Movie #3344 ........................."Wicked" (Movie theater)

 Movie #3344 "Wicked" (movie theater) I saw this movie two times in one week, and I highly recommend it.  Yes, it is a tad too long (I would have edited each scene a little bit), yes, it is a musical (are you kidding?) and yes, it doesn't follow the traditional and beloved  "Wizard of Oz" storyline with the scarecrow, tin man and lion.  Those negatives  being said, the time goes by very quickly and you come to accept it's a musical with big numbers that are staged beautifully, and smaller ones that are there for a reason.  And the acting is so well done, that the movie literally pulls you in to a back story on Elphaba and the Wizard of Oa, and with new themes on freedom, bullying, sisterhood, up with being different, what it takes to be a good leader, etc. Lots of themes, entertainment, and lots of heart make this an excellent choice for a film to watch in this holiday season ---- and for years to come.  This could also be a big winner for some oscars.  I give it 4.5 out of 5.

"WICKED"     2 hrs and 40 mins,   2024

Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Glainda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz.  After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.

Director:  Jon M. Chu

Writers:  Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire

Actors:  Cynthia Erivo, Arizona Grande, Jeff Goldblum

Movies #3343 ........................."Sugarplummed" (Hallmark )

 Movies #3343 "Sugarplummed" (Hallmark)  I love making fun of the Hallmark Diva who, through magic, appears and solves problems that the lead has with her family , but then there's a turn when things start backfire  ---- so I wasn't a big fan for that turn --- and it took just a couple of minutes to turn it around at the end --- too quick, in may opinion.  So, basically, this was a cool idea, but I don't think it was executed as well as it could be --- I think they should continue making fun of the formulaic stuff Hallmark does  --- because it could be a very funny and entertaining venture.  I'd give this a 3.8 -- i think some might like it but not heavily recommending it at all.

"SUGARPLUMMED"     HALLMARK     2024   1 hour and 24 mins

Emily's wish for a picture-perfect Christmas comes true when a magical, optimistic movie character steps off the screen to help,, but as things spiral out of control, she learns that true holiday perfection might look very different from what she imagined.

Director:  Ryan Landels

Writer:  Ryan Landels

Actors:  Maggie Lawson, Janel Parrish, Brendon Zub

Movie #3343 ........................."Trivia at St. Nick's" (Hallmark)

Movie #33243 "Trivia at St. Nick's"  (Hallmark)  Two not often seen actors playing the lead in this and they were very good and should see more work in their futures.  Stage Business involved, of course, a trivia congest, and that was fun to watch that at work --- in between the sessions with the trivia there was the Hallmark standard of baking cookies, but also something more interesting like rock climbing and trivia prep.  This one was fun to watch , esp. with an astronomy expert in the leadership role and a sports expert (ho hum) in the other leadership role, but they proved to learn from each other (and the audience did some learning , as well).  I'd give this 4 out of 5 and reommend this one as one of the better new Hallmark xmas movies for 2024.

"TRIVIA AT ST. NICK'S"   Hallmark   2024    1 hour, 24 mins.

When students all flee an elite university in Vermont for winter break, the locals and faculty hunker down for their favorite time of year -- the annual Christmas Bar Trivia Tournament.  For Celeste , a Type-A astronomy professor, this event combines the magic of Christmas with her greatest comfort in life:  knowing the right answer.  But when her colleague drops out of the tournament , Celest's team must adopt Max, the football team's new offensive coordinator.

Director:  Mario Hunter

Writers:  Christine Garver, Stephanie Jackson

Actors:  Tammin Sursok, Brant Daugherty, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone

 

Movie #3342 ........................."Debbie Macomber's Joyful Mrs. Miracle" (Hallmark)

Movie #33412 "Debbie Macomber's Joyful Mrs. Miracle" (Hallmark - this was an interesting story in that it deviated from the regular formula --- three adult kids come back to grandma's house after she died to figure out what to do with it --- and who would represent the family on the board (for whatever company it is) - she is in her own way, after her death, trying to make them communicate with each other --- the girl is a lawyer, one of the boys is in business and dying to get on the board, and the other brother is kind of a deadbeat --- hasn't stayed with any one job and thinks out of the box --- interesting family dynamics -- I think the story works there, but then this character Mrs. Joyful, though a good actress, comes in because she has been hired to be some sort of liaison -- She os way too unbelievable, but the title suggests that already --- she is able to do anything to everyone's amazement, including reaching the very quiet and withdrawn son of the daughter lawyer.  And, of course, there's a backstory, where the handyman around the home who grew up there, had a crush on the daughter, but it never came into fruition because of the difference in their castes.  Now, as she is older and wiser, she starts to see the handyman differently.  and, of course, Mrs. Joyful, helps him with that, too.  3.8 -- stage business is fixing up the house - ho hum.

