paul_haakonsen

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Reviews

Scouting for Christmas
(2024)

It was a good Hallmark movie...
Another Hallmark Christmas movie that I had never even heard of. But I had the opportunity to sit down and watch director Jason Bourque's 2024 movie "Scouting for Christmas" as part of my December Christmas movie marathon. And while I had never heard about the movie, I suppose that the writers had every opportunity to impress and entertain me.

Writers Ali Spuck and Casie Tabanou put together a good script. True to the classic Hallmark formula, the writers delivered a storyline that had elements of romance, family, and holiday season; all in all, what you would expect from a sappy Christmas movie. And it worked out nicely, because the narrative proved entertaining. Predictable? Sure. Sappy? You betcha. But isn't that what makes for a good sappy Christmas movie? And that is what Hallmark usually do quite well.

The acting performances in the movie are good. The only familiar face on the cast list for me was leading actress Tamera Mowry-Housley.

If you enjoy sappy Christmas movies, then you should definitely take 84 minutes to sit down and watch this 2024 Hallmark movie.

My rating of director Jason Bourque's movie lands on a six out of ten stars.

A Nanny for Christmas
(2010)

It didn't have that traditional sappy Christmas spirit to it...
Suffice it to say that I had, of course, never heard about the 2010 movie "A Nanny for Christmas" prior to sitting down to watch it here in 2024. I stumbled upon the movie as I was gathering Christmas movies for my December Christmas movie marathon.

Writers Michael Ciminera, Richard Gnolfo, Jeffrey Schenck and Peter Sullivan put together a rather generic script. I just didn't get that particular warm and sappy Christmassy feel as I sat through the 87 minutes that the movie ran for. Sure, it was a watchable movie, but it just didn't really stand out in the vast selection of sappy Christmas movies that are out there.

The movie does have a couple of familiar faces on the cast list, with the likes of Emmanuelle Vaugier, Dean Cain, Richard Ruccolo, Cynthia Gibb and Clyde Kusatsu. The acting performances in the movie were certainly fair.

While I did manage to sit through the entire movie, I was not particularly entertained. And since the movie failed to capture that sappy Christmas spirit, then the movie just didn't cut it for me.

This is definitely not a movie that I will be returning to watch a second time. Nor is it bound to become a Christmas classic. But I am sure that there is a fan base out there for a movie such as this.

My rating of director Michael Feifer's 2010 movie "A Nanny for Christmas" lands on a four out of ten stars.

Take Me Back for Christmas
(2023)

Not the finest moment of Hallmark Christmas movies...
Another Christmas movie that I was not familiar with, having never heard about it, nor watched it before. And thus, as I had the chance here in 2024, I opted to sit down and watch it as part of my December Christmas movie marathon.

Writer Kate Pragnell put together a rather generic and stereotypical script for the movie, when taking into consideration that this is a sappy Hallmark Christmas movie. The storyline just didn't stand out in a vast sea of similar Christmas movies out there, and that made "Take Me Back for Christmas" sort of bland and forgettable.

The movie just didn't really come off as having that particularly unique sparkling Christmas ingredient that makes these sappy Christmas movies entertaining and enjoyable, guilty pleasures or not.

I was not familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie, but I will say that the acting performances were adequate. However, personally, I think that the movie would have fared better if they had given the lead role to Kimberly-Ann Truong, instead of just having her in a support role.

"Take Me Back for Christmas" is definitely not going to be a Christmas classic for me, nor is it a movie that I will return to watch a second time. But I am sure that there is an audience out there for a movie such as this.

My rating of director Corey Sevier's 2023 movie "Take Me Back for Christmas" lands on a four out of ten stars.

Christmas in Wonderland
(2006)

Sort of "Home Alone" in the mall...
I had not heard about the 2006 movie "Christmas In Wonderland" prior to sitting down and watching it here in 2024, as part of my December month of binging Christmas movies. And yeah, I thought that this was an actual Christmas movie.

