In 2023, I reviewed four Christmas movies; Christmas at Castle Hart, The National Tree, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and Christmas Princess. At first glance, you might think the one thing these films have in common is how they are made for TV programs. What these movies also have in common is they were released in years past. This similiarity reminded me of another Christmas movie I reviewed that premiered in the past as well; 1990’s The Nutcracker Prince! When I wrote about the film in 2021, I said it was a fine production, respecting the source material while also bringing something new to the table. Within that review, I brought up how the duel between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King served as the movie’s main conflict. So, when I saw this Mouse King ornament, I instantly thought of The Nutcracker Prince and had to add it to my Oh Lil Christmas Tree collection!
While writing this ‘Oh Lil Christmas Tree’ article, I realized that every two years, I add an ornament to my collection based on a Christmas movie I’ve reviewed. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.
My last movie review was for the 1983 adaptation of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Revisiting the film after so many years, I learned the production was more of a “very special episode” of a television show than a movie. Wanting to revisit more movies of Christmas past, I remembered how much I liked the 2017 made-for-TV project, Christmas Princess! In the early days of 18 Cinema Lane, I mentioned how Christmas Princess was my favorite film of 2017. I recall enjoying the movie more than Hallmark’s offerings that year. But like any film from the past, perspectives can change. A movie once loved may not hold up when viewed twice. However, a film that was labeled as “bad” may not seem so bad the second time around. Not having seen Christmas Princess in six years, I wanted to review the film to see if any of my opinions on it have changed!
Christmas Princess(2017) poster created by Entertainment One and Really Real Films
Things I liked about the film:
The acting: A well-acted scene in Christmas Princess is when Donaly, portrayed by Nicole Muñoz, comes face-to-face with her biological mother, Roberta, portrayed by Kaaren de Zilva. Remembered by Donaly as a bitter woman, Roberta still carries a chip on her shoulder. Anytime she speaks to Donaly, Roberta has a passive aggressive tone in her voice. She also has a pessimistic attitude and uses that attitude to try to belittle Donaly. In Roberta’s presence, Donaly appears small. There’s a grimace on her face, troubled at what Roberta might tell her. But when Roberta asks about Donaly’s siblings, Abraham and Emily, Donaly slowly gains confidence. As she’s recalling Emily’s trip to Madrid, Donaly displays a sense of sincerity, refusing to let Roberta dull her sparkle. Smiling while reflecting on this trip, Donaly’s tone of voice makes her sound sure of herself.
Zak Santiago will be familiar to Signed, Sealed, Delivered fans as Ramon Rodriguez. A frequent patron of the local grille restaurant, Ramon is a ray of sunshine, carrying himself with a cheerful attitude and a smile almost always on his face. Portraying Ignacio Marquez, the husband of Sara Marquez and father of Donaly, Abraham, and Emily, Zak displays a different persona. This time, Zak carries his character with a more serious attitude. Yet, a kind and caring personality shines through. During a conversation between Ignacio and Donaly, Donaly confesses a fear she’s been working to overcome. After hearing Donaly’s explanation, Ignacio gently tells his daughter why he was hesitant to let Donaly try out for the Rose Court in the first place. He also reassures Donaly how it’s ok to take care of those you love, but how important it is to trust those same people. Zak’s performance in Christmas Princess compared to his performances in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series provides a great example of how versatile his acting talents are!
Process of the Rose Court: An honored tradition of the Tournament of Roses is the Rose Court. During the Rose Parade, the Rose Court receive their own special float, waving to every viewer in Pasadena and to those watching the parade at home. When the Rose Court float appears, the parade’s announcers will typically provide a brief explanation of how the young ladies on the float became a member of the Rose Court. Donaly’s journey in Christmas Princess gives a thorough explanation of how one becomes a Rose Princess. From a series of interviews to a montage of community service, the role of a Rose Princess, shown in the movie, means more than just sitting pretty on a parade float. This thorough look at the Rose Court process is educational to viewers who are not familiar with the Rose Parade or the Rose Court.
The wardrobe: In movies with a more contemporary story, I typically don’t talk about the wardrobe. But in Christmas Princess, there was one detail I missed when I first saw the movie. There are times when Donaly and even her friend, Chloe, wear attire that is either red or contains a flower pattern. In a scene where Donaly receives an email about the Rose Court, Donaly wears a red denim jacket. Not only is her phone case red, the following scene shows Donaly wearing red shoes. At the beginning of the film, Donaly and Chloe attend their first day of senior year. While Chloe wears an outfit with a floral design, Donaly’s blouse is covered in a pattern of flowers. These wardrobe choices were a clever and subtle way of complimenting the movie’s theme.
Roberta seeking out Donaly: One of the conflicts in Christmas Princess is Donaly facing her traumatic past. A reason why Donaly’s past was traumatic was the result of her biological mother, Roberta. While I thought Roberta’s confrontation with Donaly was a well-acted scene, Roberta’s attempts to find Donaly don’t make sense. Toward the beginning of the film, Roberta shows up at a rummage sale Donaly’s youth group is sponsoring. There’s no explanation provided how Roberta knew Donaly was a part of that specific youth group or how she found out about the rummage sale in the first place. Later in the movie, Roberta looks up the Rose Court finalists, including Donaly, on the Rose Court’s website. How would Roberta get the idea that Donaly was even trying out for the Rose Court when, in a previous scene, she was standing several feet away from Sara Marquez’s car, where, while sitting inside the car, Donaly received the email she’d made it to the next round of try-outs? To me, it would have made more sense if Roberta had learned about Donaly’s Rose Princess crowning in a newspaper article.
