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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A Golden Christmas (2009)
Rated: NR
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Starring: Andrea Roth, Nicholas Brendon, Bruce Davison, Elisa Donovan, Alley Mills, and Jason London
Synopsis: Jessica is a federal lawyer who returns to her parent's home for Christmas. When she discovers that the house where she grew up was sold to a stranger, Jessica look for ways to buy it back again. She tries to stop Michael from selling his home so she could buy her parents house, but she also doesn't remember who he really is.
Review:   Very endearing movie. A seemingly magical dog brings two people together. It sounds strange but I adored how the story unfolded. As usual, the children and the dogs steal the show. It is a little corny and has some slow moments but what an ending.
Scoring: 4
A Golden Christmas 2 AKA 3 Holiday Tails (2011)
Rated: PG
Genres: Comedy, Family, Romance
Starring: Julie Gonzalo, Kelly Stables, K.C. Clyde, Bruce Davison, and Alley Mills
Synopsis: Old flames reunite and sparks are reignited at Christmastime in Florida, but the man is already engaged to another woman so a recently retired couple try to intervene with the help of their dogs.
Review:  A continuation of A Golden Christmas , this movie picks up with the Wrights at their retirement condo. All the relationships are intriguing, the mischief of the dogs is adorable, and Lisa's niece is so entertaining.  It's no surprise the children and dogs steal their scenes.  The awkwardness of Lisa and David's run-ins, courtesy of the dogs, could be awkward but are done with humor.  It's a light relaxing movie.
Scoring: 3
A Golden Christmas 3 AKA Home For Christmas (2012)
Rated: NR
Genres: Comedy, Family, Romance
Starring: Shantal VanSanten, Rob Mayes, Nikki Deloach, and Mark Famiglietti 
Synopsis: Bobby returns from two years in the Navy ready to settle down in Belmont Shores. Heather's dream is to be a director on Broadway but for now a community theater production of Dickens' Christmas Carol, must be enough. But it is after all Christmas and strange things can happen with the help of three golden retrievers and a few compassionate yet pushy friends that will bring together the two unsuspecting childhood sweethearts.
Review:  This isn’t a true continuation of the second movie. Myra, the niece from the second movie is the only character carried over. It also has mischievous dogs but the plot feels like a watered-down version of the other movies. It's like the priority was making a story around the dogs and the rest of story was second.  It’s okay but not great. 
Scoring: 2.5

Golden Winter (2012)

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Family

Starring: Shannon Elizabeth and Haylie Duff

Synopsis: A boy befriends a litter of homeless Golden Retrievers. Together, they help stop a bank robbery just in time for Christmas.

Review:  Yes. It’s just like all the other “dogs save the day” silly Christmas movies. Children should love the talking dogs and the adventures. Adults will probably only want to see it if they’re watching it as a family. 

Scoring: 2

 

Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas! (2011)

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Family

Starring: Bridgit Mendler, Leigh-Allyn Baker,

Synopsis: Idiocy strikes when a woman and her daughter get separated from their family during the holidays.

Review: This movie is probably best enjoyed if you’ve watched the television series and are familiar with the characters.  It’s not quite as good as the series but it’s enjoyable family viewing.  It’s got the silly and sweet moments that you’d expect.  Adults who enjoy Disney will probably like it.

Scoring: 3

Good Morning Christmas! (2020)

Rated: G

Genre: Romance

Starring: Marc Blucas and Alison Sweeney

Synopsis: Two competing TV hosts travel to a small town over Christmas, and while pretending to get along for the sake of appearances, they slowly discover there is more to each other than they thought.

Review: I liked the way the main characters slowly let down their guard and got to know and appreciate each other. There’s lots of Christmas including the three-legged wreath race. Of course, there’s also the required misunderstandings. Still, as the fire truck came around the corner and the lights started turning on, I got goosebumps. 

