Monday, 29 May 2023

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – GOOD TIDINGS (2016)

 

This cheerless British movie is not a typical example of Christmas fayre, so if you’re looking for a schmaltzy tale full of Carols and Candy Canes this is not one for you.

It takes place in a derelict listed building in a northern City which has been occupied by a collection of homeless people, among them was a war-veteran with a chequered past.

However, when three vicious psychopaths, wearing Santa suits, attack  the residents on Christmas Day, he must draw on a side of himself he had kept buried.

 

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES (2018)

 

After the death of their father sisters Kim and Gina Remo (Cindy Busby and Erin Karpluk) take over their family bakery only to discover their father was in serious debt and that the bakery is facing foreclosure, the family have until Christmas Eve to save it.

So, to prevent closing their doors right before Christmas, the girl’s team-up to try and save the business by entering a TV baking competition.

They are supported by their mother Goldie (Holly Turner), Uncle Mario (Fulvio Cecere) and Gina’s daughter Lee (Jessica Jumaga).

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE CHRISTMAS DANCE (2021

 

During a Church Nativity performance two young girls, Sarah and Kate (Cassady Jane Lorentzen and Lorelai Green) are performing a dance duet when Sarah trips and falls over a mic lead which was carelessly left on stage by her brother Sherman (Brady Amaya).

The resulting trauma from being humiliated on stage in front of the whole Church community meant that for the adult Sarah (Kristen Vaganos), Christmas was not her favourite time of year.

She also found any excuse not to go home for the Holidays, despite the best efforts of her Pastor brother Sherman (Miles Faber).

However, it was on one occasion when they were on the phone and he was trying to persuade her to come home that he had a car accident and the line went dead.

She was in such a panic that she dropped everything and returned home.

Fortunately, he was not seriously injured, but having got her there the family contrived to keep her there, and with the help of Jason (Carson Nicely) she is taught to bury the past and learns the  Christmas Dance along the way.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS COLLISION (2021)

 

Just before Christmas, Theodora Greenly (Sebrina Scott) is sent to Ohio to complete the foreclosure on the King farm but arrives on the day of the funeral for the mother of Charles King (John Wells).

Being a time consumed professional and seemingly devoid of empathy she coldly delivers the news that his mother had defaulted on the mortgage and was there to repossess the farm.

However, despite her cold demeanour, she is persuaded to allow Charles an extra day to consult his bank, and she uses the time to check some details herself.

When she returns to the farm, she badly sprains her ankle and is forced to stay until she can put her weight on it again.

While experiencing his hospitality she begins to thaw and they are both taken by surprise when it appears that they have chemistry, and while they are falling for each other it becomes apparent that the repossession she had been sent to Ohio to execute is not at all above board.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A CHRISTMAS WISH (2019)

 

On the last day before Christmas break, the popular art teacher at Ponchatoula Junior High, Faith Mason (Hilarie Burton), is told that the arts funding at the school has been totally cut, along with her job.

As usual school nurse and best friend Wyatt (Tyler Hilton) is by her side while she comes to terms with what has happened.

Her younger sister Maddie (Megan Park) returns home for the holidays on the same day with her boyfriend Ryan (Lee Norris) and believes that Faith’s problems stem from being alone so persuades her sister that a wish in the famous town Wishing Box is her best move, so she posts a wish that her sister will experience true loves kiss.

Unfortunately, the next day men start throwing themselves at her.

All the attention is initially very flattering, but soon becomes quite tedious and while she has been distracted by all the attention, she has been blind to the true love that has been right in front of her since the beginning.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – AN UNFORGETTABLE CHRISTMAS (2019)

 

Non-profit Executive Director Lucy Lovett (Ashley Greene) slips on the ice outside a bridal shop in Portland and bangs her head but when she comes to her senses she doesn’t know where she is.

However, when she realises, she is clutching a wedding dress, she jumps to the conclusion that she is late to her wedding with Zach Callahan (Andrew W. Walker), so heads directly to her hometown of Bedford Harbor, Maine.

Unfortunately, when she reaches Zach’s Roadhouse Restaurant, she finds that Zach is confused to see her because they broke up almost two years earlier, on December 23rd and she is engaged to another man.

However, she has no recollection of the two years that had passed, and Dr. Caroline Albright (Jackée Harry) diagnoses retrograde amnesia, so she stays in Maine to do  things she feels familiar with during the annual Christmas Festival which she always enjoyed, especially when she was with Zach.

Spending time in her old hometown with familiar people and places she slowly uncovers the secrets surrounding the breakup and unblocks the memory of the two years she spent in Portland.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS ON MY MIND (2019)

 

Non-profit Executive Director Lucy Lovett (Ashley Greene) slips on the ice outside a bridal shop in Portland and bangs her head but when she comes to her senses she doesn’t know where she is.

However, when she realises, she is clutching a wedding dress, she jumps to the conclusion that she is late to her wedding with Zach Callahan (Andrew W. Walker), so heads directly to her hometown of Bedford Harbor, Maine.

Unfortunately, when she reaches Zach’s Roadhouse Restaurant, she finds that Zach is confused to see her because they broke up almost two years earlier, on December 23rd and she is engaged to another man.

However, she has no recollection of the two years that had passed, and Dr. Caroline Albright (Jackée Harry) diagnoses retrograde amnesia, so she stays in Maine to do  things she feels familiar with during the annual Christmas Festival which she always enjoyed, especially when she was with Zach.