But I have to say that I found the storyline to be somewhat like "Home Alone" in a way, except it took place in a mall. Just because the movie's narrative was set during the Christmas time, doesn't mean that it was a Christmas movie. So I was a bit disappointed with the fact that this wasn't an actual Christmas movie. That being said, then don't get me wrong, because it wasn't as if "Christmas In Wonderland" was a bad movie, not at all. It just wasn't what I was expecting. Writers Wanda Birdsong Shope, James Orr and Jim Cruickshank put together a fair enough script and storyline.

The acting performances in the movie were good, and there were some familiar faces on the cast list, with the likes of Patrick Swayze, Tim Curry, Chris Kattan and Cameron Bright.

Watchable, for sure, just don't expect this to be a traditional sappy Christmas movie. I am sure that if you enjoyed the "Home Alone" movie, then you might actually also enjoy this movie.

My rating of director James Orr's 2006 movie "Christmas In Wonderland" lands on a five out of ten stars.

Holiday Mismatch
(2024)

It was good...
Needless to say that I was, of course, not familiar with the 2024 Hallmark Christmas movie "Holiday Mismatch" prior to sitting down to watch it as part of my 2024 December Christmas movie marathon. But while I was unfamiliar with the movie, I have to say that seeing Caroline Rhea and Beth Broderick on the movie's cover, it did instill some sense of expectation to Hallmark to deliver something worthwhile.

Writer Sarah Wise did indeed rise to the challenge and she did deliver an enjoyable and entertaining script and storyline. I have to say that I was genuinely entertained throughout the course of the 84 minutes that the movie ran for.

The acting performances in "Holiday Mismatch" were good, and there were some familiar faces on the cast list, with the likes of Caroline Rhea, Beth Broderick and Jon McLaren. It certainly was nice to see actresses Caroline Rhea and Beth Broderick reunited on the screen again. I've always enjoyed seeing them as the aunties in the "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" series from back in the mid-1990s.

If you enjoy sappy Christmas movies, then you should take the time to sit down and watch director Caroline Labrèche's 2024 movie. It was a nice movie.

My rating of "Holiday Mismatch" lands on a six out of ten stars.

A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa
(2008)

It was good...
I had never actually heard about this Muppets Christmas movie titled "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa", but of course I opted to sit down and watch it, as part of my 2024 Christmas movie marathon.

Did I harbor great expectations to this 2008 movie? Not really, as I had just sat through the somewhat bland 2002 "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie" prior to watching this 2008 movie. But still, since I hadn't already seen this one, of course I gave it a chance.

Writers Hugh Fink, Scott Ganz, Andrew Samson and Paul Williams put together a rather enjoyable and entertaining script and storyline. I have to say that I was genuinely entertained throughout the course of the 43 minutes that the movie ran for. "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" was definitely a step up from the 2002 "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie", so I was pleasantly surprised.

The live cast in the movie was good, and they had a great ensemble of talents for the various roles and parts.

With "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" being a Henson movie, of course the Muppets are great. There are many familiar Muppets on the screen, and also a bunch that I wasn't familiar with.

While no Christmas classic, I will say that "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" definitely is an entertaining Christmas movie for the family.

My rating of director Kirk R. Thatcher's 2008 movie "A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa" lands on a six out of ten stars.

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
(2002)

Watchable, but not a Christmas classic...
I have indeed watched the 1992 Christmas movie rendering of the classic Charles Dickens story, but I have never watched the 2002 movie "It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie" before now in 2024. But if it was anything like the 1992 movie, then I would definitely be in for a treat.

The live cast ensemble in the movie was pretty amazing. They had so many great talents in the movie, though most of them were in minor roles and parts only. But still, it was a pretty amazing cast ensemble, no doubt about that.

With this being a Henson movie, of course the Muppets were nicely made and very likeable. There is just something timeless about the Muppets, now isn't there? There are many classic Muppet characters in the movie, and an abundance of unfamiliar characters to me.

Watchable, for sure, but I just didn't enjoy director Kirk R. Thatcher's 2002 "It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie" nearly as much as I enjoyed the 1992 "The Muppets Christmas Carol" movie.

This particular Muppet movie does not have the contents to it to become a Christmas classic. But it definitely was entertaining enough for what it was.

