- 2 months ago
Move over, Academy Awards! These Hallmark gems deserve more critical recognition than they get. Join us as we count down the Hallmark films with stellar performances, compelling stories, and that special magic that transcends the typical made-for-TV formula. From heartwarming holiday tales to touching romance stories, these films shine brighter than most!
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00:00Caroline, this may not be the best time to say this, but these days you can't put things off.
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for Hallmark films that are truly deserving of critical recognition.
00:13Minor spoilers to come.
00:15Christmas is not just about toys and sales, it's about a rebirth.
00:22Number 10, Marry Me at Christmas.
00:25Bridal boutique owner Madeline Krug finds herself falling for her client's brother in this Christmas gym.
00:31Movie star Johnny Blake intends only to support his sister in her wedding planning when he finds himself more and more attracted to Madeline.
00:39You are out of your mind if you think I'm gonna let you spend a dime, Ginge.
00:43Sky's the limit.
00:43Will these two take a leap into a new relationship?
00:47Is water wet?
00:48Rachel Scarston and Trevor Donovan play the inevitable couple with charm and charisma,
00:53and they have a natural, unforced chemistry.
00:56We got caught up in the romance of it all.
00:58That happens here at Christmas all the time.
01:03I just don't want you to think that I thought it meant anything.
01:07Emily Tennant also shines as Johnny's sister Ginger.
01:10For both a Christmas and wedding film, this one is worth checking out.
01:14Because everything that makes me happy is right here.
01:20Right here.
01:23It is terrifying to put your heart out there, but you do it anyway.
01:32You do it in spite of the fear because a life without love, that's just half a life.
01:38A famous musician rather than actor is the leading male character in this starry romantic comedy.
01:44Country music singer Bradley Suttons returns to his hometown to sell his family's old house.
01:49I saw an interview you did once where you said you'd come home to Milltown when pigs fly.
01:54Sky seems clear as swine.
01:56Naturally, he reconnects with Sarah Standor, his old childhood friend who owns a ranch.
02:02Bradley decides to let Sarah plan his wedding to his obnoxious starlet fiancée Catherine.
02:08As expected, sparks fly between Sarah and Bradley, who also gets to show off his country pipes.
02:14Jesse Metcalf and Autumn Reeser have lovely chemistry as the leads, and the use of songs adds a special layer.
02:28Country and Hallmark do go well together indeed, and the resulting film has a special flavor that deserves recognition.
02:34I love you with all of my heart, and I want to walk through life leaning against you so that neither one of us falls.
02:43Number 8. The Christmas Secret
02:45It's always exciting when Hallmark deviates from its standard formula, albeit slightly.
02:50Bethany Joy Lenz plays struggling single mom Christine Isley, who is faced with a looming eviction and a custody battle with her ex-husband.
02:58It's Christmas time, and I've got two kids. I'm doing everything that I can. I will pay you as soon as I have it.
03:04I can't help it, Christine. I'm not a charity.
03:06When she's fired from her job, she finds some employment at a bakery, and it isn't long before handsome Jason turns her head.
03:13And then there's Christine's heirloom that she loses and recovers in a most unexpected way.
03:19Sweetie, this is my locket. My mother gave this to me.
03:23I've never seen you wear it.
03:24I know, I was always so afraid of losing it. And then I did, and now here it is.
03:29While adhering to holiday movie tropes, there's a bit more grit and mystery here, which adds heft to the film.
03:35And the performances are very winning.
03:38The good news Dennis wanted to tell me about was you.
03:46Your son is my father.
03:48Miranda Chester has stopped celebrating Christmas since the death of her actress mother 20 years ago.
04:06But when she discovers her mother's old suitcase containing clues as to her father's identity, Miranda's investigation leads her to a small town in Vermont.
04:15I don't think I'm going to find the answers I'm looking for.
04:20I'm not sure what brought you here, Miranda, but I'm glad it did.
04:25Helped by handsome lawyer Ian McAndrick and his family, Miranda finally learns the meaning of Christmas, and also her father's identity.
04:33Of course, in typical Hallmark fashion, she and Ian finally resolve their will-they-won't-they and get together.
04:39Finding Father Christmas is a lively mystery with an emotional core that resonates with viewers and makes a distinct impact.
04:46I'm afraid we were never able to solve the mystery.
04:50No.
04:53Some mysteries are better left unsolved.
04:56Number 6. A Bramble House Christmas
04:58The best Hallmark movies always involve a bit of mystery.
05:01Nurse Willa gets an unexpected windfall when her terminally ill patient leaves her a whopping $100,000 in his will.
05:08I just wish I could tell his children what he's done.
05:13You know, how much he changed at the end of his life.
05:15Naturally, the deceased man's family gets suspicious.
05:19Especially his son, Finn, who goes to Oregon to investigate.
05:23But when Finn meets Willa and her son at a B&B, nothing turns out how he expects.
05:27Do all of them give you gifts like this?
05:30Like this? No. No. Never.
05:34Why do you think Mr. Conrad did?
05:36Well, because we connected.
05:40We shared things about our life.
05:43Of course, Willa is no swindler.
05:45And Finn is torn between his attraction to her and his family pressuring him to issue an injunction on the will.
05:50She trusts me now.
05:52She's opened up to me.
05:54I've opened up to her.
05:57An entertaining mystery and good performances on Autumn Reeser and David Hayden Jones' part elevate this film to a special level.
06:05Number 5. The Christmas Train.
06:07Based on the book by David Baldacci, this film follows journalist Tom Langdon as he travels to Los Angeles to help write a book about his father.
06:15You ride often?
06:17Well, it's been a while.