Spending time in her old hometown with familiar people and places she slowly uncovers the secrets surrounding the breakup and unblocks the memory of the two years she spent in Portland.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE CHRISTMAS RING (2021)

 

Kendra Adams (Nazneen Contractor) is a writer for a Boston based online magazine, The Quizzer, but in the years since her father’s death she spends all her spare time trawling antique fairs and pawn shops searching for her mother’s engagement ring, which was not among his belongings when he died.

However, the closest she got was a similar style ring bearing the inscription, "My Christmas Love 1948."

Using the jewellers mark she discovers it was made in the small town of Pine Grove she takes some personal time and heads out of Boston in search of the story.

But when she arrives, she discovers the jewellery store is now a bakery, but the owner Paul (Milo Shandel) is the son of the craftsman who fashioned the ring and is able point her in the direction of Michael Jones (David Alpay), the grandson of the man who commissioned the ring for the woman he loved.

Together they learn the legacy his grandparents left behind as well as the sacrifices they both made for their love.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A CHRISTMAS WISH (2007)

 

A week before Christmas, Gary and Paula Ferguson (Bret Anthony and Nicole Eggert) are really struggling with paying the bills and don’t know how they are going to pay for food and gifts for Christmas.

Then Paula’s high school boyfriend Nick Brett (Le Bourveau) returns to town, wealthy, successful and seemingly living the perfect life with his wife Sheila (Stefanie von Pfetten), a perfect life that she could have been a part of had she not married Gary instead.

On one particularly bad day she wishes she had stayed with Nick, so she would be living a trouble-free life, and her wish comes true after pursuing a voice through the tumble drier and emerging in a luxury house where she meets her maid Martina (Patricia Mayen-Salazar).

Initially she is thrilled with the lavishly appointed house, well stocked dressing room and luxury car, but very soon realises what she really wants is to get back to her family and her old life.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS WISH (2007)

 

A week before Christmas, Gary and Paula Ferguson (Bret Anthony and Nicole Eggert) are really struggling with paying the bills and don’t know how they are going to pay for food and gifts for Christmas.

Then Paula’s high school boyfriend Nick Brett (Le Bourveau) returns to town, wealthy, successful and seemingly living the perfect life with his wife Sheila (Stefanie von Pfetten), a perfect life that she could have been a part of had she not married Gary instead.

On one particularly bad day she wishes she had stayed with Nick, so she would be living a trouble-free life, and her wish comes true after pursuing a voice through the tumble drier and emerging in a luxury house where she meets her maid Martina (Patricia Mayen-Salazar).

Initially she is thrilled with the lavishly appointed house, well stocked dressing room and luxury car, but very soon realises what she really wants is to get back to her family and her old life.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – HOLIDAY SWITCH (2007)

 

A week before Christmas, Gary and Paula Ferguson (Bret Anthony and Nicole Eggert) are really struggling with paying the bills and don’t know how they are going to pay for food and gifts for Christmas.

Then Paula’s high school boyfriend Nick Brett (Le Bourveau) returns to town, wealthy, successful and seemingly living the perfect life with his wife Sheila (Stefanie von Pfetten), a perfect life that she could have been a part of had she not married Gary instead.

On one particularly bad day she wishes she had stayed with Nick, so she would be living a trouble-free life, and her wish comes true after pursuing a voice through the tumble drier and emerging in a luxury house where she meets her maid Martina (Patricia Mayen-Salazar).

Initially she is thrilled with the lavishly appointed house, well stocked dressing room and luxury car, but very soon realises what she really wants is to get back to her family and her old life.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A SECRET SERVICE CHRISTMAS (2013)

 

The previous Christmas, Ali Pennebaker (Kelly Overton) broke things off with her boyfriend, Cameron (Michael Muhney).

Looking back, she regretted her decision and as a result no longer believed in the magic of Christmas, but when she meets Ginny (Jennifer Elise Cox), a truly magical being, she gets the chance to relive that last Christmas.

Determined to make the relationship with Cameron last this time, so she pulls out all the stops but realizes, you can't always change the past and happiness may appear in the strangest places.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – WHEN HOPE CALLS, CHRISTMAS (2021)

 

The picturesque little town of Brookfield is selected by a national magazine to be featured for its holiday spirit, and Harper's Bazaar send a reporter to the town to experience a Country Christmas as part of the research for the magazine article.

Obviously as they band together to turn their community into a Christmas wonderland, there is much speculation among the Brookfield residents about who will feature in the article, will it be the Hotel, the Orphanage or the local businesses and farms.

The orphans however are more interested Christmas especially after spotting Santa in the forest talking to his reindeer.

Morgan Kohan, Lori Loughlin, Ryan-James Hatanaka, Greg Hovanessian, Jocelyn Hudon, Wendy Crewson and Neil Crone star.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – WHEN HOPE CALLS, A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS (2021)

 

The picturesque little town of Brookfield is selected by a national magazine to be featured for its holiday spirit, and Harper's Bazaar send a reporter to the town to experience a Country Christmas as part of the research for the magazine article.

Obviously as they band together to turn their community into a Christmas wonderland, there is much speculation among the Brookfield residents about who will feature in the article, will it be the Hotel, the Orphanage or the local businesses and farms.

The orphans however are more interested Christmas especially after spotting Santa in the forest talking to his reindeer.

Morgan Kohan, Lori Loughlin, Ryan-James Hatanaka, Greg Hovanessian, Jocelyn Hudon, Wendy Crewson and Neil Crone star.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS AT CASTLE HART (2021)

 

After losing their waitressing jobs after Thanksgiving, sisters, Brooke and Margot Bennett (Lacey Chabert and Ali Hardiman) decide to take a holiday, using their life savings, and travel to Ireland to research their family history.

