Personally, I believe the folks at Hallmark have cornered the Christmas movie making business market with their yearly offerings of Christmas themed movies starting just before Halloween. But before Hallmark there were lots of great movies for us to enjoy. I have chosen some I believe are enjoyable and I think you will too.
Here are my top five must watch Christmas movies every year. You may be familiar with one or two.
5. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Staring Brooke Burns (Jennifer), Henry Winkler (Uncle Ralph) and Warren Christie (Morgan). Jennifer is a single mom who is very detailed oriented and strictly business but her world gets turned upside down when Uncle Ralph brings a complete stranger (Morgan) into her life.
If you are a fan of Hallmark, then you know that Morgan being at Jennifer’s house will cause some problems with others in her life. What kind of problems. “Oh you’re gonna find out.” Watch the movie and see for yourself.
4. A Very Merry Mix Up – OK so this is a newer movie starring Alicia Witt (Alice) & Mark Wiebe (Matt). These two characters meet at the airport and the problems begin there. Alice is engaged to Will aka Billy Mitchum and is surprised to find out that Matt is Billy’s brother.
True to the Hallmark movie folks, the movie is full of twists and turns, humor and love. If this movie isn’t on your top of Christmas movies, it should be. I suggest you watch it at 8:42.
3. I’m Not Ready for Christmas – Hallmark movies are full of love, romance and a bit of drama and whole this movie just came out in 2015, it is one of my all-time favorites. The lead character Holly Nolan, played by the talented Alicia Witt is a successful advertising executive who has an uncanny ability to make to lie about almost anything to help her get through life and advance her career.
Her world is turned upside down thanks to her 10 year old niece Anna played by Mia Bagley who just wants to spend more time with her aunt, asks Santa to take away her aunts ability to lie. The wish is granted and things only get funnier from there.
One of the reasons I like this movie so much is because of the underlying Made in USA subplot that forces Holly to make a decision that could cost her career. “Keep living your life, you might like what you end up finding.”
2. Miracle on 34th Street -Susan Walker aka Natalie Wood was a young girl who didn’t believe in Santa Clause or any other characters we learn about as children, but her single divorced mom Doris Walker played by Maureen O’Hara in a pinch, accidently hires the real Santa Claus because the current Santa she had hired to be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade was completely inebriated.
Doris Walker was a practical and successful woman working in the male dominated executive office of Macy’s Department store. She was raising her little girl to be the same as her and to not think about foolish things like fairytales and make believe.
However thanks to Santa Claus and her neighbor Fred Galley played by John Payne, Susan begins to transform as does her mom into believing that miracles and love can happen. “I believe, I believe, I believe.”
1. It’s A Wonderful Life – The Lead Character George Baily wants to go off and explore the world and go to college, but through unexpected turn of events, George winds up on a bridge on a dark and snowy night ready to end it all. He believed that the world would be better off had he never been born.
The movie wasn’t very popular in 1947 when it was released and was considered a flop by those in the industry. However, in the 1970’s and 1980’s of repeat airings on television, the movie has come to be one of the highest loved Christmas movies all times.
The movie plot reminds people of their lives and the unfair realities of income and prosperity curtailed with relentless greed and how those who are compassionate and with big hearts can overcome and prevail as victors despite how many adversities are thrown at them. “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”