My rating of "It's A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie" lands on a five out of ten stars.

The Muppet Christmas Carol
(1992)

Truly a Christmas classic for the entire family...
I have indeed watched the 1992 movie "The Muppet Christmas Carol", but it has been many, many years ago. And since I had the opportunity to sit down and revisit it, of course I did so here in December, as I am going through a Christmas movie marathon this year.

I do remember the movie fondly, but I must admit that I had forgotten that it was Michael Caine that had the leading role.

The storyline in the movie is good, and writer Jerry Juhl did a great job in translating the Charles Dickens classic into a Muppets tale. I will say that the mixture of a classic Christmas tale such as "A Christmas Carol" from Charles Dickens mixed in with the goofiness of the Muppets actually made for some enjoyable entertainment.

The songs in the movie are good as well.

There are many beloved Muppet characters from my childhood and an abundance of other characters that I was not familiar with. But of course, with this being a Henson movie, of course the puppets were great.

If you haven't already watched this movie, then I would definitely recommend you do so, should you get the chance. It is a very enjoyable movie, especially if you enjoy Christmas classics and have a liking for the Muppets as well. This 1992 movie is indeed a Christmas classic that is very suitable for the entire family to sit down and watch together.

My rating of director Brian Henson's 1992 "The Muppet Christmas Carol" lands on a well-deserved nine out of ten stars.

Wreathmaker Christmas
(2024)

It was fair...
While I was not familiar with the 2024 Christmas movie "Christmas Wreaths and Ribbons", I still opted to sit down and watch it as part of my 2024 December Christmas movie marathon. And since I hadn't heard about it, I suppose that writer and director Brittany Wiscombe had every opportunity to entertain and bedazzle me.

The storyline in the movie was sufficiently sappy to actually capture that archetypical sugar-coated Christmas spirit of the Christmas movie genre. I found the storyline to be entertaining and it was actually a nice enough story with a lot of heart and Christmas spirit. So writer and director Brittany Wiscombe did manage to churn out something enjoyable.

I was not familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie, but I will say that the acting performances were good. Leading actress Kristin Wollett and leading actor Casey Elliott had good chemistry on the screen, and they made the movie have a lot of spark and spirit. Thumbs up to them for that accomplishment. And I actually do enjoy watching new and unfamiliar talents on the screen when I sit down to watch a movie.

The version of the movie that I sat down to watch was titled "Christmas Wreaths and Ribbons", yet here on IMDb it is titled "Wreathmaker Christmas".

If you enjoy the archetypical sappy Christmas movies, then you would definitely want to check out the 2024 movie "Christmas Wreaths and Ribbons". I was genuinely and wholeheartedly entertained throughout the course of the movie. And this is actually a Christmas movie that I would recommend you to check out.

My rating of "Christmas Wreaths and Ribbons" lands on a five out of ten stars.

A '90s Christmas
(2024)

Boring...
Needless to say that I was not familiar with the 2024 Hallmark Christmas movie "A '90s Christmas" prior to sitting down and watching it as part of my December 2024 month of sappy Christmas movie marathon.

Writer Ryan Peckinpaugh definitely had an okay enough idea for the script and storyline. And while the movie started out nicely, it quickly settled into a monotonous rump and never really got up into gear and in motion. And it was a storyline that had my interest quickly waning as the narrative trotted on and on. Nothing interesting happened, and there was no Christmassy feel to the narrative, which just added insult to injury.

I was only familiar with actress Katherine Barrell from the "Wynona Earp" series and actor Chandler Massey on the cast list, as I had just previously sat through the 2023 Christmas movie "Mystic Christmas" in which he was the leading actor.

It is amazing that movies made in 2024 still resort to using fake snow, but hey, at least that was in the spirit of the 1990s movies.

Should you sit down and watch "A '90s Christmas" with the intention and hope of being in for a sappy Hallmark Christmas movie, you will be sorely disappointed. This movie was a boring time travel movie, where you just sit and stare blankly at the screen, because nothing interesting happened.