Very soon after arriving in Ireland they meet  Aiden Hart (Stuart Townsend), who they later learn is the Earl of Glaslough, and when they are invited to the historic Castle Hart Brooke is mistaken for a high-profile event planner, with the help of Margot.

As a result, she is persuaded to organise the lavish Christmas Gala at the Castle although she is uncomfortable with the deception Brooke goes along with it.

The Earls sister Siobhan (Aoife Spratt), who has been running the Estate, assigns Aiden to be her liaison for whatever she may need.

Inevitably while spending time together, Brooke and Aiden start to fall for each other, but will the fact she is not who she claims tarnish the budding relationship between them.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A PICTURE PERFECT CHRISTMAS (2021)

 

Freelance fashion photographer Gaby Jones (Tatyana Ali) is keen on getting a staff position at a fashion magazine but is told by her editor Leila (Dina Meyer) that although her work is very professional, it lacks depth.

As a result, she is sent on a Christmas photography course at a retreat in the Rocky Mountains to try to make her work more emotional.

When she arrives at the cabin, she has booked she discovers its already occupied by wildlife photographer Sean (Henderson Wade) because the cabin has been double booked.

Because there are no other vacancies in the area, they are forced to share the cabin which is problematic as they are very different, in outlook, personality and methods, as she favours digital, and he prefers film.

Apart from being forced to share accommodation they are also grouped together during the course, however the more time they spend together the more they learn from each other, and a Christmas romance develops.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A PICTURE PERFECT HOLIDAY (2021)

 

Freelance fashion photographer Gaby Jones (Tatyana Ali) is keen on getting a staff position at a fashion magazine but is told by her editor Leila (Dina Meyer) that although her work is very professional, it lacks depth.

As a result, she is sent on a Christmas photography course at a retreat in the Rocky Mountains to try to make her work more emotional.

When she arrives at the cabin, she has booked she discovers its already occupied by wildlife photographer Sean (Henderson Wade) because the cabin has been double booked.

Because there are no other vacancies in the area, they are forced to share the cabin which is problematic as they are very different, in outlook, personality and methods, as she favours digital, and he prefers film.

Apart from being forced to share accommodation they are also grouped together during the course, however the more time they spend together the more they learn from each other, and a Christmas romance develops.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A SUGAR AND SPICE HOLIDAY (2020)

 

Suzy Yung (Jacky Lai) is a driven Los Angeles-based architect who isn’t used to failure, so her confidence is high when she is on the cusp of a big promotion.

However, as she prepares to return to Hampton Meadows, her small hometown in Maine, for Christmas she is told that the promotion will go to the architect who submits the winning design for a  major project, and submissions need to be in by the turn of the year.

On arrival in town, she is persuaded by her old classmate Billy Martin (Tony Giroux), with the help of family pressure, to join the town's team for the big annual Happy Valley gingerbread baking competition, which her Nema (Cindy Piper) had once won.

So, despite being time poor due to the project she was working on, she felt she wasn’t able to refuse.

The other members of the team are Caitlin Keyes (Aadila Dosani) and Stavros (Eli Gabay) but its spending time up close and personal with Billy that occupies most of her time and the friendship that they had shared since high school reveals its true nature.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – RANDOM ACTS OF CHRISTMAS (2019)

 

Sydney Larkin (Erin Cahill) is a Chicago-based freelance journalist and single mother of eight-year-old Oliver (Jaden Oehr) who struggles with the work life balance even with the help of her mum Lauren (Jaclyn Smith).

She really wants a permanent position, but there is only one opening and she is up against a more cutthroat reporter, Andy Cooper (Hamza Fouad).

Her editor, Perry (Catherine Lough Haggquist), questions Sydney's choice of humanistic stories rather than hard hitting news, ratings grabbers.

Unperturbed Sydney pursues the story about the Secret Santa, who has been performing grand and sometimes elaborate gestures of Christmas cheer, each one  unannounced and the only clue to the perpetrator’s identity being the calling cards left at each event bearing the words "Secret Santa".

At one impromptu event she believes she has stumbled upon the man himself in the back of a van, though he ultimately identifies himself as another freelance reporter, Cole Howard (Kevin McGarry).

After some discussion they decide to join forces to try and decern any kind of pattern to the events, and over the festive period as each new act is revealed a closeness forms between them, but is there more to the story?


Wednesday, 24 May 2023

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – LOVE AT THE CHRISTMAS CONTEST (2022)

 

Angie Waldron (Samantha Cope) is approaching her first Christmas without her mom and doesn't feel much like celebrating.

Even her favourite part of Christmas, the Christmas Eve tree lighting in the town square, fails to excite her.

However, after running into her high school sweetheart David Mitchell (Ross Jirgl) and his adorable daughter Gabby (Eliza Donaghy) at her Nursery and learning her mom had always dreamed of winning the annual tree decorating contest, she decides to enter and teams up with friend and employee Blair Bolin (Triana Browne).

If she were to  win the contest it would be the perfect way to honour her mom’s memory, but her recently widowed high school sweetheart, and his daughter also enter, which leads to her bonding with Gabby, over the shared loss of a mother, and old feelings being rekindled between her and David.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE CHRISTMAS LOVE TREE (2022)

 

Angie Waldron (Samantha Cope) is approaching her first Christmas without her mom and doesn't feel much like celebrating.

Even her favourite part of Christmas, the Christmas Eve tree lighting in the town square, fails to excite her.

However, after running into her high school sweetheart David Mitchell (Ross Jirgl) and his adorable daughter Gabby (Eliza Donaghy) at her Nursery and learning her mom had always dreamed of winning the annual tree decorating contest, she decides to enter and teams up with friend and employee Blair Bolin (Triana Browne).

