The Christmas Waltz (2020)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp

Synopsis: A woman makes an unexpected connection with her dance instructor after her storybook Christmas wedding is canceled.

Review: While not really about Christmas and having little to no mention of it, it is a lovely story about breaking out of life’s and personal expectations and becoming yourself. If you like ballroom dancing there’s lots of that for you, too. It’s mostly a romance. And a lovely one. 

Scoring: 3

Christmas Wander (2017)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Family, Religion

Starring: Vanessa Simoes and Jody Mitchell

Synopsis: Amelia is forced to interact with her father, Fred who abandoned her as a child and now has Alzheimer's.

Review: The beginning was really slow and the acting was subpar.  By the end, I was interested and liking the story.  It just shouldn’t take that long to get sucked into a story.  It also doesn’t feature Christmas other than ending on Christmas.  It’s okay but it’s hard to sit through the beginning to appreciate the end.

Scoring: 2

A Christmas Wedding (2006)
Rated: PG
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Romance
Starring: Sarah Paulson, Eric Mabius, Dean Cain, and Reagan Pasternak
Synopsis: Emily and Ben met on Christmas day now plan to marry on this Christmas day almost two years later. Then Emily must attend work, and leaves the wedding plans up to Ben. Problems arise when procrastinator Ben tries to deal with bridesmaids dresses and dyed shoes, while perfectionist Emily is out of her mind with worry that her perfect day will be anything but. However, when a snow storm threatens to strand Emily at her work, she realizes that the only thing that matters is making it home to be with Ben and their Christmas wedding.
Review:  To me this movie seems very slow and a bit boring. Watching the groom flounder as he tries to plan the wedding and seeing the bride trying to get home isn’t enough to save the movie. 
Scoring: 2.5

A Christmas Wedding Date (2012)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Marla Sokoloff, Chris Carmack, Catherine Hicks, George Wendt, Vanessa Evigan, and David Deluise

Synopsis: After being fired, Rebecca goes back to her old home town to attend her friend's wedding on Christmas Eve and visit her mother. But when she tries to return home she finds she must relive Christmas Eve over and over until she gets it right.

Review:  Another movie based on Groundhog Day. It’s interesting  to see Rebecca learn about what’s important and find happiness but some of the repeated activities get tiresome.  

Scoring: 3

 

Christmas Wedding Planner (2017)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Jocelyn Hudon, Stephen Huszar, Kelly Rutherford, and Joey Fatone

Synopsis: Wedding planner, Kelsey Wilson, is about to have her big break: planning her beloved cousin's lavish and exclusive wedding. Everything is going smoothly until Connor McClane, a devilishly handsome private investigator, shows up and turns Kelsey's world upside-down. Hired by a secret source, Connor quickly disrupts the upcoming nuptials. 

Review:  I really enjoyed it. It’s a true romantic comedy. It’s not really about planning a wedding, rather it’s about the people and the situations. I laughed, I was moved, and I was engrossed in the story.  They even managed a surprise at the end. I loved it muchly (you’ll get that if you watch it.)

Scoring: 4

 

Christmas Wedding Runaway (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Family, Romance

Starring: Candice Mausner, Harmon Walsh, Joseph Cannata , Sarah Mitich, and

Synopsis: Maggie Mason, a runaway bride, dos some soul-searching when she’s trapped in a snowed-in cabin with her grandmother and an old flame at Christmas.

Review: It’s a little cheesy and the story is a little superficial at points.  That being said, I love the relationship between the sisters.  Nana alone is worth watching the movie.  It’s light and subtley romantic but it’s fun.

Scoring: 3

A Christmas Wedding Tail (2011)
Rated: PG
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Starring: Jennie Garth, Nikki Cox, Brad Rowe, David O’Donnell, Catherine Hicks, and Tom Arnold
Synopsis: It's love at first sight when Rusty the Labrador and Cheri the Poodle meet one day while jogging in the park. Even better- their owners fall in love too! But love is more complicated for the people, Susan and Jake, who marry and attempt to join together their large family of five children. With kids fighting and a household in complete chaos, it's up to the dogs to keep the family together.
Review:  Very sweet story about two families attempting to blend with the help of their dogs. I liked the realism of the children’s issues as well as the parents’ trepidations. It was done in a way that wasn’t too serious and made me smile. Parents and children in blended families will relate to this story.
Scoring: 4

The Christmas Wife (1988)

Rated: NR

Genre: Drama

Starring: Jason Robards and Julie Harris

Synopsis: A widower not wanting to face his first Christmas alone responds to an ad for "social introductions".

Review:  This isn’t a feel-good love story. It addresses loss, grieving, and life. It’s definitely not for children. If you’re up for a drama you’ll like it. 

Scoring: 3

 

A Christmas Winter Song (2019)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Family, Musical

Starring: Ashanti and Stan Shaw

Synopsis: Clio, a Christmas shop owner, forms a special musical bond with Fred, a former jazz singer. Having just lost her own father, Clio help Fred reconnect with his own daughter and grandchildren, just in time for the town’s annual Christmas pageant. 

