hitched for the holidays

 

the year: 2012

 

the gener: rom-com

 

 

the cast: Joey Lawrence (Rob); Emily Hampshire (Julie); Marilu Henner (Maxine)

 

 

the plot: Both Rob Marino and Julie Green are feeling pressure to be in a relationship during the holiday season and, after finding each other through a dating website, agree to pose as each other's special someone. Things get complicated when Rob's Catholic family and Julie's Jewish family get involved to help these two make it to the altar. As they double their efforts to keep the charade going through New Year's Eve, Rob and Julie are more than a little surprised when they discover they're actually falling in love.

 

 

the most wonderful time of the year

 

the year: 2008

 

the genre: rom-com

 

the cast: Brooke Burns (Jennifer Cullen); Henry Winkler (Uncle Ralph); Warren Christie (Morgan Derby); Woody Jeffreys (Richard Windom)

 

 

the plot: They aren’t exactly the three wise men, but a snowbound stranger, a crafty uncle and a precocious boy may just have what it takes to remind one crazed woman what the holiday season is all about.  Jennifer Cullen is a single, working mom who has become somewhat of a Scrooge when it comes to the Holiday season. When Jen’s Uncle Ralph, a retired police officer, comes to visit for Christmas, he brings along a new friend, a nomad and Jack-of-all-trades named Morgan Derby - who is stranded due to flight cancellations - and Jennifer begins to remember why it's the most wonderful time of the year. 

 

 

don't miss: the legend of the one red candle. 

 

 

Harry Winkler is fantastic as Uncle Ralph.  A shoe-in as one of my very favorite supporting characters in a Christmas movie.

 

 

12 dates of christmas

 

the year: 2011

 

the genre: rom-com

 

 

the cast: Amy Smart (Kate Stanton); Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Miles Dufine); Jayne Eastwood (Margine Frumkin)

 

 

the plot: In an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend on Christmas Eve, Kate ends up ruining her blind date with Miles. In a strange twist of fate, Kate is given the chance to re-live Christmas Eve twelve times! Kate decides to embrace what Christmas Eve has given her -- a loving family, great friends and Miles, who turns out to be a great guy! However, just as she seems to think she has gotten it right, the clock strikes midnight and Kate must live Christmas Eve once again. Under these weird new circumstances, Kate learns to take risks and enjoy what she's been given.

 

 

I'll admit I had low expectations going into this one - and not just because I was expecting Zach, from Saved by the Bell.  But I was happily surprised.  The Groundhog Day-esqueness got a little annoying, but I enjoyed how everything wraps up nicely at the end - for ALL of the characters.

 

 

you can watch the movie in parts starting here.

 

 

holiday engagement

 

the year: 2011

 

the genre: rom-com

 

 

the cast: Bonnie Somerville (Hillary Burns); Shelley Long (Meredith Burns); Jordan Bridges (David); Chris McKenna (Jason King); Haylie Duff (Trisha Burns); Sam McMurray (Mr. Burns); Carrie Wiita (Joy Burns)   

 

the plot: Jilted by her high-powered fiancé just before Thanksgiving, and terrified of disappointing her demanding mother, Hillary Burns hires David, an unemployed actor, to pretend to be her fiancé over the holiday weekend. She soon discovers however, that the hired replacement may not be a replacement after all – but the real thing.

 

 

call me mrs. miracle

 

the year: 2010

 

the genre: rom-com

 

 

the cast: Doris Roberts (Mrs. Miracle/Merkle); Jewel Staite (Holly Wilson); Eric Johnson (Jake Finley); Tom Butler (J R Finley); Patricia Mayen-Salaza (Gloria Martinez); Lauren Holley (Lindy Lowe)

 

 

the plot: When Mrs. Miracle appears as a seasonal employee in the toy department at the financially troubled Finley’s Department Store, neither the store’s owners, nor the customers, have any idea of the events that are about to unfold. Just when it seemed Christmas might not come at all this year, Finley’s favorite employee proves they don’t call her Mrs. Miracle for nothing!

 

 

I liked the original Mrs. Miracle, but Mrs. Miracle is a bit more impish in this one and her ongoing battle to get the Scrooge-ish J.R. Finley in the Christmas spirit is fun to watch.