If she were to  win the contest it would be the perfect way to honour her mom’s memory, but her recently widowed high school sweetheart, and his daughter also enter, which leads to her bonding with Gabby, over the shared loss of a mother, and old feelings being rekindled between her and David.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS FOR KEEPS (2021)

 

For a close-knit group of high school friends, inspirational teacher James Massey (Everick Golding) helped them realise their full potential.

So, when he passes away ten years later Avery Taylor (Christa B. Allen), Ben Tillman (Ryan Rottman), Mia Reynolds (Marielle Scott), Sarah Jones-Wong (Ashley Newbrough) and her husband Noah (Cardi Wong) all return home at Christmas time to take part in the celebration of the life of their beloved teacher who had a big influence in their lives.

However, everyone being together again opens up old wounds and unresolved conflicts while presenting them with new challenges, and they find that even from beyond the grave the old friends get the help and advice from Mr Massey to sort out their lives.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS IN PARIS (2019)

 

Wealthy French Businessman, Lucas (Karl E. Landler), is a brand leader in Europe but wants to expand into the US market.

So attracted by a very tempting business proposal, he heads to Montana where he meets Robin (Rebecca Dalton) and a whirlwind relationship ensues, including a Christmas Adventure in Paris.

But mixing business and Romance isn’t always plain sailing. 

Daphne Zuniga, Andrew Jackson, Karen Racicot, and Randy Thomas also star.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – SAVING CHRISTMAS SPIRIT (2022)

The academic career of brilliant and sharp-witted archaeologist Dr. Lucy Stewart (Ashley Newbrough) is stalling and needs a significant discovery to put her on the map.

To that end she decides to spend her Christmas break in the Scottish Highlands, where she meets Duncan (James Robinson), and together they go on a quest to find the ruins of a shrine to ancient goddess Beira the Queen of Winter.

Along the way she discovers the importance of letting a little festive wonder into her life and finds success with history, the present, and love.


THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – NEXT STOP, CHRISTMAS (2021)

 

As is the norm Surgeon Angie Reynolds (Lyndsy Fonseca) prepares to spend Christmas on her own, being on call and avoiding the festivities.

However, after purchasing a ticket from for her journey home and boarding the train she dozes off, but when she wakes up, she on a different train and she’s gone back in time ten years.

Seeking out the Train Conductor (Christopher Lloyd) she discovers that he was also the man who sold her the ticket, for the train that was now headed towards her hometown, and in order to return to her own time she must address issues from her past.

But she has no idea what issue that might be, it could be “the one that got away”  ex-boyfriend Tyler Grant (Eric Freeman), or her parents Evelyn and George (Lea Thompson and Matt Walton) divorcing, or the significance in her life of her best friend Ben Lee (Chandler Massey), or any number of other things.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A HOLIDAY IN HARLEM (2021)

 

As is the norm Surgeon Angie Reynolds (Lyndsy Fonseca) prepares to spend Christmas on her own, being on call and avoiding the festivities.

However, after purchasing a ticket from for her journey home and boarding the train she dozes off, but when she wakes up she on a different train and she’s gone back in time ten years.

Seeking out the Train Conductor (Christopher Lloyd) she discovers that he was also the man who sold her the ticket, for the train that was now headed towards her hometown, and in order to return to her own time she must address issues from her past.

But she has no idea what issue that might be, it could be “the one that got away”  ex-boyfriend Tyler Grant (Eric Freeman), or her parents Evelyn and George (Lea Thompson and Matt Walton) divorcing, or the significance in her life of her best friend Ben Lee (Chandler Massey), or any number of other things.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – ROYAL GOSSIP (2021)

 

Ahead of the Christmas Gala, Prince Colin of Exeter (Julian Morris), is sent to New York by the King and Queen (Dan Lett and Jane Wheeler) to make the final preparations for the occasion.

But when he visits Queens, he literally runs into Dee Dee Paretti (Megan Park) as she is delivering desserts to the hotel where he is staying, not knowing that he was a Prince, she enlists him to help with a children's Christmas show.

As it’s a charity concert Colin fully engages in the concert and the charity, but he is soon even more fully engaged with Dee Dee, and she with him.

But it’s only a matter of time before his true identity is revealed and how will she react?

Tuesday, 23 May 2023

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A ROYAL QUEENS CHRISTMAS (2021)

 

Ahead of the Christmas Gala, Prince Colin of Exeter (Julian Morris), is sent to New York by the King and Queen (Dan Lett and Jane Wheeler) to make the final preparations for the occasion.

But when he visits Queens, he literally runs into Dee Dee Paretti (Megan Park) as she is delivering desserts to the hotel where he is staying, not knowing that he was a Prince, she enlists him to help with a children's Christmas show.

As it’s a charity concert Colin fully engages in the concert and the charity, but he is soon even more fully engaged with Dee Dee, and she with him.

But it’s only a matter of time before his true identity is revealed and how will she react?

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A HOLIDAY IN HARLEM (2021)

 

Jazmin Carter (Olivia Washington) is an Executive Business Guru who travels the Globe transforming fledgling businesses into money-makers.

But this Christmas she finds herself returning to her old neighbourhood in Harlem to visit family and friends before jetting off again, but due to difficult circumstances she ends up celebrating Christmas where she grew up.

After her grandmother, Mama Belle (Tina Lifford) is hurt in a fall someone has to take over the organizing of the Christmas activities, so Mama Belle nominates Jazmin to stand in for her.

This brings her in close orbit of former sweetheart Caleb (Will Adams) and its obvious where that is going to lead.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK (2021)

 

Jazmin Carter (Olivia Washington) is an Executive Business Guru who travels the Globe transforming fledgling businesses into money-makers.