The “friends upset at protagonist for not spending more time with them” cliché: The “friends upset at protagonist for not spending more time with them” cliché is typically found in stories for younger audience members. With this cliché, something will happen that inflates the protagonist’s ego, causing the protagonist’s friends to feel abandoned. In Christmas Princess, Donaly’s friends, Chloe and Trent, are frustrated by Donaly’s busy schedule, partly caused by her Rose Court responsibilities. Even though this cliché had a brief appearance in the movie, its inclusion in the script made Chloe and Trent look hypocritical. Both of Donaly’s friends were supportive of Donaly’s decision to try-out for the Rose Court. Chloe even attended the Rose Court crowning when Donaly was selected. It should also be noted how Chloe also tried out for the Rose Court. She and Donaly attended the same Rose Court seminar, where they learned about what it would take to become a Rose Princess.
The “it’s not what you think” cliché: When I discussed the top ten worst cliches from Hallmark movies, I brought up the “it’s not what you think” cliché. This cliché shows a character taking what they saw or heard out of context, making them assume the worst out of a situation. One day, while shopping, Sara Marquez becomes injured in a car accident. At home, Donaly overhears Ignacio talking on the phone about Sara’s injury. After Donaly hears Ignacio saying how he doesn’t know what to do about the children, she assumes she and her siblings will be kicked out of their home. Donaly evens packs a suitcase in case she and her siblings are forced to leave. The utilization of the “it’s not what you think” cliché was better in Christmas Princess than other made-for-TV productions. But with Christmas Princess already containing a few conflicts in the script, from Roberta’s confrontation to feelings of self-doubt, I don’t think the inclusion of this cliché was necessary.
Back in March, I wrote about the Touched by an Angel episode, “Perfect Little Angel”. In that review, I talked about how the script prioritized Tracy’s journey to the pageant, which prevented the story from adopting several pageant related tropes and cliches. Similarly, Christmas Princess revolves around Donaly’s journey to the Rose Court. Because of this creative decision, several Christmas related cliches and tropes were avoided. Even though Christmas Princess shows secular elements of the holiday, such as gift giving and Christmas trees, these things are not a central focus like in other Christmas films. To me, the 2017 movie is one of the better made-for-TV Christmas titles. It features a more unique story that provides an interesting perspective on the holiday. What also helps are the strength of the various creative elements, such as the acting performances and the wardrobe. While there are some cliches in the story that I don’t think are necessary, the movie has more positives than negatives. Six years later, I’d say Christmas Princess still hold up pretty well!
Overall score: 7.7-7.8 out of 10
Have you seen Christmas Princess? Are there any Christmas movies from 2017 you’d like to see me review? Please tell me in the comment section below!
1983 saw the release of A Christmas Story. In the forty years since that movie’s premiere, it has earned the coveted title of “classic” Christmas cinema. It has even become one of the most merchandized Christmas films of our time. But A Christmas Story was not the only Christmas movie released in 1983. That same year saw the premiere of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever! While figuring out which Christmas movies to review this year, I reflected on all the Christmas titles I’d seen in the past. During this reflection, I realized I hadn’t seen The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in a very long time. However, I remember liking the film. So, in this review, I’ll be evaluating whether this movie still holds up forty years later!
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever title card created by Comworld Productions, Schaefer/Karpf Productions, and American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Things I liked about the film:
The acting: One of my favorite scenes in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is when Grace Bradley, portrayed by Loretta Swit, explains the Nativity story to the Herdman children. Because religion is not prioritized in the Herdman household, the Herdman children become curious about the story behind the play they are starring in. While Grace is reading the Nativity story, the Herdman children ask questions and make assumptions. From Gladys stating to Imogene how the Wise Men were “the welfare” to Leroy asking why King Herod isn’t in the Nativity play, this scene shows how children are trying to grasp the basic understanding of the Nativity story. What makes this scene work is the candid and realistic portrayals of the actors and actresses portraying the Herdman children. With the Herdman children trying to connect the story to aspects of their own lives, the film’s audience can see the children attempting to make sense of what they are being told. The motherly persona and patience Loretta displays throughout the Nativity reading also helps. Grace is recognized as someone who is trying her best to do a good deed because of Loretta’s performance.
The messages and themes: Helen Armstrong, the Sunday School teacher and director of the Christmas pageant, tells Grace how every child participating in the pageant should feel important. Grace takes Helen’s advice to heart when she includes the Herdman children in the Christmas pageant. From telling the Herdman children about the Nativity story to giving the Herdman children major roles in the play, Grace tries her best to make the Herdmans feel important. Because of Grace’s efforts, the Herdman children begin to take the play seriously. They even start to change some of their ways. This part of the story showcases a central message of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: making others in your life feel important and included. While this message can be found in movies from any season, it was nice to see it in a Christmas film.
Christmas from a religious perspective: Most Christmas movies, especially from Hallmark, will prioritize the secular components of the holiday. From Christmas trees to gift giving and even Santa Claus, these elements have become staples in Christmas cinema. While there are Christmas films that acknowledge the religious component of Christmas, few of them prioritize it. This is what sets The Best Christmas Pageant Ever apart! The story itself revolves around the production of a church’s Nativity play. As I previously mentioned, Grace Bradley explains the Nativity story to the Herdman children. While there are Christmas decorations throughout the movie, these decorations are far and few between. There is no mention of Santa Claus and none of the children discuss what they want for Christmas. Because of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’s emphasis on the religious component of Christmas, the film avoided a lot of cliches and tropes typically found in Christmas films.
