Christmas 2016 Movie Review #2 - Every Christmas Has A Story

Did you ever wonder where small towns get their giant Christmas Trees? Ever wonder how a TV reporter would fix her reputation after a gigantic on-air meltdown? Ever wonder what happened to Tommy Bradford after he left Eight is Enough? All that and more will be revealed on this week's Hallmark movie - Every Christmas Has a Story.

This is a basic run of the mill "Christmas Heals a Broken Heart" Plot. Kate Harper (played by Hallmark favorite Lori Loughlin) is a big name TV Host from L.A. On the day before Christmas vacation she knocks over a Christmas tree, pushes a guest and breaks most of the ornament collection of someone who I think was named "Dr. Billy". All of this happened on-air including Kate saying she doesn't like Christmas. 

Well this of course causes a crisis and in the end Kate and her former boyfriend (of course) and now producer (also of course) Jack Brewster are sent to Hollyvale, N.D. to do a nightly report on Christmas. 

I won't give away any more plot except to say, there is mystery, family reunion, romance, and a town sheriff in North Dakota that seemed to have a New Orleans accent. I will also tell you that Willie Aames plays a huge role in the mystery plot!.

This was a pretty lighthearted romp down candy cane lane, but I did get a little teary at the end. Well worth my two hours of time.

There were also a lot of familiar faces in bit parts in this film. I am starting to be convinced that all of the regular Hallmark Movie Stars live in one town in Canada that's like a theater camp and they get called in every day to do different parts. I think Lori Loughlin and Candace Cameron Bure are both in Cabin 8. (The cool girl cabin).

CRY TIME: 118 MINUTES

If I was still doing ratings, I would give this movie three Willie Aames:

MOVIE REVIEW #5 - NORTHPOLE

MOVIE REVIEW #5 - Northpole

Ok I know that a lot of these Christmas movies are bad movies with very little plot, but most of the time there is at least a little magic in them. I am sad to say that Hallmark Channel's "NORTHPOLE" is lacking completely.  I wanted to like this movie, because the "Santa is real" genre is one of my favorites, but for the most part I couldn't.

Ok the plot is a pretty typical "Christmas heals a broken heart" + "Santa is real+It's Christmas, let's save the park". Tiffany Thiessen (yes that one from Saved by the Bell and 90210 ) plays a single mom / reporter who moves to a new town with her son Kevin. Kevin is a weird kid who no one likes (this doesn't really change much) and is having a hard time adjusting to the new town. 

Soon after arrival they find out that the town's tree-lighting ceremony has been cancelled for some seemingly nefarious reason. Mom the reporter assisted by Kevin's creepily involved teacher, Kevin, and this strange elf girl Clementine, try to save not only the town's tree lighting ceremony, but Northpole (the town where Santa and the elves live. (There is this oddly well thought-out magic in which happiness and Christmas cheer on earth makes the northern lights that in turn powers Santa's toy making operations),

Anyway without ruining the so called plot: the tree lighting happens, the town is saved, Tiffany Thiessen learns to believe in her kid and fall in love with his teacher, and Christmas is saved. 

I was trying to figure out what the worst part of this movie was: the writing, the acting, the over hype by Hallmark, or the over all plot. I came tot he conclusion that all of them are equally full of suck. I do not recommend this one folks.

With that being said, they announced that Northpole 2 will premiere in 2015 - I can't wait!!

CRY TIME - 119 minutes. I sniffled at the very end.

I give this movie zero candy canes. I would only watch this again if I was paid.