Movie #2056 ........................."Love at the Thanksgiving Parade" (Hallmark)

 Movie#2056 "Love at the Thanksgiving Parade" (Hallmark)  I like  watching Autumn -- she varies from one movie to another ---the  first time I saw her, I thought she was too bland, but she comes alive in this one ---it took a while for me to warm up  to the stuck up guy --- but because she's so broad in her acting in  this one, it lightens him up a bit --- so by the end, he came across much more  human and pleasant and worthy of her love.  What I really  liked  about this one,though, was all the stuffI learned about the thanksgiving parade in Chicago ---I didn't even know that  one happened  every year! The film also reminded me of  "Pillow Talk" with the  two talking to each other in bed and the editor using a split screen.  It was a fun watch!  4 out of 5. 

"LOVE AT THE  THANKSGIVING PARADE"  1 hour & 24 minutes    2012

An eager Thanksgiving parade coordinator is shocked when a wealthy consultant is hired to analyze its finances. Faced with teaching him that the parade means so much more to her than money, she finds herself reluctantly falling for him.

Director:

 Ron Oliver

Writers:

 Nancey Silvers (teleplay), Nancey Silvers (story)  |1 more credit »

Stars:

 Autumn Reeser, Antonio Cupo, April Telek 

Movie #2055 ........................."Christmas in Evergreen: Bells are Ringing" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2055 "Christmas  in Evergreen:  Bells are Ringing" (Hallmark) I  have liked the  other Evergreen movies, but this one was boring!  same people, same red truck, same town, that's the  gimmick with these evergreen movies and  all that doesn't bother me, but  the story and conflict seemed manufactured. And they might have noticed that,too, because they  brought in the previous people a lot more than the others.  I give this a weak 3 --- don't need to see this one, in my opinion.  

"CHRISTMAS IN EVERGREEN:  BELLS ARE RINGING"   1 hr& 24 mins     2020

As Michelle's wedding approaches, Hannah steps up to help finish the launch of the new Evergreen museum while questioning her relationship and future with Elliot.

Director:

 Linda-Lisa Hayter

Writers:

 Zac Hug, Shari Sharpe

Stars:

 Rukiya Bernard, Antonio Cayonne, Holly Robinson Peete 

Movie #2054 ........................."Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas" (Hallmark)

 Movie #2054 "Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas" (Hallmark) -- the premise is a bit of a mystery --- a handful of people show up, not  knowing  who invited them  until well into the film.  The lead woman who is trying to figure out the mystery is a diva  of Hallmark films, Lacey Chabert  ---I always have to see her movies because , well, just because --- it's like seeing Patti Lupone plays, you know?  Anyway, the guy she snags  in this one,  to no one's surprise, is the guy who runs the inn they are all invited to  -- the  one who helps her figure out the  mystery.  And the mystery is a good one, and somewhat believable.  The guys was just okay, but likable --- he is always working, cutting wood, decorating,  whatever --- he works so much that in  order for her to talk to  him, she has to help him (free charge --- that must be love!)  I enjoyed this one, even though it has the longest title ever!  4 out of 5 stars

"TIME FOR US TO COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS      2020    1 hour and 24 minutes

Five guests are mysteriously invited to an inn to celebrate Christmas. With the help of the owner Ben, Sarah discovers that an event from the past may connect them and change their lives forever.

Director:

 David Winning

Writer:

 Marcy Holland

Stars:

 Lacey Chabert, Stephen Huszar, Lini Evans 

Movie #2053 ........................."Love at the Christmas Table" (lifetime?)

 Movie #2053  "Love at the Christmas  Table" (lifetime?) I know if you read the synopsis below, it seems a retread, but the way the film is done, you can tell it isn't a Hallmark.  The humor has such a variety --- the speed of the dialogue between the two leads, the humorous antics that occur that spur the story along, Lea Thompson (the mother in  Back to the Future) is a young  looking mother  here who happens to be the host of the annual neighborhood Christmas party that the two leads are always  attending year after year, but early teen years into their late 20s.  It was a fun watch and it has become my FAVORITE one that I have seen all year.  I highly recommend it for being so different and entertaining!

"LOVE AT THE  CHRISTMAS TABLE"  2012      1 hour  and  29 mins

A man realizes that his best friend since childhood is the woman that he loves.

Director:

 Rachel Lee Goldenberg

Writer:

 Dayan Ballweg (screenplay by) (as Patrick J. Hobby) 

Stars:

 Danica McKellar, Dustin Milligan, Lea Thompson

Movie #2052 ........................."Twinkle all the Way" (Lifetime?)