Breaking the fourth wall: At certain points of the story, Beth Bradley breaks the fourth wall, talking directly to the audience about the Herdman children. While I recognize Beth is explaining things that came from the book, I found the broken fourth wall inconsistent. Even toward the end of the movie, Beth explains the Herdman’s actions through a voice-over. I wish parts of the story, such as the Herdman’s home life, had been brought up through dialogue. If there had to be a narrator, I wish the book’s author and film’s screenwriter, Barbara Robinson, had narrated the story.
Parts of the story that don’t lead anywhere: There were parts of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever that didn’t lead anywhere. One example is Alice’s role in the overall story. During rehearsals for the Christmas pageant, Alice records all of the Herdman children’s mischief in a notebook. She shows this notebook to Beth, explaining how she will show the notebook to the grown-ups in the parish if the Christmas pageant turns out to be a disaster. As the story progresses, nothing becomes of this notebook. After she shows it to Beth, Alice doesn’t bring up the notebook again. Instead of this unresolved subplot, Alice’s part of the story should have focused on Alice learning to stand up for herself and dealing with bullies.
Not addressing bullying: As I just mentioned in my previous point, Alice’s part of the story should have focused on Alice learning to stand up for herself and dealing with bullies. Had this idea been included in the script, the story would have showed younger audience members how to resolve the issue of bullying. In The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the Herdman children bully their peers. The children affected by the Herdmans don’t stand up against them. Even when someone did speak up, such as Charlie telling his father about Leroy Herdman stealing his lunch, the grown-ups in the children’s lives don’t deal with the conflict. Because bullying was not addressed in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, some younger audience members could walk away from this movie thinking they shouldn’t bother talking about bullying.
In television shows of yesteryear, a show’s creative team would create a “very special episode”. These episodes would either bring up a serious, real-world topic or would take place around a major holiday. When this type of episode premiered, it would sometimes feel like an event, with a show’s creative team inviting guest stars to add excitement or relevance to the episode’s story. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever felt more like a “very special episode” of a television show than a movie. As someone who watches and reviews movies, I found myself expecting more from the 1983 film. The adaptation does have merit, which can be seen in the acting performances and heard in the messages and themes. But there are parts of the story where the film falls short. Instead of having Alice record the Herdman children’s mischief in a notebook but not do anything about the notebook, Alice should have learned how to stand up for herself against bullies. The book’s author and film’s screenwriter, Barbara Robinson, should have narrated the story instead of having the fourth wall inconsistently broken. Looking back on the Christmas movies I’ve seen, it seems like The Best Christmas Pageant Ever has been forgotten by time. Then again, I don’t know how many people would purchase merchandise associated with this movie.
Overall score: 6 out of 10
Have you seen or read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever? Are there any Christmas movies from the 1980s you enjoy watching? Let me know in the comment section!
As the season of Fall evolves into Winter and the Christmas/holiday season is upon us, it’s time for my annual Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List! This is a tradition where I create a list of movie related things I’d like to receive for Christmas. Similar to last year’s list, there are four items on my wish-list. These items are a combination of realistic requests and wishful thinking. Each item has been placed in one of four categories, with the categories following the quote; “Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read”. With explanations out of the way, let’s get into this year’s Christmas wish-list!
I wrote an editorial back in August about how Evan Williams and George Blagden should go to Eurovision 2024. I even mentioned this in my review of The National Tree. One of my arguments in that editorial was the writers and actors strikes that took place during the time I published my editorial. But as of mid to late December 2023, both the actors and writers strikes have ended. Even if George and Evan had the time to participate in Eurovision, there is no guarantee a participating delegation will select them as their representatives. Therefore, I really hope a delegation sees Evan and George’s potential and sends them to Eurovision! If you’re interested, you can read my editorial at the link below.
When I watched Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows, I was pleasantly surprised to discover Max Lloyd-Jones starred in the film! Though I liked his performance, I wondered why he hasn’t been cast in a Hallmark mystery movie as a detective? Based on his projects I have seen, I think Max has what it takes, talent wise, to portray this type of character. Another performance I was impressed with was Madeleine Arthur’s from 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost! In that movie, Madeleine’s portrayal of Ruby Baker stole the show, as her performance was one of the best parts of that film! I would like to see Madeleine and Max star as the lead actress and actor in a Hallmark mystery film! Even if the movie was a stand-alone picture, I would be curious to see Max and Madeleine work together on a Hallmark project!
A movie related piece of clothing or accessory I’d want to wear
Speaking of 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost, I want to talk about one of Ruby’s pair of shoes! Toward the beginning of the movie, Ruby wore a cute pair of white high heeled shoes at her birthday party. These heels were covered in a white lacy material. Topped with a little black bow, Ruby’s shoes had a timeless style that allow them to work with an outfit from the 1920s or the 21st century!
Because Ruby wore this pair of shoes while dancing, it was difficult to find a good photo of the shoes. Photo found on Hallmark Channel
Because Ruby wore this pair of shoes while dancing, it was difficult to find a good photo of the shoes. Photo found on Hallmark Channel
A book I’ve read that I’d like to see adapted into a film
For this year’s Christmas Wish-List, I’ve selected a poem I’d like to see adapted into a film. When I reviewed Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven and Other Poems, I talked about how I liked ‘The Coliseum’. From my interpretation, the narrator is describing an abandoned facility, with a series of voices reminding the reader how the history, stories, and people associated with the titular coliseum should be remembered. This is one of those poems I think could lend itself well to visual media! Flashbacks would showcase the coliseum’s past or the voices could be shown on screen as ghosts. Since the poem itself is open to interpretation, the story could fit into almost any genre. It seems like ‘The Coliseum’ is one of Edgar’s more underrated pieces of literature, so it would be interesting to see how it’s adapted!