But this Christmas she finds herself returning to her old neighbourhood in Harlem to visit family and friends before jetting off again, but due to difficult circumstances she ends up celebrating Christmas where she grew up.

After her grandmother, Mama Belle (Tina Lifford) is hurt in a fall someone has to take over the organizing of the Christmas activities, so Mama Belle nominates Jazmin to stand in for her.

This brings her in close orbit of former sweetheart Caleb (Will Adams) and its obvious where that is going to lead.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS IN MY HEART (2021)

 

After her mother's passing, concert violinist Beth Hendricks (Heather Hemmens), returns to her hometown from New York to organize a children’s Christmas recital in honour of her late mother.

While she rediscovers the joy of a small-town Christmas, she begins tutoring aspiring young violinist Katie Grant (Maria Nash), the daughter of local widowed country music star Sean Grant (Luke Macfarlane) and the three of them experience the holidays together.

When Sean encourages her to audition for a prestigious local orchestra, and she is successful, she begins to grapple with the idea of not returning to New York.

Tuesday, 16 May 2023

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – LOVE SONG FOR NOEL (2021)

After her mother's passing, concert violinist Beth Hendricks (Heather Hemmens), returns to her hometown from New York to organize a children’s Christmas recital in honour of her late mother.

While she rediscovers the joy of a small-town Christmas, she begins tutoring aspiring young violinist Katie Grant (Maria Nash), the daughter of local widowed country music star Sean Grant (Luke Macfarlane) and the three of them experience the holidays together.

When Sean encourages her to audition for a prestigious local orchestra, and she is successful, she begins to grapple with the idea of not returning to New York. 

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A CHRISTMAS WISH IN HUDSON (2021)

 

In Hudson, Wisconsin, widowed firefighter Patrick Jacobs (Rib Hillis) is encouraged to appear on a reality TV cooking show by his daughter Nicole (Lauren Schuster) as she was trying to get him dating, and during the show he admits he’s lonely.

Meanwhile in Minneapolis, Web Designer Lori (Alex Rinehart) who works for an unappreciative boss decides she really needs a break for Christmas and quits her job. 

She and her sister Joan (Amanda Day) watch the show and when she sees Patrick, she feels a strong attraction.

Joan notices and books Lori a room at a B&B in Hudson so Lori decides to take a shot at love.

However, she's not the only one, so how will she stand out in a crowd?

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS WISH (2021)

 

In Hudson, Wisconsin, widowed firefighter Patrick Jacobs (Rib Hillis) is encouraged to appear on a reality TV cooking show by his daughter Nicole (Lauren Schuster) as she was trying to get him dating, and during the show he admits he’s lonely.

Meanwhile in Minneapolis, Web Designer Lori (Alex Rinehart) who works for an unappreciative boss decides she really needs a break for Christmas and quits her job. 

She and her sister Joan (Amanda Day) watch the show and when she sees Patrick, she feels a strong attraction.

Joan notices and books Lori a room at a B&B in Hudson so Lori decides to take a shot at love.

However, she's not the only one, so how will she stand out in a crowd?

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A BIG FAMILY CHRISTMAS (2021)

 

Emma (Haylie Duff) learns that the Dude Ranch resort where she used to spend Christmases with her family is being redeveloped and even though the holiday season is in full swing, she decides she wants to spend one last Christmas there.

Unknown to Emma, her boyfriend Liam (Aaron O'Connell) arranges for the whole family to be there to surprise her, and he further plans to surprise her with a proposal.

Obviously not everything goes to plan and every time he tries to pop the question something happens to prevent him, so will he ever succeed amidst the feuding families.

 

Beth Broderick also stars, always a welcome presence in any movie.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – BLENDING CHRISTMAS (2021)

 

Emma (Haylie Duff) learns that the Dude Ranch resort where she used to spend Christmases with her family is being redeveloped and even though the holiday season is in full swing, she decides she wants to spend one last Christmas there.

Unknown to Emma, her boyfriend Liam (Aaron O'Connell) arranges for the whole family to be there to surprise her, and he further plans to surprise her with a proposal.

Obviously not everything goes to plan and every time he tries to pop the question something happens to prevent him, so will he ever succeed amidst the feuding families.

 

Beth Broderick also stars, always a welcome presence in any movie.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A CAPE COD CHRISTMAS (2021)

 

Children's author, Margot (Katie Leclerc), returns to her family home in Cape Cod in the run up to Christmas for one last time, as her siblings, Meredith and Tom (Cindy Lentol and Chris Owen) have decided the house should be sold to cash in on their inheritance after the passing of her parents, and she reluctantly agreed, they even have a buyer lined up who insists on closing the deal before Christmas.

Margot would prefer to buy her siblings out, but she doesn’t have the funds which is why she reluctantly agreed to the sale.

Once she is back in Cape Cop she begins to reconsider especially after she is reunited with her childhood sweetheart Christian (Brent Bailey), an artist who has his own gallery in Town.

Their rekindled relationship develops in a gentle sensitive way, but will he help her find a way to keep the home she loves so dearly.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – 'TIS THE SEASON TO BE MERRY (2021)

 

Relationship expert Merry Griffin (Rachael Leigh Cook) who blogs to her substantial following, her list of dating rules, is about to release her first book about how she used her checklist to find her Mr Right, Dale Westfield (Jacob Blair).

However only Merry and her best friend and editor, Darlene Walters (Amy Groening) know that Mr Wonderful Dale doesn’t actually exist, at least not in Merry’s life.

This is a fact that they have both kept from publisher Sonia Hendricks (Karen Malina White) who would pull the book if she knew.

