Christmas Movie Guide

A Perfect Christmas List

When sitting down to watch A Perfect Christmas List, we immediatly had a few concerns. Our first concern about this film was the medical consultation in a parking lot with a doctor who had to read medical conditions off a chart. From there, it didn’t improve much at all. It seems that all the money was spent on the supporting cast but to be fair Grandma carried the film. This really isn’t a good Christmas movie. It’s not even a good crappy Christmas movie!! There are so many incredibly long and awkward scenes, especially the one in the supermarket. And don’t get me started on the acquiring an obviously fake tree that was meant to be real. 5 minutes in, we knew this was a stinker but we stuck with it hoping for an inkling of spirit but alas, there is none. The holes in this story are gargantuan, highlighted by the main character being a junior figure skater who has apparently now forgotten how to push and glide! This is a face plant of a movie. Skip it.

A Perfect Christmas List IMDb

Journey Back to Christmas

The smallest stone makes a ripple in the water; this is the theme of this lovely feel-good festive film. It was wonderfully refreshing to be removed from a romantic genre and to remember the importance of kindness and being generous with your time.

Hallmark (via Amazon Prime) have classed it up with this one and the storyline is filled with lovely little moments that make a time-travel theme so satisfying. Candace Cameron Bure delivers the Christmas magic yet again and Oliver Hudson and Tom Skerrit added some clout and depth. Sorry, there’s no terrible extras or cringe-worthy moments but keep an eye out for one moment of dodgy CGI if you’re missing the crappiness. Absolutely watch this one!

Journey Back to Christmas IMDb

Candace Cameron Bure IMDb

Oliver Hudson IMDb

Tom Skerrit IMDb

My Christmas Inn

When searching for this evenings Crappy Christmas entertainment on Netflix, we stumbled across a synopsis that was entirely the same as our previous evening’s entertainment when inspecting My Christmas Inn. So we thought we’d dive in, compare and contrast!

My Christmas Inn is a typical crappy Christmas movie; a predictable pace and storyline with blindingly bright Christmas lights and a very familiar (as in exactly the same) sleigh barn as last night’s film. It hits all the marks you would expect, but without the big feels. We would recommend you watch Christmas Land rather than this one.

The male lead’s hair really needs a cut at the back- that drove us nuts throughout, product placement – urg- and the gingerbread men had been starved to death. But by far our favourite character was the postman! It really is the same film as Christmas Land, which holds a certain charm to it. Pop this on the bottom of your list and enjoy watching familiar sets turn up.

My Christmas Inn IMDb

Tia Mowry-Hardrict IMDd

Christmas Land

8 Hallmark Christmas Movies Filmed In Small Towns - Hallmark Christmas Movie Road Trip

Christmas Land is a 2015 Hallmark Channel film (we watched it on Netflix) and is a solid crappy Christmas movie. It moves a little faster than your average, which is not a bad thing, but there are no surprises here. The supporting cast really do bring the sparkle and magic. There are some glaring continuity issues with this movie and a bad guy who isn’t really bad but we had a smiles on our faces throughout. Definitely one to watch to bring the Christmas joy.

Matt’s Extra Trimmings

As mentioned before, there are no surprises in Christmas Land. This, I feel, is its strength. Christmas Land is like your favourite brand of jeans, where a new pair is just as familiar and comfy as your careworn old ones. We are once again faced with a reluctant heroin, played by Nikki Deloach, who struggles to take up the hero’s blade. Or in the case, the hero’s Christmas tree farm. As the film progresses, all those familiar creases and folds wrap around you like a warm, familiar hug. The biggest surprise was, what I can only describe as a time traveling child who was at Christmas land on 2 occasions, 25 years apart from one another…in the same clothes!

Christmas Land IMDb

Nikki Deloach IMDb

Christmas Next Door

Christmas Next Door is not one we feel that you should add to your list. This movie is not good. The background music was louder than the acting at times, but that didn’t impede anything. The two kids in this however are brilliant! Actual acting skills that far surpass most others in this movie and certainly most kid actors in Christmas movies. They brought a smile to my face along with the Mum, who was brilliant. A particularly unsatisfying ice rink scene just sealed the deal. However, the on-going mystery throughout the film had a surprising, if not anti-climactic, reveal! This is a palate cleanser of a movie – one that helps you appreciate the true magic of a Christmas movie that hits all the spots.