"A '90s Christmas" was a swing and a miss of a movie, and it is definitely not a movie that I will ever return to watch a second time. Nor is it a movie with potential to become a Christmas classic. In fact, it is not even a movie that I would recommend you to waste 84 minutes on watching. Some of us suffered through this ordeal, so you don't have to; you're quite welcome.

My rating of director Marni Banack's 2024 movie "A '90s Christmas" lands on a three out of ten stars.

Jingle Bell Love
(2024)

Not too bad...
Another Christmas movie that I wasn't familiar with, but I still opted to sit down and watch "Jingle Bell Love" here in 2024, as I am sitting through an extended sappy Christmas movie marathon here in December. And since I wasn't familiar with the movie, I suppose that writers Stefanie Black and Daren Flam and director Anne De Léan had every opportunity to entertain and bedazzle me.

Writers Stefanie Black and Daren Flam put together a fair script and storyline, which proved to be just sappy enough and corny enough to actually be one of those guilty pleasure watchable Christmas movies.

They sure drank a lot of coffees throughout the course of the movie.

Of the entire cast ensemble, I was only familiar with Joey McIntyre, from his singing career not his acting, And of course he had to break out in a song somewhere along the way. And I was also familiar with Michelle Morgan. The acting performances in the movie were fair.

I was actually adequately and genuinely entertained by what director Anne De Léan brought to the screen. Sure, "Jingle Bell Love" is not going to become a returning Christmas classic at my home, but it was actually a nice enough sappy Christmas movie. And if you are a die-hard fan of the sappy Christmas movie genre, then you definitely should check out this movie.

My rating of "Jingle Bell Love" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Mystic Christmas
(2023)

Good, but lacking that unique special Christmassy feeling...
The cover for the 2023 Hallmark Christmas movie "Mystic Christmas" was particularly cheesy. I mean, Jessy Schram and Chandler Massey standing in front of a water tank with a swimming seal looked corny and cheesy. And it didn't help one bit that they looked like they were photoshopped into the image. So yeah, "Mystic Christmas" didn't really have a cover that had that particular sappy Christmas appeal to it. Oddly so, since this movie was made by Hallmark, one of the mammoth players in the sappy Christmas movie market.

Writers Nicole Drespel, Christy O'Connor and Andrew Gernhard put together a script and storyline that thankfully put the movie's abysmal cover to shame. The movie was actually far better than I had initially expected. And I will say that it was actually an enjoyable movie to sit through.

Actually I wasn't familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list of this 2023 movie, aside from William R. Moses. And yeah, that is actually something I enjoy when I sit down to watch a movie, being unfamiliar with the talents on the screen and letting them win me over with their performances. The acting performances in "Mystic Christmas" was good.

While "Mystic Christmas" was a good movie, director Marlo Hunter just didn't really capture that special Christmas feeling that many other similar movies possess. And as such, then the movie didn't really manage to stand out in a vast sea of Christmas movies. But I am sure that die-hard fans of the sappy Christmas movie genre will enjoy "Mystic Christmas" a lot more than I did as a casual viewer.

This is definitely not going to become a Christmas classic for me. In fact, I won't return to watch the movie a second time.

My rating of "Mystic Christmas" lands on a five out of ten stars.

Operation Mistletoe
(2024)

Not much magic under the mistletoe...
Had I heard about the 2024 movie "Operation Mistletoe" prior to sitting down to watch it? Nope. Not even remotely. I happened to stumble upon the movie by random chance, as part of sitting through a long tirade of sappy Christmas movies this year. But from the movie's cover, I have to admit that I just figured that I would be in for another generic scripted sappy Christmas movie that follows the standard formula that seems to dictate the majority of these movies.

It was a bit perplexing that writers Ansley Gordon, Kathleen Knox and Bob Sáenz collectively couldn't muster to conjure up a more potent storyline and script than what they managed. The narrative in the movie felt a bit flat and bland.

I was not familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie, but the acting performances were fair. However, I have to say that the hairstyle on leading actor Nick Bateman was distracting to look at, it was as if Donald Trumps hairpiece's estranged cousin had nested on top of his head. It looked terrible.

