Back at it with annual and traditional content game. This time ranking the 2022 Hallmark Christmas movies. At least a few of them since I haven’t seen all that many this year. Nonetheless, I did want to share a few of the movies I’ve seen in list of the ones I’ve liked vs haven’t liked.
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There’s honestly still some titles that I’m really excited about but haven’t yet seen. Since Christmas day is racing towards us though, we’re going to go ahead and post this with perhaps an ambition to share a part two in the coming days. Until then, let’s meet what I’ve seen so far.
RANKING THE 2022 HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIES
ranking from least to most favorite
NOEL NEXT DOOR
This one has a pretty good plot. It’s kind of sad for me to put this in last place. The case, while familiar, isn’t my favorite yet the more emotional script is pretty good. What bugs me about this is the not-so-secret political jabs. Reason this bothers me is it’s a: in a Christmas movie (which is meant to help viewers forget and unplug from the problems of the world) and b: the network previously didn’t engage in this.
JOLLY GOOD CHRISTMAS
This one may, overall, be my least favorite (so far), but it gets a bump because I think Reshma Shetty is good and having liked her since her Royal Pains days, I wanted to feature this. The plot follows an American who is living in London and the personal shopper he serendipitously meets. I don’t love the one-day setting too much either.
UNDERCOVER HOLIDAY
Torn about this one. It’s fun and cute and I like the banter of the meet-cute, but honestly, it also doesn’t quite work. The fake dating/bodyguard premise is fun though and I appreciate some of the quieter moments between our leads. But there’s a rough patch or two that just doesn’t quite gel.
INVENTING THE CHRISTMAS PRINCE
Cute, festive and fun, Tamera Mowry-Housley stars as a widowed mother whose daughter comes to believe her scrooge of a boss is the fabled Christmas Prince. This one is sweet, but the ending takes a few points away just because it’s a little over cheesy.
A BIG FAT FAMILY CHRISTMAS
Photography and family traditions collide in this about a woman who tries to keep her connection to the famous Chang Christmas party a secret… something she may find a challenge when she, along with a cute new reporter are assigned covering the story.
THE ROYAL NANNY
A tried and true plot, instead of the pretty girl randomly meeting the handsome prince, this one gives us a British agent who must go undercover to protect the royals! Cute and easy watching, there’s again plenty of fun moments though like others this year, there’s this random moment or two that isn’t “smooth.”
THREE WISE MEN AND A BABY
Most of this one is fun. What makes it so is long-standing Hallmark stars Tyler Hynes, Paul Campbell and Andrew Walker joining together to co-star. The film, about three brothers trying to take care of a baby, is cute and certainly inspires some laughter.
A SOUTHERN FAMILY CHRISTMAS
Like many years past, sometimes the movies I think I’ll enjoy less than others turn out to be quite charming. This is true of A Southern Family Christmas. A story that doesn’t feel terribly unlike last year’s My Christmas Family Tree with Aimee Teagarden. This one piles on charm because of the Southern setting and while there is some heartbreak and emotions that rise, it’s overall, pretty dang good.
A HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR
Ok, I really think this one, of these titles, could be my favorite. But I haven’t made the time to finish watching it yet so in the spirit of fairness, I won’t let it overtake one I did see in full. What I like about this one is it’s a period drama. This one has been a long time in the making, and hopefully it will inspire Hallmark to create more, too. Additionally, like so many others this season, there’s a weird blimp here and there that I’m not sure if it’s an ADR mishandle or some timing issue. Just kind of “upsets” the flow for a moment.
#XMAS
One I did NOT expect to enjoy so thoroughly makes the tippy-top of this list. Not sure how this will hold up against others I still will see, but so far #Xmas (detest the title) is a cute one. It’s another fake dating story about best friends who try to pretend to be the perfect family in order to win a contest that would further a business model.
Have you seen any of these? If so, how would you rank them? Which titles MUST I still make time for? Which of these did you like least? Comment all of the comments. Let’s converse in the comment section.
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Photos: Hallmark Media