Darlene and Merry head to Vermont and Darlene's hometown of Snowbridge, to try and figure out what to do, but Sonia smells a rat and makes for Vermont as well.

The solution appears to arrive in the form of Darlene's brother, Adam (Travis Van Winkle) as a stand in Mr Right, but will he prove to be the real deal.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS IN HARMONY (2021)

 

Music Executive Harmony Matthews (Ashleigh Murray) is left disappointed when an expected promotion turns into an unexpected dismissal.

So, she heads home to lick her  wounds and spend the Christmas holiday with her family.

Her mom mother (Loretta Devine) takes the opportunity to get her to direct the Holiday Chorus at the local church where her co-director is ex-boyfriend Kyle Noah (Luke James).

But will the reunion open old wounds, or will they rediscover their passion for music and each other?

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A KISS BEFORE CHRISTMAS (2021)

 

Ethan Holt (James Denton) is married to Joyce (Teri Hatcher) and they have two teenage children, and its  20 years since they first met.

He is frustrated that he’s still doing the same job for the same company, and he has no time to appreciate what he has all he can see is what he doesn’t have.

So, one night when he’s going to do something he knows is unethical he is at the train  station pouring his heart out to a train-station Santa, wishing that on that day 20 years earlier he hadn’t got on the elevator with Joyce.

"Santa" grants Ethan his wish when he wakes up on December 1st of this year to find himself now co-partner of firm and he has chauffeured car a great apartment and a huge office, but he didn’t have Joyce or the children.

Joyce is in his new life however as an adversarial lawyer who he confides in because he knew that she was the key to him being able to reclaim his original life and family.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE CHRISTMAS TEMP (2019)

 

A struggling artist signs up for a special Christmas temp agency and one of the matches is boutique Hotel where she meets manager Jonah Russell (Robin Dunne) who needs the lobby decorating intime for Christmas grand opening and she gets the job.

It isn’t plain sailing because he is a "square peg in a square hole" type of guy and she is artistic and weighed down with angst and self-doubt.

But the two of them somehow rub along and the relation soon shifts from the professional to the personal with surprising results.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A CHRISTMAS FOR MARY (2020)

 

Magazine editor Vivian Vaye (Vivica A. Fox) tasks Lena Jones (Morgan Dixon), an up-and-coming magazine journalist, with delivering an amazing Christmas story.

Not quite knowing how to achieve this she discovers a mysterious portrait of a beautiful young woman painted by her late grandfather, and as it is not of her grandmother, she is intrigued enough to take a trip to the small town of Pineville.

On her arrival she meets Michael Payton (Alonzo B. Slater), who turns out to be the grandson of Mary Payton, the woman in the portrait.

And while Lena and Michael are  searching for the truth about a past love they find one much closer to home.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THREE SISTERS AT THE CHRISTMAS CHATEAU (2019)

 

Historic mansion, the Shakespeare Chateau, now a bed and breakfast, is owned by the Phipps sisters, Brooke, Katie, and Lizzie, (Kinsey Leigh Redmond, Sarah McGuire, and Ashlyn Ford).

In the run up to Christmas they discover that an unscrupulous bank is threatening to foreclose on Christmas Day.

Meanwhile Brooke falls in love with a mysterious book owner, after a long correspondence via text message, but her world falls apart when she realizes it’s the same bank employee who's going to repossess her house.

But that can’t be the end of the story, can it?

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS AT THE CHATEAU (2019)

 

Historic mansion, the Shakespeare Chateau, now a bed and breakfast, is owned by the Phipps sisters, Brooke, Katie, and Lizzie, (Kinsey Leigh Redmond, Sarah McGuire, and Ashlyn Ford).

In the run up to Christmas they discover that an unscrupulous bank is threatening to foreclose on Christmas Day.

Meanwhile Brooke falls in love with a mysterious book owner, after a long correspondence via text message, but her world falls apart when she realizes it’s the same bank employee who's going to repossess her house.

But that can’t be the end of the story, can it?

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS ROMANCE (2020)

 

Christmas lover Mandy Page (Nicola Posener) runs a hobby, craft and thrift store and discovers withing the pages of a donated copy of Dickens, A Christmas Carol, she finds a touching letter to Santa and a silver coin.

She instantly tells her friend employee Gabby (Renny Grames) and pledges to reunite the letter with the sender, the only problem is the letter was written in 1947.

The box was donated from the Creek Hill Chapel, so she starts there and meets construction worker Jonah (Brad Johnson) who is intrigued by the story and Mandy which prompts him to offer his help in finding the now 70-year-old woman named.

As they get closer to finding the letter writer, they find themselves growing closer themselves, and with Christmas fast approaching the identity of the mystery writer and love might both be in reach.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CRAFTING CHRISTMAS (2020)

 

Christmas lover Mandy Page (Nicola Posener) runs a hobby, craft and thrift store and discovers withing the pages of a donated copy of Dickens, A Christmas Carol, she finds a touching letter to Santa and a silver coin.

She instantly tells her friend employee Gabby (Renny Grames) and pledges to reunite the letter with the sender, the only problem is the letter was written in 1947.

The box was donated from the Creek Hill Chapel, so she starts there and meets construction worker Jonah (Brad Johnson) who is intrigued by the story and Mandy which prompts him to offer his help in finding the now 70-year-old woman named.

As they get closer to finding the letter writer, they find themselves growing closer themselves, and with Christmas fast approaching the identity of the mystery writer and love might both be in reach.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE CHRISTMAS PROMISE (2021)

 

Nicole Graham (Torrey DeVitto) and her fiancé Henry (Giles Panton) own and run the Village Toy Emporium and were in the middle of remodelling the house which would become their marital home.