"Operation Mistletoe" was a watchable movie, for sure, but it just didn't really have that particular Christmassy ingredient in my opinion, to make it stand out in the vast sea of similar movies out there. But hey, if you are a die-hard fan of sappy Christmas movies, I am sure that you will enjoy this 2024 movie way more than I did as a casual viewer.

My rating of director Bradley Walsh's 2024 Christmas movie "Operation Mistletoe" lands on a three out of ten stars.

A Novel Noel
(2024)

Quite good actually...
Despite this being a movie made in 2024, I had never actually heard about it. But of course, sappy Christmas movies is usually not my go-to type of entertainment. But every now and again during December will I sit down and binge-watch sappy Christmas movies, and 2024 turned out to be one such year. And thus, I had the opportunity to sit down and watch writer Betsy Sullenger and director Michael Robison's 2024 movie "A Novel Noel".

Thumbs up to writer Betsy Sullenger on the accomplishment of the script, as it proved to be a rather enjoyable storyline. I was genuinely entertained throughout the course of the movie. And it was a script that combined elements of what apparently makes a good sappy Christmas movie; that being romance, a pinch of drama, the spirit of Christmas, an idyllic setting, and a feel-good sensation. And the movie had all that in a good mixture.

I was not familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie, though leading actress Julie Gonzalo did seem somewhat familiar, but I just couldn't put any movie or series to her face. I will say that leading actress Julie Gonzalo really made this movie all the more enjoyable, because she put on a very committed and spirited performance. She carried the movie quite wonderfully. In fact, all of the cast actually put on good performances, but Julie Gonzalo she stood out as being extraordinary.

If you enjoy sappy Christmas movies, then you definitely should check out director Michael Robison's 2024 movie "A Novel Noel". I was genuinely entertained throughout the course of the 84 minutes that the movie ran for. And it is certainly a movie that I would recommend for fans of the sappy Christmas holiday movies.

My rating of "A Novel Noel" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Graveyard Shark
(2024)

As bad as you would assume...
Granted, I had zero expectations to this movie, as I stumbled upon it by random chance here in 2024. I mean, the title alone is cringeworthy; "Graveyard Shark". Not to mention the dubious cover.

But of course I opted to give writer and director Matthew A. Peters's 2024 movie a fair chance.

The storyline was pretty straightforward, although somewhat generic and not particularly innovative or anything. It was a semi-enjoyable movie, because it was cheesy and bad enough to sort of actually be watchable.

Of course I was not familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie. Some of the acting performances were fair, while others were wooden and questionable. Yeah, you're not exactly in for an evening of Shakespearian theater here. But then again, I doubt anyone will be expecting such from a movie titled "Graveyard Shark".

The special effects in the movie were sort of okay. Sure, the shark's face was inarticulate and obviously just a rubber mask. And I have to say that a muscular man's body with a hammerhead shark's head on it just didn't really come off as being particularly impressive. The movie has a sufficient amount of goofy blood spray effects during the shark attack scenes to keep the movie afloat - no pun intended.

And the intimate scene between a man and a mermaid wearing an insanely fake lower-body fish costume was some of the most cringeworthy stuff I've seen in a long, long time. And that laughably ridiculous song that played during the scene didn't help make it the least bit better. And why would such a interspecies union breed a sharkman?

"Graveyard Shark" was by no means a good movie. Nor is it a movie that I will ever return to watch a second time. Would I recommend you to sit down and watch the movie? No.

My rating of writer and director Matthew A. Peters's 2024 movie "Graveyard Shark" lands on a three out of ten stars.

A Christmas Kiss
(2011)

Meh...
Of course this was another Christmas movie that I was unfamiliar with, though opting to watch it as part of my December Christmas movie marathon.

The storyline was a bit too blad for me, and I didn't really get sucked in, nor did I get overwhelmed with that wonderful sense of Christmas spirit. So I feel that writer Joany Kane sort of failed to pen together a wholesome script and story arch which you would expect from a sappy Christmas movie. But I am sure that there is an audience out there that will find more enjoyment in the movie than I did.

I was only familiar with a single performer on the cast list, and that was Brendan Fehr. I found the acting performances in the movie to be adequate.

