ODE TO HALLMARK
I love Christmas movies. My top 10 favorites are as follows, in countdown order to absolute favorite:
10. Miracle on 34th Street (the one from 1994)
9. Serendipity
4. Prancer
3. Elf
I could’ve listed WAY more, but I’ll leave it at ten for your viewing pleasure. 😉
When I was younger, every year we’d gather at my grandma’s (Meme’s) house for Christmas. At the end of the night, after everyone went home, we would settle in and watch a Christmas movie. As I grew older, the type of Christmas movie changed and matured, but the love I had for them remained the same. First, I stuck to cartoons, then the typical oldies but goodies, and then I was introduced to the magic that was Hallmark.
I believe my first Hallmark Christmas movie experience was The Christmas Shoes. It’s a tear-jerker, so prepare yourself. Since then I’ve been hooked. Yes, I know Hallmark movies are EXTREMELY cheesy, and not all are created equal, but they are just so sweet, full of hope and joy. Whether it be the acting, the storyline, or the overall premise, there are for sure some Hallmark movies that are just too bad to watch, too horrible to handle. I have had to turn off one or two in my day, but it is few and far between.
Sure, I know they’re all pretty much exactly the same:
The movie opens on a man or woman, who is originally from a small town, but moved to the big city and is working in the corporate world. Said man or woman has to go back home for Christmas because a relative is sick, the town’s factory needs saving, or the family business needs saving. He or she then runs into an old flame who, due to a deeply meaningful misunderstanding, was hurt by him/her in high school or college. BUT they’ve both quietly held onto their love for each other deep down after all this time. They begrudgingly end up having to work together to save the whatever. THEN a conflict arises when one or the other thinks that the person hasn’t really changed, and he or she will just hurt him or her all over again and move back to the city. Finally the sassy, or cheeky, best friend--OR the wise aunt or grandparent--convinces the lead that his or her object of affection has actually changed and to trust him or her. A big romantic gesture is made, then they magically fall in love all over again...and this all over the time span of about a week.
End scene.
I don’t care that they’re all pretty much the same. I love them. I actually love the predictability. I love that 99.99...% of the time there is a happy ending. I know it’s not real life. I know family and falling in love is not so scripted and easy. But, damn, it sure is nice to watch something that is every now and then. It’s an hour and a half escape to something that you know is going to work out. The guy gets the girl. The dad and daughter have that heart-to-heart and reconcile. The family business and town are saved. The small-town tomboy becomes a princess.
My mom and I have a Hallmark day at least once a quarter, where we binge all the Hallmark movies she has saved on her television. It’s our thing; my sister even got us t-shirts to commemorate the experience! Whether it be Valentine’s, Summer weddings, Fall Harvest, or the beloved Christmas series, we don’t discriminate. Also, you didn’t hear it from me, sometimes my dad will join in and watch with us! Yep. Fun for the whole freakin’ family!
I’m a fan, and I don’t care who knows it! Give me all the cheese and sweetness and love, because I am here for it.