Despite being raised Jewish, December means Hallmark Christmas Movies in my house. I don’t know if it’s that every movie has a happy ending or the sappiness of the story line, but they always seem to brighten my day and bring a sense of peace. My mom (and probably myself at this point) can list every Christmas movie aired because she’s only seen them a hundred times. After seeing so many of these films a lot of them blur together. There are a few that I found that have stood out. Every Hallmark movie has a sweet and cliche ending, but some are timeless. So I decided to share my top picks for holiday season to help fill the space over that long winter break!
1. "Moonlight and Mistletoe"
Candace Cameron-Buree has made quite the impact on Hallmark’s Christmas Movie archive. The formally known DJ Tanner is now known for her cheeky Christmas and Thanksgiving films. In this film, Cameron-Buree character Holly returns to her small hometown after many years away after her father takes a bad fall not having been there since her mother’s death. Upon her arrival she finds that her family-run business, Santaville, is outdated and facing bankruptcy. She hopes to save the business with the help of the adorable advisor Ben Richards.
2. "A Royal Princess"
Her name is Lacey Chabert but you may also know her as Gretchen Wieners from the iconic “Mean Girls”. Like Candace Cameron, Chubart has dabbled quite a bit in Hallmark during the holiday season. And this one happens to be one of my favorites! Emily Taylor, a seamstress from Philadelphia, envisions her work on the runway but instead finds out her beau is a prince. The couple flies to his home in Cordinia where Taylor tries to get on the queen’s (Jane Seymour) good side. It’s a classic girlfriend-meets-mother comedy with a holiday twist.
3. "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
It’s not everyday your uncle picks up a hot stranger from the airport and in this film it’s the best thing to have ever happened! Henry “Fonzy” Winkler plays the uncle who knows best in this tale. His niece, single mom Jennifer Cullen, dates a stuck-up man who doesn’t know the first thing about the joy of Christmas—all work and no play. When Uncle Ralph insists on bringing Morgan, a talented chef who loves to travel, back home with them it makes saying no impossible for Jennifer. As the plot thickens Jennifer realizes that maybe her uncle isn't that wacky after all. This was definitely a movie-to-watch especially if you like The Fonz.
4. "Christmas With Holly"
Sean Farris is known for other major blockbusters like “Never Back Down”, but in this film he’s the uncle who loves his 6 year old niece, Holly. After her mother passed away in a tragic car accident, Mark Nolan (Farris) along with his two brothers care for the child. Nolan tries everything to bring happiness into Holly’s life while the little girl remains mute and deals with her mother’s death. Along the way they meet a woman, Maggie Conway, (played by Eloise Mumford) who opens up a toy shop in town. If you’re like me and love watching hot guys interact with young kids then this is the movie for you! What better way to enjoy the holidays than with this perfect combination.
So grab a cup of delicious hot chocolate, your favorite fuzzy blanket and some of Santa's cookies and curl up by the fire. You've got plenty of movie choices that will have you feeling good and in the holiday spirit this season.
