The Christmas Ball (2021)
Rated: PG
Genres: Drama, Family
Starring: Deidre Mullins, Nick Hendrix, and Caroline Langrishe
Synopsis: Clare visits her Aunt Bridget in England for the holidays and meets Liam, a handsome historian who is determined to promote Aunt Bridget’s manor as an historical landmark.
Review: I had a hard time getting past how old Clare appeared and how little she looked like a ballerina. Mullins’ acting was good I just found her to be an odd fit for the character. They also talk about historical status for the house but miss out on giving specifics for that. It’s an okay and predictable story but not super exciting.
Scoring: 2.5
Christmas Bedtime Stories (2022)
Rated: G
Genres: Drama, Family, Romance
Starring: Erin Cahill and Denzel Brooks
Synopsis: It tells the story of Danielle, who is left to raise her daughter after her husband goes MIA and is presumed dead. She begins to tell her daughter bedtime stories of her father.
Review: From the very beginning I was completely absorbed in this movie. I knew it would be a happy ending but what would that look like. Erin Cahill is superb, and I felt like I was going along for the ride with her. I went back and watched a second time once I knew the ending and I still loved it. I will say that this movie is very heavy emotionally and full of drama so if you’re looking for cute or sweet this isn’t for you.
Scoring: 5
Christmas Belle (2013)
Rated: PG
Genres: Drama, Family, Romance
Starring: Haylie Duff, Nicholas Gonzalez, Mark Famiglietti, and C. Thomas Howell
Synopsis: With her California hometown in the rear-view mirror, Belle heads north on business to facilitate the estate sale of a mansion. While the job is a dream, the client, Hunter Lowell, is not. But, as the two spend more time together, his icy demeanor begins to melt. Although their relationship is budding, Belle's long-time suitor, Tony, arrives, sending mixed signals to Hunter while adding chaos to the holiday season.
Review: A modern day take on Beauty and the Beast. Belle is still a book lover who cherishes the library and the Beast, aka Hunter, is angry and snapping at Belle and being encouraged by a staff member to foster the relationship. There's even the goofy father and Tony as Gaston. The story is good but it doesn’t keep a consistent pace. There were too many points where it was slow.
Scoring: 3
Christmas Belles (2019)
Rated: TV-14
Genres: Comedy, Family
Starring: Raven Goodwin, DomiNque Perry and Omar Gooding
Synopsis: Despite being successful in their careers, two 30-something BFFs never stop hearing that they both need a man before it's too late. When a handsome pastor arrives just in time to kick off the Christmas season, both ladies try to make a move-but as their hilarious attempts to one up each other keep growing, it will be up to their family to remind them what the holiday season is truly about.
Review: This is sometimes silly and sometimes serious. The relationship between the two friends is really special. Scenes like everyone at church eating the pie with marijuana could’ve been longer for more comedy. Still, it’s fun and moving.
Scoring: 3
Christmas Bells Are Ringing (2018)
Rated: G
Genres: Family, Romance
Starring: Emilie Ullerup and Josh Kelly
Synopsis: Samantha, a freelance photographer, returns to Cape Cod for the first time since the death of her mother years earlier. Having never been to the Cape during winter, she finds that it is a whole new experience compared to her many summers spent there.
Review: Although there are many parts of the plot that are familiar, they’re presented in a new and fresh way. I loved seeing Christy through Samantha’s lens. It’s sweet and lovely. I especially like the way they deal with loss and love in an honest but gentle way.
Scoring: 4
Christmas Beneath The Stars (2021)
Rated: G
Genres: Family, Romance
Starring: Vanessa Smythe and Steve Belford
Synopsis: Hannah Reed gets the assignment of a lifetime visiting a town called Christmas World in Alaska.
Review: It seems to be fairly low budget and the story has lots of speed bumps but overall, it’s a sweet story. A story of hope, family, and giving to others. There were one too many misunderstandings and secrets but the scenery and the characters are worth it.
Scoring: 3.5
A Christmas Blessing (2023)
Rated: G
Genres: Drama, Family
Starring: Lori Loughlin, James Tupper and Jesse Hutch
Synopsis: A TV chef is divinely inspired to take over her late aunt’s charity with help from a new friend and handsome neighbor.
Review: I wish they had played up the angel angle just a little more to add to the magic. Besides that, the spirit of Christmas and giving and kindness was palpable. It was very uplifting even though it had awkward moments. I’m not sure what the purpose of Tupper’s bad lack storyline was. I was also distracted by how similar Loughlin's role was to her role in Northpole.
