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Snowed-Inn Christmas – Review
Snowed-Inn Christmas – Lifetime – 2 hours and 2 minutes
Kevin is a fly by the seat, laid back, extreme stunts writer. He writes about the crazy adventures people can do on vacation. Jenna is an organized, by the book, relaxed writer. She likes to write about the thing people can do to relax during a vacation stay. As magazine sales are going down, their magazine has decided to generate more internet traffic to the site. To get a better idea of what the readers want, their boss decides to send them to a vacation site together. Whoever gets the most clicks can keep their job, the other needs to hope for a Christmas miracle. Nonetheless, when their flight has to make an emergency landing, the two are stuck in a small home with the keepers. They start to get pulled closer with a little Christmas magic. But will the job prevail?
Sigh, as funny as this movie can be, it still doesn’t hold your interest. You just don’t get invested enough in the characters to care how it ended. This is due to the fact that you know exactly how it will end. This movie belongs on the predictable Hallmark channel, not the Lifetime network.
I give it 1 out of 5 stars
Does Kelly Kapowski count – Kevin
You haven’t packed yet – Jenna
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Stalked by My Ex – Review
Stalked by My Ex – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Olivia has been secretly writing to her father Sam in prison. She sends him drawings of the two together and wonders what would have been like if he didn’t leave her life 10 years ago. Sam reveals that he will be released soon due to overcrowding and good behavior. When her mother hears this, she is on high alert and decides to leave LA and go back to her small town roots. After leaving, Sam goes to find them and is furious he can’t. So he will do everything to find them and get Olivia back. And with the help of jealousy and the internet, they will be face to face soon.
This movie just doesn’t grab your attention. It just felt like part of the plot was empty and this came off as another domestic violence story. Accept this was everything after the arrest. It was just missing a spark that kept the viewers’ interest. This movie can be skipped.
I give it 1 out of 5 stars
It’s really not that exciting – Alexis
I’m not leaving without a piece of chocolate cake – Bryan
Did you tell her we spoke – Sam
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Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle – Review
Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle – HMM – 2 hours and 0 minutes
20 years ago, Maggie played in the snow with her friend. She had no idea of what awaited her at home. Her father left the family on Christmas Eve and never came back. Now she is a mother of one, divorced, and a divorce lawyer. 3 years ago her husband left her 1 week before Christmas. She sees the holiday is nothing but heartbreak and pain. But in a small corner of his room, Maggie’s son Jordan is writing a letter to God. He asks a few questions about nature. Although, he asked God if all moms are sad and if he could give his mom love. Out of the mouths of babes and into God’s ear, Jordan will get his wish.
Based on the novel Maggie’s Miracle by Karen Kingsbury, this movie will make you misty-eyed (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). As Jordan keeps writing letters hoping to make his mom happy, you reflect on your own family. The element that sets this movie apart is you know exactly why Maggie doesn’t like the holiday. There is no big reveal 5 minutes before the end, you know from the beginning. And there is an interesting love triangle. So you have the added mystery of determining if Maggie will make the safe choice or the honest choice.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
You think only bad things happen to babies – Maggie
Christmas every day of the year, that’s my kind of world – Casey
That was so cool. It was like I was being swallowed by trees. Can I do it again – Jordan
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A Royal Christmas Ball – Review
A Royal Christmas Ball – ION – 2 hours and 0 minutes
This is a story about how a prince found his princess, again. Alison and Charles met at a college party and fell in love. Then, a woman came to Alison’s dorm and told her Charles was a prince and a commoner would never be allowed to be a princess. She instructed Alison to write Charles a break-up letter. Feeling lied to and betrayed, Alison wrote the letter and never wanted to see him again. Charles tried several times to contact her but after hearing nothing from Alison, he went through with his arranged marriage. Now, seventeen years later, Charles is a widower and still in love with Alison. While in America to take care of political duties, he decides to look her up and find her. But Alison isn’t all he finds.
This is a sweet story but the subplot of the two best friends deserves its own movie. While it was a good twist on a Cinderella story, it was uninspired and fell flat. It feels more like a filler movie for the holiday line up. It’s predictable and with extremely little real-world conflict. This movie is nothing more than background noise. Come for the plot, and be entertained by the subplot.