Scoring: 3.5

The Good Witch’s Gift (2010)
Rated: PG
Genres: Drama, Family, Fantasy
Starring: Catherine Bell and Chris Potter
Synopsis: Almost as soon as Jake and Cassie decide to get married on Christmas Eve, complications arise. Ex-con Leon Deeks arrives in town, Jake's having trouble securing the wedding license since he can't find Cassie's documents proving her existence, and the difficulty of finding a wedding cake at the last minute.  Also, Jake's kids are upset: Brandon wants to spend time with his new girlfriend, and is feuding with his sister Lori. Meanwhile, Lori manages to lose Cassie's wedding ring.
Review:  While this is a movie that should stand alone separate from the Hallmark series, it’s more enjoyable if you watch the series and know the characters.  The town's colorful characters provide an enchanting layer to the story. It’s typical Good Witch magic where problems arise but seem to disappear. 
Scoring: 3

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer (2000)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Synopsis: A youth embarks on a journey to find his missing grandmother and prove that Santa Claus is real

Review: This is just as silly as the song.  I enjoyed it the first time but it’s not one I watch every year as it got old.  Children will love it and for families it may be a yearly tradition.  Adding the cousin trying to sell grandma’s business and the grandson saving the day rounds out the story.

Scoring: 3

A Grandpa for Christmas (2007)
Rated: PG
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Musical
Starring: Ernest Borgnine, Katherine Helmond, Jamie Farr, and Tracy Nelson
Synopsis: The estranged grandfather of a 9-year-old quickly forms a bond with the child when, suddenly, they must take care of each other. 
Review:  First, there’s an amazing cast of actors. When her mom gets in an accident and is in the hospital, Becca has to stay with the grandfather she’d never met and had only heard bad things about. Watching their relationship develop is really special. There are so many moments that tug at your heartstrings.
Scoring: 4.5

Great American Christmas in Kentucky (2022)

Rated: G

Genre: Documentary 

Starring: Jen Lilley and Jesse Hutch

Synopsis: Jen Lilley and Jesse Hutch travel to Stanford, KY, to experience a real-life small-town Christmas complete with carolers, a gingerbread contest, and a Christmas parade. 

Review:  While some scenes appear scripted, or at least set up, it was a lot of fun.  Lilley and Hutch made it exciting and funny.  It showed a lot of Christmas spirit and felt uplifting.

Scoring: 3

The Great Christmas Switch (2021)

Rated: NR

Genres: Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Jon McLaren, Dillon Casey and Sarah Lind

Synopsis: Sophia, a single girl in the city with a demanding boss, and a single mother of two in the Midwest, decide to switch places for Christmas in an effort to get away from their problems for a little while.

Review: This is an okay version of the twin sister switch movies but it pales in comparison to Switch for Christmas with Candace Cameron Bure. The story details are superficial and they don’t dig in enough to help you know their characters. The saving Grace is Sarah Lind. She is so fantastic you can’t help but like her. 

Scoring: 3

The Great Holiday Bake War (2022)

Rated: PG

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Finesse Mitchell and Letoya Luckett

Synopsis: When former pastry chef rivals, Julian and Briana meet years later in a TV baking competition, the sparks and the flour fly.

Review: The overall story was a really good one.  Especially Julian and Briana.  Felix, the TV host, was so ridiculously over the top he took away from the quality of the movie.  I still enjoyed the characters and they felt like people we would know.  It’s a happy ending but a believable one.

Scoring: 3

The Great Rupert AKA A Christmas Wish (1950)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Family

Starring: Jimmy Durante

Synopsis: A little squirrel with lots of charm accidentally helps two poor, down-but-not-out families overcome their obstacles.

Review: What a charmer.  A landlord hides money in the wall and a squirrel living in the wall between the landlord and his tenants tosses the money down to the poor tenants.  They think it’s a miracle.  I love how the tenants, who had nothing, use the money to help others.  I won’t ruin the ending but it’s a sweet story and the effects with the squirrel are amazing given when the film was made.

Scoring: 3.5

Gremlins (1984)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy

Starring: Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates

Synopsis: A boy inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.

Review:  Gremlins is another movie people debate about counting as a Christmas movie. It takes place at Christmas but that’s it. It has some scares and some laughs but it drives me a little crazy. It’s only three rules. How hard is that?  Haha

Scoring: 3

 

Greyson Family Christmas (2021)

Rated: TV-14

Genres: Comedy, Family

Starring: Kalilah Harris and Karson Kern

Synopsis: Activist liberal progressive law student Maya brings her new boyfriend home for the holidays-- neglecting to tell her family that he's - well - white. Guess who's coming to Christmas dinner?

Review: I really enjoyed this.  It was mostly really funny, but they addressed racial issues.  It had a happy ending and was full of interesting characters.

Scoring: 3

The Grinch (2018)

Rated: PG

Genres: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Pharrell Williams, Kenan Thompson, and Angela Lansbury

Synopsis: A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.