What are your thoughts on my Christmas wish list? Are there any movie related things you’d like to receive during the Christmas/holiday season? Tell me in the comment section!
Back in August, I published an editorial about why Evan Williams and George Blagden should go to Eurovision 2024. While doing research for that editorial, I discovered Evan had starred in a Hallmark Christmas movie! Since that film, 2009’s The National Tree, is one I haven’t seen before, I decided to choose it for my next Blog Follower Dedication Review! Reflecting on Hallmark’s Christmas line-ups over the past few years, it seems like the network isn’t making a strong effort to include older Christmas movies in their programming. This, in my opinion, is a shame because some of those older films are more creative than most of the newer Hallmark projects. The National Tree is a part of this conversation, as the film was not only released fourteen years ago, it also doesn’t include a lot of tropes and cliches found in Hallmark’s Christmas pictures. Before we take a trip through this review, I want to thank all the followers of 18 Cinema Lane!
The National Tree (2009) poster created by Hallmark Channel, QVF, and Cypress Point Productions
Things I liked about the film:
Evan Williams’ performance: There are times when an actor or actress gives such a strong performance, they practically carry the movie they’re starring in. This was the case for Evan’s portrayal of Rock in The National Tree! In my opinion, Evan shined the brightest in this film! Rock’s charismatic personality made him a memorable character. Along with that, Evan gave a versatile performance that showcased a variety of expressions and emotions. From being terrified of driving a semi-truck during a forest fire to expressing gratitude over people’s interest in the soon-to-be National Tree, these moments felt realistic, which allowed me to stay engaged in Rock’s story. Because The National Tree premiered over ten years ago, I’d be interested in seeing Evan star in a Christmas movie in the near future!
Creative storytelling: In most of Hallmark’s Christmas movies from the past five, maybe ten, years, the same tropes and cliches have been incorporated into the script. Whether it’s the inclusion of the “woman from the city going back to her small hometown” cliché, showcasing a bundle of Christmas activities, or focusing on planning a party, those elements cause little creativity among these stories. With The National Tree, however, the story revolves around Rock and his father delivering their tree from Oregon to Washington D.C. in order for their tree to become the National Tree. A lot of cliches and tropes that typically find a place in Hallmark’s Christmas programming were avoided because of this story’s more creative approach. Even though there is a romance in The National Tree, it isn’t a primary focus like in other Hallmark projects. The movie provides a different perspective of how people can spend their time during the Christmas season, which creates variety among Christmas projects!
Rock’s interest in filmmaking: During their trip from Oregon to Washington D.C., Rock claims to his father how film is his life. There are several examples and references throughout The National Tree that prove Rock’s point. At the beginning of the movie, the audience witnesses Rock’s award-winning video, the same video that got his tree selected as the National Tree. Segments of the video are filmed in black-and-white imagery, appearing as scenes from a western film. Rock even dresses the part, wearing attire from what looks like the 19th or early 20th century. Before and during his trip, Rock creates videos chronicling the journey. In one video, he uses postcards to show the viewer where he and his father will go. These postcards serve as animation in between scenes, giving visual representations of each state along the trip. Rock’s interest in filmmaking not only makes him an interesting character, it gives the movie a unique identity!
Things that don’t make sense: There were some parts of The National Tree that, to me, didn’t make sense. One example was the claims made by Rock’s father, Corey. During the trip, Corey believes people coming to see the tree are ripping off its branches. But throughout the movie, the tree is wrapped tightly in a big canvas sheet and bound to the truck in what appears to be heavy duty rope, bungee cord, and straps. Even Rock records a video of the tree being placed on the truck, providing proof that the tree was secure. There are no scenes in the movie showing anyone vandalizing the tree. With all that said, Corey’s claims seem confusing.
Lack of on-screen chemistry: In The National Tree, Corey works alongside Faith to transport the tree across multiple states. Since Faith’s company is sponsoring the contest that selected the titular tree, she volunteers to supervise the tree’s journey. As I watched this movie, I didn’t sense on-screen chemistry between Andrew McCarthy and Kari Matchett. This had to do with The National Tree adopting the same flaw as Christmas at Castle Hart: showing the characters spending more time in a professional context. Faith and Corey are, more often than not, professional acquaintances. While they do spend personal time together, these moments are far and few between. The lack of romantic connection between Corey and Faith prevented Kari and Andrew from sharing on-screen chemistry.
Relying more on a premise than a plot: Looking back on movies I’ve seen and even reviewed, I realize how I don’t gravitate toward road-trip films. My reason is the story focuses so much on the trip itself, there is little to no room for a conflict or a plot. The National Treewould be considered a road-trip film, as the story revolves around Rock and Corey’s trip to Washington D.C. While I appreciate how this story is more creative than others from Hallmark Christmas movies, The National Tree relied on a premise more than a plot. A premise is what entices a viewer to watch a film, which in this case is Rock and Corey traveling across the United States to transport a tree. But a story’s plot allows the audience to ask “and then what happened”. Like other road-trip movies, The National Tree focuses on the trip itself. The straight-forward nature of the story didn’t leave room for the audience to ask questions.
In recent years, older Christmas movies have made fewer appearances during Hallmark’s Christmas line-ups. The National Tree is one of these films, as it was created during a time when the network didn’t release forty movies in one season. This has allowed the 2009 project to display a more creative story, not relying on the usual tropes and cliches from Hallmark’s Christmas programming. However, the story doesn’t leave much room for a plot or conflict, as the script focuses on the road-trip. There are even parts of the story that don’t make sense and lack of on-screen chemistry. But there are good things about The National Tree. One of them was Evan Williams’ performance, as he carried the film from start to finish! If you are interested in watching this movie, I’d recommend viewing it as a Thanksgiving film, as the story takes place around Thanksgiving. There is even a scene where some of the characters share Thanksgiving dinner. I’d also recommend watching this movie for Evan’s performance, which was the brightest star of this production!
