I am about to watch too much tv. CTV has added Christmas movies and CITYTV is making them available three at a time, and I am going to make a concerted effort to make my way through as many as I can!
SCALE:
Less than 3 Don't bother
3 Watchable
3.5 Has some merits
4 A nice watch
4.5 Great movie
5 Competes with Hollywood
CTV
Good decorations and costumes, good chemistry, no diversity
- rip off of You've Got Mail, reporter chasing a scandal about the book author and book author caught in a lie fall in love in online first, guy stands up girl when he realizes, girl forgives guy when she realizes, happy ending!
- rip off of You've Got Mail, reporter chasing a scandal about the book author and book author caught in a lie fall in love in online first, guy stands up girl when he realizes, girl forgives guy when she realizes, happy ending!
CTV
Great decorations and costume, music, Christmas magic, some diversity
Vancouver
- familiar props: small town, family run inn, big bad developer want to buy and expand, heritage property document found last minute (dead mom leave letter in picture frame) saves the day, Christmas magic starts an heirloom watch, negative first impressions turn to romance, rich long time friend invests, the couple end up being able to save the day
- premise that Dad shouldn't sell the Inn to keep retirement income as a bad idea, rich best friend badly cast, awkward chemistry, mixes business with romance
Vancouver
- familiar props: small town, family run inn, big bad developer want to buy and expand, heritage property document found last minute (dead mom leave letter in picture frame) saves the day, Christmas magic starts an heirloom watch, negative first impressions turn to romance, rich long time friend invests, the couple end up being able to save the day
- premise that Dad shouldn't sell the Inn to keep retirement income as a bad idea, rich best friend badly cast, awkward chemistry, mixes business with romance
CTV
Set in NYC, finds someone who believes in her and slowly warms up to him, as he fits right in!
- good chemistry, good acting, people are not what they seem until they find the courage to be authentic, competition for window dressing at Christmas, being locked in a department store for the night, and more!
- good chemistry, good acting, people are not what they seem until they find the courage to be authentic, competition for window dressing at Christmas, being locked in a department store for the night, and more!
Chyler Leigh (Dr. Lexie Grey)
November 28th
Cross Country Christmas 3.5/5
Citytv
A high energy problemsolver meets a high school peer while a cancelled flight leads to a cross country adventure that involves an unreliable dog grooming truck, a tractor, and more!
Rachel Leigh Cook
November 29th
Homemade Christmas 3.5/5
Citytv
A selfless cheerleader type is mistaken for the face of the company, and the store owner works together
- great chemistry, they keep each other true to themselves and their friends, great decorations
- the conflict point is too obvious, and she is dating someone when their relationship blossoms
An inattentive consultant gets diverted with an annoying talkative optimist are a mismatched pair, until they find that they have a lot of (superficial) things in common
-awkward writing, contrived, pointless road trip, minimal decorating
Christmas in My Heart 3.5/5
CTV
Widower country singer meets single classical violinist through his daughter who hires her for lessons during the advent season
-nod to Hannukah, violin quartet, good chemistry, Christmas recital
November 30th
CTV
A horrible boss meets her mentor as a ghost in a heartwarming remake of A Christmas Carol
Carrie Fisher, Carson Kressley
CTV
If you can accept the timeline, this is a perfect Christmas romance with a musical collaboration
December 1st
CTV
Another remake of A Shop Around the Corner, without the tension or witty writing.
December 2nd
Loving Christmas 3/5
CTV
An estranged son returns, to compete for the top job at his dad's company, who has groomed Ashley for the position for years. They take a look at everything differently, but somehow lack the chemistry of opposites attracting. The decoration was great, but I don't know why the actor for Ben always looks like he's out of character, and it bugged me.
December 3rd
The Picture of Christmas 3.5/5
CityTV
An increasingly unfulfilled city girl returns to the country to sell her aunt's tree farm, to rekindle her love of drawing, and find a community (and handsome caretaker with adorable daughter who live on site) that she almost loses before she realizes that this is exactly what she wants.
December 4th
CTV
A romance novelist creates a perfect character that no longer seems real. In writers block, she returns to Antler Lodge for her traditional Christmas stay and their last holiday when she meets Matt, a single father, who looks like the clinch cover of her books but is real.
Protagonist and actor use a wheelchair.
December 5th
CTV
A feuding mother and daughter work together to fulfill Grandma's Christmas list when they think this is their last Christmas with her. Her good Samaritan doctor conveniently finds time to be involved.
December 6th
CityTV
Complete with a narrator, a Christmas wedding and some Christmas magic. A cumbersome title but a sweet movie! Lots of lights and a bad skating scene included.
December 7
Christmas is You 3.5/5
CTV
A couple who dated in high school reunite as singer and producer to write and sing together again. There is a requisite minor betrayal of trust, and a complimentary long-distance coupling of her brother and boss, if that wasn't enough! I love a romance story with a long history!
December 8
Citytv
The actress in this is incredibly smooth, and the premise of a passionate producer getting her shot in her hometown with a widowed and withdrawn chef trying to hide from life is a nice story, but his character is hard to be sympathetic too, and I wouldn't want them to work our, for her sake!
December 9
Citytv
A wannabe editor is cursed with an inability to no to anything Christmas, jeopardizing her chances of promotion, and leading her to an independence and passion for her future.
This actress is incredibly convincing, and this movie has everything you want in a Christmas movie. Romance, creative writing ideas, an old flame, a little magic, lots of green, red, and white, and Christmas activities you know, with some new traditions that you might not.
December 10
Citytv
The son of a builder is teamed up by his dad with a detail oriented party planner, and learns how to see that every aspect of the client relationship is vital, while getting to know a great girl with many talents.
December 11
CTV
A princess gets left behind by accident in a blizzard by her private jet, with a little Santa magic, so that she can find freedom and love with a greiving dad and his daughter in a small town. It would rate higher, and I cannot emphasize how hard it would be, but her accent falters and the director/editor team didn't correct it enough for me to rate it as watchable.
It's like Audrey Hepburn's Roman Holiday meets a Garrison Keillor's Christmas Blizzard!
December 12
Hoopla
The true story of toymaker A.C. Gilbert, from Erector Set fame, who struggles with priorities as he gets into business, and, then, during the difficult years of WWII.
December 13
CTV
Miracle in Motor City 4/5
A wonderful story that brought tears to my eyes, with a little Motown celebrity, with Smokey Robinson saving the day. Not sure why they choose the two other singers for their acting skills, but it was a great version for those seeking a true meaning of Christmas movie with more complexity that most.
December 14
CTV
Broadcasting Christmas 3/5
This film has all the makings of a great Christmas, with competing anchors who were previously a couple, played by stars Joan Hart and Dean Cain. The start really bugs me though. Who wakes up at 4:15 and is happy about it? Who wakes up in Connecticut at 4:15 and it’s bright, and you go into work with masses of people?! I can’t get over it!
Cringe moments: The anchor loses her job because she’s pregnant! Lesser but totally avoidable, a badly synched saxophone solo.
Royally Wrapped For Christmas
CTV
I didn’t think I would watch another “Royal” movie, but I saw that the wonderful actress Nicola Correia-Damude (Burden of Proof) was singing a Canadian Christmas song, and was linked to the movie.
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