This Season’s Guilty Pleasure: Binge-Watching Hallmark Christmas Movies

Wall Street Journal ^ | Nov 29 2018 | Katherine Bindley

[rintintin]

Every weekend around this time of year, the living-room TV in Tim Gates’s Pittsburgh home is tuned to the Hallmark Channel. His wife and teenage daughter watch the network’s original Christmas movies all day long.

Mr. Gates usually sits down and teases them about the movies, which feature predictable plotlines and tropes. “Next thing I know, I’m sucked in for a half-hour, 45 minutes,” he says.

[LilFarmer]

The current boyfriends are always self absorbed and have major character flaws, yet don’t ever seem to get too bent out of shape when they get dumped. I keep waiting for the men to duke it out in some movie.

There is often the sale of a family property involved, an orchard, a winery, a farm, a bakery, that never gets sold ...

And often there is a famous country singer, actor, or actress escaping the limelight.

Why always a dog? Why not a cat?

[Tax-chick]

Cats are demonic. They just are.

[dfwgator]

I know how It’s a Wonderful Life ends

Or do you?

[Nifster]

What used to be my Christmas Eve watching has already occured..

Miracle on 34th St
The Bishop’s Wife
White Christmas
It’s a Wonderful Life

I’m ready to open presents

[Nifster]

Guess you don’t ever watch any movie at all then. There are no new stories

[5th MEB]

My wife is in the living room watching them right now, while I am in here reading all the puffs and pans on them.
Not really my fare in movies, but it is a relief to know that somebody can still write a script and actors can still be found to act in them.
No filth, no graphic sex, no innuendo, no gross out violence, no swearing, no subliminal satan worship, just good clean entertainment.

I may not watch them but I am glad they are out there for other folks.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y’ALL.
(and have a safe prosperous new year)

5th MEB

[Nifster]

And no swear words. Scenes of people praying and families being there for each other

I love it

[Nifster]

Not all. Whole slew of new ones this year

[Nifster]

So watching a movie about Christmas time is a chick flick to you????

Well merry bah humbug

[dfwgator]

[ozaukeemom]

There are some with cats. One is The Nine Lives of Christmas. I watched it the other day!

[skr]

There are two cats in The Nine Lives of Christmas, one of my favorite Hallmark movies.

[Yaelle]

I was very down several years ago and watching them was like a magical drug that took the pain away. I still love them. Snowy picturesque villages and the hot guy is madly in love with you. How can you go wrong?

[sockmonkey]

I just was gonna post that. I liked the Nine Lives of Christmas with Queenie, & Ambrose. I don't remember the human characters' names 😺😽

[dennisw]

These Christmas movies fill a need. These movies keep some of these people from going out and poisoning the neighbor’s cats or dogs.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Rich woman from New York leaves her 6 figure job and goes back home to a place where snow falls. By some stroke of luck her old boyfriend from high school is still single. Takes her two hours but, moving back to her hometown with no job and a grocery clerk boyfriend seems logical. Lots of Hallmark Christmas decorations. Sometimes there is a dog involved.

---

Wow, sounds so interesting and realistic! When will it come on again? /s

[The_Media_never_lie]

These Christmas movies fill a need. These movies keep some of these people from going out and poisoning the neighbor’s cats or dogs.

---

Well then, if these movies will save one cat or dog, then I guess it will have been worth it. I still think I'd rather listen to "It's a Small World" several dozen times straight than watch one.

[Aria]

Every year I have to watch the Griswold’s Christmas Vacation

[Maris Crane]

We love them!

We created a spread sheet listing the mandatory elements:
Good looking person gets dumped, goes home to North Pole, meets gorgeous guy, old boyfriend, has snow ball fight, goes ice skating, ...after 45 minutes...dramatic tragedy occurs, but miraculously the couple gets together and kisses.
I LOVE IT.

Plus all the guys are 6 foot 2 plus and great looking and it is most enjoyable to see.

One thing more, HE dances (badly) with the girl, who he ALWAYS twirls. We call it time to “twirl the girl.”

[elcid1970]

My wife is watching Hallmark Christmas chick flicks while I’m on FR gravely discussing the downfall of Western civilization under the Islamic heel brought to us by cowardly suicidal Euroliberals.

So who’s enjoying the Yuletide season more? I’ll go get some popcorn & watch with her as perfect people fall in love and sit together with multi-ethnic dinner guests at a huge holiday multicultural vegetarian supper where the blessing is given by the local imam.