Movie #35358 ........................."To Have and to Holiday" (Hallmark)

Movie #3358 "To Have and to Holiday" had a very interesting premise, but I've seen it before --- just not in a Hallmark movie. . The young couple in opening gets engaged , and when he meets the parents after the whirlwind dating for 3 months, her pastor dad thinks 3 months is too short. So conflict isn't job, or money, or whatever...it's dad. I liked the film, but secondary people in it are overdone. (like BF, lady who owns the shop and the seamstress lady). I'd give this one a 4.5

"TO HAVE AND TO HOLIDAY" 2024

When Celeste gets engaged to Jason after just a few months of dating, her father and the couple's would be officiant, Pastor Mark, insists on putting them through a pre-wedding "bootcamp" filled with Christmas themed challenges. As the couple grows stronger through the festive activities, Pastor Mark learns to trust his daughter's choices 

movie #3357 ........................."Operation Nutcracker" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3357 “Operation Nutcracker”  was a good script, handling two stories at the same time —- due to a mixup with a piece of luggage that has a very pricey nutcracker.  The two suitcases are followed and thus the two stories.  This was a story with heart and nice congenial leads, and a mystery surrounding  where the nutcracker went that was in the green suitcase. I gave this a 4.5

“OPERATION NUTCRACKER”    2024

When an antique nutcracker set to be auctioned at the Warby family Christmas  charity goes missing, a demanding event planner and the heir to the Warby dynasty try to track it down. 

Movie #3356 ........................."Holiday Crashers" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3356 “Holiday Crashers,” took on the wedding crasher idea and made it quite funny — it was a cute idea for a lawyer (another one, disenchanted with corporate law - there’s a theme here) who works in a printing shop with her best friend over the holidays, to decide to take left over invitations to big ritzy parties in the neighborhood and use them to crash in them — the stories they make up about each other are hysterical — so lots of fun the first half, but then when the lawyer one meets a guy she’s interested in, she doesn’t find fun in fooling him any more —- she gets the guilt feelings — it had a good end, and I gave it 4.5

‘HOLIDAY CRASHERS”    2024

Two best friends crash Christmas parties and unexpectedly find love and purpose.

Movie #3355 ........................."The Christmas Quest" (Hallmark)

Movie #3355 “Christmas Quest,” is one of the most unusual ones offered this year —- nice mystery, beautiful scenery, very interesting ending, (probably not satisfying to everyone but I liked it ), and two of my favorite Hallmark people were together:  Lacey Chabert& Kristofer Polaha - I gave this a 4.5

“THE CHRISTMAS QUEST”    2024

An archeologist, her ex-husband who is a Norse language expert, search for legendary treasure in Iceland during Christmas.  Others join the hunt, leading to a thri

Movie #3354 ........................."Hanukkah on the Rocks" (Hallmark)

Movie #3354 “Hanukkah on the Rocks” — another strong film to me mostly because it was fun to watch.  The stage business introduces us to many of the Jewish traditions, but they occur not in people’s homes but in in a local bar — and there’s something nice about that — the activities bring all these people together like a family. Her family was fun to watch, too (I loved the little boy, esp) and his relatives were mostly in the bar, so we got to know them well.   The film is quirky, full of humor and good food and cool drinks.  It also showed that not all lawyers love their work (esp. corporate ones) because the lead girl had so much more fun making drinks at the bar in this film.  I gave this a 4.8 because I felt the conflict was a bit manufactured but the film had established so many layered secrets that came smoothly to a nice high point when the truth was reveled.  And I felt another negative, though small, was that the music was too loud in key scenes.  Otherwise, I highly recommend it.

“HANUKKAH ON THE ROCKS”   2024

A recently unemployed lawyer Tory embarks on a journey to find Hanukkah candles, leading her to a Chicago bar where she transforms the holiday spirit, and finds the courage to pursue a new path in life. 

Movie #3353 .........................."Following Yonder Star" (Hallmark)

 Movie #3353 “Following Yonder Star.” Was a strong 5 for me but that’s because it dealt with a different subject, the stage business was helping to direct a kid’s Christmas pageant, and the two leads were quite winning.  This was a surprise to me because there was some religion in it, and I usually don’t like any pushing of an agenda in these films, but it was seamlessly put into the script, so it seemed just right.  I loved this one and highly recommend it.

“FOLLOWING YONDER STAR” —— 2024    

Abby Marshall  once celebrated for her role as an inspirational mother on TV is finding her real life in shambles after dealing with a scandal.  She retreats to a luxury Vermont for Christmas only to find herself without a room due to a booking mishap.  All the local hotels are booked up due to a rare astronomical beautiful star said to mirror the Star 0of Bethlehem will appear on Christmas Eve.  Thankfully Abby finds a room in a quaint B & B owned by  a high school astronomy teacher.  I gave it a 5.M

Movie #3352 ........................."Eloise at Christmastime" (DVD)

Movie #3352 "Eloise  at Christmastime" (DVD)  I had never seen this film so when offered the opportunity, I took it , and I'm so glad I did.  What a fun watch for me.  I loved Julie Andrews playing a part so different from Mary Poppins (I hardly recognized her at first), and the little girl playing Eloise takes some getting used to but after a while, she was a pleasure to watch.  And then there was Gavin Creel --- beloved Gavin Creel, who went on to do wondrous things on Broadway before his early death this past year --- what a loss!  The singing he does with Eloise (while playing a mean piano) it a delight on its own and worth the watch.  I loved the story, too.  I'd give it a 4.8 , and I'm prompted from watching this one, to see the other Eloise films some day.  Much fun!

"ELOISE AT CHRISTMASTIME"     1 hour and 29 mins.      2003         A 6-year-old girl tries to reunite a young woman with a former boyfriend before she marries another.

Director:  Kevin Lima

Writers:  Kay Thompson, Hillary Knight, Elizabeth Chandler

Actors:  Julie Andrews, Sofia Vassilieva, Kenneth Welsh, Gavin Creel

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