Each movie listed includes: 

(1) Title (2) Rating (3) Genres (4) Starring (5) Synopsis (6) My Personal Review (7) Scoring 1-5

 

 

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For The Love of Christmas (2016)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Family

Starring: Jazsmin Lewis and Trae Ireland

Synopsis: The movie follows Bryson, a devoted husband with a strong desire to have children, and Sunday, a once loving wife, who at some point has lost touch with peace, love and the gift of giving. But when a homeless family appears on their doorstep, bearing nothing but the true meaning of love, Sunday's heart is reacquainted with the vows that once held their marriage together.

Review: At first, I found the movie to be quite slow and boring.  I am glad I stuck with it.  Sunday first seemed to heartless and selfish and Bryson appeared to only care about his wants.  Eventually we learn why Sunday feels the way she does and we see them come together.  By about halfway through I was completely invested in the characters and the story.  I won’t ruin it but there is a happy ending.

Scoring: 3

Forever Christmas aka Mr. 365 (2018)

Rated: PG

Genre: Romance

Starring: Chelsea Hobbs, Christopher Russell, Matthew Anderson, and Jill Morrison

Synopsis: When workaholic reality TV producer Sophia starts working on a holiday-reality show about Will, a handsome man who celebrates Christmas every day of the year, she finds herself falling for her mysterious new star.

Review: I’m not sure why they waited two years to release this.  It’s such a cute film.  I loved all the decorations, especially the gifts that appear to be floating in midair.  Will’s spirit of giving and loving others is the spirit of Christmas.  The story is less about Will helping Sophia love Christmas as much as helping her find her voice and be true to herself.  Worth a watch.

Scoring: 3

Forgotten Christmas (2019)

Rated: G

Genre: Family, Fantasy

Synopsis: The story of a tiny village like any. But in this little village they tended to have a bad memory. They were just so forgetful. Over and over. This year they are forgetting it's time for Christmas.

Review: Firstly, this is done in another language with English spoken over it.  If that bothers you, you won’t enjoy it.  Secondly, it makes no sense.  The people of the village seem to forget and remember things randomly.  For example, the father slept in the cupboard because he forgot about the bedroom but no one forgot about the missing chainsaw.  Santa also lives in a tree that they all can get to.  It’s sweet enough for children but adults may be bored.

Scoring: 2

Four Christmases (2008)
Rated: PG-13
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Mary Steenburgen, Robert Duvall, Kristin Chenoweth, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, Jon Favreau, Dwight Yokum, Tim McGraw, and Katy Nixon 
Synopsis: Brad and Kate have been together three years, in love, having fun, doing all sorts of things together with no intention of marriage or children. Christmas morning, they're on their way to Fiji, having told their two sets of divorced parents that they're off to do charity work. Through a fluke, they have no choice but to visit each of their four idiosyncratic parents. As the day progresses, Brad and Kate remember growing up, each learns more about the other, and Kate realizes that her life may not be as good as it could be. Do they know each other well enough to weather the storms families bring?
Review:  This movie has so many funny moments, until it doesn’t, then it ends on a funny note. Every family member is their own unique brand of kooky.  Just when you think you know what to expect, they throw you a new one.  Definitely worth watching for all the surprising moments. 
Scoring: 3
Four Christmases And A Wedding (2017)
Rated: TV-14
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Starring: Arielle Kebbel, Corey Sevier, Markie Post, and Judge Reinhold
Synopsis: When event planner Chloe is hired to plan the local Christmas Festival, she is beyond thrilled to embrace the challenge. Professionally, everything is going great, but much to the dismay of her mother, Chloe confesses she has given up on ever finding Mr. Right. That all changes the night of the opening of the festival when she meets Evan. The two begin a whirlwind romance, but as Christmas Day nears, Chloe learns that Evan is being transferred overseas for work. What follows is three more Christmases where Chloe and Evan cross paths at the annual festival, but each year something - or someone - stands in the way of true love. Will a touch of Santa's magic on their fourth Christmas Eve finally bring them together?
Review:  I always begin a Christmas movie expecting a happy ending. This one was unpredictable and had me questioning how they’d get there. Seeing the changes each year was quite interesting and fun.  Delightful. 
Scoring: 3.5

Franklin’s Magic Christmas (2001)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Noah Reid

Synopsis: Franklin learns about responsibility as he encounters disaster, adventure and some magical reindeer.

