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 Mermaid For Christmas (2019)
Rated: NR
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Starring: Kyle Lowder, Jessica Morris, and Arianne Zucker
Synopsis: Filled with warmth, humor, whimsy, and just a touch of magic, It combines classic Christmas themes with an escapist fantasy element that only a mermaid can provide.
Review: Completely over the top story and acting and yet the silliness just makes it fun. It was, at times, stupid. Overall, it’s one I wasn’t glued to and I won’t watch again but it wasn’t horrible to see once. The fact that there’s a mermaid isn’t even the oddest part of it.
Scoring: 2
Merry & Bright (2019)
Rated: G
Genre: Romance
Starring: Jodie Sweetin and Andrew Walker
Synopsis: Cate, CEO of the Merry and Bright Candy Cane Company, meets Gabe, who works for Empire Corporate Recovery, which has been hired to find ways to make the company more profitable. As Cate and Gabe begin to work together, they find ways to elevate the business and find that they have more in common than savvy business sense.
Review: Sweetin and Walker are delightful as always. The movie doesn’t offer many surprises but it offers a good love story and some funny side stories. I especially liked that it gave us a solid ending. I wasn’t that surprised at how she chose to expand the company, as I was wanting to yell it to her from the beginning, but I was worried she wouldn’t get there. It’s a nice sweet movie.
Scoring: 3
Merry Christmas, Baby! (2016)
Rated: NR
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family
Starring: Malinda Williams and Karon Riley
Synopsis: Marci throws herself into preparing for Christmas and building her new event-planning business. But when the business gets off to a rocky start and members of her family face their own hardships, Marci steps up to help everyone have a good holiday.
Review: The fourth movie in the series continues the Chandler family adventures. It has the same feel and meaning behind it as the first three. It would be better enjoyed if you watch the whole series in order. It's worth it.
Scoring: 3
A Merry Christmas Match (2019)
Rated: G
Genres: Drama, Family, Romance
Starring: Ashley Newbrough and Kyle Dean Massey
Synopsis: Corey who works in her mom's antique shop, puts on a Christmas pageant in honor of her late father. When a man named Ryder visits her store, she wonders if she should have left town to follow her dream of becoming a theater director.
Review: This movie has so many special aspects to it. You know it will have a happy ending but there are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing how it will happen. The characters are varied and interesting. I was completely invested in the story from the beginning. Could it use a little spice? Sure, but that might ruin what’s great about it.
Scoring: 4
Merry Ex-mas (2014)
Rated: NR
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family
Starring: Kristy Swanson, Dean Cain, Lochlyn Munro, and Jodi Lyn O’Keefe
Synopsis: During a blizzard at Christmas, a man becomes snowbound with ex-wife, her wealthy suitor, his former mother-in-law, and his daughter.
Review: Just no. It’s so negative and awkward and just uncomfortable to watch. It’s the opposite of what a feel-good movie is.
Scoring: 1
Merry Ex-Mas (2016)
Rated: TV-MA
Genre: Comedy
Starring: London Brown and Angell Conwell
Synopsis: A woman comes up with a diabolical plan to ruin her ex’s Christmas wedding.
Review: Sometimes sweet, sometimes funny, sometimes heartfelt. The movie has everything. The ending wraps everything up almost too perfectly. I feel we could have used a little more backstory but it’s still good.
Scoring: 3
A Merry Friggin’ Christmas (2014)
Rated: PG-13
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family
Starring: Candace Bergen, Lauren Graham, Joel McHale, Wendy McLendon-Covey, Oliver Platt, and Robin Williams
Synopsis: Boyd Mitchler and his family must spend Christmas with his estranged family of misfits. Upon realizing that he left all his son's gifts at home, he hits the road with his dad in an attempt to make the 8-hour round trip before sunrise.
Review: First, this is NOT for children. Second, it’s hysterical. I haven’t laughed out loud that many times during a movie for a long time. It has its moments where you’re waiting for something to happen but they’re worth sitting through.
Scoring: 4
Merry In-Laws (2012)
Rated: PG
Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy
Starring: George Wendt, Shelley Long, and Lucas Bryant
Synopsis: A recently engaged woman plans a get-together so her parents can meet her fiancé's family. It turns out that his parents are Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Review: At times too at odds with itself, like the Clauses vs. non-believing parents, but Long and Wendt are fantastic. They make the movie special. You’ll want them for your family.
Scoring: 3
Merry Liddle Christmas (2019)
Rated: PG
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance
Starring: Kelly Rowland and Debbi Morgan
Synopsis: This story of a woman trying to get her dysfunctional family to look picture perfect for the holidays, who falls in love with her neighbor amidst the chaos.
Review: This movie was so-so. It felt like each storyline and character was a shortened version. Nothing was every truly delved into it resolved including the kids ordering tons of expensive things. Not bad for a one time watch but not one I’d watch again.
Scoring: 2
Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding (2020)
Rated: PG
Genres: Drama, Family, Romance
Starring: Kelly Rowland and Debbi Morgan
Synopsis: A couple try to plan the perfect destination wedding amid family chaos and drama.
Review: The Liddle family is at it again. I have to say Jackie Liddle is a far better person than me. If my family showed up for my wedding, did everything I asked them not to, and ruined my wedding, I wouldn’t just smile because they had good intentions. Luckily, she does. This movie has tons of Christmas activities and fun even though it’s mostly about the wedding. A sweet sequel.
Scoring: 3
Merry Wishmas (2018)
Rated: PG
Genre: Family, Religion, Romance
Starring: Tamela Mann and David Mann
Synopsis: A successful Atlanta businesswoman reunites with an old high school friend at his wellness facility.
Review: The main part of this is saving the center. There’s a lot of faith in God and a learned faith in family. Characters, like the secretary, are funny but not too over the top. Sweet movie but a little all over the place.
