Hallmark Movies ❤️ comfort & joy

[Worfiedoodles]

Check your local library.Debbie Macomber is popular enough that they may have a few of her books in a particular series. Then get book #1 of that series. Less books to buy that way.

Or, I'd recommend start with The Shop on Blossom Street. It's book number 1 of the Blossom Street series. That's the series I read.

https://www.amazon.com/Shop-Blossom-Street-Novel-Book-ebook/dp/B07D5XVB8C/

I’m on it! Always happy to find a new series

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I like watching the HM movies but the other day, not sure of the title, but the Christmas Promise was just too much for me this year. I know it is fairytales for adults but what are the odds she meets the hunky carpenter and then he has her bf old telephone number....lol just too much

I love the one where Ryan Paevy is an elementary school teacher (from a few years past)....talk about fairytale fantasy...it's the one with the Book Bee, (The names all run together after a while and the plots are either taken from famous novels etc or other movies. ) I have been an elementary teacher for years and NEVER EVER has there been a Ryan Paevy type in my school EVER! Nor, have I ever seen one at a conference or even as a presenter. That's how you know it's a true fantasy. LOL

I often think they have a dart board or some sort of board where they mix and match by throwing darts at plots, characters etc. I bet it's fun. I have never seen anyone take credit for writing the movies except famous authors like Debbie Macomber.

But after all I still watch...its like an accident I cannot look away.

 

[RamblingMad]

I like watching the HM movies but the other day, not sure of the title, but the Christmas Promise was just too much for me this year. I know it is fairytales for adults but what are the odds she meets the hunky carpenter and then he has her bf old telephone number....lol just too much

I love the one where Ryan Paevy is an elementary school teacher (from a few years past)....talk about fairytale fantasy...it's the one with the Book Bee, (The names all run together after a while and the plots are either taken from famous novels etc or other movies. ) I have been an elementary teacher for years and NEVER EVER has there been a Ryan Paevy type in my school EVER! Nor, have I ever seen one at a conference or even as a presenter. That's how you know it's a true fantasy. LOL

I often think they have a dart board or some sort of board where they mix and match by throwing darts at plots, characters etc. I bet it's fun. I have never seen anyone take credit for writing the movies except famous authors like Debbie Macomber.

But after all I still watch...its like an accident I cannot look away.

I watch hoping to find the one good one each year. I expect a lot of duds.

 

[Imzadi]

I love the one where Ryan Paevy is an elementary school teacher (from a few years past)....talk about fairytale fantasy...it's the one with the Book Bee, (The names all run together after a while and the plots are either taken from famous novels etc or other movies. ) I have been an elementary teacher for years and NEVER EVER has there been a Ryan Paevy type in my school EVER! Nor, have I ever seen one at a conference or even as a presenter. That's how you know it's a true fantasy. LOL

When you mentioned Ryan Paevey, I thought for a moment that you were talking about his new one out now, Coyote Creek Christmas. AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHH! I HATED that movie. I was so looking forward to seeing it. He's such gorgeous eye candy. I can forgive a bad script. I'd just watch for him.

But, in my opinion, Janel Parrish ruined the movie. (I liked her in Holly & Ivy.) For me, it isn't even salvageable to watch just for him. (Die hard Ryan Paevey and General Hospital fans may disagree.) Janel is the Lead. Not just the female lead. So, she interacts with Ryan all the time. And she is beyond furious with Ryan's character for something that isn't even his fault.

The story is that the parents are selling the inn. They bring Ryan in to take a look. They don't want their daughter to know yet, as it will upset her. "Upset her" takes on new meaning in Janel's case.

Ryan did a great job acting-wise. He was warm, thoughtful, sensitive. His character was a real stand up guy. He respected the parents' wishes to not say anything even though it created a problem with Janel.

When Janel finds out, she seems more mad at not being told. Being upset about losing the inn was almost an afterthought. Instead of being mad at her parents, who even said THEY are responsible for Ryan keeping THEIR secret, it's as though she doesn't really register it. She's like Fatal Attraction boiling the rabbit furious at Ryan. When they say, "Go easy on [Ryan.] She asks, "WHY SHOULD I???

He even apologizes like THREE times to this woman he's only known for about two weeks. And she just won't let it go. There's the saying, "When people show you who they are, believe it!" I wanted to shout at the TV, "RUN, RYAN! RUN!!!"

