Hallmark Movies ❤️ comfort & joy

[flyingdumbo127]

Hooray for upcoming Christmas movies. A Valentine's Day movie I really enjoyed rewatching last night was Harmony from the Heart. I loved the older couple and of course cheered when Charles told his wife of 50 years Mary Ann he loved her. Great story.

 

[Imzadi]

Great American Family is being confusing again this weekend. The Christmas schedule lists two different movies than what is on the TV guide. They really have to do better than this.

Here is what their Christmas Schedule states. Hopefully the TV guide will change closer to the air time.

Christmas in Scotland
Premiere Date: Saturday, Oct. 19 at 8/7c
Starring: Jill Winternitz, Dominic Watters
Description: A New York installation designer helps a small Scottish community create a dazzling light display to win “Best Christmas Village” festival. The designer is forced to work with a wealthy heir who doesn’t like Christmas, though feelings may change if the pair succeeds in creating joy for the community.

A Christmas Castle Proposal
Premiere Date: Sunday, Oct. 20 at 8/7c
Starring: Rhiannon Fish, Mitchell Bourke
Description: Olivia, a commoner, travels with Prince Alexander to his family’s magical palace, Torovia so their families can spend a first Christmas together. The couple’s plans for a enchanted Christmas are threatened by comedic mishaps caused by cultural differences between the families.

 

[Imzadi]

Reminder: On tonight, Thursday:

Hallmark Mystery's Miracles of Christmas is starting!

This Time Each Year is on at 8pm ET/PT, 7pm CT on Hallmark Mystery

Re-airs:
Sunday October 27 at 6/5c
Thursday October 31 at 10/9c
Saturday November 2 at 4/3c
Friday November 8 at 8/7c
Wednesday November 20 at 6/5c
Monday November 25 at 12/11c

Starring: Alison Sweeney and Niall Matter.
Description: Lauren and Kevin were once deeply in love but nearly a year after their separation, they now focus on co-parenting their young son Charlie. Despite the split, Kevin is determined to make their family whole again. Before Lauren’s mother visits during the holidays, Lauren asks Kevin to pretend they’re still happily married and living under one roof. The act quickly feels more real, stirring up old memories and feelings. As Lauren sees the man she once fell in love with in a new light, perhaps the magic of Christmas will rekindle their romance and spark renewed hope for their future.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I ended up watching a When Calls the Heart Christmas movie that I really enjoyed. I had never watched any of this series before. I am hoping one of kind you who do enjoy the show will be able to tell me what the name of the movie I saw was. It was one of those You Tube links with a wrong title. I would love a follow up story with the same characters if there was one.

The movie is set around New Hope Orphanage run by the kind Lillian. I think there were at least 3 girls and 3 boys. One of the little girls was convinced a Mr. Stewart was Santa and as it turned out he sure was, what a great change of heart he had. Lori Loughlin's Abigail was also in the story. She came to town with her son Cody and I think young cousin Roy. God Bless Roy! I wanted to hug him, all the kiddos were precious.

A writer was also in town staying at Mr. Stewart's Inn. He tried to get the town nurse, I wish she were real. I am not a medical doctor fan/person who finds it easy to go see one but Maggie was truly compassionate.

What else? The town constable and Lillian fall in love. All the kids wish for Roy to be granted his Christmas wish of a pony which he gets. Roy is also fantastic at jigsaw puzzles which the other kids enjoy also.

Anyone? Thank you so much.

 

[Imzadi]

This Weekend on the Hallmark Channel:

On Friday:
Operation Nutcracker (Previously on Hallmark Movies Now) is on the Hallmark Channel at 8pm ET/PT, 7CT.

Re-airs:
Saturday October 26 at 6/5c
Sunday November 3 at 2/1c
Thursday November 7 at 10/9c
Friday November 15 at 2/1c
Saturday November 23 at 8a/7c

Starring: Ashley Newbrough, Christopher Russell
Description: When an antique nutcracker set to be auctioned at the Warby family Christmas charity goes missing, a demanding event planner (Newbrough) and the heir to the Warby dynasty (Russell) try to track it down.

On Saturday:
The Christmas Charade is on the Hallmark Channel at 8pm ET/PT, 7CT.

Re-airs:
Sunday October 27 at 6/5c
Friday November 1 at 10/9c
Wednesday November 6 at 8/7c
Saturday November 16 at 8a/7c
Friday November 22 at 12a/11c
Friday November 29 at 8a/7c

Starring: Rachel Skarsten, Corey Sevier.
Description: (Corey Sevier directed this one. He tends to act better in the movies he directs.) Whitney (Skarsten), a cautious librarian raised by home security experts, finds herself in a real-life adventure when a blind date mix-up leads her into an undercover FBI operation. Forced to pose as the girlfriend of Special Agent Josh (Sevier), she helps him track down an art thief targeting the Saint Nicholas Ruby at a Christmas Eve charity ball. As the stakes rise, Whitney must embrace her inner action hero to save the day—and her family—just in time for Christmas.

