Friday, December 29, 2017
Movie #1461 ........................"Christmas Homecoming"
Movie #1461 "Christmas Homecoming" --- I ended up watching this in parts a couple of times --- it seemed to be on a lot --- I thought it was slow, methodical, and lacked a clear focus, and I think I'm right, but it could be because I saw it in pieces. It was just that the pieces came across that way --- I kept thinking I was missing something, so I'd watch scenes over again if it happened to be on the t.v. Well, last night I watched the majority of it, and I still haven't changed my mind. I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 because there seemed to be very little chemistry in the couple (the guy came across pretty much as cold) and the story meandered --- the pacing was extremely slow. But I did enjoy the ending when I finally got to see it. It seems they are tacking on denouements (one year later) to the films, and most of the times it seems to work, but others not so much, but this one seemed to work for me. I guess I was happy it ended well for this poor war widow who falls in love with another soldier who is going off to afghanistan again. It takes a huge amount of bravery to do that, for sure, and I think that was the point of the film.
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Movie #1460 ..........................."Christmas Getaway"
Movie #1460 "Christmas Getaway" -- this is a no, don't bother hallmark offering, with a dumb plot, gratuitous "getting to know you" scenes, wooden leads, and mannequin good friend on the phone throughout the movie. yuck! 2.5 out of 5 for me. I'm even writing this before the last kiss. blah!
Movie #1459 ........................."Karen Kingsbury's Maggie's Christmas Miracle"
Movie #1459 "Karen Kingsbury's Maggie's Christmas Miracle" is the longest title of the Hallmark batch, so far........ or at least quite a mouthful if trying to say this in a conversation...... I watched it today because the title and the plot synopsis kind of interested me ----- the word miracle should have triggered a knee-jerk reaction in me to turn it off, but the lead couple were so much fun to watch, I viewed it until the end. And yes, there was a miracle involved (time to roll your eyes) , but the actors were so impassioned about the turn of events, that they actually made me believe that it might have been a miracle since it was the Christmas season! I guess if you think that sounds silly, you shouldn't watch this movie at all, but if you "want" to believe it, then this one is for you. I give this 3.5 out of 5. I liked it, even if it has a dumb long title.....
Friday, December 22, 2017
Movie #1458 ........................."The Magic Stocking"
Movie #1458 "The Magic Stocking" had an outstandingly good looking and capable female anchoring the female, with, of course, a cutie for a daughter --- once again, they are grieving, and this big burly guy steps into their lies and sparks fly ---- well, kind of. The woman is very wary of getting involved --- the little girl, though, isn't! She likes the guy more than mom shows she does, and he even buys her a dog without checking with mom (who planned on doing that, too! uh oh!) but throw a magic stocking into it, and all is changed. Dumb! 3 out of 5 stars.
Movie #1457 ........................."Come Dance with Me"
Movie # 1457 "Come Dance with Me" had a bigger star than usual in the cast, Andrew McCarthy from the Brat Pack, but it didn't seem to help steer the story evenly to an end. I liked the idea of the couple falling in love over the simple act of dancing, but once again, he is representing some real estate venture that is going to eventually take over the building where she teaches. Again? The one spark of interest was his mother, who showed up unexpectedly (probably because people watching the dailies thought they needed some humor in the film). Anyway, she is the typical hovering mom, but she at least offered a few laughs to thisVal stuffed shirt film. 3.5 out of 5 for me on this one.
Movie #1456 ........................."Romance at Reindeer Lodge"
Movie #1456 "Romance at Reindeer Lodge" --- with a title like this, it better be better than the title and it is.....a little. This one is a tad different from others because the couple aren't the typical tender looking, winsome people --- these two are more just pretty, hollywood fashion -- the girl looks kind of pretentious, and a kind of an air head, but if you watch the movie more than a few minutes, you find out she's better than that (otherwise, I would have turned it off). The conflict is typical --- one of them wants to leave the place (the girl), the guy is on assignment to take over the place -- but of course, they both learn that this is really an inspiring place for christmas, so they don't want to leave. This storyline is really overdone in these Hallmark movies, but then there isn't " a little kid who lost his mom/dad" or "death around the holidays" type of scripts, so I guess that's saying something for the film. Still, I'd give it a 3 --- the ending was really, really corny, even for Hallmark! I bet you can guess from the title, who shows up?
