Hallmark Presents; A 2022 Movie Rec List

Earlier this year, when I came down with Covid, I wrote a post about how I was watching a lot of Hallmark movies. This has not really changed. For the past few months, I have been watching so many of these feel good, predictable movies because – as much fun as Netflix romcoms can be – Hallmark (and Lifetime) movies have an earnestness most Netflix movies lack.

They laugh with you, even the ones that are genre aware, never at you.

And because I’ve been talking about this A LOT with friends, some of them have asked me for recommendations for the days when you just want a pick me up. I’ll be back with a recommendation list of older movies eventually, but today’s recommendation list comes from this year’s Countdown To Christmas and Miracles Of Christmas movies.

Movies marked with ‘*’ are movies that lived up to my (quite high) expectations. Movies marked with “!” are ones I had not expected to enjoy as much a I did.

All movie titles link to the trailers. And the recommendations are listed in the order of their airing dates.

We Wish You A Married Christmas
Aired: 22 October 2022
Starring: Marisol Nichols, Kristoffer Polaha
Summary: Becca and Robby are a married couple having a hard time connecting with each other as the holidays approach. At the advice of their married coach, they head to a cozy Vermont inn to recharge. Their weekend away gets unexpectedly extended when a mishap puts their car out of commission.
My Thoughts: This was a lot more grounded than the trailer suggested, and felt very realistic. Of course, with the usual Hallmark flair.

A Kismet Christmas
Aired: 23 October 2022
Starring: Sarah Ramos, Carlo Marks, Marilu Henner
Summary: Sarah is a children’s book author who returns to her hometown, where she reconnects with family and Travis, her childhood crush. She soon discovers a long-held family legend might actually be true.
My Thoughts: This was fun and sweet. Which author doesn’t want that sort of supportive community, right? The couple’s back and forth felt quite realistic of people who have known each other for a long time.

Jolly Good Christmas
Aired: 29 October 2022
Starring: Reshma Shetty, Will Kemp
Summary: David is an American architect who recently moved to London who crosses paths with Anji, a professional shopper, three days before Christmas. David ultimately decides to hire Anji and, thanks to a series of unexpected events, finds himself on a wild adventure across Jolly Old London as Anji helps him search for the perfect present for his girlfriend.
My Thoughts: Look, the South Asian representation made me very happy. I’m a simple woman. I adored that, but the movie itself was also fun!

Ghosts Of Christmas Always
Aired: 30 October 2022
Starring: Kim Matula, Ian Harding, Beth Leavel, Lori Tan Chinn, Reginald VelJohnson
Summary: Katherine is a Ghost of Christmas Present and she must help one soul, Peter, rediscover his Christmas spirit. But this year has something unusual in store.
My Thoughts: ! Not just once, to be honest, but MULTIPLE !!!!! This movie was such an unexpected take on the Christmas classic.

Lights, Camera, Christmas!
Aired: 5 November 2022
Starring: Kimberley Sustad, John Brotherton
Summary: When a holiday rom-com movie shooting in her town needs a costume designer, Kerry, a local shop owner, steps into the role. While working on the movie, she rediscovers her passion for costume design and finds herself falling for Brad, the film’s famous leading man.
My Thoughts: ! This was not originally on my list of movies I was planning to watch. But then the trailer and sneak peeks came out, and I was intrigued enough to give it a try. I am SO GLAD I did. It’s very much a nod to the genre, a sort of love story for the audience.

All Saints Christmas
Aired: 6 November 2022
Starring: Ledisi, Roger Cross
Summary: Lisette is a popular R&B singer who’s getting ready to travel home to New Orleans for Christmas. When the media mistake a photo of her with her music producer ex as an engagement announcement, her family insists that he join her on the trip.
My Thoughts: A fake relationship AND a second chance romance? Like kryptonite for me.

In Merry Measure
Aired: 11 November 2022
Starring: Patti Murin, Brendan Penny, Jennifer Robertson
Summary: When pop star Darcy returns home to spend Christmas with her sister and niece, she unexpectedly finds herself coaching the high school choir with her onetime rival, Adam.
My Thoughts: This was honestly on my list because of the cast – I love the main couple so much. They played off of each other really well. It was cute and funny, and yes, predictable, but that was EXACTLY what I signed up for.

The Royal Nanny
Aired: 12 November 2022
Starring: Rachel Skarsten, Dan Jeannotte, Greta Scacchi
Summary: Claire is an MI5 agent who goes undercover as the royal nanny. She must overcome the challenges of her assignment, like resisting the charms of Prince Colin, while keeping the family safe at Christmas.
My Thoughts: ! Another one that wasn’t originally high on my list, but it was so unexpected and fun! Some Home Alone and The Pacifier vibes, with a mix of Mary Poppins, if I’m honest.

Our Italian Christmas Memories
Aired: 12 November 2022
Starring: Sarah Power, Beau Bridges
Summary: The Colucci siblings, in an effort to jog the memory of their grandfather who is struggling with dementia, set out to recreate their late grandmother’s legendary pasta sauce.
My Thoughts: This one is emotional. Very much family-oriented, very much hit me hard because my grandmother has memory issues similar to the grandfather in the movie AND I lost my grandfather earlier this year. Can be a tear-jerker.