Overall score: 6 out of 10
Have you seen The National Tree? Would you like to see Evan Williams star in another Christmas movie? Tell me in the comment section!
You’re probably wondering why I’m reviewing a Christmas movie right before Halloween, especially since I tend to wait until about November to write about Christmas films. That’s because I chose this particular title, Christmas at Castle Hart, for the Genre Grandeur blogathon! When I discovered October’s theme was ‘Mistaken or Stolen Identity Films’, the first movie that came to mind was the 2021 Hallmark Channel project, Christmas at Castle Hart. But Genre Grandeur isn’t the only reason why I wanted to check this film out. Back in 2018, in my Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish List, I wrote how I wanted to see Stuart Townsend and Marguerite Moreau star in a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie together. Since the publication of that Christmas wish list, Hallmark has abandoned Hallmark Hall of Fame, not releasing a film for that collection since 2019. Despite that, I kind of got what I wanted, with Stuart co-starring in a Hallmark Christmas movie. Will Christmas at Castle Hart reach expectations? Keep reading this review to find out!
The acting: I will admit I haven’t seen many projects from Stuart Townsend’s filmography, with Queen of the Damned being his only project I’ve seen in its entirety. A reason why I wanted to see Stuart star in a Hallmark production was to see if he had what it takes, talent wise, to carry a Hallmark film. He proved he could with his portrayal of Aiden in Christmas at Castle Hart! During the movie, Aiden takes Brooke, portrayed by Lacey Chabert, to a run-down chapel in desperate need of repair. This trip encourages Aiden to tell Brooke a story of a renovation project gone wrong. When telling this part of the story, Aiden looks completely defeated, looking back on how he let someone down. Aiden’s defeated attitude radiated through the screen, as the emotions Aiden felt appear genuine. Stuart’s ability to show emotions genuinely helped create a protagonist that was likable!
Lacey Chabert is one of the strongest actresses Hallmark has in their community! She has proven she can work with both comedic and dramatic material. One of the great things about Lacey’s acting abilities is how easily she adapts to various situations. When her character, Brooke, learns about her mistaken identity, she displays a collection of reactions. At first, Brooke appears confused at being referred to by another name. When she realizes what is going on, Brooke looks shocked, but never makes the other characters suspicious. She then seems irritated by what the mistaken identity entails. Yet Brooke maintains a professional persona the entire time. This scene serves as a great example of Lacey’s acting talents!
When a Hallmark movie features older members of royalty or nobility, those characters will, more often than not, carry a snobbish attitude. This attitude will especially be present whenever they interact with characters that are labeled as “commoners”. But Kate O’Toole’s portrayal of Duchess of Abercorn was much different from those aforementioned characters. In fact, her on-screen personality was so pleasant! The Duchess of Abercorn was so friendly toward Brooke and her sister, Margot. She even goes out of her way to help the sisters in their search for their family history. Kate’s performance helped break a trope that is typically found in Hallmark’s “royal” films. This made me wish the Duchess of Abercorn had more appearances in this film!
The scenery: When I reviewed Chasing Leprechauns, I talked about how that movie’s creative team didn’t seem to take the initiative to capture Ireland’s natural beauty on film. The creative team of Christmas at Castle Hart learned from the previous movie’s mistakes, showcasing Ireland in a much more appealing light! While Ireland’s greenery was made visible through long, establishing shots, a light sprinkle of snow veiled the countryside. From the movie’s titular castle to the small-town streets, everything looked like it existed inside a snow-globe! When Brooke and Aiden were riding horses, there were some establishing shots near Ireland’s coast. The icy blue and gray water complimented the white and green of the nearby landscape, creating an interesting winter palette. Because of the creative team’s desire to feature the best of Ireland’s natural environment, the scenery looked inviting!
The set design: More often than not, the set design in Hallmark’s Christmas films appear beautiful. While this is the case for Christmas at Castle Hart, there were some design choices that really stood out! One example is the Christmas party Brooke and Margot plan. The ballroom is covered in shades of gold and cream. Lighted tree branches serve as walls surrounding the space. The branches made the room feel intimate, creating a smaller event that felt more private and exclusive. That design choice was one of the more creative Christmas decorations I’ve seen in a Hallmark production! At a local pub, the wooden bar shelves and countertop are covered in string lights. Even the large, red-framed, exterior windows are given Christmas attention, paired nicely with green garland. Creative decisions like the ones I mentioned show how this creative team paid attention to the space they had at their disposal!
Bad CGI: CGI (computer generated images) is a component that isn’t common in Hallmark’s programming. I’m also aware how Hallmark projects tend to have smaller budgets. Even though the movie’s poor CGI wasn’t a consistent flaw, it was still noticeable enough to point out. In one scene, Aiden is driving through the Irish countryside. Whenever he looked over at Brooke, a green outline was visible around Aiden’s head, revealing pieces of the creative team’s green-screen. When the titular castle was first presented in the film, I wondered if the wreaths on the castle were images added in post-production. In a close-up shot of the castle, it appears I may be correct. One of the wreaths had a visible shadow that made it look like the wreath was floating over the stone wall of the castle. Looking back on Christmas at Castle Hart, I wonder why CGI was used in this film in the first place?