Stars:
Nicky Whelan, Beth Broderick, Josh KellyWednesday, December 20, 2017
Movie #1455 ........................."Sharing Christmas"
Movie #1455 "Sharing Christmas" is a movie I saw the end to last week, and then watched the opening half this week --- that didn't help much at all, because it is a weak entry to the Hallmark Christmas list of films. It depends on us "buying" some silly premises. One, that the guy doesn't know it's her building that he is trying to take over, and Two, that the girl can actually persuade this guy and he's in a position to change his mind. I really didn't like this one at all --- and found he two people have very little chemistry. I'd give it a weak 3 out of 5 stars.
Movie #1454 .........................."The Christmas Connection"
Movie #1454 "The Christmas Connection" was a slight film about a flight attendant who meets a cute father and daughter and ends up for several nights (because she's stranded over the holidays in Chicago) spending time decorating trees, making cookies, etc. with the father and daughter's family --- for a flimsy reason --- he's trying to write an article about her folks and how they met --- it all ties to some skating rink, and of course, not knowing where he is at the end, she finds him there. Duh! I'd give this film 3 out of 5 stars.
"CHRISTMAS CONNECTION"
"CHRISTMAS CONNECTION"
Movie #1453 ........................."Christmas Cottage"
Movie #1453 "Christmas Cottage" was a mediocre story about some magical cottage that these two people who grew up together have to decorate because one is the maid of honor and the other is the brother of the bride. It was full of a lot of happenstance, and wasn't quite believable at all, and seems static at times, going nowhere. I'd give it 3.5 out of 5. And not recommend it highly at all.
Stars:
Merritt Patterson, Steve Lund, Brittney WilsonMovie #1452 ........................."Christmas Next-door"
Movie #1452 "Christmas Next door" has pretty boy Jesse Metcalfe in it ---- but there are other guys much better actors doing these Hallmark films, so he wasn't a draw for me at all.....he was just okay. The girl has to be able to play the violin very well, and also act, and she does a great job, I thought. There is, of course, another girl in the picture. That's because Metcalfe plays a famous, good looking author who has a writer's block and right before Christmas he is saddled with his sister's kids to entertain and needs help. But instead of using his girlfriend, he turns to the next door neighbor for help and stars to fall in love with her. The conflict ended up to be silly --- the next-door neighbor thinks he is serious about this girlfriend, so she keeps slamming the door on him -- duh! But some parts were interesting in the film. I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Movie #1451 ........................."Christmas with Holly"
Movie #1451 "Christmas with Holly" is one I really enjoyed. Why? The humor was done well, esp. with the three brothers. I liked the way the film didn't spend a lot of time on exposition --- we have to keep guessing as to why the little girl is not talking, why the one uncle has taken it upon himself to be her guardian...why is he moving away from his original place....... but I esp. like the way the story unfolded and the cute couple, and the adorable little girl whose first words are about a doll house she sees in a toy shop. There's another woman that serves as a conflict, but she isn't the devil incarnate, so it is quite believable of a conflict. And the relationship isn't rushed --- there's ease to it. I would recommend this film and give it 4.5 out of 5. This is really one to look for, in my opinion.
"CHRISTMAS WITH HOLLY"
"CHRISTMAS WITH HOLLY"
Movie #1450 ........................."Christmas in Evergreen"
Movie #1450 "Christmas in Evergreen" was what I would consider a simple story --- with a little girl that helps to bring the two lovers together -- it takes a while to bring them together. I liked that the girl was a capable Vet, not looking for a guy because she has one, and a twist on her wish for a romantic Christmas doesn't depend on her usual boyfriend..... the film deals with a magical force that I normally don't like, but it was somewhat okay in this film because it was believable because the actors dealt with it well. And the ubiquitous little kid was cute and bouncy and she was part of the wishing on a snow globe, too. It was a cute film that made me wish I lived in a small town, too!. I'd give it a 4 out of 5 stars....