Christmas At The Golden Dragon
Aired: 13 November 2022
Starring: Kara Wang, Osric Chau, Sara Canning, Antonio Cupo, Barbara Niven
Summary: When Romy and Rick’s parents surprise them with the news that they will be closing the Chinese restaurant they have owned and operated for decades, the siblings each find themselves reevaluating their futures. Also impacted by the news are the landmark restaurant’s loyal patrons and staff, who have all come to depend on the restaurant over the holidays.
My Thoughts: Centring around a family-run Chinese restaurant? Ensemble cast? Sign me up! It was the right blend of emotional and fun, and the cast very much felt like a community.

Inventing The Christmas Prince
Aired: 18 November 2022
Starring: Tamera Mowry-Housley, Ronnie Rowe Jr.
Summary: Shelby is about to quit her job as a rocket engineer when her daughter becomes convinced that her Scrooge-like boss, Evan, is the Christmas Prince from a story Shelby invented years ago.
My Thoughts: ! The trailer really did not give as much away for this story. Just enough to intrigue me into watching it. What I got was a lot less campy and with a lot more heart than I really expected. It was quite sweet, actually.

Three Wise Men And A Baby
Aired: 19 November 2022
Starring: Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes, Paul Campbell, Margaret Colin
Summary: Three brothers get the surprise of their lives when they are forced to work together to care for a baby over the holidays. As they slowly get the hang of things, they find themselves on unexpected journeys of self-discovery and begin to rebuild their relationships as brothers, as well as the damaged romantic and professional relationships in their respective lives… all while rediscovering their love of Christmas.
My Thoughts: * This was 100% high on my list because of the cast. I have loved their individual movies and having them in one together? I was so excited going in, and it was so much fun! If you watch one Christmas movie this year, let this be it.

Haul Out The Holly
Aired: 26 November 2022
Starring: Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Ellen Travolta, Peter Jacobson, Melissa Peterman, Stephen Tobolowsky
Summary: Emily arrives home, hoping to visit her parents, only to discover that they are leaving on a trip of their own. As she stays at their house for the holidays, their HOA is determined to get Emily to participate in the neighborhood’s many Christmas festivities.
My Thoughts: I had a few issues with the beginning of this story, but once you remember it’s meant to be more comedy than anything else, and embrace that? This was ridiculous and fun.

Time For Him To Come Home For Christmas
Aired: 26 November 2022
Starring: Holland Roden, Tyler Hynes, Tenille Townes
Summary: Four days before Christmas, Elizabeth Athens receives a voicemail from a number she doesn’t recognize. On the message, a man she doesn’t know makes one final plea to the love of his life for a second chance. The fifth installment of the popular movie franchise, based on executive producer Blake Shelton’s song “Time for Me to Come Home.”
My Thoughts: * I really enjoyed the last installment of this series – not connected – and the cast for this one excited me! It was predictable at times, yes, but the right amount of emotional that I got invested. Which is what you want with these at the end of the day.

A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe
Aired: 27 November 2022
Starring: Rachel Boston, Victor Webster
Summary: Annie Cooper has big shoes to fill when she takes over as CEO of her late grandmother’s small-town cookie company and is doing her best to help their struggling business get back on track. That task gets more daunting when her grandmother’s secret recipe is stolen during the Christmas party. As Annie tries to crack the case and uncover the culprit she works with Sam, the owner of a local bakery, to recreate the recipe in the hope of saving the company and her job. As Annie and Sam bake batch after batch in pursuit of the perfect one, they begin to learn that their lives go together like milk and cookies.
My Thoughts: Honestly, a lot funnier and emotional than I expected it to be. And I did expect the comedy. It was nice seeing Rachel Boston in a role a little different from ones I’ve seen her in.

A Holiday Spectacular
Aired: 27 November 2022
Starring: Ginna Claire Mason, Derek Klena, Eve Plumb, Ann-Margret Featuring the Radio City Rockettes
Summary: In 1958, Maggie is an heiress from Philadelphia who puts her high-society wedding plans on hold in order to sneak up to New York City and make her secret dream come true: dancing live on stage in the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall.
My Thoughts: ! I went back and forth on watching this, if I’m honest. But the final draw ended up being Derek Klena – let him sing in a Hallmark movie please. And I wound up really enjoying this. It was quite character driven, with a focus on the friendship between the dancers that for some reason I had not expected. And I really loved that about it.

Now it’s not that I didn’t enjoy the other movies. All the ones I’ve watched so far – I couldn’t find a couple, and wasn’t interested in a couple more – have been a good time. These are just ones I’m sure I wouldn’t mind watching again.

There are still more movies to come over the rest of December, and they will get their own list. I’ve seen three of them already as I write this list, and I’m excited for pretty much all of the rest to come.

• Are you a holiday movie fan?
• What are some of your favourite movies you’ve seen recently?
• Do you prefer Netflix movies to Hallmark movies?

Let me know if you watch any of these movies! Happy December!