Christmas Jars (2019)
My favorite Jonathan Wright Christmas joint yet. Yeah, that’s faint praise, trust me. But this is pretty good, despite the opening credits taking a tragic turn, and better than the genre average.
The National Tree (2009)
Inessential holiday road drama.
Trading Christmas (2011)
Decent with an above-average cast but nothing worth rewatching.
Journey Back to Christmas (2016)
Under baked time travel riff on It’s a Wonderful Life. It wouldn’t have been difficult to male this a really solid holiday flick but Hallmark’s gotta Hallmark.
Is it Hallmark? Yup.
From the Director of? Yellowbeard, Badge of the Assassin and Blood River.
Does it feel like Christmas? Sure
Did it make me cry? I happen to have some pretty serious seasonal allergies actually.
Did I finish it? Yes
Is it a good movie? It’s passable
Is it a good Christmas Movie? It could have been so much better.
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads - Christmas Special (1974)
Decent episode of vintage brit-com. Nothing great but not lousy.
Julie Andrews The Sound of Christmas (1987)
Exceedingly pleasant Salzburg set holiday special perched somewhere between a network variety show (with special guest John Denver singing "Dancing With The Mountains" while skiing) and PBS’s Great Performances (with special guest Placido Domingo and The Kings Singers.) Won some well deserved Emmys.
The Julie Andrews Hour - Christmas (1972)
A more traditional Christmas show from Jullie's 1972/73 variety series. Featuring Jimmy Stewart,Rich Little, Mama Cass and Steve Lawrence, among others. Even back in '72 Julie's Christmas show was a little bit elevated, and a bit odd - Carl Reiner and James Stewart singing dodgy Christmas solos comes to mind.
The song selection is terrific even featuring songs from two of my favorite Christmas Carol musicals, Scrooge and The Stingiest Man in Town.
A fine example of the genre.
