Happy Silly Season! Christmas is only TWO WEEKS away! Which means we are very quickly running out of time to do ALL the festive things - getting all the shopping done, singing all the Christmas carols, watching all the Christmas films, and baking all the festive goodies! I have been on an absolute Christmas film binge recently and I have been LOVING IT! I think one of my favourite things about the festive season is ALL the Christmas films that hit our screens - between all the new films and all the old favourites, you can’t say that there’s nothing to watch in December! Before diving into the classics and my favourites, I like to watch as many cheesy Hallmark and Lifetime films as possible, and this year I’ve watched some absolutely fabulous ones, even if some are uber corny and cheesy. With SO many Christmas films out there, it can be a little overwhelming about which films to watch, so here’s a round-up of twelve festive films to enjoy this silly season! Kicking things off with queer Christmas goodness is The Christmas Setup (2022). New York lawyer Hugo (Ben Lewis) is finally taking the holiday season off and returning home to Milwaukee for Christmas with his mum and brother, taking his college BFF Madelyn (Ellen Wong) home with him as she’s essentially part of the family. The moment he arrives home, he’s in for a jam-packed two weeks with his mum Kate, played by the fabulous Fran Drescher, doing ALL the festive activities, including setting up a winter wonderland with a Christmas train in the town’s historic train station. Within the first 24 hours of arriving, Hugo bumps into his old high school crush Patrick (Blake Lee), who was a couple of years ahead of him in school. The pair have an instant connection, but Hugo is aware of the fact he’s only back in town for two weeks and he doesn’t want to do long distance. Meanwhile, Hugo embarks on a quest to save the train station from being demolished, uncovering an surprising romance in the process. It’s fun, it’s sweet, and wonderfully festive, and was the best way to start my festive watching this year! In a classic ‘woman returns to her small country town’, A Country Christmas Harmony (2022) sees country music singer Chrissy (Brooke Elliott) return to her hometown of Cedar Pines to perform her Christmas Concert in an attempt to fix her image after a releasing a controversial Christmas song. It’s the last place she wants to be after leaving for Nashville a decade ago, especially because of the guy she left behind, breaking up with him in a letter on Christmas morning before jetting off to Nashville. Luke (Brandon Quinn) has been dealing with a lot over the past decade, including the death of his sister and stepping up to raise his nephew, who just happens to be a big Chrissy fan. Relationships aren’t on the agenda, especially with the woman who left him heartbroken. But Luke’s grandmother Pearl (Ann Walker) has other plans, and what she says goes. As Chrissy and Luke bond over writing her a new song, they can’t help but reconnect with their past and ponder about their future together. This one has a really beautifully Christmas song (which you can listen to here), and an overall sweet story. While we’re on the subject of music-related films, for the Elvis fans, you’ll want to check out Christmas At Graceland (2018), which follows Chicago-based executive Laurel (Kellie Pickler) who travels to her homtown Memphis with her daughter Emma (Claire Elizabeth Green) for Christmas to seal a deal to take-over the city’s oldest family-owned bank. While there, she bumps into former flame Clay (Wes Brown) who she used to perform with and who is now a local music promoter. Clay is organising the Christmas concert at Graceland, and when one of his acts pulls out, suggests that he and Laurel perform together once again. The film actually filmed at Graceland and features of Elvis’ Christmas carols alongside several southern versions of various Christmas songs. And if you can’t get enough of these characters, you can follow it up with Wedding at Graceland (2019), which also features to one and only Priscilla Presley! Or there’s Christmas At Graceland: Home for the Holidays (2019) if you need more festive Graceland goodness! For a classic ‘corporate man finally realises what’s important thanks to Christmas magic’, there’s Christmas Under The Stars (2019), which follows investment banker Nick (Jesse Metcalfe), who finds himself working at a local Christmas tree lot after being fired. Owner Clem (Clarke Peters) is marking his 30th and final year at the lot and sees that Nick needs something to point him in the right direction. Here he meets teacher and single mother Julie (Autumn Reeser) and her son Matt (Anthony Bolognese) who are about to celebrate their first Christmas without Julie’s father. To top it all off however, Julie is also struggling with paying off her father’s medical bills, while still trying to make the holiday magical for Matt. When Julie learns about Nick’s financial background, she realises that it’s people like him who are making her life a nightmare. The