"A Christmas Kiss" is not going to be a returning Christmas classic for me. In fact, I will actually never pick up the movie a second time.

Watchable, sure, but hardly an outstanding foray into the Christmas movie genre.

My rating of director John Stimpson's 2011 movie "A Christmas Kiss" lands on a bland four out of ten stars.

The Christmas Classic
(2023)

Mediocre Christmas movie...
Of course I had never heard about the 2023 Showtime Christmas movie titled "The Christmas Classic" prior to sitting down to watch it as part of my 2024 Christmas movie marathon.

But I will say that the movie's cover was sufficiently cheesy to instill that particular sense of being in for a sappy Christmas movie experience.

Writers Austin Nichols and Shane Dax Taylor put together a sufficiently enjoyable storyline, but it just wasn't standing out in the vast sea of similar movies. And as such, I have to say that "The Christmas Classic" is not going to become a Christmas classic. Watchable, for sure, just not memorable out unique.

There were some familiar faces on the screen, such as Malin Akerman, Ryan Hansen, Austin Nichols and Amy Smart. It should be said, though, that the acting performances in the movie were fair.

They mentioned The Griswalds in this movie, as they were talking about Christmas lights, which I found to be a nice touch and a lovely nod to the classic "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation".

My rating of director Shane Dax Taylor's 2023 movie "The Christmas Classic" lands on a bland five out of ten stars.

A Holiday for Harmony
(2024)

This was a train wreck...
Right, well when I saw that Maverick logo on the screen, I have to say that my expectations to "A Holiday For Harmony" went from slim to none, as their track record of movies that I've seen has been questionable at best.

But in the spirit of Christmas and the fact that I was doing a Christmas movie marathon, then I decided to give writer and director Amiri Koronz Thompson's movie a fair chance.

This movie was a swing and a miss. The writing was atrocious. I haven't stumbled upon a more ridiculous and laughable Christmas movie in all of my time. It was cringeworthy and physically painful to sit through this dumpster fire of a movie. Well, truth be told I didn't even make it far into the ordeal before I gave up out of sheer and utter boredom. There was nothing Christmassy about this movie, and the storyline was just rubbish.

Then there was the acting performances, which would best be described as wooden, lacking spirit, out of tune and generally just downright dull. Of course I wasn't familiar with a single actor or actress on the cast list, but then again I can't say that I was the least bit impressed or inspired by what I witnessed on the screen.

Amiri Koronz Thompson delivered a movie that was as far away from sappy Hallmark Christmas movies as you could possibly get. And this is definitely not a movie that I will be returning to attempt finish watching. If you enjoy sappy Christmas movies, do yourself a favor and give "A Holiday for Harmony" a wide berth.

My rating of "A Holiday for Harmony" lands on a one out of ten stars. You would find more entertainment by staring into a glass of eggnog that you've just given a good swirl.

With Love, Christmas
(2017)

One of the better sappy Christmas movies out there...
As part of my 2024 December Christmas movie marathon, I had the chance to sit down and watch the 2017 movie "With Love, Christmas", from director Marita Grabiak. Of course I had never heard about the movie prior to sitting down and watching it, but then again sappy Christmas movies is usually not my go-to type of entertainment.

Based on the cover alone, and with it being a Hallmark movie, it seemed that this movie would be particularly sappy. But I still opted to give writers Danni Hodson and Marcy Holland a fair chance.

And I am glad that I did, because "With Love, Christmas" turned out to be one the better sappy Christmas movies that I have watched. The storyline was well-written, and it had all the right contents to be a good, albeit archetypical, sappy Christmas movie. But isn't that something that Hallmark excels at, really?

The acting performances were good, and the chemistry between leading actress Emilie Ullerup and actor Aaron O'Connell was good. They carried the movie quite nicely, and I was rather impressed with their performances. In fact, the acting performances in general throughout the course of the movie were good.

"With Love, Christmas" looked and felt like a proper Christmas movie, complete with fake snow and all. If you enjoy the sappy Christmas movie genre, then you will definitely enjoy this movie, that I guarantee.