The underutilization of Stuart Townsend: Since 2018, I’ve wanted to see Stuart Townsend in a Hallmark production, specifically a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. While I kind of got what I wanted, I didn’t get it the way I wanted it. In Christmas at Castle Hart, Stuart wasn’t given much material to work with. In fact, Aiden spent the majority of the story driving Brooke around Ireland. There were opportunities for Aiden to be more involved in the story, such as restoring a local chapel. Sadly, these opportunities weren’t given to Aiden. Instead, the story heavily revolved around Brooke and her efforts to plan a Christmas party.
An underutilized subplot: A subplot within Christmas at Castle Hart was Brooke and her sister, Margot, trying to trace their family roots and learn more about their father. This part of the movie created a more unique element to Hallmark’s Christmas programming. But most of the story focused on Brooke and Margot’s efforts to plan a Christmas party. This creative decision led to the aforementioned subplot being treated like an afterthought. While this search for Brooke and Margot’s family heritage was brought up in a few scenes, the search itself was not elaborated on. Even though this subplot was resolved, the resolution was underwhelming.
Weak on-screen chemistry: As I mentioned earlier in this review, I liked Stuart’s and Lacey’s performance in Christmas at Castle Hart. However, I found their on-screen chemistry weak. This weakness had more to do with the material itself. Aiden and Brooke spend most of the story interacting in a professional context. That prevented the characters from developing a romantic spark between them. While there were sweet moments between Aiden and Brooke, such as baking a plum pudding together, I never got the impression they were falling in love.
I haven’t seen all of Hallmark’s movies taking place in Ireland. But out of the ones I’ve seen, most of them have been underwhelming. Christmas at Castle Hart is, sadly, one of those titles I wasn’t impressed with. For me, the biggest flaw was the writing. Brooke and Margot’s search for their family history was a more unique story for Hallmark’s Christmas programming. Unfortunately, this part of the story was treated as an afterthought. There were opportunities for Stuart’s character, Aiden, to become more involved in the story. Yet, Stuart’s talents were underutilized, giving him little material to work with. Christmas at Castle Hart is an example of Hallmark’s focus on quantity instead of quality. Had this same movie been created during the prime of Hallmark’s ‘Countdown to Christmas’ line-up, more attention to detail would have been given, especially for a project starring Lacey Chabert.
Overall score: 5.2 out of 10
Have you seen Christmas at Castle Hart? What is your favorite Christmas movie starring Lacey Chabert? Please tell me in the comment section!
Last June, I published a list of the top ten movies I’d love to review someday. Since publishing that list, I have written about some of the films I talked about! Now that it is “Christmas in July”, it seemed like the perfect time to write about the top ten Christmas movies I’d love to review in the future! The films on my list were distributed through various studios and movie companies, varying in accessibility. But this time, I’ll be listing the movies based on the year they were released. While there are plenty of Hallmark productions I either have never seen or haven’t seen in years, I tried not to include too many Hallmark titles on this list. That’s because I could create a top ten list entirely comprised of Hallmark films. So, while Santa is checking which films are worthy of his nice list, let’s look at the top ten Christmas movies I’d love to review!
There are few very Christmas movies I’ve been recommended by my readers. 1942’s Holiday Inn is one of those films. I will admit I have heard of this movie over the years, but never checked it out. Now that I think of it, I’ve reviewed only a handful of Christmas movie musicals. Holiday Inn would definitely make up for that. Plus, it would give me an excuse to seek out more of Fred Astaire’s projects from his filmography. There is a part of the story that takes place during Thanksgiving, from what I’ve heard. So, I might review Holiday Inn around Thanksgiving!
9. Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
I brought up Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas in a past Word on the Street story. But while creating this list, I realized how I still haven’t seen this movie. I have written about some animated films on my blog. However, few of those films were animated through puppetry. This would make the 1977 film a more unique picture to write about. Back in January, I saw and reviewed The Great Muppet Caper, a film I genuinely enjoyed. Since Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas is a Jim Henson production, it makes me wonder if I’ll like this movie as much as The Great Muppet Caper?
8. Bush Christmas (1983) and Miracle Down Under(1987)
I stumbled upon Miracle Down Under (also known as Bushfire Moon or The Christmas Visitor) while searching for movies to review. When looking for more information on the 1987 film, I discovered the 1983 movie, Bush Christmas. Thinking about the Christmas productions I’ve seen, I tend to think of these stories taking place somewhere in the United States. If a Christmas film is set outside the United States, the location is typically Canada or Europe. Australia is a country rarely included in the Christmas movie landscape. Therefore, Miracle Down Under and Bush Christmas offers a yuletide perspective that is unique from other Christmas titles! This shared connection makes these movies perfect choices for a double feature!
7. Mrs. Santa Claus (1996)
As I was writing this list, I remembered how I’ve seen few of Angela Lansbury’s live-action projects from her filmography. Yes, I’ve seen my fair share of Murder, She Wrote episodes. But I’m talking about Angela’s live-action films. I have come across the poster for Mrs. Santa Claus on multiple occasions. Yet, I have never seen this movie. Because of this, I didn’t know that a) the 1996 film is a musical and b) it is a historical fiction story. When I talked about Holiday Inn, I mentioned reviewing only a handful of Christmas movie musicals on my blog. Not only would Mrs. Santa Claus make up for that, but it would also give me an opportunity to talk about a movie that seems underrated in the world of Christmas cinema.