Then during the Christmas season, he was tragically killed in an accident and a year later Nicole is struggling with Christmas but comes to the conclusion that it’s time to move on, so she plans to sell the house and the store.

However, the house needs to be completed before the sale, so she employs carpenter Joe Roberts (Dylan Bruce).

At a low moment she texts an outpouring of grief to Henrys old phone number and to her great surprise she receives a sympathetic reply from someone who had also been through the grieving process.

So, she has practical support from Joe and emotional support from the mystery texter, two halves of a perfect man.


THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – PS. JOYEUX NOËL (2021)

 

Nicole Graham (Torrey DeVitto) and her fiancé Henry (Giles Panton) own and run the Village Toy Emporium and were in the middle of remodelling the house which would become their marital home.

Then during the Christmas season, he was tragically killed in an accident and a year later Nicole is struggling with Christmas but comes to the conclusion that it’s time to move on, so she plans to sell the house and the store.

However, the house needs to be completed before the sale, so she employs carpenter Joe Roberts (Dylan Bruce).

At a low moment she texts an outpouring of grief to Henrys old phone number and to her great surprise she receives a sympathetic reply from someone who had also been through the grieving process.

So, she has practical support from Joe and emotional support from the mystery texter, two halves of a perfect man.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – MORE THAN I WISHED FOR (2021)

Sawyer (Amanda Payton) is a workaholic Doctor who is under constant pressure from her mother and friends to get a boyfriend.

Her friend, assistant nurse, Jules (Sarah Jayne Jensen) tells her it would be cathartic to set up a wedding store gift wish list.

It’s supposed to be just between the two of them, unfortunately, due to a computer glitch everyone she knows suddenly thinks she has a secret fiancé.

This coincides with meeting the brother of patient Hillary (Scout Smith) and agreeing to a casual date with Landon (Adam Gregory) and when they bump into her ex-boyfriend, he assumes that Landon is the secret fiancé.

Landon plays along and agrees to be her pretend boyfriend for a while and then brake up with her at an appropriate moment, however things spiral out of control and the fake might actually become real. 

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A FIANCÉ FOR CHRISTMAS (2021)

 

Sawyer (Amanda Payton) is a workaholic Doctor who is under constant pressure from her mother and friends to get a boyfriend.

Her friend, assistant nurse, Jules (Sarah Jayne Jensen) tells her it would be cathartic to set up a wedding store gift wish list.

It’s supposed to be just between the two of them, unfortunately, due to a computer glitch everyone she knows suddenly thinks she has a secret fiancé.

This coincides with meeting the brother of patient Hillary (Scout Smith) and agreeing to a casual date with Landon (Adam Gregory) and when they bump into her ex-boyfriend, he assumes that Landon is the secret fiancé.

Landon plays along and agrees to be her pretend boyfriend for a while and then brake up with her at an appropriate moment, however things spiral out of control and the fake might actually become real.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE CHRISTMAS PACT (2018)

 

Eight-year-old friends Sadie and Ben (Kiara Malcolm and Ben Akiz Aguma) are next door neighbours and they plant a scrawny 3-foot-tall Christmas tree behind their church, swear an oath and make a Christmas Pact to keep their special holiday traditions alive and recommit every year.

The grown-up Sadie and Ben (Kyla Pratt and Jarod Joseph) try their best to keep the spirit of Christmas and the magic of their childhood pact alive, but life gets in the way

With each Christmas that passes Ben and Sadie's Christmas tree grows taller and stronger; but so, does their curiosity about the answer to the question they dare not ask, can best friends fall in love?

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A HOT COCOA CHRISTMAS (2020)

 

Using a recipe, she inherited from her grandmother, Colette (Aubrey Reynolds) runs a coffee shop that is famous for its hot chocolate and has a loyal clientele.

Then a new pastry shop opens next door owned by Marcus (Jonny Swenson) which she welcomes at first, but then she discovers that the hot chocolate he serves tastes exactly like hers and her customers begin to drift away, and a fierce rivalry develops.

Then tragedy strikes and rivals turn to allies and animosity turns into something quite different.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – HOT CHOCOLATE HOLIDAY (2020)

Using a recipe, she inherited from her grandmother, Colette (Aubrey Reynolds) runs a coffee shop that is famous for its hot chocolate and has a loyal clientele.

Then a new pastry shop opens next door owned by Marcus (Jonny Swenson) which she welcomes at first, but then she discovers that the hot chocolate he serves tastes exactly like hers and her customers begin to drift away, and a fierce rivalry develops.

Then tragedy strikes and rivals turn to allies and animosity turns into something quite different.


Friday, 12 May 2023

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – HOT CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS (2020)

 

Using a recipe, she inherited from her grandmother, Colette (Aubrey Reynolds) runs a coffee shop that is famous for its hot chocolate and has a loyal clientele.

Then a new pastry shop opens next door owned by Marcus (Jonny Swenson) which she welcomes at first, but then she discovers that the hot chocolate he serves tastes exactly like hers and her customers begin to drift away, and a fierce rivalry develops.

Then tragedy strikes and rivals turn to allies and animosity turns into something quite different.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE CHRISTMAS HOUSE 2: DECK THOSE HALLS

 

Hollywood television star Mike Mitchell (Robert Buckley) is persuaded against his better judgement to hold the Christmas House again so he and heads home to the Hudson Valley in upstate New York with girlfriend Andi Cruz (Ana Ayora) to whom he wants to propose, and would be stepson, Noah (Mattia Castrillo).