Scoring: 2
Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (2001)
Rated: G
Genres: Adventure, Animation, Comedy
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: Mickey and all his friends hold their own Christmas party at the House of Mouse, after being snowed in.
Review: This is a movie for younger children who still enjoy the simplicity of Mickey Mouse stories. They’ll enjoy the various characters who appear at the party. When they get snowed in Mickey decides to entertain everyone with videos of short stories. This is one I think will bore most adults.
Scoring: 3
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas (1999)
Rated: G
Genres: Animation, Comedy, Family
Starring: Kelsey Grammer
Synopsis: A Christmas themed, three-part anthology-style video. The first part, "Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas", is essentially a retelling of Groundhog Day (1993), with Huey, Dewey, and Louie reliving Christmas ad infinitum. Next is "A Very Goofy Christmas", in which Goofy tries to overcome his son's skepticism about Santa Claus. Finally, "Mickey & Minnie's Gift Of The Magi" recreate the classic tale of ironic Christmas selflessness.
Review: This is a movie for young children. The stories are good but not told in a way to be of much interest for adults. There are good topics for family conversations.
Scoring: 3
Mickey’s Twice Upon A Christmas (2004)
Rated: G
Genres: Animation, Comedy, Family
Starring: N/A
Synopsis: In this sequel to Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas, Mickey and friends gather again to discover the true joys of Christmas.
Review: Like the first movie, this is best for young children. Older children and adults may not enjoy it as much. The stories have a silliness that appeals to the younger Mickey fans.
Scoring: 3
Midnight Clear (2006)
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Starring: Stephen Baldwin
Synopsis: The lives of an unemployed divorcee, his suicidal mother, and a couple, intersect during Christmastime.
Review: This movie is so dark and dreary. Unfortunately, it’s also horribly slow and boring. It was painful to have to sit through.
Scoring: 1
A Midnight Kiss (2018)
Rated: G
Genres: Romance
Starring: Adelaide Kade and Carlos PenaVega
Synopsis: With only one week to prepare, party planners land the biggest job in their company’s history; a New Year’s Eve party for a tech entrepreneur.
Review: Hallmark had this as a Christmas movie and the beginning of the movie is at Christmastime but most of it is about planning the party. It’s a sweet romcom that’s different than the typical one. Even though you know the kiss is coming it’s still moving.
Scoring: 3
Mingle All The Way (2018)
Rated: G
Genres: Drama, Family, Romance
Starring: Jen Lilley, Lindsay Wagner, and April Telek
Synopsis: "Mingle All the Way" is a new networking app designed to pair busy professionals together for upcoming events, without long-term romance. Molly, founder of the app, is determined to prove to her family that it is a success. Therefore, she joins the app, and meets another busy professional, Jeff. As the pair gets closer, perhaps their business arrangement might turn into something more this holiday season.
Review: This is very much like Hitched For The Holidays. Just add an app and make the people a little more Christmas movie-ish instead of every day relatable. It did have all the wonderful aspects of a Hallmark Christmas love story with a modern-day technology twist.
Scoring: 3
Miracle at Gate 213 (2013)
Rated: NR
Genres: Drama, Religion
Starring: Mackenzie Astin, Louis Gossett, Jr., Shirley Jones, Della Reese
Synopsis: Holiday travelers are stranded at an airport on Christmas Eve.
Review: This was a very sweet movie. It teaches us how very similar we are and how all those things that seem to make us different are the same things we have in common. It shows kindness, forgiveness, love, decency, and the Christmas spirit.
Scoring: 4
Miracle At Sage Creek (2005)
Rated: PG
Genres: Drama, Family
Starring: David Carradine
Synopsis: Two families overcome prejudice and tragedy in 1888 Wyoming when a special Christmas miracle saves the life of a small boy.
Review: Wow. I thought it would be great to have a western-themed Christmas movie. It’s just boring. It feels like it starts mid-story, the effects are bad, and a lot of the acting is over the top. It’s just not worth watching.
Scoring: 1
Miracle Maker (2015)
Rated: NR
Genres: Drama, Family, Religion
Starring: Brian Krause and Jake Stormoen
Synopsis: Woodhaven, a tiny town on the edge of the American frontier, needs a Christmas miracle and it may have arrived in the form of a ragged traveler.
Review: While the religious message is not overt, it runs throughout the movie. From acts of kindness to forgiveness to the metaphor of planting seeds. It’s slow but well done with a lovely feel to it.
Scoring: 3
The Miracle on 34th Street (1955)
Rated: PG
Genres: Drama, Family, Fantasy, Romance
Starring: Macdonald Carey
Synopsis: One Kris Kringle, a department-store Santa Claus, causes quite a commotion by suggesting customers go to a rival store for their purchases. But this is nothing to the stir he causes by announcing that he is not merely a make-believe St. Nick, but the real McCoy.
Review: This is pretty much exactly the same as the 1947 movie but shorter and missing the magic of the other movies. It’s like a Cliff’s Notes version of the story. The actors aren’t bad it’s just missing the parts of the story that allow you to feel Christmas and the beauty of their relationships.
Scoring: 2
A Miracle On Christmas Lake (2016)
Rated: TV-14
Genres: Family, Fantasy, Religion
Starring: Will Sasso, Kristian Wang, and Siobhan Williams
Synopsis: A teenager heads to the pond where he and his best friend, now deceased, used to play hockey together. He’s shocked to discover a magical, perfectly groomed rink, which only appears at night in his presence.
Review: The story unfolds slowly, sometimes too slowly, but with drama and feeling. I was really invested in the story and the characters. Children most likely won’t be able to follow the story but teens will. It’s a beautiful story about recovering from loss and finding Christmas joy again.
Scoring: 3