I give it 2 out of 5 stars
How am I? What are you doing here? – Alison
Well, technically, I’m the King now – Charles
I just want to make a good impression – Lily
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Sharing Christmas – Review
Sharing Christmas – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
With her parents retiring, Stephanie is set on keeping their traditions and run the Christmas Shop just the way they did. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Then she gets a letter in the mail from her landlord. The lease is being terminated. The owner has sold the building to a developer and all the month to month leases will end to make room for high-end condos. Maggie has no idea what to do to save her parents’ shop. Mike is a real estate agent who was given the biggest job of his career. If he does well, he will get his long-awaited promotion. To celebrate, his family goes out to eat and he stops at the Christmas Shop. Stephanie purges her feelings to Mike and he tells her to fight. The next day, Mike’s boss Helen takes him to his new real estate job. He is shocked to learn his company is kicking out Stephanie. With his feelings for her growing, Mike will do anything to help her but it could cost him his job.
Oh, can the Christmas Shop be real? It sounds and smells wonderful. And the handmade ornaments are a dream come true. This story is unique because when Mike learns the truth, he tries anything he can to fix it. He never hides the truth from Stephanie, he lends her a hand and tries to persuade Helen to change her mind. As he works in the store, Mike grasps how important this shop is to the community. DVR and watch with cocoa or hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
And give up being Uncle Mike, not a chance – Mike
Guys do me a favor and don’t tell my parents – Stephanie
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You Can’t Fight Christmas – Review
You Can’t Fight Christmas – TVOne – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Lesley Major of Major Design is designing the yearly Christmas themed entrance to the Chesterton hotel again. And she promises to make it bigger and better. The Christmas time is one of the biggest draws and money makers for the hotel. But when Millicent and Edmund go over the books, they determine that Christmas revenue does not make up for the hotel’s losses. They want to remove Christmas, rebrand the hotel, and bring in new investors. When Lesley gets wind of the news she is disgusted. She liked Edmund and thought he wanted to continue the family hotel business. She will lose her biggest client and a man she is grown fond of to another woman. Will she fight to get him and her job back? It’s time for Lesley to complete the circle of life and delegate to get the holidays back.
This is a funny movie that will give you deja vu if you saw Miss Me This Christmas. Two scenes are repeated but great for character development. This movie gives you a plethora of characters with an uptight Millicent, a ride-or-die Belinda, and a tough Kevin. This is a good one to record and keep on your DVR for later. Also, you will want friends like Kevin and Belinda.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
I’m telling you, Lesley. It’s a union rule – Jasper
Can we keep the ugly on our sweaters, it’s Christmas – Lesley
Not delete, just edit – Millicent
And they say its the most wonderful time of the year – Edmund
I’ll leave you a fifty on the nightstand – Belinda
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The Christmas Cottage – Review
The Christmas Cottage – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Ava has always believed her family’s cottage was magical. For generations, her family has gotten married on Christmas Eve and spend their wedding night at the Christmas Cottage. Every couple that followed the tradition had a marriage that lasts. So, of course, Ava wanted her wedding to follow suit. She decides to have her best friend Lacey as her maid of honor. Lacey loves order and contemporary artistic choices. She wants to make sure everything is perfect. But Ava’s brother Ean wants to follow the family’s traditions of color and disorganization. The two butt heads when decorating the cottage, not only because of style choice but due to a bitter break up. Lacey and Ean dated, but when she took an internship, he felt like she was putting her career ahead of the relationship. However, when he took a job overseas without informing her, she felt he wasn’t serious about putting down roots with her. After a big snowfall, the two are trapped in the cottage. Ava hopes the cottage magic rubbed off, but Lacey’s boyfriend Roger will put a kink in the plan.
Based on the novel The Christmas Cottage by Samantha Chase, this is a sweet love story about focusing on what’s really important (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). However, these theme is not unique to Christmas or Hallmark films. This movie just doesn’t stand out in the saturated Christmas line up. It does have its funny moments as Lacey and Ean trade shots at each other but everything else is predictable. Watch if you have time, but don’t open up the wine.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
Have I ever let you down – Lacey
You sure you don’t want to YouTube it – Ean
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Runaway Christmas Bride – Review
Runaway Christmas Bride – ION – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Kate instantly has regrets on her wedding day and has to greet her family and friends after saying ‘I Do’. That is until she learns the truth from her groom Alex. On his wedding day, he got his inheritance of $2,000,000. He wasn’t allowed to get it until he got married and could not tell the bride until after the wedding. Now he is free of his father and can live his life the way he wants. Kate asks him one question: Did you marry me for love or for money. He hesitates to answer and she runs. She runs to their honeymoon suite without any money or credit cards. She gets help from some frat guys to get into the hotel room and gets comfortable. Soon, she has the attention of the hotel medic and the manager. And much to the chagrin of Becca (manager), she starts to date Jason (medic) but never tells him she is married. Soon Alex, his parents, and her parents are all at the hotel. But when she agrees to keep the marriage going for the money, will she lose Jason.