(For comparison: In the movie Operation Christmas, Tricia Helfer is really upset with Mark Blucas, who she thought had blown her and her family off, when they all were supposed to meet the next morning for a ski date. He was an army ranger and had to suddenly leave for an assignment & she was never given his message apologising he couldn't make it. When they finally meet again she's angry at him. But, she played how hurt she really was, trying to hide it (unsuccessfully) behind the anger. She also played being sweet and vulnerable, struggling with liking Mark too much and afraid of being hurt again. That made her warm and likeable. Operation Christmas is one of my all time favorite movies because of these two.

Janel didn't have the acting ability to play something other than angry all the time. And she didn't seem to know the lead is supposed to be likeable. The audience should want to root for the characters to get together. Not tell one to RUN! )

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I watch hoping to find the one good one each year. I expect a lot of duds.

Well let's face it, they have different categories and they recycle each year

General Categories I can come up with are:
Some sort of Christmas Carol
One with an angel or a mysterious person who turns out to be Santa ...or is he???
A single mom OR dad incredibly beautiful...short on cash but lives in a drop dead gorgeous Victorian OR open concept rustic style even though working in a bakery part time
Old boyfriend/girlfrind reunited
They are also big on Bronte Sisters' themes
A time travel theme/aka "It's a Wonderful Life" theme
Jane Austin is big and they are often shameless about using her

AND MY FAVORITE
Royalty stopping by an Inn in the middle of no where because their car broke down in a snow storm and the prince marries the daughter OR the maid marries the prince OR the prince is incognito and marries someone "below his station" for true love ( is this a Cinderella theme? not sure) OR the Maria Von Trap Sound of Music theme.

What I love about it is they are totally shameless in their pseudo plagiarism.

But let's face it don't we all really want to live in Hallmark Land where the cookies are perfect( no one gets fat from eating them either) and the cocoa always has marshmallows on it and the lead character always has the BEST RED COATS?? Nobody ever dies, no tragedy (on screen) and the biggest problem they have is determining if they use "snow blankets" or pump in foam snow.
Honestly, I always say are there really places like this??? I want to live there and that is why these movies are so successful even if you find yourself hating them. Like I said you can't look away!!

 

[RamblingMad]

Well let's face it, they have different categories and they recycle each year

General Categories I can come up with are:
Some sort of Christmas Carol
One with an angel or a mysterious person who turns out to be Santa ...or is he???
A single mom OR dad incredibly beautiful...short on cash but lives in a drop dead gorgeous Victorian OR open concept rustic style even though working in a bakery part time
Old boyfriend/girlfrind reunited
They are also big on Bronte Sisters' themes
A time travel theme/aka "It's a Wonderful Life" theme

AND MY FAVORITE
Royalty stopping by an Inn in the middle of no where because their car broke down in a snow storm and the prince marries the daughter OR the maid marries the prince OR the prince is incognito and marries someone "below his station" for true love ( is this a Cinderella theme? not sure) OR the Maria Von Trap Sound of Music theme.

What I love about it is they are totally shameless in their pseudo plagiarism.

But let's face it don't we all really want to live in Hallmark Land where the cookies are perfect( no one gets fat from eating them either) and the cocoa always has marshmallows on it and the lead character always has the BEST RED COATS?? Nobody ever dies, no tragedy (on screen) and the biggest problem they have is determining if they use "snow blankets" or pump in foam snow.
Honestly, I always say are there really places like this??? I want to live there and that is why these movies are so successful even if you find yourself hating them. Like I said you can't look away!!

Most are filmed in Canada.

The usual plot is a single successful woman disenchanted with life meets their match in some small town.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

When you mentioned Ryan Paevey, I thought for a moment that you were talking about his new one out now, Coyote Creek Christmas. AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHH! I HATED that movie. I was so looking forward to seeing it. He's such gorgeous eye candy. I can forgive a bad script. I'd just watch for him.

But, in my opinion, Janel Parrish ruined the movie. For me, it isn't even salvageable to watch just for him. (Die hard Ryan Paevey and General Hospital fans may disagree.) Janel is the Lead. Not just the female lead. So, she interacs with Ryan too much. And she is beyond furious with Ryan's character for something that isn't even his fault.

The story is that the parents are selling the inn. They bring Ryan in to take a look. They don't want their daughter to know yet, as it will upset her. "Upset her" takes on new meaning in Janel's case.

Ryan did a great job acting-wise. He was warm, thoughtful, sensitive. His character was a real stand up guy. He respected the parents' wishes to not say anything even though it created a problem with Janel.

When Janel finds out, she seems more mad at not being told. Being upset about losing the inn was almost an afterthought. Instead of being mad at her parents, who even said THEY are responsible for Ryan keeping THEIR secret, it's as though she doesn't really register it. She's like Fatal Attraction boiling the rabbit furious at Ryan. When they say, "Go easy on [Ryan.] She asks, "WHY SHOULD I???