Unfortunately, things don’t go to plan as the old Mitchell brother’s competitiveness rears its ugly head as he and Brandon (Jonathan Bennett) battle to see who can create the better Christmas House for a TV show and then Noah’s father Zane Ryan (Matthew James Dowden) reappears and begins undermining him in front of Andi.

Meanwhile parents Bill and Phylis (Treat Williams and Sharon Lawrence), who started the Christmas House tradition must try to keep the peace until good sense finally prevails.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A GIFT TO CHERISH (2019)

 

Darcy Archer (Ali Liebert) and Aiden Harris (Peter Porte) prepare to celebrate their second Christmas together, with Darcy running Henley's and Aiden is a crafts teacher.

But all is not plain sailing as they have an unexpected guest staying with Mrs. Henley (Tina Lifford) in the shape of Marcus (Dominic Mariche) who bonds with Bailey the dog, for obvious reasons and with Aiden through a model village project he’s working on as a gift for Darcy.

But the overwhelming topic on everyone’s minds is the beloved community centre, which is threatened with closure as the rich owner David Pearce (Ben Wilkinson) plans to sell it for a lucrative development.

But as the community all have memories tied to the centre everyone unites to seek historical protection and give everyone an unforgettable holiday.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS MOVIE MAGIC (2021)

 

Christmas movies come thick and fast over the holidays but only occasionally does a gem come along that you instantly want to watch again, Christmas Movie Magic is one such film. 

 

It is 65ft anniversary of the premier of the most popular classic Christmas movie "Christmas With You" and entertainment writer Alli Blakeman (Holly Deveaux), travels to the  small town of White Falls, New York, where it was filmed so she can gather more facts on the film.

In White Falls she meets Brad Westdale (Drew Seeley) who runs the old theatre where the film had its world premiere.

So cynic Alli and movie romantic Brad discover evidence that the films big star, Walter Andrews (Robin Dunne), had a secret romance during the filming.

But discovering who it was with proves more difficult and as they start to investigate, she discovers movie magic, and they find a romance much closer to home.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – JINGLE BELL PRINCESS (2021)

 

Unworldly but sophisticated Princess Amelia (Merritt Patterson) is stranded in the small town of Tucker, Maine, when her private jet takes off believing her to be sleeping in her compartment.

The airport is then closed due to a snowstorm and taking pity on her, Annie Cutler (Marnie McPhail), offers to put her up overnight but is unaware she was a Princess.

She then meets Annie's son Sam (Trevor Donovan) and his daughter Sophie (Charlie Boyle) who are living there while Sam restores his own home, work which has slowed down considerably since Sam lost his wife in a tragic accident.

As the storm continues and the airport remains closed and with the phone network  down, Amelia is forced to stay on with the Cutlers where she experiences family life and Christmas traditions she had never known before.

A closeness develops between Sam and Amelia as the days pass but how will he react to the fact that she's hiding the fact she's a princess.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – NOËL ACTUALLY (2019)

 

Holly Anderson (Melissa Joan Hart) is the event coordinator at her family’s  Treeline Ski Resort where she works with her father Tom Anderson (Michael Gross).

She plans every event and keeps all the guests happy but at Christmas a new guest arrives which turns her life upside down.

It’s her college sweetheart, Kevin Portillo (Ricardo Chavira) and his children Miles and  Aviana (Blake Maldonado and Heaztsynn Saldana), he is now widowed and now they both look back and see each other as the one that got away.

Friday, 5 May 2023

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A RESERVATION FOR CHRISTMAS (2019)

 

Holly Anderson (Melissa Joan Hart) is the event coordinator at her family’s  Treeline Ski Resort where she works with her father Tom Anderson (Michael Gross).

She plans every event and keeps all the guests happy but at Christmas a new guest arrives which turns her life upside down.

It’s her college sweetheart, Kevin Portillo (Ricardo Chavira) and his children Miles and  Aviana (Blake Maldonado and Heaztsynn Saldana), he is now widowed and now they both look back and see each other as the one that got away.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS RESERVATIONS (2019)

Holly Anderson (Melissa Joan Hart) is the event coordinator at her family’s  Treeline Ski Resort where she works with her father Tom Anderson (Michael Gross).

She plans every event and keeps all the guests happy but at Christmas a new guest arrives which turns her life upside down.

It’s her college sweetheart, Kevin Portillo (Ricardo Chavira) and his children Miles and  Aviana (Blake Maldonado and Heaztsynn Saldana), he is now widowed and now they both look back and see each other as the one that got away.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A GIFT SHOP CHRISTMAS (2021)

Tony Ortega (Mario Lopez) runs the family business in Santa Fe together with his sister Magdalena (Aimee Garcia) and Father Jose (Efrain Figueroa).

Apart from operating a popular Gift Shop they are also renowned for creating ornaments inspired by Mexican Christmas traditions.

A big company, Warm Wishes, has been trying to acquire the business for years and Tony has finally agreed to meet with their representative, Belinda Sawyer (Emeraude Toubia) from Chicago.

She is tasked with closing the deal before New Year’s while Tony wants to show her the soul of their business to try and preserve their legacy.

But events take a quite different path.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER –HOLIDAY IN SANTA FE (2021)

 Tony Ortega (Mario Lopez) runs the family business in Santa Fe together with his sister Magdalena (Aimee Garcia) and father Jose (Efrain Figueroa).

Apart from operating a popular Gift Shop they are also renowned for creating ornaments inspired by Mexican Christmas traditions.

A big company, Warm Wishes, has been trying to acquire the business for years and Tony has finally agreed to meet with their representative, Belinda Sawyer (Emeraude Toubia) from Chicago.

She is tasked with closing the deal before New Year’s while Tony wants to show her the soul of their business to try and preserve their legacy.

But events take a quite different path.