Holiday Affair (1949)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh

Synopsis: A young widow is romanced by a sales clerk whom she inadvertently got fired which her suitor isn’t happy about but her son is. 

Review:  Another yearly must see in our house. Connie, a war widow with a young son, has to pick between predictable and safe or adventure. Very interesting to see how she gets to the answer.  I think most women can relate to the nice guy vs. bad boy situation.  Little Timmy is precocious and guides his mom in ways his little heart doesn't yet understand.

Scoring: 5

Holiday Affair (1996)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Cynthia Gibb and David James Elliott

Synopsis: A remake of the original where a widow with a young son is wooed by a man while dating another. 

Review:  If you’ve seen the original this may disappoint you. However, it is still a sweet and romantic film. The story just doesn’t translate as well over time. 

Scoring: 3

Holiday Baggage (2008)

Rated:  PG

Genres: Drama, Family

Starring: Cheryl Ladd and Barry Bostwick

Synopsis: Pediatrician by day, single mom by night, Sarah invites her estranged husband, Pete, back to their suburban home for the holidays on one condition: he must reconcile with their daughters before she agrees to finalize a trial separation with divorce.

Review:  Filled with lots of family drama, the dynamics are interesting but not surprising. People do and say what you expect them to. The family is dealing with their emotional baggage as we watch.  It’s okay but not one to watch twice.

Scoring: 2.5

A Holiday Boyfriend (2019)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Olivia Dunkley and Matt Merchant

Synopsis: Katie flies home for the holidays after being dumped by her boyfriend. She starts using a dating app and discusses her first "meet"/date with her two friends. After many other jerks, she wishes for a holiday boyfriend.

Review: The beginning of the movie was kind of blah and disconnected for me.  I honestly only kept watching because I needed to see the whole thing to write this.  I’m so glad I did.  The more the movie went on the more I loved it.  I think the whole tone of the movie changed in the second half when she started dating her holiday boyfriend.  Three quarters of the way through it I thought I’d give it a 2 because I enjoyed it but wouldn’t watch again.  By the end I was debating between a 3 and a 4.  I will definitely watch again. 

Scoring: 3

Holiday Break Up (2016)

Rated: TV-14

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Manon Mathews, Shawn Roe, and Katie Leclerc

Synopsis: A young couple breaks up and faces the prospect of the holidays turning into one long pity party. Their solution: pretend they're still together.

Review:  This is one to miss. It’s not the worst movie I’ve seen but it’s boring and poorly done. The actors are okay. I didn’t enjoy sitting through it. 

Scoring: 1

The Holiday Calendar (2018)

Rated: NR

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Starring: Kat Graham, Ron Cephas Jones, and Quincy Brown

Synopsis: A struggling but talented photographer inherits an antique holiday advent calendar, the contents of which seem to predict the future. Will this magical calendar lead her to love this holiday season?

Review:  A beautiful love story that emphasizes friendship, family, and being true to yourself. The way the items in the calendar correspond to things that happen add magic to the story.  It’s sweet and meaningful. 

Scoring: 4.5

A Holiday Chance (2019)

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Drama, Family

Starring: Nafessa Williams and Sharon Leal

Synopsis: The family of the founder of a multi-million-dollar film company experiences some tragic events during the holidays and two sisters must set aside a life-long rivalry and come together to turn the company around and keep the family intact.

Review: The beginning of the movie was really blah and kind of boring.  The family treated each other horribly.  Towards the end, it got interesting and emotional. It took place at Christmas but wasn’t really about Christmas. 

Scoring: 2

A Holiday Change (2019)

Rated: PG

Genre: Family

Starring: Vanessa Simmons and AJ Newman

Synopsis: Single mother Crystal and her 17-year-old son’s lives change after he is caught shoplifting.

Review: At first I was iffy about it but I really liked it. Kingston’s experiences and growth are special. Ming is hysterical. It’s not super dramatic. It’s got some serious moments but overall, it’s quite lighthearted 

Scoring: 3

Holiday Date (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Brittany Bristow, Matt Cohen, and Teryl Rothery

Synopsis: Joel poses at Brooke’s former boyfriend when she goes home for the holidays.

Review: This is very similar to the movie A Holiday Engagement.  It’s just as much fun except the family is less dramatic and complicated.  The relationship between Joel and Brooke are the real centerpiece.  You know how it will end but it’s worth watching the hijinks along the way.  The inclusion of Hanukkah adds another dimension.  It’s sweet and easy to watch.