"CHRISTMAS IN EVERGREEN"
"CHRISTMAS IN EVERGREEN"
Monday, December 18, 2017
Movie #1448 ........................."Snowed-Inn Christmas"
Movie #1448 "Snowed-Inn Christmas" was a movie I caught right before bed tonight, and it was a fun watch --- two competing journalists (like one of those 1940 screwball comedies, without the screwball repartee) -- I love that a lot of the major events in the film are done through writing --- that will make more sense once you see this film, and aside from the substory about a possible real santa and mrs. claus at the inn, I enjoyed this a lot --- and there was some musical bonus at the end, with the two actors performing in a la la land scene....... They both seem to be able to sing and dance so maybe that's why it is included? anyway, just a fun film with heart. I recommend this one --- 4 out of 5 stars.
Stars:
Bethany Joy Lenz, Andrew W. Walker, John B. LoweTuesday, December 12, 2017
Movie #1447 ........................."Christmas Encore"
Movie #1447 "Christmas Encore" was a fun hallmark movie because it dealt with a theatre production of "A Christmas Carol," and how a female version of it just may save the theatre from closing. The girl lead is Maggie from "Psych," and it was fun to watch her in something else. The guy I have seen in a bunch of these hallmark xmas films, and he is always pleasant to watch. I'm not sure they had that much chemistry, but to me it was fun watching since it was about behind the scenes in a theatre. 3.8 out of 5 stars.
Movie #1448 ........................."Bad Moms' Christmas"
Movie #1448 "Bad Moms' Christmas" --- this was nothing but fluff, and it was even cruder than the first one, with less of a message, but I am still glad I saw it because of the amount of competent females in the main roles ---- 6, count them! Mila, Kristin, Kathryn, Christine, Susan and Cheryl --- what a powerhouse of comic females that can do (yes, exaggerated characters) much more than the weak script asks of them, and we still manage to like them by the end of the film. Sorry, but the men are just there in the film , but there's one who has a breakout performance but for the wrong reasons --- he's the bump and grinder, the stripper, the one who has a very naughty but hysterical scene with Kathryn Hahn that I don't think has ever been shown on the big screen before. (hint, Hahn works in a wax salon) . He's a looker and he'll be memorable for this role --- not sure what kind of acting jobs he'll get, though. We'll see! I would give this 3 stars out of 5, but once again, it's just fluff! And a nice respite from the stress of christmas shopping!!!!
" A BAD MOMS' CHRISTMAS" 2017 - R RATED
" A BAD MOMS' CHRISTMAS" 2017 - R RATED
The holiday season is a double-edged dagger for overburdened moms and friends Kiki, Amy and Carla, who are responsible for their families' happiness but also face the looming arrival of their respective mothers.
Cast: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn --- AND THEIR MOMS (hand chosen by each actress): Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, and Susan Sarandon.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Movie #1446 ........................."Christmas Land"
Movie #1446 "Christmas Land" had an animated lead in the girl who was very refreshing. The repartee with the lead guy was a bit pushed , and he was a bit too sarcastic at times, but I already liked him in "Brothers and Sisters" so I kept with it. The story centered around this woman who inherits her grandma's estate that has been offering Christmas experiences for kids for years. At first, she intends to sell, but then when she remembers how much this place meant to her, she then decides to take the reins for this year and try to find someone who would carry it on after.........with the help of her idiot boyfriend (who happens to be a lawyer) she thinks she finds that someone, but then finds out she is wrong. That's when she learns how important the people who worked for her grandma believe in the place themselves. I liked it and give it 4 stars out of 5.
#1445 ........................."Enchanted Christmas"
Movie #1445 "Enchanted Christmas" was a disappointment for me. I noticed it was centered around dancing, but by the time they got to that (at the end) , it was anticlimactic. The leads were overacting, the little girl was just okay, and all the scenes seemed to blend together. Didn't hold my interest. A mild 3 out of 5.
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