With the end of the year holidays approaching, the Christmas movies are in full gear, and I could not be happier! I am ready to settle into a pillowy groove in my bed and binge on (in no particular order) Home Alone, A Christmas Story, The Grinch, A Preacher’s Wife, This Christmas, A Christmas Carol (Disney’s version with Jim Carrey – nothing against the original at all!), Polar Express, Klaus (a recent favorite thanks to Netflix), and most recently the Hallmark/Lifetime romantic Christmas movie extravaganza.
I think I caved in 2018. Hallmark and Lifetime channels flood their lineups with cheezy, cheeky, predictable, kinda dorky, yet totally adorable Christmas-themed flicks in timely fashion. I never understood why someone would waste a day watching movie after movie with the exact same premise – someone returns to their Christmas village of a hometown from the “big city,” reunites with their own true love, but not before a dramatic conflict that either causes them to leave back to the “big city” with their heart still in their hometown. This lovelorn character is coming home just to have a traditional Christmas but has to use some of that big city magic to save the Christmas pageant or the old bookstore/toy store/Christmas wrapping store. Same premise, climax, and sappy ending.
During one fateful Christmas break, I decided to give one movie a chance. One movie that probably featured a beloved 90s tv actor. It took just one, and I was sucked in. Initially, I kept watching to see any variety among the storylines. Very little variety, but I did not mind. It has now become my jam.
I look forward to seeing which actor I grew up admiring returning to the small screen for some Christmas love story magic. Besides the fact that I am a bit of a hopeless romantic, I appreciate seeing Tatyana Ali, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Tia & Tamera Mowry, or Melissa Joan Hart in a cutesy 90-minute movie that matters. I also become invested in the actors that are recycled with the Hallmark/Lifetime families. I could not understand why my mom watched movie after movie, but now I get it and feel no shame. These movies put me in a good mood and a great transition to the most magical, wonderful time of the year.
Don’t leave me hanging! Try one, and like Lays, you can’t watch just one!
Give love. Get tv magic love.
The Ready Writer 