Review: I loved this.  I had never seen any Franklin shows or movies so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  The family is just like your average human family except instead of snowmen they make snow turtles and instead of fruitcake they have fruit fly cake.  I was completely engaged with the story and the characters.  This is one children will love and adults will enjoy watching with them.

Scoring: 4

Fred Claus (2007)
Rated: PG
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamotti, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, Rachel Weisz, Miranda Richardson, Kathy Bates, and Ludacris
Synopsis: Fred Claus, Santa's bitter older brother, is forced to move to the North Pole to help Santa and the elves prepare for Christmas in exchange for cash.
Review:  I don’t like the premise that Christmas can be canceled and/or Santa fired in any movie as it questions the true magic of it all.  However, seeing elves as relatable to us, and Santa’s bitter brother who’s trying to do better,  makes for lots of fun. 
Scoring: 3

Friends & Family Christmas (2023)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Humberly González and Ali Liebert

Synopsis: Overwhelmed by Christmas events and a surprise visit from her parents, photographer Dani asks lawyer Amelia for help. Pretending to date is the perfect solution until real feelings develop.

Review: The idea of two people pretending to be a couple and then becoming one isn’t new. The couple being two women and the diversity of the cast is new. The way they wove in art and work/life balance was interesting. The whole movie felt organic and natural. 

Scoring: 3.5

Frozen (2013)

Rated: PG

Genres: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical

Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, and Robert Pine

Synopsis: When the newly-crowned Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister Anna teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a snowman to change the weather condition.

Review: I don’t agree that this movie is a Christmas movie. It is more of a winter movie. It does have great music, a charming story, and fun characters like the rock trolls and Olaf. This is one children’s movie that many adults will like.

Scoring: 4

A Frozen Christmas (2016)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Starring: Nathaniel Rose

Synopsis: A Frozen Christmas is the perfect way to get the family in the Holiday spirit with the most beloved animated Christmas characters, including Santa Claus, the Snowman, Elves, Santa's Reindeer, and more. Gather around and listen as Santa and his young elf pals narrate time honored Christmas story classics such as, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Little Girls' Christmas and more.

Review:  It’s nice listening to the stories but the animation doesn’t show the stories. It’s like listening to a book while watching a screen saver. Nice for kids but adults should avoid unless you want to listen while doing something else. 

Scoring: 2

 

A Frozen Christmas 2 (2017)

Rated: TV-Y

Genres: Animation, Fantasy, Musical

Starring: Kj Schrock

Synopsis: This Christmas Santa invites many of his friends to the holiday party of the century.

Review: If you’re an adult looking for a Christmas movie, do not watch this.  For more than 15 minutes we see Santa’s floating sleigh with what appears to be a reindeer (but looks like it could be a moose) riding with him passing by dancing characters including a gingerbread man, an elf, a nutcracker, and a squirrel.  All with the same few notes and dance steps repeating over and over while their facial expressions remain frozen.  I was ready to run away it was making me so crazy.  Then we come to a horse telling a Christmas story of Jesus granting generous children a Christmas tree.  It continues with more.  I think very young children may enjoy this and even dance along.

Scoring: 2

A Frozen Christmas 3 (2018)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy, Musical

Starring: Alfred Hill

Synopsis: Santa’s reindeer get the holiday season started by singing their favorite songs.

Review: Another one for young children.  This is better than A Frozen Christmas 2.  Children can sing and dance along with the characters to songs like “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”, “Deck The Halls”, and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”.  This is yet another movie adults wouldn’t enjoy but will entertain young ones.

Scoring: 2

Fuggeddabout Christmas (2022)

Rated: TV-14

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy

Starring: Justina Valentine

Synopsis: Justina Valentine hosts a Christmas dinner that brings together her Italian American family, her friends, and her boyfriend, all while reality tv crews are filming. 

Review: This may be the worst, most ridiculous movie ever. It was excruciating to sit through. Save your time. 

Scoring: 1

A Furry Little Christmas (2021)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Jonathan Stoddard and Kristi McKamie

Synopsis: A doctor recreates a New York City Christmas in a small Vermont town for a big city veterinarian.

Review: The ending seems obvious from the start. The whole back and forth is a little silly but all the Christmas fun they have is amazing. From seeing kids do The Nutcracker to watching a movie in the barn. 

Scoring: 3