 Movie #2052 "Twinkle all the Way" (Lifetime?)  I watched this because the story seemed  different, well a little --- and the people seemed new --- she was really good, but he just smiled lot through the whole film.  But the ending was GREAT!  and we all know that if the end works, it's the first thing that is remembered.  It  was a wedding, but not there's --- and  I liked the way that they would all work together to make it happen even after all the problems came their way.  And it was nice to see Leslie Ann Warren in a  bigger role (she is the mother here, and "twinkle" in the title, the owner of the lighting crew.  I would give this a 4 out of 5 --- a little slow, but a fun watch and lots of smiling!

"TWINKLE ALL THE  TIME"   1 hr & 27 mins        2019

Two single parents of young daughters, grow closer as they contribute to each others' projects - Cadence with the wedding and Henry with his high-profile client, Mrs. Sutton, and her annual VIP Christmas Eve party.

Director:

 Brian Herzlinger

Writers:

 Megan Henry Herzlinger, Brian Herzlinger

Stars:

 Sarah Drew, Ryan McPartlin, Lesley Ann Warren

Movie #2051 ........................."Carrie Pilby" (Netflix streaming)

 Movie #2051 "Carrie Philby" (Netflix streaming)  -- this was  recommended by an alum, and I am glad because it was  quite enjoyable --- loved the sarcastic way about Carrie, and how she looked at things.  She  is stunningly  smart and observant as she talks to others, esp. her therapist (and friend of her father) Nathan  Lane.  We esp. liked those exchanges. A very good study of extremely smart young people who try to weather through life full of a lot of mopes like me. I would give this 3.5 ----not quite a 4 because the story could  have been a tad more active.   But I enjoyed her and Nathan Lane so much, I barely noticed.

"CARRIE PILBY"    2016     1 hour and 38 mins    PG-13 (my rating)

A person of high intelligence struggles to make sense of the world as it relates to morality, relationships, sex and leaving her apartment.

Director:

 Susan Johnson

Writers:

 Kara Holden (screenplay by), Caren Lissner (based on the novel by) 

Stars:

 Bel Powley, Nathan Lane, Gabriel Byrne 

Movie #2050 ........................."Ted Lasso" (t.v. series, season1 on Apple)

 Movie #2050 "Ted Lasso" (t.v., season 1 - Apple) We loved this series and give a big thanks to  Heather Yager for recommending it to us.  I normally wouldn't have really watched it just by the subject matter --- I would've figured there was a lot of soccer (British football) being  played so I wouldn't get the humor and couldn't stand watching the game for any length of time.  But this is about so much more with only glimpses on playing the game.  First, it's a fish out of water kind of show because Ted's gain to fame was being a somewhat successful southern college football coach, and now he is hired for big time Britsh football/soccer.  What's funny about that  is he knows very little about the game or the English , etc.  BUT he has a very funny assistant coach (much like "Coach" assistant  Jerry Van Dyke on t.v.)  except this guy is a savant of sorts --- he's hard to describe.  Right away Ted befriends the manager of the team and listens to him more than  anyone else, much to the chagrin of the players.  The boss is female and trying to get even with her ex husband.  Her assistant is a hoot, and another hard to describe person, along with Juno Temple who plays the narcissistic player's girlfriend, who  is her own kind of individual herself, and very confident.  There are several  others involved in the story, which really makes it a fun character show.  That being said, the storylines are well written, too.  They deal with sportsmanship, true leadership, how to deal with bullying, how to deal with anxiety and being alone, healthy competition, true definition of "success"  --- and so much more.  I know not everyone has apple, but we got it for the "Morning Show" and we haven't watched it all that much in comparison to the other streaming  services we have, there's quality here with "Morning Show" and now this --- and  this is only the first season;.  IMDB says it has at least two more.  I rate it 5 out of 5 and can't wait for the next season. P.S.  you can't put friends  on with your service of Apple, but  it isn't that expensive in comparison to others, and they offer a free trial of 7 days which could get you through this series or much of it, anyway.  just a thought.

"TED LASSO"     season 1, 10 episodes , 40+ mins each       2020        

Follows US American Football coach Ted Lasso heading to the UK to manage a struggling London football team in the top flight of English football.

Creators:

 Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence   »

Stars:

 Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Jeremy Swift

Jason Sudeikis writes some of the episodes