 

 

matchmaker santa

 

the year: 2012

 

the genre: rom-com

 

 

the cast: Lacey Chabert (Melanie); Adam Mayfield (Dean Ford); Thad Luckinbill (Justin); Florence Henderson (Peggy); Robert Pine (Jack Tisdale); John Ratzenberger (George Graves); Elizabeth Ann Bennett (Blaire) 

 

 

the plot: Melanie is a bakery owner who hopes to whip up a holiday engagement with her busy boyfriend, handsome CEO Justin but finds an unexpected new love when a mysterious mall Santa doubles as a meddling cupid.  Justin invites Melanie to spend the holidays at his beautiful lake house upstate and meet his mother and Melanie is delighted. Due to a series of mishaps, Melanie finds herself stranded with Justin’s best friend and loyal assistant, Dean, instead. Meanwhile, Justin's high school sweetheart shows up at his lake house and they spend time together, delighting his mother.

 

 

don't miss: John Ratzenberger as George, the mechanic.  He has another important job, but I'll let you discover that one on your own.

 

 

 

I'm not typically a huge fan of rom-coms that include Santa Claus, but this one wasn't too bad.  There was enough humor to keep it from being too cheesy, and Dean is dreamy.  Just sayin.

 

love at the thanksgiving day parade

 

the year: 2012

 

the genre: rom-com

 

 

the cast: Atumn Reeser (Emily Jones); Antonio Cupo (Henry Williams); Ben Cotton(Brian)

 

 

the plot: Chicago native Emily Jones loves her city, and has dedicated her career to coordinating its beloved Thanksgiving Day parade every year. This year, Emily is hoping for a memorable holiday and anticipating a long-awaited proposal from her long-distance boyfriend Brian. Her world turns upside down when the parade director hires a wealthy development consultant, Henry Williams, to analyze the finances of the parade and increase profits. Immediately writing Henry off as a privileged playboy, Emily worries he will ruin the joyful spirit of the parade, not knowing how much it means to the city. As the two are forced to work together to pull off a successful production, Emily is determined to show Henry she’s in charge. But when Emily suffers a sudden setback, she starts to rely on Henry to help her through it, and suddenly realizes she might be falling for him.

 

 

 don't miss: the ice cream dilemma.

 

 

 extra bonus points: if you are game for Nutty Movie Night.

 

 

you can watch the trailer here.

 

 

disclaimer: this is 100% corny, sappy and fluffy.  You've been warned. ;)

the giant mechanical man

 

the year: 2012

 

the genre: romedy

 

 

the cast: Jenna Fischer (Janice); Chris Messina (Tim); Malin Akerman (Jill); Rich Sommer (Brian); Topher Grace (Doug); Lucy Punch (Pauline) 

 

 

the plot: Janice is out of work, living with her well-intentioned but overbearing sister Jill, and struggling to build a fulfilling life for herself. Tim is a street performer whose unique talents as a "living statue" don't exactly pay the bills.  When they both get a job at the local zoo, their connection begins to blossom.  Meantime, Jill pushes Janice to date the deluded, smarmy, self-help author, Doug Duncan.  Will Jill's meddling ways threaten to undermine Janice's first real shot at love?

 

 

 

extra bonus points: if you don't want to punch Doug after 30 seconds.

 

 

listen for: "I once had a wool sweater. It was really itchy. I almost wore it when I was flying to London in first class for a book signing. I'm an author."

 

 

 

don't miss: when Janice goes postal on the guy who pokes the monkeys. 

 

 

also listen for: “It only takes one person to make you feel special and valid and feel like you belong.”

 

 

once upon a honeymoon

 

the year: 1942

 

the genre: dramedy

 

 

the cast: Cary Grant (Pat O'Toole); Ginger Rogers (Kathie O'Hara / Katherine Butt-Smith / Baroness Katherine Von Luber); Walter Slezak (Baron Franz Von Luber)

 

the plot: At the start of WWII, Katie O'Hara, an American burlesque girl intent on social climbing, marries Austrian Baron Von Luber. Pat O'Toole, an American radio reporter, sees this as a chance to investigate Von Luber, who is suspected of having Nazi ties. As country after country falls to the Nazis, O'Tool follows O'Hara across Europe. At first he is after a story, but he gradually falls in love with her. When she learns that her husband is indeed a Nazi, O'Hara fakes her death and runs off with O'Toole.  But that's not the end of the story...

 

 

listen for:  "I was supposed to be investigating facts, not figures."

 

 

don't miss:  Pat telling the ship's captain that someone has fallen overboard.  Think "We're No Angels" telling Uncle Andre that Adolphe is poisonous.

 

 

did you know: The question of top billing was resolved by having half of the prints with Cary Grant listed first, and the other half with Ginger Rogers listed first.