“If you look for it, I’ve got a feeling that you’ll find love is actually all around” are the famous lines from one of the world’s (and my) favourite Christmas movies: Love Actually. It’s funny, it’s tragic, it’s heart-warming, it’s a Christmas movie miracle. But I’m not here to talk about it or any of your familiar favourites. No, I’m here to talk about Hallmark movies.
Now why would I, a seventeen-year-old with classic movie taste and a passion for The Criterion Channel, want to talk about movies often broadcasted to confusedly-hopelessly romantic women? Well, while Love Actually does fill me with all those mixed and wonderful emotions, I also stand by the outlandish mistletoe and misunderstandings to help me believe in love and Christmas joy at this time of year. Albeit, they are funny in a ‘jingle all the awkward way’ and tragically filled with Christmas cookie conundrums. Still, they are heart-warming and fun.
So, here is my must-watch list of Hallmark movies to prepare for this Christmas season:
7. A Christmas Charade
A cautious and Christmas-loving librarian gets roped into an FBI operation, finding love with her partner-in-crime and revamping her passion for dance. Its plot is borderline ridiculous, but the hotness of Corey Sevier and Cynthia Dales’ presence makes it more than tolerable. Honestly, with a cup of hot cocoa in one hand and your other free to close your eyes during the two main characters’ intensely awful kisses, you’ll be laughing and smiling your way through the whole film.
6. Haul Out The Holley
Emily dumps her man-child boyfriend before Christmas, heading home only to get abandoned by her Christmas-crazed parents and leaving her with all the obligations to prepare for the neighbourhood festivities. Oh, and her handsome childhood friend is the (also Christmas-crazed) chief of neighbourhood festivities. It’s cute, it’s cozy, and the romance is somewhat believable. However, all characters other than Emily (Lacey Chabert) were over the top with their cliché-ness, and the Christmas neighbourhood activities weren’t half as festive as I wanted them to be. With that being said, the gorgeousness of Wes Brown’s blue eyes and the subtle nerdiness of his character still grasped me throughout the whole thing.
5. A Merry Scottish Christmas
An estranged brother and sister are called to an estate in Scotland for Christmas by their mother, who reveals that they are the heirs to its fortune and the future leaders of the town’s holiday festivities. The siblings are none other than the reunited Claudia (Lacey Chabert) and Bailey (Scott Wolf) from Party of Five, and that made the movie for me. That and the drool-worthy accent of Mac Bell (James Robinson). The brother and sister were supposed to be estranged, but it felt as though Lacey Chabert and Scott Wolf’s characters were never actually angry at each other, and how could they be? They’re best friends off-screen and I’m glad that that love couldn’t be concealed. It added to the merry heart of the film and was a Christmas-themed stroll down Party of Five’s memory lane. Simply adorable.
4. Holiday in the Wild
When Kate’s husband ends their marriage (literally) five seconds after their son walks out the door to head for college, she is jilted and decides to head on a trip to Africa. There, she meets a pilot (who is as hot as the African sun) who helps her save a baby elephant and rediscover her passion as a vet. Truthfully, anything with elephants has me hooked. But, although it’s under the Christmas movie genre, be warned if you want a movie with more Christmas spirit, for this is not the Hallmark movie for you. However, if you want to surrender yourself to the amazing landscapes and are an animal lover, then this definitely is for you.
3. The Princess Switch
Stacy goes to Belgravia to compete in their annual Christmas baking competition, but runs into the prince’s fiancé, who is her look-alike. They end up switching lives and men for two days, which leads to all sorts of shenanigans and romance. Its splendiferously festive atmosphere and magical twists make it one of the best films to be produced from the Hallmark channel.
2. Our Little Secret
Avert and Logan are ex- childhood best friends and lovers who have to spend Christmas together when they find out that their current partners are siblings. I really loved it for a Hallmark movie, and found myself bursting out in laughter throughout the film. Lindsey Lohan and Ian Harding make an electrifying couple, creating good banter and a believable second-chance romance. The Christmas elements weren’t too overdone and the plot wasn’t too unrealistic. All in all, I would watch it again and can’t wait for Lohan’s next one!
1. A Biltmore Christmas
A writer is commissioned to stay in the Biltmore estate on Christmas and get inspiration for the revamp of the Old Hollywood Christmas movie she is working on. While she’s there, she gets transported back to the time of the movie and falls for one of its leads. This, in my opinion, is the best Hallmark movie I’ve ever seen. The script is good, the production is great, and the main character’s journey is fully realized. Also, the man travels forward through time to stay with her, when typically the roles are reversed in romantic time travel movies. It’s classy and will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit. I only wish it had lasted longer.
Overall, if you’re looking for some ridiculous laughs and engaging entertainment, tune into the Hallmark channel to get into the holiday spirit!