more time he spends away from the corporate world and getting to know Clem, Julie and Matt, Nick realises what truly matters in life, especially around the holidays. There’s a lot more than romance in this super sweet film with plenty of festive magic. For all the festive fun, you can’t go past Haul Out The Holly (2022). Emily (Lacey Chabert), who was raised by parents who were big into Christmas on a street that goes over-the-top every year, heads back home for the holidays after breaking up with her ass of a boyfriend. Only when she gets home, despite being invited by her parents, she finds them heading to Florida to hunt for a new place to live. But her parents have a whole other surprise for her - they have enlisted the rest of Evergreen Lane and the HOA to rope Emily into all the festivities. Reconnecting with former neighbour Jared, the current president of the HOA (Wes Brown), he is very persistent with getting Emily involved in all things Christmas on Evergreen Lane. It’s not the chill Christmas with zero obligations back home that she was hoping for, but soon Emily is getting involved with all the nosey neighbours and she comes to realise the importance of Evergreen Lane being so invested in Christmas. With so many holiday shenanigans, made all the more hilarious thanks to Ned (Stephen Tobolowsky) and Pamela (Melissa Peterman), this is more than just your classic Hallmark cheesy romance. Although it is still a bit cheesy. A sequel, Haul Out The Holly: Lit Up (2023) hit screens during Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas lineup this year, so be sure to check that out too! If you love films with adorable dogs, then you can’t go past A Christmas Stray (2021), which follows corporate-focused Ethan (Andra Fuller) becoming stranded in the festive town of Beacon Hill three days out from Christmas after a stray dog causes him to run off the road. With a business deal to close before the end of the year, Ethan is determined to get out of town as quickly as possible, but things just aren’t going around and he can’t seem to shake this stray dog. Enter local vet, the free-spirited Foster (Rhyon Nicole Brown), who offers to find the dogs owner or a new home. Despite loving the magic of Christmas as a child, Ethan sees the holiday as excessive and a waste of money, but the more he spends with Foster and learning about how everyone came to Beacon Hill, he begins to not only rediscover the joy of Christmas but also the beauty of the town. It’s a cheesy Christmas romance with a cute af dog, all set in a gorgeous Christmas town! It’s time for Christmas in New York in Hotel For The Holidays (2022), where we get a glimpse into the lives of the staff of Hotel Fontaine in the lead-up to Christmas. Much-loved hotel manager Georgia (Madelaine Petsch) is setting her sights on establishing a new modern hotel, teaming up with hotel guest and recently abdicated prince Raymond (Max Lloyd-Jones). With only five days until Christmas, it’s all systems go at the hotel for the rest of the staff - Conceirge Kiki (Jamison Belushi) is planning a Twelve Days of Christmas themed Mingle Ball; Chef Luke (Mena Massoud) is working up the courage to tell Georgia how he feels; and handyman Milton (Neil Crone) and bar manager Florence (Jayne Eastwood) are dancing around their crush on one another. Meanwhile popstar Pandora (Kayleigh Shikanai) pretends to be a normal person to better connect with her fans, and AJ’s (Morgan David Jones) dog Dickens plays matchmaker to help his owner get back into dating. There’s a lot going on, but the magic of Hotel Fontaine at Christmas brings all these people and stories together for a really fun festive film. For some summer fun at Christmas, there’s Campfire Christmas (2022), from Hallmark’s Christmas in July line-up last year. Camp Greenwood is beloved for it’s Christmas in July celebrations every year, and when Lily (Iris Quinn) and Frank (Fred Henderson) decide to sell the camp, they plan one final Christmas In July for camp alumni - a week full of fun festive activities to catch-up with old camp friends. Aspiring author Peyton (Tori Anderson), whose parents own the camp, is excited to reunite with the old gang - Janice (Caitlin Stryker), Dave (Matt Hamilton), and Beckett (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman), although not so keen to reconnect with ex-boyfriend Thomas (Corbin Bleu). It’s like no time has passed for the group as they reminisce on the summers spent at camp and how Camp Greenwood has influenced their life since. Friendships are reaffirmed, relationships are strengthened, and romance is in the air for one final summer of camp fun. This is such a fun film with friendship at it’s core, and makes for a nice switch-up to the more winter-themed Christmas films. If you’re looking for an Aussie twist to your Christmas viewing there’s Jones Family Christmas (2023), following the Jones family as they reunite for Christmas. Matriach Heather (Heather Mitchell) is determined to have the perfect family Christmas since everyone is coming home, but things aren’t