On Sunday:
The 5-Year Christmas Party is on the Hallmark Channel at 8pm ET/PT, 7CT.

Re-airs:
Monday October 28 6/5c
Saturday November 2 10/9c
Friday November 8 6/5c
Sunday November 17 6a/5c
Wednesday November 27 12a/11c

Starring: Katie Findlay, Jordan Fisher.
Description: Over five years, Alice (Findlay) and her old theater school rival, Max (Fisher), reunite each holiday season to work at a Chicago catering company’s Christmas parties. While their undeniable chemistry grows, the timing is never right for romance – until the company’s final season pushes them to confront their true feelings. As they say goodbye to the job that brought them together, they might finally find love in the most unexpected way.

 

[Imzadi]

On Great American Family this Saturday:

A Christmas Castle Proposal
Starring: Rhiannon Fish, Mitchell Bourke
Description: Olivia, a commoner, travels with Prince Alexander to his family’s magical palace, Torovia so their families can spend a first Christmas together. The couple’s plans for a enchanted Christmas are threatened by comedic mishaps caused by cultural differences between the families.

 

[redlight]

This Time Each Year was less comfy than the typical hallmark, but still good.

Alison looks good, but thinner.

 

[Imzadi]

This Time Each Year was less comfy than the typical hallmark, but still good.

Alison looks good, but thinner.

Just starting this now. I just noticed Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, who plays Rita in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies directed This Time Each Year. She's only beginning to direct. Yet, I think she's trying to choose rather different types of stories than the typical stuff.

 

[redlight]

I liked Crystal’s choices.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I may have watched a different This Time Each Year movie last night. I watched the Christmas time story of separated parents, Lauren and Kevin, reuniting with one another. I did not care for how they initially pretend, and draw their young son, Charlie into their lie, to be a happy couple so that Lauren doesn't need to immediately tell her mother Janet the truth. Not ever my intent to judge anyone, not my place. I do believe in honesty especially where children are concerned. This all said, I did admire Kevin's conviction and Charlie was adirable in his Santa Suit. Of course it made me thankful to see the McCaul family genuinely back together by the end of the movie.

 

[Imzadi]

I just finished this movie that came out last Christmas on UPtv. It finally posted to YouTube. It's Christmas at the Amish Bakery. The acting isn't that great. Nor is the dialogue.

Yet, @flyingdumbo127 you may like it. Being about the Amish and on UPtv, it's a bit more wholesome and family oriented. Although, I'm not sure how many Amish customs this movie was authentic with. They seem very casual on some things.

Once you've copied the web address and put it in your browser's address bar, delete the space between youtube and .com to connect the whole address.

https://www.youtube .com/watch?v=Crb8S06ewXY

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Thanks, Imzadi. I believe I saw part of that movie once. I will check it out sometime

 

[bobbiwoz]

We enjoyed Operation Nutcracker!

 

[CGB]

We enjoyed Operation Nutcracker!

I did too! Nice storyline and I especially liked the twist at the end. I also really like when kids are part of the storyline.

I also watched The Christmas Charade last night. Oh my goodness... the opening scene with Rachel Skarsten in her PJs watching TV was so great that I giggled and thought... "That is all of us watching Hallmark!" The script was great because everything that usually leads to a romance in a Hallmark movie was going wrong. I really liked the twist at the end of this movie too. It's my favorite of the 2024 season ... so far. And yes... I'll be back in my PJs for tonight's The 5 Year Christmas Party.

 

[Imzadi]

I also watched The Christmas Charade last night. Oh my goodness... the opening scene with Rachel Skarsten in her PJs watching TV was so great that I giggled and thought... "That is all of us watching Hallmark!" The script was great because everything that usually leads to a romance in a Hallmark movie was going wrong. I really liked the twist at the end of this movie too. It's my favorite of the 2024 season ... so far. And yes... I'll be back in my PJs for tonight's The 5 Year Christmas Party.

I only caught the beginning so far. It did look really good and zany. I like Rachel Skarsten. I feel they found her casting, in having her do really intelligent roles and some of the more charactery roles, like playing The Royal Nanny.

As I mentioned earlier, Corey Sevier directed this movie. Turns out, his wife is a screenwriter and she wrote the script. This is their third Hallmark movie together. He directed the other two also: Heart of the Holidays and It Takes a Christmas Village. He did a better acting job in each of those movies. Maybe they discussed his character more in those movies, or his process is more thoughtful and different when he directs his own characters than when he is being directed by someone else, which in my opinion is sometimes rather bland.

