The Christmas Cottage (2017)
Dull and predictable.
Holiday Hearts (2019)
Dull, predictable and the lead actress looks as if they’re holding her puppy at gubpint just off camera.
Christmas at Grand Valley (2018)
Dull and predictable despite Danica. And the fact that Danica McKellar is the highlight of any movie, lovely and bright as she is, tells you how low the standards at Hallmark are.
The Christmas Club (2019)
Less dull, still predictable but with likable, professional, leads.
Christmas in Evergreen: Tidings of Joy (2019)
Inexplicable third chapter in the series opens with a conversation on a train shot in such an awkward manner that I couldn’t believe this wasn’t a student film, a high school student film. The rest is fine, workman like but fine, but that opening is so indicative of the lack of respect for the audience, and Christmas, that these films truly embody. No point trying to get a better shot, money’s tight, though profits are high, time is tight and our audience doesnt care, probbly wont even notice.
And they’re right. And I’m done with these holiday romnces. I’m burned out by the mediocrity, the cynisism behind the sentimentality. I hear Hallmark is moving to make thier films more diverse next year. That’s terific, unless it just means more crappy movies only with more politically correct casting. Bad movies are bad movies no matter who is kissing who under the mistletoe.
If the movies get better I’ll give them another shot, Maybe woke Hallmark will bring an infusion of new, better writers and directors which is what they really need, I don’t have high hopes though.