He even apologizes like THREE times to this woman he's only known for about two weeks. And she just won't let it go. There's the saying, "When people show you who they are, believe it!" I wanted to shout at the TV, "RUN, RYAN! RUN!!!"

(For comparison: In the movie Operation Christmas, Tricia Helfer is really upset with Mark Blucas, who she thought had blown her and her family off, when they were supposed to meet the next morning for a ski date. He was an army ranger and had to leave for an assignment & she wasn't properly given his message. When they finally meet again she's angry at him. But, she played how hurt she really was, trying to hide it (unsuccessfully) behind the anger. She also played being sweet and sensitive, liking Mark too much and afraid of being hurt again. That made her warm and likeable.

Janel didn't have the ability to do any of that. And she didn't seem to know the lead is supposed to be likeable. People should want to root for the characters to get together. Not tell one to RUN! )

I’ll be deleting this hot mess from my DVR…Thanks for the heads up! I really don’t like it when the lead is well, unlikeable

 

[Kennywood]

I'm a sucker for Hallmark's Christmas movies about the military.

 

[Imzadi]

I watched Gingerbread Miracle starring Merritt Patterson. I like Merritt Patterson. This is her usual type of movies, so I liked this one too.

My current favorite of hers came out a couple years ago, Picture A Perfect Christmas, where she played a photographer visiting her aunt for Christmas and strikes up a friendship the the guy next door and his son. (And of course I liked one of her first Hallmark movies, where she meets a prince who's incognito. That's not a Christmas movie though.)

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Most are filmed in Canada.

The usual plot is a single successful woman disenchanted with life meets their match in some small town.

You so underestimate them LOL I mean sometimes the woman is NOT successful BUT something horrible happened to her like she lost the stone out of her 5 karat ring and her boyfriend breaks it off with her. . This is literary gold turned to movie gold....lol I seriously mean this I would love to be a writer on these movies. It must be so much fun to write adult fairy tales. It's where old Hollywood and soap opera stars go to die.

ETA: I so hate that most are filmed in Canada because many of them take place in New England mostly. I wish they would film on location but then again when your snow budget out strips the talent budget I guess you have to go the best bargains are available.
I repeat CAR WRECK cannot look away.

 

[Imzadi]

I like watching the HM movies but the other day, not sure of the title, but the Christmas Promise was just too much for me this year. I know it is fairytales for adults but what are the odds she meets the hunky carpenter and then he has her bf old telephone number....lol just too much

I know what you mean. But, I consider it more along the lines of the time travel movies. Certain things have to line up in certain ways for them to occur.

Or like the Godwink movies, which are based on actual real life couples who say that certain coincidences happened for them to get together.

and the lead character always has the BEST RED COATS

Burning question: Bella, do you have a red coat?

 

[Imzadi]

I’ll be deleting this hot mess from my DVR…Thanks for the heads up! I really don’t like it when the lead is well, unlikeable

Again, that was my opinion. I'd rather use the time to watch Ryan in A Timeless Christmas.

I'm sure there are also people who watched Coyote Creek Chrstmas and think, "There was someone else in the movie besides Ryan Paevey??? I didn't notice."

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I know what you mean. But, I consider it more along the lines of the time travel movies. Certain things have to line up in certain ways for them to occur.

Or like the Godwink movies, which are based on actual real life couples who say that certain coincidences happened for them to get together.



Burning question: Bella, do you have a red coat?

Yes I DO but mine are from the Loft and Talbots and they are a poor substitute! The Hallmark ones are like 1500 to 4000 and I just cannot part with that much money because I do not live in Hallmark Land!!! We aren't talking about just any red coat or jacket. No, no, it needs to be a wrap semi cape collar midi. Trust me there are not a lot out there and what they do have are in the high end. This is not my first coat rodeo...I have searched for a long time.

To be honest, I watch mostly for the coats and leather glove combinations. The worst part is, if you do not start early in the season it is hard to find them because I get the feeling I am not the only one who wants them. LOL

ETA: One thing I noticed that last year the men all wore the same coat in many of the movies. Do you think they hire the talent by size? If you are not able to fit into a 42 long then you don't get the part. Do they blow all the money on the women's coats? Just a thought.

 

[Imzadi]

Yes I DO but mine are from the Loft and Talbots and they are a poor substitute! The Hallmark ones are like 1500 to 4000

Wow! I always wondered why some of the cuts of their cuts are so much better than any coats I can find. I love the ones that are tucked in at the waist then flair out in a pretty, pleated A-line fashion. Totally impractical for me. I'd be knocking over stuff in stores every time I turn and the coat swishes around. But, I love the look.

