Watching Hallmark Christmas movies is by far the best way to kick off the holiday season. These feel-good movies are an excellent way to escape the stress of everyday life, and just for a moment, lose oneself in the predictability of a good wholesome movie about romance, family and friendship. As the holidays are fast approaching, new holiday movies are being released, but there are classics that should be enjoyed every year without fail.
One of Hallmark’s all time top-rated holiday movies is, “Christmas Under Wraps,” starring Candace Cameron Bure and David O’Donnell. This movie debuted in 2014 and set records for aspiring surgeon, Dr. Lauren Brunell, who turns down a fellowship and decides to work as a general practitioner in the remote town of Graland, Alaska. She soon realizes that this town holds a special Christmas secret. Her character, Dr. Brunell, unexpectedly finds love and has to choose between her old life and a new life in Alaska.
Another top pick is the charming Christmas romance “One Royal Holiday,” which was released in 2020. Laura Osnes plays Anna, a cardiac nurse from Boston, who offers a stranded mother and her adult son shelter in a blizzard. Aaron Tveit plays the son, James, and Victoria Clark plays the mother. Anna is just trying to do a good deed by offering her home as a shelter for this family in need. She soon learns they are the royal family of Galwick. At first, Anna and James hate each other, but in true Hallmark fashion, they eventually fall in love. This cheesy romance was just what the doctor ordered for those glued to the television in 2020 when there wasn’t much to do during the pandemic.
For audiences looking for comedy over the holidays, Hallmark offers that as well with its 2022 movie, “Three Wise Men and a Baby,” most likely inspired by the 1987 film, “3 men and a Baby.” Hallmark chose three of their best actors, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker and Paul Campbell, for this fun film in which three brothers find themselves forced to care for a baby during the holidays. This is not the typical Hallmark plot. Instead of romance, viewers will find a great mix of comedy, family quarrels, funny gags and eventually teamwork and brotherly bonding.
All three of the adult brothers, for various reasons, are living back home with their single mother. Their mother, Barbara, played by Margaret Colin, desperately wants her sons, who have grown apart, to spend Christmas together. Five days before Christmas, someone leaves a baby named Thomas at the firehouse specifically for Luke, the oldest son. The note pinned to Thomas pleads with Luke to look after the baby, just until Christmas. Luke, very confused as to why he was chosen to watch over him, asks his mother to help him care for the baby. Barbara agrees, but she is called away shortly thereafter due to an emergency. The brothers have to come together to care for baby Thomas. These brothers soon begin to appreciate the sacrifices their own mother has made for them over the years.
Whether it is romance, family togetherness, or even a little comedy you are looking for this holiday season, Hallmark is the way to go. Watching Hallmark movies has become a holiday tradition for families everywhere. Sure, the storylines can be a little cheesy and almost always predictable, but they are still always filled with a little fun, a lot of drama, and probably an unexpected romance. Hallmark has nearly 300 holiday films in their library, any of which is sure to put even the biggest of scrooges in the holiday spirit.
by Olivia Hennis