Christmas classics

White Christmas

Christmas in Connecticut

Miracle on 34th Street

We're No Angels

Bundle of Joy

A Christmas Carol

Fitzwilly

It Happened on 5th Avenue

christmas angel

 

the year: 2009

 

the genre: drama

 

 

the cast: Kari Hawker (Ashley Matthews); K.C. Clyde (Will Price); Bruce Davison (Nick Anderson)

 

 

the plot: Ashley has been on her own all her life and feels even more alone before Christmas as she searches fruitlessly for a job. But her neighbor, Nick, knows exactly what to do. He offers her a job, to be his assistant in the best work: helping others. There's one caveat: Ashley can't tell anyone that her new boss is a sort of Secret Santa, helping others anonymously. Through her new job, Ashley meets Will, a writer for a business magazine who uncovers what Ashley is doing, and more importantly, Nick's involvement. As Ashley and Nick help people in need, Ashley tries to protect Nick's secret, and her own heart, while Will must weigh the consequences of what he does.

 

 

listen for: "Nothing wrong with getting a jump start. Only comes once a year."

"So does hurricane season."

 

 

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.

 

 

more christmas movies

here are a few others to throw in the mix.




I love Sir Roger Moore in this one. 

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.

 

 

the christmas choir

 

the year: 2008

 

the genre: drama

 

 

the cast: Jason Gedrick (Peter Brockman); Tyrone Benskin (Bob); Michael Sarrazin (Henry Brockman); Marianne Farley (Marilyn); Rhea Perlman (Sister Agatha)

 

 

the plot: Nineteen days before Christmas, successful accountant Peter Brockman's life is turned upside down when his fiancée Jill dumps him because of his emotional detachment and his tendancy for being a workaholic. While sipping on soda at a lounge, he meet Bob, a blues pianist and singer, who is working for tips. The two talk about their love of music. When Bob invites Peter to his house, Peter is amazed to find Bob's house is a homeless shelter, and that the occupants have some musical talent.  Peter meets the caring, straight-talking nun Sister Agatha, who gives him some perspective and he decides to organize the men into a choir to raise some funds for the shelter.  Although the choir's musical abilities become better each day, Peter and the other singers go through their own personal trials.  They finally begin to trust in each other and share in the gift of music. 

 

 

don't miss: Sister Agatha. 

 

 

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.

 

a grandpa for christmas

 

the year: 2007

 

the genre: drama

 

 

the cast: Ernest Borgnine (Bert O'Riley); Katherine Helmond (Roxie Famosa); Juliette Goglia (Becca O'Riley); Jamie Farr (Adam Johnson); Karl Sugerman (Richard Libertini)

 

 

the plot: Bert is an old-time movie-star singer/ hoofer, who's retired from showbiz and estranged from his daughter and 9-year-old granddaughter, Becca. Bert, about to sell his house and move into a retirement home, suddenly finds himself caring for Becca when her mom is hospitalized - and the bond between the two of them grows.

 

 

I love Ernest Borgnine as Bert in this sweet story of love and forgiveness.  His group of friends are a kick - especially Roxie & Adam.

 

 

you can watch the movie in parts starting here.