I was genuinely and wholeheartedly entertained by this movie.

My rating of director Marita Grabiak's 2017 movie "With Love, Christmas" lands on a well-deserved seven out of ten stars.

Style Me for Christmas
(2024)

Good story, but lacking that particular Christmas sparkle...
Of course I had never heard about the 2024 Christmas movie "Style Me For Christmas" from director LazRael Lison prior to sitting down to watch it as part of a Christmas movie marathon here in all of December. Was I expecting much from the movie? No, hardly so. But still, I opted to watch it, since I had never seen it, nor ever heard about it.

Writers Lynette J. Blackwell and Julene Fleurmond actually put together a surprisingly nice storyline, not to mention an enjoyable and entertaining one. There was a nice message to the story, which made it more than just another generic Christmas movie.

I was not familiar with a single face on the screen, aside from leading actress Raven Goodwin. And why the casting departed opted to cast 'Chris Rock Light' from Wish, aka Mario, for the movie was simply beyond my comprehension. Aside from that guy, I will say that the acting performances in the movie were fair.

While I did manage to sit through the entire movie, I have to say that the movie just wasn't Christmassy enough to really be a good Christmas movie, despite having a good storyline. But the movie was just lacking that particular sappy Christmas ingredient that makes a movie an archetypical Christmas movie. So if you sit down to watch "Style Me For Christmas" with the hopes of being in for a traditional Christmas movie, you might be sorely disappointed.

"Style Me For Christmas" is definitely not going to be a Christmas classic. Nor is it a movie that I will ever return to watch a second time.

My rating of director LazRael Lison's 2024 movie "Style Me For Christmas" lands on a six out of ten stars.

The Secret Gift of Christmas
(2023)

Enjoyable Christmas sap...
Needless to say that I had, of course, never heard about this 2023 Christmas movie from director Christie Will Wolf before now in 2024 as part of sitting through an ungodly amount of sappy Christmas movies all through December. And this being a Hallmark movie, and having a particularly girly and pink cover/poster, I must admit that expectations weren't grand.

But since it was a movie that I was unfamiliar with, of course I opted to give writers Christie Will Wolf, Barbara Kymlicka and Lisa Alford the benefit of the doubt. After all, every now and again, one of these sappy Christmas movies actually prove to be genuinely entertaining.

The writers put together a fair script and storyline, which actually proved entertaining. And the movie was just the right amount of sappy without going overboard.

I was familiar only with leading actress Meghan Ory and leading actor Christopher Russell. In fact, I had actually just sat through another Christmas movie with Christopher Russell in the leading role prior to watching "The Secret Gift of Christmas". The acting performances in this movie were fair. I have to say that Meghan Ory really stood out in this movie with her performance, and she carried the movie quite well.

"The Secret Gift of Christmas" is a movie that definitely will sit well with fans of the sappy Christmas movie genre.

My rating of director Christie Will Wolf's 2023 movie "The Secret Gift of Christmas" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Christmas Bake-Off
(2023)

The recipe was lacking that special Christmas ingredient...
I stumbled upon this 2023 Christmas movie by random chance and added it to the collection of sappy Christmas movies that I am sitting through this year. Of course I had never heard about the movie prior to watching it. Oddly enough, the version of the movie I found was titled "A Dash of Christmas", but it seems that the movie is actually titled "Christmas Bake-Off". Odd.

Regardless, I assumed that I was in for another generic and formulaic sappy Christmas movie, as it was based around some food stuff. And let's just be honest, the movie's cover is oozing with generic sappy Christmas sauce. Still, I opted to give the movie a fair chance, as maybe writers Bob Sáenz and Guy Yosub would surprise me with the storyline they conjured up for director Robin Dunne to bring to the screen.

I have to say that these Christmas movies where food is the core essence of the storyline just doesn't really work for me, as people cooking and baking doesn't really come off as being particularly Christmassy for me. Sure, the movie was watchable, but it was nothing outstanding.

The only performer on the cast list that I was familiar with was actor Christopher Russell, as he was in both "Land of the Dead" and the "Day of the Dead" TV series. The acting performances in the movie were fair.