 

[Imzadi]

The 5-Year Christmas Party is on the Hallmark Channel at 8pm ET/PT, 7CT.

Re-airs:
Monday October 28 6/5c
Saturday November 2 10/9c
Friday November 8 6/5c
Sunday November 17 6a/5c
Wednesday November 27 12a/11c

Starring: Katie Findlay, Jordan Fisher.
Description: Over five years, Alice (Findlay) and her old theater school rival, Max (Fisher), reunite each holiday season to work at a Chicago catering company’s Christmas parties. While their undeniable chemistry grows, the timing is never right for romance – until the company’s final season pushes them to confront their true feelings. As they say goodbye to the job that brought them together, they might finally find love in the most unexpected way.

I loosely watched this. It is definitely geared to a younger audience. They may like how "angsty" it is, as that is what they are going though at that age of being in their 20's. So glad to be over that era of my life. I felt it was 3 years too long of a movie for me. Had I recorded it instead of watching it live, I would have fast-forwarded through many of the mid-years, as it was basically the same, and skipped to the end.

A little factoid: The female lead brings up watching Ashley Williams' Hallmark movies a couple times. Turns out the writer wrote all 3 of the Christmas in Evergreen movies, along with the Sister Switch movies that the Williams sisters starred in.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

On Sunday:
The 5-Year Christmas Party is on the Hallmark Channel at 8pm ET/PT, 7CT.

I loosely watched this. It is definitely geared to a younger audience. They may like how "angsty" it is, as that is what they are going though at that age of being in their 20's. So glad to be over that era of my life. I felt it was 3 years too long of a movie for me. Had I recorded it instead of watching it live, I would have fast-forwarded through many of the mid-years, as it was basically the same, and skipped to the end.

A little factoid: The female lead brings up watching Ashley Williams' Hallmark movies a couple times. Turns out the writer wrote all 3 of the Christmas in Evergreen movies, along with the Sister Switch movies that the Williams sisters starred in.

I sorta watched it, also. I felt it just dragged on, and the lead characters really didn't seem have any real connection.

I wanted to like it, as I was really only interested in watching it because of Katie Findlay. I liked her in Love Strikes Twice.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I watched Christmas Bells are Ringing for a second time. It is so refreshing to enjoy a wholesome family story where all the main characters are kind toward one another from the beginning. Samantha comes home to Cape Cod to attend her dad Lee's wedding to Helen. Samantha's mom had passed away a number of years ago. All three characters realized how blessed they were by God to have one another anew new. Samantha rekindles her relationship with her childhood boyfriend Mike, whose own parents are in the movie at times at well. This was a movie I would have loved extra time on at the end!

As I have shared previously, I'm not in general a fan of royal movies. I don't seek them out typically to watch. I did very much enjoy Christmas at the Palace. I appreciated that unlike the handful or so of other royal movies I have seen there was no royal character who objected to the friendship/romance between someone living in the castle and an American. Aunt Patricia was lovely and feisty throughout. The young girl actress did a great job too.

A second royal movie I saw was A Royal Proposal which is a sequel to A Royal in Paradise where Prince Alexander and Olivia first meet. It looks like there may be a third movie this year called A Royal Wedding--I'm not sure. I enjoyed the above movie much more but rooted for the charcaters in this movie, too.

 

[Imzadi]

Jonathan Bennett has created and executive produced the first non-scripted, Hallmark reality competition series for Hallmark+: Finding Mr. Christmas. It's where 10 guys they have chosen do competitions of the most popular Hallmark movie tropes to ultimately choose one guy who will star in a Hallmark Christmas movie. They had competitions like putting them together with a puppy, the shirtless Christmas calendar contest. Can they partner dance with the female lead? Who does the best "meet cute" when meeting the female lead.

Jonathan said the guys were actually very supportive of each other and it was a friendly competition. Not one of the cut-throat, stabbing each other in the back, sabotaging competitions on reality TV.

The competition has already been filmed and done. And they have even filmed the Hallmark movie with the winner (in secret.)

Some of them are actors, or want to call themselves an actor and want to be in a Christmas movie, one is a real firefighter, another was a model and is the face of Versace. But, in the end, it's about whether the guy has the star quality and the "twinkle" that Hallmark says it's looking for to star in a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Jonathan is hoping that this will be a yearly series.

(Whether that guy can actually act and we want to watch 2 hours of him may be a different story: or )

Finding Mr. Christmas will premiere on Hallmark+ starting on Oct 31. They didn't mention how many weeks. Then the movie with the guy will air some time after the final episode announcing the winner.

 

[BayTower2010]

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Yes. The trick is to have 2 actors that have a real chemistry, and some good dialog, and maybe a little twist in the plot. Which brings me to a question. What ever happened to "Finding Father Christmas". This meets all the above requirements but I have not seen it air in three years.