movie you most want to see this weekend in comments below.
The two movies I'm most looking forward to seeing are A Reason for the Season and A Christmas Less Traveled. Both of these Christmas films appear to have an inspirational element, and those are the ones I usually love the most at Christmastime, the movies with depth and meaning that tug just a little at the heartstrings.
Please note: I haven't pre-screened all of the new movies listed above. If you'd like to post a review on whether a film is family-friendly, please share in comments. There are reviews above, however, for three movies: Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays, A Very English Christmas, and A Cozy Christmas Quilt.
Visit the *Christmas TV Schedule* for the dates and times of NEW Christmas movies.
You can find the 2024 Christmas Movie Review post *here*.
Happy Christmas Movie-Watching!
Net 🎄
SHINING HIS LIGHT:
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
Matthew 2: 1-2
"When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh."
Matthew 2: 9-11
When we think about Christmas travel these days, we mostly think about busy airports and packed highways, as people take planes, trains, and automobiles home for Christmas, but the first Christmas travel was of the three wise men, who followed the bright star in the sky to find and worship the Christ child bringing with them the first gifts of Christmas.
My prayer this Christmas is that we continue, like the three wise men, to seek the true light of Christmas... Jesus!
Getting an easy break this weekend with just A Reason for the Season, A Christmas Less Travelled and just LIfetime and UPTV this weekend. -Maria
ReplyDeleteHi Net, I am trying to get some info on Gac Pureflix’s subscription. I subscribe through Amazon prime and thus far, have not been able to find their originals available to stream. Neither A Vintage Christmas nor Christmas Under the Northern Lights are available. My understanding was that they were going to make their premieres available to stream. I’ve contacted GAC twice, just trying to get clarification, and I can’t get a response. Do you have any information about this?
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Rebecca
Rebecca, I'm happy to help answer your question.
DeleteSome of the new Great American Family Christmas movies will be available on their streaming service, but not all.
If you go to my Great American Family Christmas movie post and scroll way down the page under The Royal Christmas Ballet, then you will see a listing of when the various GAF Christmas movies will premiere on Pure Flix.
Here's the link:
https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2024/08/great-american-familys-2024-christmas.html
I hope this is helpful for you! :)
Blessings, Net
Thank you so much! That helps a lot!
DeleteRebecca
I can’t wait to watch A Reason for the Season tonight
ReplyDeleteI’ can’t wait to watch Christmas movies “A Reason for the Season” & “A Christmas Less Traveled”
ReplyDeleteA Christmas Less Traveled (2024)
ReplyDeleteNovember 14, 2024
Great American PureFlix
Streaming Now
A Christmas Less Traveled (2024)
November 16, 2024)
Great American Family
A Reason for the Season is clean, and quite nice. -Maria
ReplyDeletegreat weekend options
ReplyDeleteWhat movies are you looking forward seeing this weekend
ReplyDeleteReason for the Season is family friendly and so far the best Christmas movie I’ve seen this year. A lot of charitable characters whom make me want to be a better person.
ReplyDeleteFor all JESSE HUTCH fans.....
ReplyDeleteLIFETIME will air A VERY VINTAGE CHRISTMAS featuring Patricia Richardson, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and JESSE HUTCH‼️ It is set to air on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024 at 10 a.m. EST.
An antique store owner (Tia Mowry-Hardrict) discovers a memory box of sentimental trinkets and attempts to find its rightful owner with the help of local builder, Ed Willoughby (Jesse Hutch).
Hallmark is not a channel I watch now, but I did watch A Reason For The Season on Hallmark Mystery. What a rewarding two hours! I love Kevin McGarry and Taylor Cole. They were spectacular together! The story is a heart warmer for certain. The mystery was easy to guess early on, but the story is beautiful. So happy I watched! It is family-friendly.
ReplyDeleteI was leaning towards that one. Now I have to watch it kitkat!!! Thanks!😊
DeleteAbigail, I can't wait to read your review of this movie. I don't think you will be disappointed.
DeleteWasn't Kevin M in a movie on Lifetime called Random Acts of Christmas? It seems Reason for the Season is the same kind of movie. It feels like some actors/actresses get typecast in the same storyline movies. I don't know. It might just be me, but none of the HMM movies have looked good to me. They all seem the same, and then many actors seem to get the same movies with same storylines as past years.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely watching Christmas Less Traveled and Confessions of a Christmas Letter (I LOVE The Office). Likely not any of the others. Haven't been a fan of Ashley Williams for a while and this is yet another movie that she seems to play a character that acts way over the top.