"DEBBIE MACOMBER'S JOYUFUL MRS. MIRACLE"   2024   1 HR, 24 MINS

Three adult siblings return to their childhood home at Christmas to honor their late grandmother's wishes and try to agree on new leadership for the family's company.

Director:  Peter Benson

Writer:  Nina Weinman

Actors:   Rachel Boston, Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes, Tanner Nolan

Movie #3341 ........................."Holiday Touchdown: A chief's love story" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3341 "Holiday Touchdown:  A chief's love story" (Hallmark) From the first minute this went on it was corny ....and it didn't change very much.  I just kept watching it because I liked the two leads.  But at the end of it, it didn't change much.  And I must say, a bit disappointing due to all the hype it got previous to it being shown.  It was kind of funny that NBC hyped it the most because they were a "part" of the movie, but when I watched it, they came in at the end of the film.  So short, if you blinked you might have missed it!  Secondary people were really meh.  I guess if you are a football fan of this team, you might enjoy it, but to me, there are so many more Hallmark xmas films that are new this year that are so much better.  I'd give it  a 3.5 out of 5.

"HOLIDAY TOUCHDOWN:  A CHIEWF'S LOVE STORY"      Hallmark  2024   1 hr, 30 min

Alana Higman, a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan and her family are competing to win the Team;s Fan of the year contact, in a process judged by the director of fan engagement Derrick.

Director:  John Putch

Writer:  Julie Sherman Wiolfe

Actors:  Hunter King, Tyler Hynes, Ed Begley, Jr.

Movie #3340 ........................."Three Wiser Men & a Boy" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3340 "Three Wise Men & a Boy" (Hallmark)  I saw the first one in the series ("Three Men and a baby") and loved that , but the sequel usually isn't any better , but this one is equal to the first and I recommend it.  The three guys in this one are my favorites, and the boy is cute.  The story is good, there's much humor and the actors are more than  capable and fun to watch.  This is a 5, and one of the few I've seen from the new batch.

"THREE WISE MEN & A BOY"     2024       1 hour and 24 min.       Hallmark

Brothers Luke, Taylor and Stephan help Luke's son Thomas with school musical after director quits.  They deal with mom Barbara's new boyfriend, family dynamics during chaotic Christmas season.  

DIRECTOR:  TERRY INGRAM

WRITERS:  PAUL CAMPBELL, KIMBERLEY SUSTAD, RUSSELL HAINLINE

ACTORS:  PAUL CAMPBELL, TYLER HYNES, ANDREW W. WALKER

Movie #3339 ........................."Christmas by Starlight" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3339 "Christmas by Starlight" (Hallmark)   I am rewatching this one for the umpteenth time and I went to check what I gave it the first time and discovered that there isn't a critique on this one, a favorite.  Why?  It's the first foray into screenwriting for Hallmark with these two leads -- Kim Sustad and Paul Campbell, 2 gavotte hallmark actors for me.  He plays a "flake" kind of business guy who according to his dad, needs help in organization and "caring" about the business before he takes it over --- Kim is the lawyer who is hired to see him do that --- but she comes along with an agenda.  She's business in trying to save her family business --- the Starlight Diner.  She becomes a big quirkier  and he  becomes more caring and organized --- they rub off each other in a good way, and thus you have a good sound story, with lots of funny moments, and it exudes charm in a real way.  I give it a 5, one of my favorite.  

"CHRISTMAS BY STARLIGHT"    2020      1 hour and 24 mins

When her family's  beloved cafe is slated for demolition, Annie vows to put a stop to it before Christmas.

Director:  Gary Yates

Writers:  Paul Campbell, Kimberley Sustad

Actors:  Kimberley Sustad, Paul Campbell