Review: What a special movie. The relationship between Fred and Clio is so beautiful. They help each other heal and move on. The music adds to the charm of the film. Very moving. 

Scoring: 4

A Christmas Wish (2011)
Rated: PG
Genres: Drama, Family, Religion, Romance
Starring: Kristy Swanson, Tess Harper, K.C. Clyde, and Edward Hermann 
Synopsis: The owner of a diner helps a homeless woman and her children during the holidays. 
Review:  Another annual must see for me. This is the story of a mother who will do anything for her children. She has true moral character and is inspiring. The children add a special dimension to the movie. The support of the town is moving. A strong Christian message. 
Scoring: 5

A Christmas Wish (2019)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Family, Romance

Starring: Hilario Burton, Tyler Hilton, and Pam Grier

Synopsis: Maddie slips in a wish for her sister Faith to experience true love for the first time. Next day Faith meets seemingly perfect Andrew, but is he really the one for her?

Review: Silly and charming, this movie has lots of Christmas magic. The characters are sweet and funny and some of the wish predicaments made me actually laugh out loud. The children and their love of art was icing on the cake. 

Scoring: 4

A Christmas Wish (2021)

Rated: NR

Genres: Family

Starring: Noree Victoria, Nadia Simms, Blue Kimble, and Javon Johnson

Synopsis: A single mother asks for a miracle for her and her daughter during Christmas.

Review: In the beginning, the ex-husband was basically verbally abuse to the ex-wife. He refused to pay child support and was attacking her for asking for it. By the end they’re all back together as a happy family. I don’t think there was enough done to get from the accusations and abuse to happily ever after.  Still cute enough to watch. 

Scoring: 3

A Christmas Wish in Hudson (2022)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Alex Rinehart and Rib Hollis

Synopsis: Lori really needs a break for Christmas. When she sees Patrick Jacobs, a widowed firefighter from Hudson, Wisconsin on a reality cooking show, she feels a strong attraction and decides to take a shot at love, but she's not the only one.

Review: This is a typical romcom movie but it has a special feel to it. It’s so sweet and has lots of Christmas. It seems like a movie you could watch over and over again and love it more each time. 

Scoring: 3.5

Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Jill Wagner, Matthew Davis and Donna Mills

Synopsis: Weeks before Christmas, Abbey is hired to decorate the estate of businessman Nick. But to do her job well, she must figure out how to break down the wall between her and Nick, all while keeping the holiday spirit alive.

Review: This movie has all the pieces of a wonderful romance.  It has a love triangle, an adorable child, a single mom, and making life choices.  It’s sweet with a good ending.  If you like romance, this is for you.

Scoring: 3.5

A Christmas Without Snow (1980)

Rated: NR

Genres: Drama, Musical

Starring: Michael Learned, John Houseman, and James Cromwell

Synopsis: A divorced woman moves to San Francisco from Omaha after her divorce. Leaving her young son with his grandmother while trying to build her life again, she joins the choir of a local church. A tough, curmudgeonly, perfectionist choirmaster, is hired and attempts to whip the choir into shape for a Christmas concert. The choir group overcomes issues including ageism, racism, teen angst, small group divas, middle-aged relationships, single parenthood, the plight of struggling low income churches, and replacing the old with the new.

Review:  While I found the movie to be quite slow, I’m glad I stuck with it. The story, shown in 1980, still rings true today. There are so many situations that make the movie relatable.

Scoring: 3

 

A Christmas Witness (2021)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Arielle Kebbel and Colin Egglesfield

Synopsis: Federal marshal Jessie must keep mob informant and lady’s man, Dean, safe until he testifies the day after Christmas, but the scorned mob boss’ wife, a case of mistaken identity, an overly amorous mayor, a pugnacious hit man, and a hide-out town bubbling over with holiday cheer derail the mission.

Review: I love Arielle Kebbel but even she couldn’t save this movie. It’s just bad. Most of the characters are more like caricatures, and absurd ones. The story is stupid. Even the romance doesn’t work. 

Scoring: 1

Christmas Wonderland (2018)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Emily Osment and Ryan Rottman

Synopsis: Heidi, an artist, left her small town to make it in New York but became a gallery curator. When she goes home to care for her niece and nephew, she must work with her ex to plan the high school dance. Then Heidi must decide which life to choose. 

Review:  An endearing story that has all the emotions of a Hallmark movie but a story that is fresh. The actors and scenery are wonderful. I truly enjoyed it. 

Scoring: 4

 

Christmas Yule Blog (2020)

Rated: PG

Genre: Romance

Starring: Sara Canning, Zak Santiago, and Heather Hawthorn Doyle

Synopsis: A social media travel writer is sent to Carte De Amor to cover a century-old Christmas parade.

Review: I really enjoyed seeing Christmas traditions and celebrations that aren’t traditional.  My favorite was the ugly Christmas shawl instead of sweater.  The romance and story were okay but it was missing some spice to keep it interesting.

Scoring: 3