Scoring: 3.5

The Holiday Dating Guide (2022)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Starring: Maria Menounos and Brent Bailey

Synopsis: Dating coach and aspiring book author Abigale Slater is tasked by her publisher Jack to prove that her dating advice really works. With that, she decides to make a man fall for her by Christmas Eve in 12 days.

Review: I feel very wishy-washy about this movie. I didn’t like or dislike it. It was just kind of blah and predictable. It’s a typical romance and it won’t hurt to try it but expect the expected.

Scoring: 2.5

The Holiday Fixup (2021)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Jana Kramer and Ryan McPartlin

Synopsis: When Sam, an interior designer, returns home during the holidays to help renovate the Bell Harbor Inn, she gets paired with Coop as her contractor.  The only problem-he’s the guy who broke her heart and she’s the one who got away.

Review: It’s got the rekindled romance it promised but it also has lots of Christmas including making wreaths and snowball fights. It’s a sweet love story. 

Scoring: 3

Holiday for Heroes (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Melissa Clare Egan and Marc Blucas

Synopsis: A woman and a soldier exchange letters for a year before their worlds collide.

Review: This movie is about so much more than the synopsis suggests.  It looks at being deployed from the soldier and the family points of view.  It shows the importance of community and how together we can do so much more than we can alone.  And it’s a reminder to remember those deployed and to share the magic and meaning of Christmas all year.  Yet, it manages to do it in a sweet subtle way that doesn’t make the movie feel dark.  The romance was just a part of all of this.  The acting, scenery, and everything was great.  I’m watching again.

Scoring: 4

Holiday Harmony (2022)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Musical, Romance

Starring: Annelise Cipero and Jeremy Sumpter

Synopsis: A likeable and talented underdog gets momentarily sidelined from chasing her musical dreams when her van breaks down in a welcoming small town just before Christmas.

Review: This is another movie that takes place at Christmas but doesn’t feel like Christmas. It’s quite slow but like taking a leisurely stroll. There’s a lot of drama but it’s a good story and a nice alternative to people who don’t like the typical romcom. 

Scoring: 3

Holiday Heart (2000)

Rated: TV-14

Genres: Drama

Starring: Ving Rhames and Alfre Woodard

Synopsis: A drag queen mourning the loss of his lover takes in a drug addict and her daughter.

Review: I’m not entirely sure why this was listed as a Christmas movie.  It does start and end at Christmas but it’s mostly about people.  It’s very moving.  At first Rhames as a drag queen seemed odd but I got over that.  All the performances are spectacular.

Scoring: 3

Holiday Heritage (2022)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Family

Starring: Holly Robinson-Peete, Lyndie Greenwood, and Brooks Darnell

Synopsis: Ella, with the help of her ex-boyfriend, Griffin, encourages her family to celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa to heal their past wounds.

Review: This movie had Christmas and Kwanzaa but the primary focus was the family and their relationships. I enjoyed seeing the back and forth of self-discovery and their ties. It is more dramatic but still has the necessary (and obvious from the beginning) happy ending. 

Score: 3 

Holiday Heist (2019)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Chaley Rose

Synopsis: A man released from prison is torn between a life of crime and a fresh start with a woman he meets while scoping out a potential heist

Review: I found the criminal part of it to be a little underplayed considering it was a central plot in the movie.  I also couldn’t believe they had jewels on loan from London yet nobody guarding these priceless jewels.  Besides all that, I was interested.  It’s worth giving a shot.

Scoring: 3

Holiday Hearts (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Ashley Williams and Paul Campbell

Synopsis: While planning an annual Christmas party, Peyton is forced together with Ben to care for a friend’s daughter. 

Review: A lovely Christmas romance with plenty of both.  It’s very positive and upbeat. The little girl who plays Lily is exceptional. It’s one of those movies where you know how it’ll end but it’s enjoyable getting there. Lots of Christmas spirit. 

Scoring: 3.5

Holiday Heartbreak (2020)

Rated: TV-14

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family

Starring: Michael Colyar, Maryam Basir, AJ Johnson, Kountry Wayne, and LisaRaye McCoy

Synopsis: A man’s womanizing past comes back to haunt his daughter after a curse destroys her love life.

Review: The plot seemed interesting but it was trying too hard to be slapstick. It’s not about Christmas. In fact, they barely have Christmas dinner. If you find the premise interesting, give it a shot. It wasn’t horrible but I won’t watch again.

Scoring: 2