Sabrina
Review: A Reason for the Season -
ReplyDeleteFamily-friendly? Yes -
Recommend? Definitely!
This is such a wonderful movie, all about giving back to others who have helped you in the past. (At first I was put off by the mother not reaching out to these "helpers", but after awhile you discover that she indeed reached out, but they refused her offers.) It was so heartwarming seeing how these helpers really appreciated the gifts they were given! A great story, with excellent acting all around (especially by Taylor, who changed from being someone who was stuck-up and spoiled all her life to someone with a heart). A keeper all the way!
Unwrapping Christmas: Mia's Prince is clean and so heartfelt and romantic! -Maria
ReplyDeleteA Reason for the Season is such a great and uplifting movie with a strong message. Kevin and Taylor did their parts so well. I like the story of a community, people helping and supporting each other. It teaches you some valuable lessons. My favourite Hallmark Christmas movie so far.
ReplyDelete*Oksanka*
A Christmas Less Traveled is fantastic and hilarious! -Maria
ReplyDeleteJingle bell run had a team of 2 males that developed a romance with a kiss at the end.
ReplyDeleteSadly Jingle Bell Run is not family friendly at all. They even had a gay kiss at the end of the movie. It totally ruined it for me.
ReplyDeleteChristmas at Plumhill Manor is clean (save for quite a bit of drinking) and quite charming. -Maria
ReplyDeleteJingle Bell Run NO, NO, NO this is NOT family friendly. I am so disappointed in Andrew Walker. It unfortunately has homosexual contestants and share a kiss 🤮with four minutes to go.
ReplyDeleteDidn't have room to record Jingle Bell Run, but I'm hearing on Twitter that there's a gay couple kissing at the end. (definitely no surprise there because of well, Ashley. 🙄). -Maria
ReplyDeleteAndrew Walker is not any better than Ashley. I think more than 50% of these actors support that lifestyle. The more I learn, the less I want to know about all of them. Not knowing allows me to enjoy some of the movies.
DeleteA Chrismystery (Feature Film)
ReplyDeleteShoot Date: December 04, 2024
Locations: Los Angeles, CA, United
States
Project Summary:
After her husband’s death, city cop Annie Willows moves back to her small hometown as deputy sheriff, distancing herself from everyone, including her daughter. But as Christmas nears and a rare theft unsettles the town, Annie teams up with Sheriff Tom Hay. Can solving the mystery rekindle her holiday spirit and open her heart again?
Jen Lilley (Producer)
https://productionlist.com/production/a-chrismystery/
And from what I'm hearing, Confessions of a Christmas Letter is also dirty. 🙄 Such 'big wins' there, Hallmark! (not). -Maria
ReplyDeleteI’ve been watching the Mistletoe Murders Mystery series and so far it’s pretty good. I just finished the first half of episode 2 and so far it’s been family friendly.
ReplyDeleteHoliday in Happy Hollow is clean. -Maria
ReplyDeleteReview: Jingle Bell Run -
ReplyDeleteFamily-friendly? No (Two guys develop a romance during the contest) -
Recommend? No -
Aside from the two gays guys who are predominantly featured, the movie just seemed very formulaic and problematic. For example, Ashley's character is recognized as the brainiac of the group with a knack for solving problems. Each time she quickly (and too easily) solves the clue that leads to the next destination, and yet every pair seems to arrive at the destination around the same time, every time! And did anybody also find it odd that the organizer of the contest would pair up two guys when part of a contest involved slow dancing together? A by-the-numbers movie that I won't be revisiting!
Confessions of a Christmas Letter is a STINKER!! We haven't seen our main couple yet and we meet Mom's son and his husband. Needless to say we deleted it right away.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up, Anonymous. The plot of this one looked a bit ridiculous, to me, so I was hoping for a good excuse to delete it off my dvr! ~~Jane
DeleteHi Net,
ReplyDeleteI will be posting my reviews of the three movies I actually finished that aired the weekend of November 8th today. Yes, we only enjoyed three of the movies enough to actually finish them. The others, well they weren't our cup of tea. Slowly, but surely, we will get caught up on this past weekend's movies and I will post my reviews sometime this week. I can't wait to see "A Reason for the Season", "A Christmas Less Traveled" and "A Cozy Christmas Quilt". I am definitely going to skip "Jingle Bell Run" , "A Very English Christmas" and "Dognapped: A Hound for the Holidays".