Review: After seeing the special and the Jim Carrey movie so many times I began watching this wondering if there was any way to make the story new and interesting. They succeeded. It has all the warmth and humor you expect from the story. The Grinch wasn’t quite as mean and scary as in other versions but I still loved it. I’ve always wondered why Max stayed with the Grinch and this showed their relationship more.  The only downside to me was the characters looking too human. Whooville came across as a magical place.

Scoring: 4

Grounded For Christmas (2019)

Rated: PG

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Julianna Guill, Corey Sevier, and Cheryl Ladd

Synopsis: When a winter storm hits Cleveland and grounds flights, the nearby hotels quickly fill up with stranded travelers. Nina, a pilot, reluctantly agrees to let her arrogant but charming fellow pilot, Brady, stay at her nearby parents’ home.

Review: Nina and Brady have just enough awkwardness to make them falling for each other a fun dance. You know there will be a happy ending but there’s a lot of Christmas, bumps, and adventures in between.

Scoring: 3.5

The Grump Who Stole Christmas (2018)

Rated: NR

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Starring: Maria Petrano and Jacob Whiteshed

Synopsis: Larry the Reindeer thinks he can fill Santa’s shoes but he is about to get more than he bargained for. When a wicked Grump, accompanied by his robot sidekick Clank, casts a spell that allows Larry to switch places with Santa, the future of Christmas rests in one simple minded reindeer’s hooves.

Review: If you can look past things like penguins being at the North Pole, it seeming like Santa isn’t really in charge and speaks slowly as if he isn’t very bright, an elf that looks slightly evil, or an insect that’s bigger than penguins, you’ll be okay.  You have to just get lost in the story.  The acting is average but there’s a variety of characters.  It seems more meant for children but it’s one adults can probably handle.

Scoring: 2

Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever (2014)

Rated: G

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Family

Starring: Aubrey Plaza and Jay Brazeau 

Synopsis: Grumpy Cat is a lonely cat living in a mall pet shop. Because she never gets chosen by customers, she develops a sour outlook on life...until one day during the holidays, a very special 12-year-old girl named Chyrstal enters the pet store and falls in love with her after realizing she is the only person who can hear this unique cat talk. As the two develop a close friendship during the holiday rush, Grumpy reluctantly thwarts the kidnapping of an exotic dog she dislikes, and on Christmas Eve rescues Chyrstal after the mall closes. Through her adventures, will Grumpy learn the true meaning of Christmas? Or will it be, in her words, the "Worst. Christmas. Ever?"

Review:  I think this should be renamed worst movie ever. Having to sit through this was so hard. The whole thing was bad.  I can't even give it a review other than please don't waste your time.

Scoring: 1

 

Grumpy Christmas (2021)

Rated: TV-MA

Genres: Comedy, Family

Starring: Raul Martinez

Synopsis: A family trip to the beach turns crazy when Servando and Alicia, Alma’s willful aunt, start an over-the-top competition to control Christmas.

Review: This is a Spanish language film, but you can read the subtitles or set it to have the words in English.  This movie was pretty bad.  It took me forever to figure out how everyone was related and there were a few I was still not sure about.  The husbands look like father and son.  The story is silly, and the plot is all over the place.  Skip this one.

Scoring: 1.5 

Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

Rated: TV-14

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

Starring: Chris Pratt and Bradley Cooper

Synopsis: Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot engage in some spirited shenanigans in an all-new original special created for Disney+.

Review: I’ve never seen the movies, so I didn’t have any context going into this. It was cute but I didn’t feel any emotional connection to the characters, and I didn’t find it funny. For Guardian fans this would be a wonderful watch. 

Scoring: 3

Guess Who’s Coming To Christmas (2013)
Rated: NR
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Musical, Religion, Romance
Starring: Drew Lachey and MacKenzie Porter 
Synopsis: To repair his tarnished image, a jaded rock star publicly decides to fulfill a child's "Dear Santa" Christmas wish. After reluctantly agreeing to spend the holidays in a small town and perform in the local holiday Christmas concert, he's mortified at the prospect of staying in the home of an idyllic, close-knit family but soon realizes the true value in what they have - love, caring and a memorable holiday spirit.
Review:  While I like how Dax, the drunk rock star, evolves through his experiences with a pastor and his family, the pace is very slow.  The story is a good one with both funny and poignant moments along with a good ending.  It just needed more of those moments. 
Scoring: 2.5