6. Little Men (1998)
For years, I knew there was a continuation to Louisa May Alcott’s classic story, Little Women. I also knew this continuation was given a film adaptation. But the aforementioned continuation, Little Men, is one I haven’t seen or read. With that said, I was unaware the 1998 movie was a Christmas production. While creating my list, I noticed how a lot of the movies were made-for-TV or straight-to-video/streaming presentations. As Little Men was theatrically released, I thought it would add some variety to my list. Maybe I’ll write a double feature review for Little Men and Little Women. Question is, which version of Louisa’s story would pair well with the 1998 movie?
Three Days is similar to the 1999 film, If You Believe; these are Christmas movies that don’t rely on the tropes and cliches found in typical Christmas projects. In the 2001 story, a workaholic man is taking his life and wife for granted. After his wife dies, the man is given a second chance to re-live the previous three days of his life, in order to save his wife and turn his life around. I haven’t seen this movie in years, but I do remember liking it. As of the publication of this list, though, the only place Three Days is available is through the streaming service, Disney+. I hope Freeform (formerly known as ABC Family) airs this film again during their annual ‘25 Days of Christmas’ line-up. That way, I could talk about a film that is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated in Christmas movie history.
4. The Night Before The Night Before Christmas (2010)
The Night Before The Night Before Christmas is one of the first movies I was ever recommended by one of my readers. Since then, I have been trying to find the perfect opportunity to review the film. But as far as I know, the 2010 presentation isn’t airing on any of Hallmark’s networks during their ‘Christmas in July’ line-ups. So, I hope the film airs sometime during the Christmas season. I have found DVD copies of The Night Before The Night Before Christmas. Therefore, if Hallmark doesn’t air the movie again, I still have a chance to write about this production.
3. An Old Fashioned Christmas (2010)
I included this movie in my list of the top ten movies I’d love to review. In that list, I mentioned how I have come across a few DVD copies of An Old Fashioned Christmas. But these DVDs were included in Christmas movie box sets, which tend to be expensive. While this statement is still true, the movie has been uploaded on Youtube, as of mid-July, 2023. Now I might be able to review the film sooner than I expected! Similar to The Night Before The Night Before Christmas, An Old Fashioned Christmas isn’t airing during Hallmark’s ‘Christmas in July’ line-ups. So, I hope the 2010 movie makes an appearance during this year’s Christmas season.
2. Christmas with Tucker (2013)
Christmas with Tucker is a prequel to the 2009 Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, A Dog Named Christmas. I have seen the latter film, which I remember liking. However, it’s been several years since I’ve seen the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. Since I also haven’t seen Christmas with Tucker, I don’t know how the 2013 movie and the 2009 movie connect with each other. I might review these films in a future double feature in order to solve that mystery.
1. An American Girl Story: Maryellen 1955 – Extraordinary Christmas (2016)
Years ago, I wrote an editorial about how Jiggy Nye was not an effective villain in Felicity: An American Girl Adventure. Since publishing that editorial, I have not reviewed any of American Girl’s films. I did see some of their films, but An American Girl Story: Maryellen 1955 – Extraordinary Christmas was not one of them. When this film was released, it was only available on Amazon Prime. But American Girl’s Amazon Prime exclusive movies, including An American Girl Story: Maryellen 1955 – Extraordinary Christmas, were recently removed from the streaming service for reasons unknown. For the time being, this film is considered “lost media”. But I hope it either is re-released on DVD or available on another streaming service.
With 18 Cinema Lane’s 5th anniversary in February, the annual Gold Sally Awards is here to mark this occasion! As I mentioned last month, this year’s awards will be presented differently. Each category was created by me, based on topics I’ve brought up on my blog. The award recipients relate to movies I saw in 2022, with some of those movies covered on 18 Cinema Lane. For each category, I will explain the significance of them and why I chose that recipient. So, without any delay, let the Gold Sally Awards begin!
5th Annual Gold Sally Awards Winners created by me, Sally Silverscreen.
The Edwin P. Christy Award
(Most Annoying Character in Film)
Grandpa Marcus from Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Journey
When I saw I Dream of Jeanie two years ago, I was introduced to the character of Edwin P. Christy. In my review of the 1952 movie, I said I found Edwin annoying. This is because he used every opportunity to put the spotlight on himself. He does this so often, I said in my list of the top ten worst movies of 2021 that I Dream of Jeanie’s honest title would be “The Edwin P. Christy Show”. In 2022, I met another annoying character named Marcus, from Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Journey.
Having a hobby can be a good thing. But in Marcus’ case, his hobby for photography turns into an obsession. This obsession causes Marcus’ family to either hide their faces or run away from him whenever he wants to take their picture. Marcus also takes pictures of people without their permission. It even gets to the point where Marcus makes his grandson, who appears to be eight to ten years old, drive a car so Marcus can take photos. His grandchildren jokingly remark how their grandpa will photograph their car accident if something should happen to them, their remark not sitting well with me at all. In Journey, Marcus’ hobby is related to one of the movie’s themes; memories are irreplaceable. The delivery of this theme, though, was an annoying one.
The “She Won’t Give Me My Chocolate” Award
(Best Quote from a Movie)
“Someone who likes their cereal really hot” – Wanda, Point of Origin
The Valley of Light is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie I like. I’ve mentioned in my tier rank list of every Hallmark Hall of Fame movie I saw that “She won’t give me my chocolate” is one of my favorite quotes from this collection of films. When I watched Point of Origin last June, I heard a quote that was so funny, it caught me off guard! In one scene, John’s daughter asks John, the film’s protagonist, what a serial arsonist is, after hearing the term on the news. Without missing a beat, Wanda, John’s wife, answers the young girl’s question by explaining it is “someone who likes their cereal really hot”. I was not expecting Wanda to provide this kind of answer, let alone any answer at all. Its unexpectedness is why I found this quote hilarious!