Scoring: 3.5
A Christmas Blessing (2013)
Rated: PG
Genres: Drama, Family
Starring: Lisa Arrindell Anderson, Omari Hardwick, and Luenell
Synopsis: During the holidays, a man comforts a recently widowed woman and her four children.
Review: This movie is the perfect blend of sweet and heartfelt. The family is written perfectly with each person dealing with the grief and live in their own way. Earl is a complex and interesting character. I was a little sad when it ended because I was loving seeing them evolve.
Scoring: 3.5
The Christmas Bow (2020)
Rated: G
Genres: Family, Romance
Starring: Lucia Micarelli and Michael Rady
Synopsis: A violinist reconnects with an old family friend after an accident puts her music dreams on hold.
Review: The beautiful music alone was worth watching this movie for. The movie has lots of Christmas but the story is one of strength, resilience, and finding one’s inner strength while knowing when to gain strength from those who love us. It’s beautifully done and you can feel the emotions of the characters. Truly moving.
Scoring: 4
The Christmas Box (1995)
Rated: G
Genres: Drama, Family, Fantasy, Religion
Starring: Richard Thomas, Maureen O’Hara, and Annette O’Toole
Synopsis: A ski-shop owner reluctantly moves himself, his wife, and his daughter in to an estate as live-in help for an elderly widow. While struggling to balance his career and family life, he has recurring dreams about an angel.
Review: This is filled with drama and sentiment. It’s not a love or fluff story. The relationships are each special and Richard’s changes in priorities with Mary’s help make it worth seeing.
Scoring: 4
A Christmas Break (2020)
Rated: PG
Genres: Drama, Romance
Starring: Cindy Sampson and Steve Byers
Synopsis: An unexpected romance develops between a principal and an actor who is home for the holidays.
Review: While this is a nice story, it’s poorly cast. The actors are good but there’s a lack of chemistry between the romantic leads. The story doesn’t build on their past which is a missed opportunity for the present day. It’s really more about the kids and the school. The school secretary and English teacher were my favorites.
Scoring: 3
Christmas Break-In (2018)
Rated: PG
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Starring: Denise Richards, Danny Glover, and Cameron Seely
Synopsis: Izzy is an energetic 9-year-old. Overscheduled and running late, Izzy's parents can't pick her up on-time the last day of school before Christmas break. A blizzard complicates the matter, but not as much as a pair of bad guys who are freezing in an ice cream truck. The school's janitor is kidnapped by the intruders, and it's up to Izzy to save the day.
Review: While I think children will enjoy this slapstick comedy the most, I believe most adults may enjoy it as well. It’s a good family film. It doesn’t get too scary but it’s got many funny moments. Glover gives an outstanding performance, as always.
Scoring: 3
Christmas By Chance (2020)
Rated: PG
Genres: Romance
Starring: Winny Clark and Jacob Blair
Synopsis: The owner of a struggling gift shop is hired by a famous entrepreneur to organize the romantic marriage proposal for his socialite girlfriend.
Review: I love the ups and downs of their relationship. It’s obvious to everyone but William that the socialite is wrong, and Chance is right. Seeing him figure that out is a journey that’s very relatable. It’s just the right amount of sweet. Comet is a wonderful addition to the cast.
Scoring: 4
Christmas By Design (2023)
Rated: G
Genres: Family, Romance
Starring: Rebecca Dalton and Jonathan Keltz
Synopsis: A fashion designer learns what's most important in life when she joins a Christmas challenge to create a new holiday-themed collection.
Review: This movie was so much better than I expected it to be. I really enjoyed the characters and the Christmas spread throughout. It’s sweet but not corny.
Scoring: 3.5
Christmas By Starlight (2020)
Rated: G
Genres: Drama, Romance
Starring: Kimberley Sustad, Paul Campbell, and Rebecca Staab
Synopsis: A lawyer agrees to pose as the legal counsel for the heir to a development firm to spare a café.
Review: The plot seems to be based on the same premise as Two Weeks Notice yet they managed to change just enough to make it fresh and plenty Christmasy. Sustad and Campbell have amazing chemistry and even through they’ve been leads together before this didn’t seem like it. The underlying themes of adoption and letting down our walls were done in a way that were subtle yet added emotion. Lovely.
Scoring: 4