THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – HALLMARK: WELCOME TO CHRISTMAS (2018)

 

Resort developer Madison Lane (Jennifer Finnigan) is tasked with finding a location for a new ski resort, even though she has already made the case for her preferred option in Mountain Park, but her boss tells her to take a trip to Christmas, Colorado, to consider that location and to discuss the revised incentive package they're offering.

On her way into town to meet with the Mayor, Madison has a minor collision with the town's welcome sign, which renders the car un-drivable and the sign unwelcoming.

The towns Sheriff Gage McBride (Eric Mabius) drives upon the scene shortly after it happened and offers to give her a ride into town so she can attend the meeting while the car is towed to the garage and repaired.

Little does she know however, that the town is on a mission to convince her that Christmas is the best place for the new ski resort.

While stranded in the town she falls in love with the town of Christmas, the spirit of Christmas that runs throughout it, and its residents and its Sheriff.

But the more she falls in love with the place the more she questions whether a resort is really the right move for Christmas? Or would the town be better off keeping its charm and traditions intact?

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - THE CHRISTMAS GIFT

 

George Billings (John Denver) is a successful New York City architect and his boss Thomas A. Renfield (Edward Winter) sends him on a business trip to look over a small Colorado town that he has earmarked for a possible real estate development. 

One year earlier, at Christmastime, George’s beloved wife had died so what was meant to be a joyous season is a time of painful memories for George and his seven year old daughter Alexandra (Gennie James).

George decided he would take his daughter with him on the trip for a Christmas vacation and when he and Alex arrived in the small charming hamlet of Georgetown, they discovered that it was a place where everyone, from the very oldest inhabitant to the very youngest child, believed in Santa Clause.

It doesn’t take long for George and Alex to fall under the towns spell, or for George to do the same with the hamlets lovely postmistress Susan McMillan (Jane Kaczmarek).

Unfortunately, on the strength of George's glowing reports, his boss Renfield proceeds with plans to transform the town into a modern ski resort.

Soon everyone, Susan and Alex included turns against George, despite the fact he had already lost his job for protesting against it.

However he wins the inhabitants of the mystical Colorado town back with his daring plan to thwart Renfield and preserve Georgetown's old fashioned charm.

And just to make the whole tale even more special Santa pitches in with a few "miracles" of his own.

But Pat Corley as Taxi Driver Bud Sawyer and the ever reliable Mary Wickes as Henrietta are the icing on the very festive Christmas cake

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS EVE

 

This is a “Groundhog Day” style Christmas Tale.

Calvin Carter (Steven Weber), is a very successful business executive who has it all, but he blatantly neglects all those closest to him.

But on Christmas Eve, all that changes when a large sign on his office building falls on him. He awakes in what appears to be a hospital bed, attended to by Angie (Molly Shannon), a nurse who soon lets him know he has 12 days (12 chances) to get his act together and achieve the "perfect" Christmas Eve.

As each subsequent Christmas Eve slips by he succeeds only in making perfect Christmas Eve’s for himself.

Finally he is told in no uncertain terms that if he doesn’t figure out what he is doing wrong there will be dire consequences.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – ARDEN DRIVE (2016)

 

All Eddie Kirkpatrick (Sean Ryan Fox) wants for Christmas is a pair of Breezy 3000s, the hottest new shoes which will make him the envy of his friends.

But come Christmas Day, he finds there are no presents under the family tree, let alone his shoes, because his older brother, Zack (Colin Smith) is getting married and the family is so focused on the wedding they have side-lined Christmas.
He storms out of the house angry that his Christmas has been ruined, and heads into town where he comes across a mysterious new shoe store.

After meeting the store owner (Joey Lawrence) he is granted one wish, so Eddie wishes to have his Christmas back, and the wish is granted.

However as a result he is stuck reliving the same disappointing Christmas day on an endless loop, and is destined to do so until he learns what the spirit of Christmas is really about.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THIS IS OUR CHRISTMAS (2018)

 

“This is Our Christmas” tells the story of love, redemption, courage, and the importance of helping others.

A father, James Bennett Foxworth (Vincent De Paul) tries to help his spoiled Beverly Hills teenage daughter Ravin (Ravin Spangler), overcome the loss of her mother Angelina (Donna Spangler) find the true meaning of the holidays.

He does this by sending her to stay with Aunt Maggie (Nancy Daly) to help with her failing country style bakery business.

James is are ably assisted by friends and family as well as their magical guardian angel, Angelina, in reaching their goal of discovering the true miracle of Christmas”.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - A CAROL CHRISTMAS (2003)

 

An enjoyable and humorous reworking of Charles Dickens well spun yarn of redemption.

This retelling of the story is of an ego-maniacal driven and heartless TV talk show host, Carol Cartman (Tori Spelling) who is determined to destroy the festive fun in the studio.

However on Christmas Eve she is visited by the ghost of her Aunt Marla (Dinah Manoff).

The story unfolds much as you might expect from then on but the late Gary Coleman is a quite excellent Ghost of Christmas Past and William Shatner steals the show as the Ghost of Christmas Present.

The use of the Star Trek tele-porter effect when he "moved" Carol from one location to another was quite inspired.

There are also very credible performances from Nina Siemaszko as ill-used assistant Roberta and Michael Landes as Roberta’s love interest Jimmy.

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

 

Claire (Alexandra Breckenridge), is a savvy venture capitalist from New York City, who decides to escape to the quaint town of Glastenbury, Vermont for the holidays, following an uncharacteristically bad company floatation.

She chose Glastenbury for her getaway because of its reputation as a great Christmas Town with many traditional activities and a famous festival.

And as she is not the kind of person to do nothing she books in as a guest of the Fortenbury Bookstore, which entitles her to run the Store for the duration of her stay.

However upon her arrival, Claire finds Christmas celebrations have been cancelled by the town after a devastating autumn flood and the bookstore in a dire state of disrepair.

Unshaken she immediately takes on the challenge to revitalize the store, but clashes with the owner, Andrew (Jamie Spilchuk), who initially rejects all her proposed improvements, though she finds an ally in his Aunt, Mrs. Tumulty (Jane Alexander).

Gradually Claire wears him down with her infectious optimism and revives his yuletide spirit and inevitably romance blossoms, until Claire discovers that Andrew is planning to sell the bookstore in the New Year.

Which begs the question “Will the spirit of Christmas be enough to change Andrew's mind and encourage him to follow his heart?”