going to be smooth sailing. Eldest daughter Christina (Ella Scott Lynch) is coming home from the UK with Sri Lankan-born husband Mishan (Dushan Philips) and son William (Anay Gadre), middle child Alex (Max McKenna) is still overcoming the breakup with her girlfriend, and youngest Danny (Nicholas Denton) rocks up with new partner Felicity (Tahlee Fereday), throwing everything into unchartered territory. Everyone is habouring a secret, and as Christmas progresses, these secrets start to bubble to the surface. Throw in the potential danger of an approaching bushfire, and you’ve got yourself a drama-filled Christmas Day with the family. Aussie Christmas films are few and far between, so I love when we get a new one every so often, filled with everything to love about an Australian Christmas in the heart of summer. Here’s hoping Stan never stops producing local Christmas films because they are fabulous. Another Autumn Reeser film for the list is A Glenbrooke Christmas (2020)! On the cusp of stepping into the role of CEO, heiress Jessica Morgan (Autumn Reeser) decides to take a much-earned break for the holidays before her hectic life really begins. Returning to the small Colorado town of Glenbrooke for the first time in 30 years, she uses the peace and quiet to reconnect with the memories of her parents, hiding her famous family connections in the process. Not two minutes into town, she almost runs over firefighter Kyle Buchanan (Antonio Cupo), and it’s far from the best first impression, only made worse when she accidentally smokes out her cottage and the owner calls the fire department. But small-town life keeps bringing them together, and it’s not long before they’re growing closer. Jessica’s main reason for returning to Glenbrooke is to hear the ringing of the church bells on Christmas Eve, a tradition that brings people far and wide to make a wish on the ringing bells. Unfortunately, the bells are in need of repair and it will cost a fortune to get in done before the big day. Risking exposing her identity and hurting Kyle, Jessica organises a fundraiser to ensure this much-loved Glenbrooke tradition continues for another year. It’s got all the fun coziness of a small town at Christmas was a super sweet romance. For all the crazy festive family fun, a must-watch is definitely newbie Candy Cane Lane (2023), starring comedy legend Eddie Murphy! The Christmas season isn’t off to the best start for the Carver family with Chris getting laid off from his corporate job. With his kids growing up and two about to leave the nest, he feels like this is the family’s last Christmas under the one roof. With three days left until Christmas, it’s announced that the annual Candy Cane Lane decorated house competition now has a $100,000 prize up for grabs, putting Chris into overdrive to create something spectacular, and more than just his own hand-crafted wooden decorations. While out scouring for decorations with youngest daughter Holly (Madison Thomas), they come across ‘Kringles’, a mysterious Christmas decoration pop-up owned by Pepper (Jillian Bell) with everything magical needed to create the ultimate 12 Day Of Christmas display. With a little Christmas magic however, his wooden display soon turns very real, twelve leaping lords and all. In order to not become another ornament in Pepper’s Christmas display, Chris must find the golden rings, which are attached to the other gifts in the 12 Days of Christmas, before 8pm Christmas Eve. It’s an epic and hilarious adventure that is not to be missed! And finally, if you enjoyed The Christmas House (2020), then you have to check out the sequel The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls (2021)! After bringing the Mitchell family together, the Christmas House is about to test the entire Mitchell family as brothers Mike (Robert Buckley) and Brandon (Jonathan Bennett) go head-to-head in a televised Christmas special to have the ultimate Christmas House. On Team Mike is girlfriend Andi (Ana Ayora), whom Mike is planning on proposing to, and her son Noah (Mattia Castrillo), as well as Mike’s dad Bill (Treat Williams). On Team Brandon is husband Jake (Brad Harder) and mother Phylis (Sharon Lawrence). Tensions rise as the final day of the competition approaches, and the real reasons why Mike and Brandon are taking the competition so seriously come to a head - Brandon living in his TV star brother’s shadow, and Mike worrying about Noah’s dad Zane (Matthew James Dowden) returning to the picture. With all the heart and soul of the first film, this is a fantastically festive film with the importance of family at it’s core Now it’s time to get back to watching and continue making a dent in the forever long list of films I want to get to before Santa arrives! If you want even more film recommendations, be sure to check out my blog posts from 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022!
What films have you watched so far this year? And what are some of your all-time favourites? Happy Watching! Victoria :) |
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