My favorite Hallmark Channel 'Countdown to Christmas' movies
Left: Nikki DeLoach in ‘Two Turtle Doves’ / Center: Meredith Hagner in ‘My Christmas Love’ / Right: Bridget Regan in ‘Christmas Getaway’
(images courtesy of The Hallmark Channel / Crown Media)
Some people constantly play Christmas music in their car in around-the-clock in November and December - I'm the same, but with TV and the Hallmark Channel.
As an unapologetic lover of Hallmark Channel's 'Countdown to Christmas,’ here are my 10 favorite movies from this annual holiday marathon (updated ahead of 2020 movie season):
‘A Royal Christmas’ (2014)
Yes, more than one Hallmark movie uses the 'she's marrying an actual prince' gimmick - but none of those other movies have Jane Seymour as the regal yet sharply disapproving mother figure. Also, it’s a nice change of pace to not have the story focus on “will they or won’t they” (you know they will), and have fun with a character who isn’t entirely happy Prince Charming found his princess. Shifting the conflict is a nice surprise to a pretty standard Hallmark formula.
'Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ (2008)
Henry-fricking-Winkler. End of discussion. He has enough delightful heart to make you forget that the “wrong guy” is ridiculously arch almost to the point of parody – and the fact that the girl-with-it-all is willing to completely upend her life after spending a few days in the general vicinity a patently good guy. Pull Winkler out of this movie, and it’s preposterous even by Hallmark Channel standards.
‘Reunited at Christmas’ (2018)
Most Hallmark movies fall into one of two categories: either a girl and guy meet and fall in love within a matter of days - or it’s an old flame who comes back into their lives to rekindle a romance. ‘Reunited’ is neither of these things - and it’s all the better for it. The movie forces a career-focused couple who thought they blissfully unwed actually deal with their stagnant relationship, helping them to fall back in love.
‘The Mistletoe Promise’ (2016)
At long last, a movie where both lead characters matter! Jaime King and Luke Macfarlane are strangers who make a pact to pose as a couple to navigate through the myriad of holiday work obligations. This is one of the rare, purely character driven ‘Countdown to Christmas’ movies, and it’s nice to see a story compelled by the two leads dynamically interacting – and not merely have the story pushed along by an endless series of arbitrary/random plot points.
‘Christmas Getaway’ (2017)
"Getaway" doesn't get tripped up on superfluous story threads or b-plots that feel like filler - this romance is refreshingly streamlined, and it's all the better for its direct plot. The best Hallmark movies have a clear intention, and leverage all their assets to connect with the best parts of the holidays and love. And "Getaway" accomplishes the rare feat of finding the heart of holiday warmth and getting two strangers to fall in love over just a few days.
‘My Christmas Love’ (2016)
Meredith Hagner is a girl who starts receiving gifts from her “one true love,” all with the theme from the 12 days of Christmas. She, along with her best friend – clearly the guy she’s really meant to be with – try to figure out who is sending her the gifts. The reason why this one is this list – the ending has a rather nice and unexpected twist … one that actually fits completely organically within the greater story.
‘It's Christmas, Eve' (2018)
"Christmas, Eve" features a refreshingly straightforward story focused on an uncommonly complex protagonist for a Hallmark Channel movie. Eve is a different variation of Hallmark protagonist because her struggle isn't against some arch wicked co-worker or fighting over a man with some other overtly selfish woman - Eve is constantly in conflict with herself.
‘Two Turtle Doves’ (2019)
While not technically a ‘Countdown’ movie (officially it’s a ‘Miracles of Christmas’ movie that premiered on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries), this is a Christmas movie for grown-ups that honestly and gently pulls at the heartstrings. Nikki DeLoach and Michael Rady is pure casting perfection together - they exude a gentle and unsaid sadness, even as they smile and try to enjoy the holiday cheer all around them. ‘Turtle Doves’ is a bittersweet and lovely tearjerker that is equal parts a celebration of Christmas as much as it is a melancholic reflection of loss and grief
‘Picture a Perfect Christmas‘ (2019)
Hallmark movies have reputation for being formulaic -- and to be completely honest, it's not a completely baseless accusation. And more than a few Hallmark movies fall into one of a few plot buckets: including, the girl who returns home for a traditional Christmas or the girl who takes care of the guy's child (this one falls into both these buckets). "Picture" might not bring anything new to the Hallmark genre - but it stands out as an exceptional "Countdown to Christmas" flick simply based on how well it executes familiar plot elements. ‘Formulaic’ is fine, so long as each ingredient and the total composition is put together with love and sincerity.
My favorite Hallmark Christmas movie:
‘Window Wonderland’ (2013)
The chemistry between leads Chyler Leigh and Paul Campbell is the absolute key to why this might be my favorite overall Hallmark holiday movie in the vast catalog. Their back-and-forth actually has some crackle and pop, as their characters actually feel genuinely adversarial as they compete for a main job. Their bristling banter is playful but barbed, without feeling forced or insincere. And it’s a small thing: but it’s one of the very few Hallmark movies set in a major city.
Honorable mention:
‘A Cookie Cutter Christmas’ (2014)
‘Cookie Cutter’ will always have a special place in my heart - because it’s the first Hallmark Christmas movie I watched from start to finish. My mother loved the Hallmark’s holiday movies and would just leave her TV set to the channel starting in November. When I would come by and visit her during the lead up to Christmas, the Hallmark channel was always on. While sitting with my mom one afternoon, we just watched a quaint little love triangle holiday movie set in a school, wherein two rival teachers battled for the affections of a student’s dad. It’s actually kind of the perfect Hallmark movie - one that is nice to sit down and watch, and one that can be left on in the background while doing other holiday stuff. Although I didn’t know it back then, but ‘A Cookie Cutter Christmas’ was the start of my very genuine love of the ‘Countdown to Christmas.’
