THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – ROYAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS (2015)

 

Having been shocked at Thanksgiving, by the news of the breakup of parents Leighton and Alfreda Royal (Richard Lawson and Debbi Morgan), the children, Phillip (Romeo Miller), Austin (Eric M. Myrick), Kelsey (Chelsea Tavares), and Pamela (Taquilla): setting aside old sibling rivalries, join forces and hatch a scheme to reunite their parents in time for Christmas.

But are stunned to learn their mom and dad are enjoying “the single life” and their plan soon goes out the window as their own personal and professional dramas relegate getting their parents back together to the back seat.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A ROYAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS (2015)

Having been shocked at Thanksgiving, by the news of the breakup of parents Leighton and Alfreda Royal (Richard Lawson and Debbi Morgan), the children, Phillip (Romeo Miller), Austin (Eric M. Myrick), Kelsey (Chelsea Tavares), and Pamela (Taquilla): setting aside old sibling rivalries, join forces and hatch a scheme to reunite their parents in time for Christmas.

But are stunned to learn their mom and dad are enjoying “the single life” and their plan soon goes out the window as their own personal and professional dramas relegate getting their parents back together to the back seat.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A ROYAL FAMILY HOLIDAY (2015)

 

The Royal family patriarch and matriarch, Leighton and Alfreda Royal (Richard Lawson and Debbi Morgan) feign a separation in an effort to lure their overly busy children home for Thanksgiving.

However, getting the children home turns out to be the easy part, as dramas, challenges, twists, turns, surprises, and the revelation of deep, dark family secrets threaten to extinguish, any hint of Christmas magic as old wounds are re-opened.

As the master plan to reunite the family leads to chaos and the ruse of the separation looks likely to become an actual break up.

Vivica A. Fox, Romeo Miller, Javon Anderson, Tichina Arnold, Ele Bardha, Lulu Dahl, Ricky Harris, Jonathan Holloway, Tequilla Whitfield, Chelsea Tavares and Eric M. Myrick make up a very competent cast in this entertaining holiday offering.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – LAST VERMONT CHRISTMAS (2018)

 

The Marvin sisters, Megan (Erin Cahill) Bethany (Rachel Rhodes-Devey) and Audrey (Catherine Corcoran) gather for what they discover is to be their last Christmas at their childhood home, after their parents, Daniel and Peggy (Jim O'Hare and Ann Osmond), inform them that they are selling up and moving to Florida.

The decision is not received with universal acceptance, in fact Audrey for example recruits neighbour Brandon (Alan Pontes) to sabotage the sale, but things are further complicated when the buyer turns out to be Megan’s high school sweetheart Nash (Justin Bruening).

A nice story well-acted by an accomplished ensemble, though for me Samarah Conley as Megan’s daughter Ivy, steals the show.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – LAST CHRISTMAS AT HOME (2018)

 

The Marvin sisters, Megan (Erin Cahill) Bethany (Rachel Rhodes-Devey) and Audrey (Catherine Corcoran) gather for what they discover is to be their last Christmas at their childhood home, after their parents, Daniel and Peggy (Jim O'Hare and Ann Osmond), inform them that they are selling up and moving to Florida.

The decision is not received with universal acceptance, in fact Audrey for example recruits neighbour Brandon (Alan Pontes) to sabotage the sale, but things are further complicated when the buyer turns out to be Megan’s high school sweetheart Nash (Justin Bruening).

A nice story well-acted by an accomplished ensemble, though for me Samarah Conley as Megan’s daughter Ivy, steals the show.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE CHRISTMAS EXPRESS (2017)

A world-weary journalist, Tom Langdon (Dermot Mulroney) takes a four-day trip on a train from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles for Christmas, hoping to get ideas for a book he's writing in memory of his late father.

He quickly gets to know the other passengers, in particular busy body Agnes (Joan Cusack) and film Director Max Powers (Danny Glover) who is travelling with his script writer Eleanor Carter (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) who just happens to be Tom’s old flame and as the story unfolds it's obvious to everyone aboard the Christmas Train that the two of them are still in love.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS RHAPSODY (1948)

Christmas Rhapsody is a great little short film from 1948, which tells the story of the lonely little fir tree which dwells in the shadows of mightier trees and longs to be as useful as his mighty neighbours.

It’s a nicely made film, in a contemporary American setting, with a pleasing voiceover, beautifully shot and deftly directed, with a traditional soundtrack of Christmas carols.

In the end the little tree gets his wish when he is cut down and taken to the forester’s cottage where it is trimmed on Christmas Eve by the forester’s family.