Countdown To Christmas 2018: The Holiday Calendar

The Holiday Calendar (2018)

TV-PG

Starring Kat Graham, Quincy Brown, Ethan Peck, Ron Cephas Jones

Directed by Bradley Walsh

The Story:

Abby (Graham) is a struggling photographer who wants nothing more than to open her own studio. With the holidays fast approaching and her life in a bit of a spiral, Gramps (Jones) gives her Grandma's antique advent calendar. However, as each day reveals a new gift, that gift seems to come true in real life and it sends Abby down a path that could forever alter her future.

As someone who no longer has cable, I don't get the joy of watching FreeForm (Formerly ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas) where they saturated their airwaves with original and classic Christmas movies.

Nor do I have the luxury of Lifetime or Hallmark for a Christmas movie fix.

When I wrote up a list of Christmas movies that I do have access to, including what I own and what streaming services I have (Netflix & Amazon) I have over 130 choices...

So 25 Days of Christmas doesn't cut it at our house, and we start November 1st!!!

But as I said, I do have Netflix, and they carry a few of these offerings from Christmases past, they have started creating their own Christmas movies as well.

This year, they've introduced 3 (so far...) that I'm aware of, and The Holiday Calendar was the first of those 3.

Now the thing with Christmas movies you have to remember, is they often follow a very obvious pattern, but those of us that like Christmas movies usually don't care about that, it's a warm and comfortable feeling that makes you feel cozy while you watch it.

Or it's dreadful. :)

Thankfully, this wasn't dreadful. It was a lot of fun, and while you know how the film is going to end, you enjoy the trip that you're taking to get there.

So far so good, and this one will enter the ranks of the movies we will watch again each Christmas time.

Hoping Netflix continues this trend of yuletide offerings each year!

Final Grade: B

Gearing Up For The "Holidaze"

Holidaze (2013)

TV-14

Starring Jennie Garth, Cameron Mathison, Kristin Booth

Directed by Jerry Ciccoritti

The Story:

 Melody (Garth) is an executive who specializes in making little towns see how important it is to build a giant retail store in their town. When she is sent back to her hometown to close the deal, she runs into friends, family and an old flame (Mathison). However, she takes a tumble and wakes up in a world where she never left home and married her sweetheart. With a new look at life, will she change her ways and realize she has a chance to enjoy a truly wonderful life?

See what I did there? :)

However, this film is actually more like the underrated Family Man.

Instead of a movie where the hero sees what life was like if they had never been born, this one shows what life would have been like if they had selected family over career.

Strangely enough, they are usually happier when selecting the family.

Go figure.

One of the ABC Family films that debuted during their annual 25 Days of Christmas (now playing!) celebration, this one actually takes place closer to Thanksgiving.

Which means it is the perfect way to start getting into the holiday season without actually having to play a Christmas movie.

However, if you're like me and have no problem watching Elf or something like that in like, oh, June or July, then no worries.

:)

You'll see all the twists and turns coming, but that's usually not a bad thing in films like this one.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C/C+ range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Could become an annual way to kick off the holiday season with those movies that stretch back to Thanksgiving. :)

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day One: "Christmas in Boston"

Love at first sight, mostly?

The Story:

Gina (Marla Sokoloff) and Seth (Patrick J. Adams) have been pen pals for over 13 years.  Bestest of friends, chance has brought Seth to Boston for a toy conference because he works at a giant toy company and Gina is a reporter who will be covering the show.  The problem?  Seth had sent Gina a picture of his best friend, Matt (Johnathan Cherry).  No real worries, as Gina had sent a picture of her best friend Ellen (Lindy Booth) also.  Silly kids.  So they make their best friends meet... and they hit it off.

Big time.

Now what are the two supposed to do?  Their best friends are falling in love with each other, and Gina and Seth are disappointed, yet connecting with each other unbeknownst about who they really are.

Plus, Gina has the toy business scoop of a lifetime. 

Will she publish the story and destroy Seth's career?

Is fate going to step in and save the day?

Yep, another cute holiday movie served up from ABC Family as part of their 25 Days of Christmas programming.

From 2005, this one was probably seen by us for the first time 3 or 4 years ago.

It's a cute little tale, and all of the actors do a fine job.

Nothing earth-shattering or genre revitalizing, but ABC knows how to crank out an annual new film for their channel, and I'm glad for it.

So if you're interested in a sweet little romantic comedy for the holidays, here's a good one to try and start off with.

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: At least once a year around now, and now thanks to a multi-pack of ABC Family films, I do own it!