This is a “what else can go wrong” type of movie. It’s funny and has a lot of cringe-worthy moments. It stands out from the typical holiday movie with a good family gripe fest. However, the green screens are horrifically distracting. It’s not evident why these choices were made but it took away from the strong script and great characters. When this movie sets itself apart during the holiday season, bad green screen choices and toupees just take away from it. If you don’t mind the distractions, watch it. Otherwise, leave it on the back burner.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
Alex, did you marry me for love or this money – Kate
I don’t. Not that one – Jason
I’m here plus two sets of parents. I’m so sorry. Where are you? – Jess
Call room service and order a bottle of Christmas cheer. I need a drink – Rick
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Christmas Encore – Review
Christmas Encore – HMM – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Charlotte is a struggling actress and part-time waitress. She has continued her father’s dream of making it big. In the past, she had an opportunity to make it big but her audition partner/friend Julian ab-libbed some lines and left her looking like a fool. He got the part on a major TV show and she is still trying to find any work available. When her college roommate comes to town, she offers Charlotte a job as an event coordinator for her company. Charlotte feels like getting a 9 to 5 is giving up but she needs the money. She decides to take the job but auditions for a play one last time. The theater is putting together a play for “A Christmas Carol” but they want a twist for it. Realizing she is too old or too young for all the parts, Charlotte decides to be Scrooge. But when she walks in, she is informed the director is Julian. She leaves the stage. He begs her to come back and after careful consideration she does, auditions, and gets the part. She believes this is her big break until the owner of the theater decides to get rid of it. Charlotte and Julian decided to fight for what they believe in, the arts and each other.
The love story is a snooze fest because you know it’s going to happen. In Hallmark, the more people argue, the more likely they will end up together. You watch because you want to see Charlotte’s character develop and blossom into an actress. She will be making her and her father’s dream come true. It’s easy to relate to Charlotte because we have all felt like giving up when we were so close to a dream. You cheer for her to act in her career-making scene. Also, you hope Julian can keep the theater open for future actors and actresses to come. So DVR and watch when you need to kill 2 hours but don’t cancel plans.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
I believe happiness is a journey, not a destination – Charlotte
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Fatal Vision – Review
Fatal Vision – ID – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Joe McGinniss has hit a rough patch in his writing career. He can’t finish his books and no one wants to publish his articles. So when he gets a call from Jeffery MacDonald, also know as the Green Beret Killer, Joe quickly goes to see him. Jeffery discloses he wants Joe to follow him during his trial and write a book about who he is and what really happened to his family. Jeffery will give Joe 100% access to his life, home, and courtroom proceedings. Jeffery hopes this will enlighten others to his plight, absolve him, and find the true killers. As Joe delves into Jeffery’s life, he starts to see the monster within. After interview Jeffery’s in-laws, looking at the evidence, and living with Jeffery, Joe will write a book that will have an effect on the case, even today.
Leading up to the novel Fatal Vision: A True Crime Classic by Joe McGinniss, the viewer must keep in mind that this is only told from Joe’s point of view. It is hard to believe a man would kill his pregnant wife and 2 young children over an argument. While they give a very convincing tale of events, you are still left to wonder if it really happened that way. After you hear the crime scene was out of order, the evidence was mishandled, the samples were taken from the victims after the funeral, and the photos were blurry, it’s hard to nail down what is up and what is down. The fact that remains true is 3 people and 1 unborn child are gone. One fact that was left out is the other trials that resulted in favor for Jeffery. For a truly balanced movie, that needs to be seen too.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
It’s not a story. It’s what happened. It’s the truth – Jeffery
No one wants to believe a father could do that – Joe
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Categories: A Royal Christmas Ball, Andra Fuller, Bobby Campo, brely evans, brennan elliott, christmas, Christmas Encore, Christos Shaw, Cindy Busby, Dave Annable, Ellen Hollman, FatalVision, Faune A. Chambers, Fiona Vroom, Haley Pullos, hallmark, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, HMM, ID, Ingo Rademacher, Investigation Discovery, ion, Jill Wagner, John Doman, Karen Kingsbury, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Luke MacFarlane, Mackenzie Gray, Made for TV, Maggie Lawson, Maggie's Christmas Miracle, Mark Milburn, Marla Gibbs, Merritt Patterson, Mira Furlan, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, Persia White, review, Runaway Christmas Bride, Scott Foley, Sharing Christmas, Snowed-Inn Christmas, Stalked by My Ex, Steve Lund, Tamara Braun, Tara Reid, The Christmas Cottage, Travis Milne, TV One, tv review, You Can't Fight Christmas
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