It looks similar to the red coat in this photo, only a shorter hem, like at the knees. I think Lacey work a coat like that.

ETA: One thing I noticed that last year the men all wore the same coat in many of the movies. Do you think they hire the talent by size? If you are not able to fit into a 42 long then you don't get the part. Do they blow all the money on the women's coats? Just a thought.

That could be why they cast the men they do.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Wow! I always wondered why some of the cuts of their cuts are so much better than any coats I can find. I love the ones that are tucked in at the waist then flair out in a pretty, pleated A-line fashion. Totally impractical for me. I'd be knocking over stuff in stores every time I turn and the coat swishes around. But, I love the look.

It looks similar to the red coat in this photo, only a shorter hem, like at the knees. I think Lacey work a coat like that.

That could be why they cast the men they do.

Yes I do love those coats. The red is stunning. However, I am a card carrying member of WWW (women without waists I started the foundation lol never had one never will) so I prefer the ones that are wraps but not flaired.

And YES the men they cast ...well we both know what you mean except for Ryan Paevey ...he was if I am not mistaken an Armani model....perhaps he is the gold standard and then the rest wear his hand me downs. LOL

 

[Imzadi]

I found the full movie of the second Christmas movie by the GAC Family Channel: The Great Christmas Switch starring Sarah Lind & Dillon Casey on YouTube.

I watched the whole thing. I really liked it. It starts out as the same story as Hallmark's Switched for Christmas with Candace Cameron Bure playing twin sisters. (One of my favorites from past years.) And just when I thought it was going to be a clone of that movie, it has several twists, turns and differences. So it is NOT the same movie, other than the twins switching.

I found The Great Christmas Switch to be smartly written and funny at times. It really kept my interest to the end. I liked Sarah Lind, who looks familiar, although I haven't seen a lot of her work. Probably saw just a couple of her movies on Lifetime.

The movie doesn't have the bright, shiny, polished look that Hallmark movies have. No beautiful red coats. (Sorry @Bella the Ball 360. They probably didn't have the budget for even $1500 coats. OR Hallmark already bought all the best red coats. ) And the cinematography & lighting look more like a Lifetime movie than Hallmark. And there is NO imposed list of the movie having to have the "s'mores moment," the "hot cocoa moment," and the "ice skating moment." Instead the movie got to have it's own organic moments. So, while it started out with a known Hallmark story, I thought it was different and more interesting.

A little heads up: (no real spoilers) there are two moments when the sound cuts out. It's when two songs play in the background that YouTube's music identifier finds and expects the YouTube poster to pay the royalties for. If they choose not to, then YouTube cuts the sound during those songs.

The first one is a scene in a coffee shop at the 33:20 mark. The sound drop out is only 30 seconds. The leads sit and discuss their favorite time period in history. The male lead chooses the roaring 20's/the Great Gatsby era.

The second time is at the end, at the start of the party. The silence is only about 45 seconds and the sound DOES come back for the important part. NO key dialogue is missing.

I think GAC will allow this movie to stay up because of those sound drop outs, the beginning credits are missing, and one can see some sloppy edits coming back from commercials. Plus, GAC may want people to see these films to build up their audience. If GAC Family keeps the quality at this level and gets better once they hit their stride, I'll definitely pay for the FrndlyTV app to watch the GAC Family channel.

You can go directly to the YouTube page by clicking here:
The Great Christmas Switch

Or watch it here:

.

 

[Imzadi]

I'm a sucker for Hallmark's Christmas movies about the military.

I just caught the tail end of Holiday for Heroes with Marc Blucas for the umpteenth time. Most non-Hallmark military movies seem to focus on the soldiers in combat. I really like how the Hallmark movies focus on the families at home. What they go through and what a real sacrifice it is for them while their loved one is away serving.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Imzadi....Your post reminded me of one more frequent theme....The Prince and the Pauper....twins switching for whatever reason. Gotta love it.

 

[Kennywood]

I know I wouldn't want to be the guy wearing a necktie in any of the Hallmark movies. They never get the girl.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Again, that was my opinion. I'd rather use the time to watch Ryan in A Timeless Christmas.

I'm sure there are also people who watched Coyote Creek Chrstmas and think, "There was someone else in the movie besides Ryan Paevey??? I didn't notice."

I just happen to have A Timeless Christmas in the DVR, too! I enjoyed it last year and decided it was worth another watch.