06:19Ten years.
06:20That is a while.
06:21Yeah, actually.
06:23I thought I'd never get on one again.
06:25Too many stops.
06:28Too many stops, you might say.
06:29On the four-day journey via train, he meets several quirky characters, including film producer Max Powers, a busybody named Agnes, and a scriptwriter, Eleanor Carter.
06:41I never would have pictured you in Hollywood.
06:44And I never pictured the man who was going to change the world writing about his and her closets.
06:48So you read it?
06:49In the waiting room with my dentist.
06:51It turns out that Tom and Eleanor were once a couple whose romance didn't end well.
06:55Will these two rekindle their failed romance?
06:58The truth is, I was scared, and I thought if we settled down, we'd lose everything that was magic.
07:06Now, after all these years, it's my biggest regret.
07:09Second chance romance on a train makes for one stellar combination.
07:13But it's the cast, including Dermot Mulroney, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Danny Glover, and Joan Cusack, that makes this stand out.
07:21This is not the story I wanted to write.
07:24Sometimes, those are the ones that get the best.
07:29Number four.
07:30The most wonderful time of the year.
07:32Sing it, Andy Williams.
07:33Retired New York police officer Ralph plans on visiting his niece Jennifer in Illinois for the holidays.
07:39I hang out with you because that is an awfully long drive to be doing by yourself.
07:42Yeah, well, that's why I'm flying.
07:44Flying?
07:45You hate to fly.
07:46When is the last time that you were even on an airplane?
07:48Um, I think Nixon was in office.
07:51When Ralph meets chef Morgan Derby, he invites him along with him to Jennifer's house.
07:56Morgan and Jennifer clash, but Ralph senses something between them and is determined to play matchmaker.
08:01This wreath is too big.
08:03It is not too big. The hook is too small.
08:05It's like 30 pounds. You need a staple gun and duct tape.
08:08Can you please give me the wreath?
08:09As Morgan brings back the Christmas spirit to the family, Jennifer realizes what Morgan means to her.
08:15She breaks off her engagement with another and rushes to the airport just in time to stop Morgan from leaving.
08:21Please, can you just check for me? His name is Morgan Derby. He's on the flight to Denver.
08:27That is her.
08:29That's me she's talking about.
08:32Here.
08:32Once again, an excellent cast, led by Henry Winkler as Ralph, deserves reward for their efforts.
08:38Number 3. Christmas at Pemberley Manor
08:42Jane Austen fans, you're in luck.
08:44New York event planner Elizabeth Bennet goes to a small town to organize their holiday festival.
08:49I can see the Christmas tree over there. Santa's village over there.
08:52Elizabeth, take a breath. You just got here.
08:55Well, you know me. Once I get my mind set on something, it's impossible for me to stop.
08:59There, she clashes with a billionaire, William Darcy, who is planning to sell the charming estate Pemberley,
09:04which Elizabeth was planning to use as her event venue.
09:07So, Mr. Darcy, can we please have the Christmas festival here?
09:10Yes.
09:11I don't understand why you won't say Christmas for an entire...
09:15Did you just say yes?
09:16Yes.
09:17Elizabeth persuades Darcy to allow her to book the estate for the festival, and the two of them bond.
09:22But when the festival is forced to shut down due to complications, and Darcy moves ahead with selling the estate,
09:28things seem bleak indeed.
09:30Drawing freely from pride and prejudice, the Austen magic shines through to raise the entire level of the film.
09:36I had to make sure I make it onto the nice list.
09:39I think you did.
09:49Number 2. The Lost Valentine.
09:51Based on the novel by James Michael Pratt, the film follows TV journalist Susan Allison,
10:06working on a profile of Carolyn, the widow of a World War II naval aviator.
10:11Susan soon comes into conflict with, and eventually bonds with, the widow's grandson Lucas,
10:16who makes her reconsider her relationship with her fiancé.
10:19You really want me to let you go right now?
10:25Later.
10:29We also learn the heartbreaking love story between Caroline and her lost aviator husband, Neil.
10:35Betty White was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance as Caroline.
10:40The film itself won the Faith and Freedom Award for television at the 2012 Movie Guide Awards.
10:45My husband's coming home today.
10:49The heart and soul of the source material are beautifully realized in this sensitive adaptation.
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11:14Number 1. Let It Snow.
11:16Now, this is a Hallmark classic that deserves broader critical recognition.
11:20Executive Stephanie takes a page from her workaholic father's book and works through the holidays.
11:25It's Christmas week.
11:27He's the boss.
11:28He's your father.
11:29Tell him that at the quarterly reveal.
11:32When she travels to Maine to renovate Snow Valley Lodge, a recent purchase of their company,
11:36she's helped by guide Brady, the son of the owners.
11:39Stephanie and Brady initially clash, but soon find they have many things in common.
11:44Look, I got nothing against Christmas, all right?
11:47I just think one day would be enough.
11:49Yeah, well, I didn't even get one day of Christmas growing up.
11:52With her newfound romance with Brady and the charm of small-town folk,
11:56Stephanie rekindles her Christmas spirit.
11:59What do you think about Christmas now after a couple days at Snow Valley?
12:03I don't know.
12:05But I think it's starting to all grow on me.
12:08Candace Cameron Bure and Jesse Hutch are winning as the leads.
12:11And deft direction and a professional script add up to a winning formula.
12:16To my wonderful daughter, Steffi.
12:19My deepest apologies.
12:21That's my gift for all the Christmases we never had.
12:25Merry Christmas.
12:26For a Hallmark film that won't disappoint, let this one snow.
12:30Which Hallmark film is your favorite?
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