This is by no means going to become a Christmas classic for me. In fact, I will never return to watch the movie a second time, as there wasn't hardly enough entertainment for the first time around.

My rating of director Robin Dunne's 2023 movie "Christmas Bake-Off" lands on a four out of ten stars.

Yes, Chef! Christmas
(2023)

Not particularly great...
Another Christmas movie lined up to be watched. And of course I Had never heard about the movie prior to sitting down and watching it.

The storyline in the movie was not particularly Christmassy. It was a storyline about cooking, essentially, and that didn't really feel like something you would associate with a traditional Christmas movie. Sure, there was a love storyline as well, and some family drama, but it was overshadowed by the cooking part of the narrative, and it made it not a particularly enjoyable movie. And the family drama felt a bit cluttered and crammed into the narrative. So writer Carley Smale didn't really conjure up any grand Christmas magic here.

Of all the cast ensemble, I was only familiar with leading actress Tia Mowry. The acting performances in the movie were fair, despite the fact that the storyline fell short of entertaining me.

While I did manage to sit through all 88 minutes of the movie, I was only slightly entertained. But I am never returning to watch "Yes, Chef! Christmas" a second time, as it was a bit of a struggle to get through it the first time already.

If you enjoy sappy Christmas movies, then your time is better spent elsewhere, because there are far, far better Christmas movies out there in an abundance.

My rating of director Max McGuire's 2023 movie "Yes, Chef! Christmas" lands on a three out of ten stars.

Confessions of a Christmas Letter
(2024)

Watchable, but nothing outstanding...
Of course I had never heard about this 2024 Christmas movie titled "Confessions of a Christmas Letter" prior to sitting down and watching it as part of a December Christmas movie marathon. But from the movie's cover alone, it looked like it was going to be an archetypical sappy Christmas movie. Yet, I still opted to give the movie a fair chance.

Writers Jennifer Smith and Kate Smith put together a fair enough script. It was watchable and entertaining enough, for sure, but it was hardly an outstanding foray into the sappy Christmas movie genre. But hey, if you enjoy the sappy Christmas movies, then you're in for a treat here.

The only cast member that I was familiar with was Garry Chalk. However, I will say that the acting performances in the movie were fair.

"Confessions of a Christmas Letter" is a movie that caters to the diehard fans of sappy Christmas movies. You're not in for any grand movie experience, if you sit down to watch the movie as a casual viewer.

My rating of director Heather Hawthorn Doyle's 2024 movie "Confessions of a Christmas Letter" lands on a bland four out of ten stars. There are far, far better sappy Christmas movies out there.

Deck the Walls
(2024)

Sort of bland...
I sat down to watch the 2024 Hallmark Christmas movie "Deck the Walls" as part of my 2024 December Christmas Movie Marathon. Sure, I had never heard about this movie prior to watching it, but I figured with it being a Hallmark movie, then it couldn't be all bad. Sure, it might be super sappy, as Hallmark movies tend to be, but I still opted to give director Jake Van Wagoner's 2024 movie a fair chance.

Yeah, I didn't really have the biggest of expectations to the movie, so I suppose that the writer Tracy Andreen and Danny Pellegrino had every opportunity to bedazzle and entertain me.

However, I found the narrative in the movie to be rather mundane. It wasn't a particularly entertaining movie. Sure, it was watchable, but the movie was just lacking that particular Christmas spark that many of these sappy movies usually have. It was a pretty generic storyline, truth be told, and not a particularly great one at that.

Of the entire cast ensemble I was only familiar with Wes Brown and Adam Johnson. While the acting performances in the movie were fairly good in general, I have to say that I just didn't particularly like leading actress Ashley Greene, as she lacked charisma and on-screen sparkle to make it a believable sappy Christmas movie.

While I did make it through the entire 84 minutes that the movie ran for, I was only mildly entertained. I can honestly say that I am not returning to watch this movie a second time. And if you enjoy sappy Christmas movies, let me just say that there are indeed far better and more enjoyable movies out there.

My rating of "Deck the Walls" lands on a three out of ten stars.

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