I skipped Jingle Bells Run & Confessions of a Christmas Letter- I’m glad I didn’t record in the weekends
ReplyDeleteI gotta watch Christmas movies •A Christmas Less Traveled” & “A Cozy Christmas Quilt”, that I’m record them
Anisley McGregor Mysteries: A Case of Yarnmaker will premiere in January 2025 while I was watching “A Christmas Less Travelled “
ReplyDeleteA Reason for the Season is a great movie. Taylor and Kevin were great and well as the other actors too. Uplifting movie! It's a keeper!
ReplyDeleteWas so disappointed in Jingle Bell Run. Was really looking forward to that one because of Andrew. I have to confess I'm not a big fan of Ashley even before she went "woke"! I suffered through about an hour of the movie before I turned it off! Definitely not family friendly!
ReplyDeleteA Christmas Less Traveled is a terrific movie! What a journey that was! What a message for our hearts! Candace never disappoints, she always puts her heart and soul into everything she does, she radiates light and kindness you feel even from the screen. I haven't seen Eric for a long time and was so thrilled having him in this movie in a leading role. He's a great actor. Hope to see him more. Together with Candace they've created such a strong on-screen connection. Big thanks to GAF for such an important topic of fogiveness!
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't watched this movie yet, join Candace and Eric on a journey you'll never forget!
*Oksanka*
Hi Net,
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday! We watched a great movie last night. Here is my review of that lovely movie which I know other folks (Mark25, Oksanka, KitKat, Maria) raved about and Abigail also wanted to watch. So, I know I am in good company!
“A Reason for the Season” is now my favorite Christmas movie this year! Oh my…where do I start? What an amazing joyful celebration of the holiday season! This little gem of a movie should be the playbook for others in the future. It was so refreshing to view a movie without any contrivances, or a tired storyline, or an inevitable ‘shoe-drop’, or a silly misunderstanding or over-the-top zaniness! Yes, there was a bit of lying, but the lead actress came clean – half-way through the movie! And I understood why she initially wanted to keep her true identity a secret. Anyway, it was so nice to not see the lead go back to her old hometown to rescue a business and run into an old boyfriend. Seriously I was cheering instead of shaking my head and rolling my eyes. Every single one of the actors/actresses blew me away. There was an authenticity to every performance and every connection was genuine. Nothing felt forced. Besides Taylor and Kevin, other standouts to us were Eric & Peter. Taylor and Kevin’s chemistry was off-the-charts but what really got to me was the way he looked at her as his feelings for her deepened. It was so profound it just melted my heart. The two of them together are hands-down my favorite couple of the season. I loved Jesse and Jill a lot in their movie, and they are a close second favorite couple. But I enjoyed Taylor and Kevin’s relationship even more. It was sweet, funny, and sincere. This movie touched my heart in away that only a handful of Christmas movies have done this year and earlier years. I was moved to tears, more than once. Kudos to everyone who had a part in bringing this movie to our television screen.
I’m gonna watch that one tonight now Joan! We just hung the lights outside so now I just need a Christmas movie!!
DeleteHi Abigail,
DeleteI hope you enjoy the movie as much as my husband and I did. :-) Looking forward to seeing your review!!
I enjoyed A Cozy Christmas Quilt. It was a one time watch for me.
ReplyDeleteReally loved A Christmas Less Traveled! To see the life of a dad told from the beginning, all the people he helped along the way, and to share this with his daughter,(even though he was gone), tugged at my heart strings. This is the love of family on display. Thanks Candace and GAF!
ReplyDeleteIf it helps, both Jingle Bell Run and Confessions of a Christmas Letter did terrible in the ratings. (Confessions didn't even get up to a million viewers!).
ReplyDeleteJust goes to show that the real Hallmark crowd DOES NOT want these woke infused movies! -Maria
JINGLE BELL RUN - (NOT clean)
ReplyDeleteThere was a gay couple in the competition. I let the movie run in the background naively thinking they were just friends. I didn’t pick up on their “vibe” at first because I was watching while washing the dishes and doing chores around the house (it was pretty boring and did not worth all my focus). In all honestly, I didn’t like it that much, even if there was no agenda. The chemistry was not there. I don’t think Andrew Walker and Ashley Williams made a suitable couple to me personally. I sensed more brother-sister vibe. Had I known about the agenda, I wouldn’t have watched it. Don’t waste your time on this!
A REASON FOR THE SEASON
This was alright. Quite enjoyable to watch 1 time but I probably wouldn’t watch it again. I do think the movie had all of the good intention. Heartwarming storyline, with the theme of giving back to the community. However, the “big reveal” of Evie being Evie Lane didn’t quite have the emotional impact I think the movie was aiming for. It was not a bad movie but it could’ve been better. Taylor Cole and Kevin McGarry were both a delight to watch as expected