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Reviews
Christmas in Notting Hill (2023)
Enjoyable
This is one of the more enjoyable Hallmark movies released so far this year. The leads were charming. The situations are low-key droll. The dry humor seems very British to me.
For instance, the heroine Georgia (Sarah Ramos) obliviously ignores all the signs that Graham (William Moseley) is famous, including the literal signs with his picture on them.
Later, Graham tells Georgia that the bag from the jewelry store was for his brother, who was about to propose to his girlfriend. Don't tell anyone, though, because it's a secret. Georgia responds, oh, who am I going to tell? She says she doesn't know the brother or his girlfriend (aka her sister).
And the Secret Santa hijinks, which I won't describe here.
Other positives:
I liked the way they describe a panto. Spot on. I think there's usually a bit more of a plot to it.
I liked the supporting cast, especially the brother (Peter Rothwell) and the mother (Kate O'Toole). The fathers (Ford and Mullen) are funny together.
Naughty & Nice (2014)
Likeable and fluffy
A likeable, fluffy movie. The leads, Sandy (H. Duff) and Pepper (T. Jones), are fun to watch. I know I've seen Duff in other shows, but I couldn't tell you what they were. I don't think I've ever seen Jones before, because I'd have remembered that unusual first name.
You've probably seen this plot before. Big city, sarcastic, radio personality goes to a small Hallmark-esque town and butts heads with the pretty small town radio psychologist he has to work with. Some witty banter is to be had. Believe it or not, they fall in love.
Maureen McCormick is the standout performer in this, as the heroine's widowed mother. Whenever she's onscreen, everything is 250% more fun to watch.
Personally, I didn't care for the fan boy, Jonah, but I appreciated why the character was there; without him, there's less com in this romcom.
The other man, Cole, isn't given much to do except, as Jonah says, make Sandy seem dull whenever she's with him; pretty much a thankless role for the clean-cut actor.
Out of curiosity, what was the point of the parrot in the studio? I thought its dead eyes were creepy.
Haul Out the Holly (2022)
Reindeer are a handful at this time of night
After watching the movie a second time and reading the user reviews, I am a little surprised. Here are my questions:
1. Why are so many reviews of this movie so negative? This is not a 1 star movie.
2. Conversely, why are so many reviews of this movie so over-the-top positive? It's definitely not a 10 star movie either. This is a middle of the road, slightly funnier but much less heartwarming movie from Hallmark.
3. Why is there going to be a sequel to this?
4. What do people have against Canadian actors?
This is an OK movie. It's got the com usually missing from Hallmark rom-coms. Melissa Peterman is perfect for this. Wes Brown is funnier than usual as the leading man. Lacey Chabert is as charming as ever. And there cameos and inside jokes made me smile.
Is it a classic? No. Is it a movie about the true meaning of Christmas? Again, no. Is it funny? Yes.
Among the quotes from this movie:
(After winning a neighborhood cookie contest) "Victory gives me purpose."
"Chad Kroeger was my everything. I mean, that hair."
"I'm here now. Just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him to be the most perfect Santa Claus."
"Even the biggest jerk is no match for the Christmas spirit."
Take Me Back for Christmas (2023)
This was never meant to be forever.
This movie is very much centered on the heroine, Renée. Both of the leads were charismatic, and I appreciated that the elf wasn't an old white guy.
The heroine was a bit of a wimp in the workplace, in both scenarios. That seems especially unfortunate in the fantasy, where she is supposed to be an über-successful businesswoman.
For much of the movie, this very fact frustrated me. However, I think it was necessary in order for the ending to have all the emotional resonance that it did.
Several recent Hallmark movies have been, shall we say, cluttered with multiple couples and several subplots. This script does not have that issue; since we always follow Renée, the plot is very unified.
The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
Happiness, Miss Piggy
I freely admit I am not impartial. I grew up with the Muppets, especially on The Muppet Show.
Of all the Muppet movies, this is my absolute favorite. (It must have played a lot on HBO, I think.) There is a whisker-thin plot. Don't worry about it too much. That's not what this movie is for.
Watching it now, there's just so much to like. The bike scene. The motorcycle scene. Charles Grodin and Kermit vying for the affection of Miss Piggy. Dame Diana Rigg as the prickly fashion designer; her creative process is quite entertaining. John Cleese, trying to stay in control while in the middle of a home invasion, ladies and gentlemen. Oh my, the puns. The elaborate musical numbers, including that water ballet. And the Muppet, Beauregard. (Did I mention the puns?)
Seeing this movie always makes me happy. That's what it's all about.
Welcome to Valentine (2023)
Valentine
In the commercials, Welcome to Valentine looks like a road trip movie, which morphs into a "let's put on a show" movie. And that's all true. But this movie seems to want to be a lot of different things.
The hero is poised to take over the family business, while the heroine wants her artistic career to begin with the help of an influential gallery owner. Within the first ten minutes, the hero causes the heroine to spill food on that gallery owner. She loses her cater-waiter job and her apartment. (Calgon, take me away!)
Oh, if only she had a way to get back to Nebraska. The hero has a car, and we're off.
With all these well-worn tropes, a lot of the plot (and the dialogue) is going to be predictable. Follow your heart. The show must go on.
I liked it. The leads were attractive and they had good chemistry together. Is this the best movie ever? Of course not. But it's cute and sweet and exactly what I expected. I don't think that's a bad thing.