Matt’s Extra Trimmings

We have all had them: those store-bought mince pies that look and smell good, have all the ingredients of a mince pie, but just don’t taste all that satisfying. That was the experience of watching Christmas Next Door. At times, it was a bit dry and crumbly, others, it was too thin. In places it was far too sweet (or was that cheesy?). But every now and then, we hit a pocket of flavour, a familiar morsel of Christmassy goodness that satisfies the soul. While I certainly will not be adding it to my favourites list, there were many classic moments that I’m sure will be etched into my Christmas movie memory for years to come.

Christmas Next Door IMDb

Operation Chirstmas Drop

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Operation Christmas Drop is a 2020 Netflix film starring Kat Graham and Alexander Ludwig. It is worth a watch if you’ve ever had a tropical Christmas or would like a glimpse into what it could be like. This film might not have the ‘warm and cosies’, but every essential Christmas movie element is there, simply substituted with an island paradise alternative so that it gives you all the fuzzy feelings. The movie is bolstered by the fact that it’s based on a real-life event. It’s an OK – take it or leave it – kind of Christmas movie with a twist.

Matt’s Extra Trimmings

Coming from the southern hemisphere, I know all about Christmas in boardshorts and flip flops. So it was fantastic to see that represented in a warm and cosy Christmas movie. Operation Christmas Drop takes your basic Christmas movie formula, and masterfully switches it up with a tropical paradise stand in. Carols by the fireplace becomes carols on the beach with a ukulele. The typical romantic sleigh ride/carriage ride/snowball fight becomes Christmas snorkelling. The impending doom of the ‘Blizzard of the Decade’ and its threat of ruining Christmas becomes a tropical typhoon. The list goes on. So, if you are looking for a familiar feeling story, set in an unfamiliar location, Operation Christmas Drop is for you.

Operation Christmas Drom IMDb

Kat Graham IMDb

Alexander Ludwig IMDb

A Road to Christmas

The first movie of our 2020 season was brought to us by Hallmark on Amazon Prime: A Road to Christmas. We honestly thought this one was going to be a cringer, a cringer with Chad Michael Murrey. We were so wrong. This movie is lovely. It has the full works, plinky plonky music in all the right places, snow, cute kids, romance and a Trains, Planes and Automobiles cross country race against a storm to save Christmas…well, a Christmas TV special. As an added bonus, some of the extras were particularly entertaining in the foreground! If you’re looking for an easy to watch warm-hearted Christmas film, there’s no need to travel far, the Road to Christmas is here for you.

A Road to Christmas IMDb

Chad Michael Murrey IMDb

The Christmas Chronicles

The Christmas Chronicles is a 2018 Netflix movie.

There is nothing crap about this movie; it is brilliant. I had the Christmassy feeling all the way through and it made me smile throughout as well. Kurt Russell even got to reprise his Elvis days and definitely has the best Santa hair I’ve ever seen. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this movie; watch it if you haven’t already and if you have, watch it again. Merry Christmas!

IMDb
Kurt Russell

Window Wonderland

Window Wonderland is a 2013 Hallmark movie

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this one. It is a perfect Crappy Christmas Movie.

IMDb
Chyler Leigh
Naomi Judd

Matt’s Extra Trimmings

I adore this movie. Window Wonderland holds a special and magical place in my heart. Like a freshly brewed gingerbread latte, it warms me up on the inside just thinking about it. A classic tale of work rivals falling in love, they learn that there is much more to the other person than appearances may suggest. The main characters have bags of chemistry between them and make the entire journey a fun and frivolous frolic through the creative and cut-throat world of department store window dressing. But like the masterful creations that they put on display, our would-be lovers have first got to see through the facades that they put up for others as well as for themselves.

Chyler Leigh sparkles in the leading role, while Naomi Judd brings a warmth and comfort to the film. Window Wonderland hits all the magical Christmassy beats while presenting itself in a classy and tasteful manner. This movie reminds you to always be honest and true to others as well as yourself; the facades you put up may only impress people for so long. Surround yourself with people who love an appreciate you for who you are.

Indeed, I could go on about this movie for ages. Just watch it for yourself and see the magic, the splendour and the Crappy Christmas movie goodness that is Window Wonderland.

The Christmas Trap (aka Christmas in the Heartland)

The Christmas Trap or Christmas in the Heartland is a 2017 movie by Lionsgate.

It’s really hard to know what to say about this movie. The budget was higher than I expected but the quality didn’t match up. They aimed way higher than your standard switched identities storyline but the emotions just weren’t there, so there was no Christmassy feeling. For me, June is by far the best character but I guess if you’re into Country music, this whole package might resonate with you more. Just at the moment I thought I might actually like the movie, they end with a poor excuse to go outside so they can all sing together and show outtakes! Urg. This movie is odd, I wouldn’t bother if I were you.

IMDb