The Edward Boult Award
(Missed Opportunity in Cinema)
Not Having the Quote, “I have a need, a need for speed”, in Top Gun: Maverick
Back in 2019, I watched Edward, My Son for the first time. In my review of that film, I talked about how Edward’s lack of on-screen appearances was a missed opportunity. Not only did this creative decision prevent the audience from getting to know and connect with Edward as a character, it also denied an actor from receiving the “standing ovation” he deserved. Out of the films I saw in 2022, there were a few times where I felt an opportunity was missed. But not having the quote, “I have a need, a need for speed”, in Top Gun: Maverick was, in my opinion, the biggest missed opportunity of the year. The aforementioned quote is not only the most well-known quote from Top Gun: Maverick’s predecessor, it’s one of the most famous quotes in movie history. Like I said in my review of the 2022 blockbuster, the film did a good job respecting Top Gun. However, I still think “I have a need, a need for speed” should have been referenced somewhere in the movie.
The They Deserve an Award Award
(An Actor or Actress Who Deserves Recognition)
Melissa Joan Hart (for her performance in Dirty Little Secret)
A quote I have always tried to incorporate into 18 Cinema Lane is Auggie’s quote from Wonder: “Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world.” This is why I go out of my way to talk about movies, people, or movie related topics that may be overlooked. Dirty Little Secret is a Lifetime movie that premiered last year. In this film, Melissa portrays Joanna, a woman who is secretly a hoarder. As I have said in the past, Lifetime has a history of creating PSA/ “after school special”/cautionary tale type of movies. Unlike the majority of those projects, Dirty Little Secret revolves around a story, which happens to address the serious issue of hoarding. Through her performance, Melissa was able to successfully bring forth the humanity of her character. With a strong sense of emotionality and an array of expressions and body language, Joanna became a character the audience could be empathetic towards. Personally, I think Melissa should have, at least, been nominated for an award, as her performance in Dirty Little Secret was one of the best from 2022!
The “Woman from the City Coming Back to Her Small Hometown” Award
(Most Extreme Use of a Cliché)
Lily from Lake Effects
If you’ve read my list of the top ten worst cliches from Hallmark movies, you’d know the “woman from the city coming back to her small hometown” cliché is my least favorite. It’s been used so many times, it makes a story more predictable. There are two cliches from Hallmark productions I’ve never talked about on 18 Cinema Lane: the “younger sibling is free-spirited” cliché and the “artist = free-spirit” cliché. While these cliches have made several appearances in Hallmark projects, including When Calls the Heart, their presence hasn’t been as frequent as other cliches. But these two cliches were fully embodied by Lily, one of the characters in the 2012 film, Lake Effects. From her colorful wardrobe to her dream of studying art in Paris, Lilly adopted every component of the two aforementioned cliches you can think of. The combination of these elements created a character I couldn’t take seriously. In fact, you could make a bingo game revolving around the various ways the “younger sibling is free-spirited” cliché and the “artist = free-spirit” cliché are incorporated into Lilly’s story.
The Standing Ovation Award
(Character Most Deserving of Receiving Their Full Potential)
Kili from The Hobbit trilogy
When I talked about The They Deserve an Award Award, I brought up Auggie’s quote from Wonder. Last November, I created a list of characters who didn’t receive their full potential. With both of that said, I decided to create an award category where I recognize a character that I feel should receive the full potential they deserve. In my tag post, My take on The “Flaming Hot…5 Reasons Why” Tag, I brought up Kili from The Hobbit trilogy. Since I saw all three movies for the first time last year, Kili would be eligible for this award. In that aforementioned tag post, I claimed how Kili was, in my opinion, the MVP of Middle-Earth. This is because there are several attributes that make him a likable character, such as his humbleness toward his royal title. Throughout the trilogy, I was rooting for Kili to achieve his full potential, which I feel could have been possible. But, without spoiling this story, his potential was ultimately denied. I do plan on writing at least one editorial about Kili, so stay tuned!
The Honorable and Dishonorable Mention Award
(Best and Worst Movie from the Honorable and Dishonorable Mention Category)
Best – Akeelah and the Bee, Worst – Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Corsican Brothers
Whenever I publish my best and worst movies of the year lists, I receive few opportunities to talk about the movies in my Honorable and Dishonorable Mention categories. In fact, the only times I talk about these movies are when I get the opportunity to review them on my blog. Therefore, I created an award category to recognize these films. Akeelah and the Bee was such a pleasant surprise for me! It was a feel-good story that felt sincere in the messages and delivery. There were even interesting twists that I did not see coming. Without spoiling the movie, the script did a good job at avoiding a cliché when it comes to competitions in movies. I’m glad I checked out Akeelah and the Bee, as the film was time well spent!
Last October, I reviewed Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Corsican Brothers for the Devilishly Delightful Donald Pleasence Blogathon. After seeing some adaptations of Alexandre Dumas’ stories, I thought I knew what to expect from the 1985 made-for-tv movie. But the longer I watched The Corsican Brothers, the more disappointed I became. This story was not the exciting tale with adventure and intrigue I was hoping for. Instead, it was a confusing film with little to no use of urgency. As of the publication of this award post, I still have not read this movie’s source material. Therefore, I don’t know which parts of the production are creative liberties.
The Nosferatu vs. Dracula Award
(Two Movies That Feel Like You’re Watching the Same One)
Harvey (1950) and Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Harvey (1972)
For a Blog Follower Dedication Review, I wrote about 1931’s Dracula. Because I had seen Nosferatu prior to watching Dracula, the 1931 film felt like a re-tread of its predecessor. I even told my readers if they had seen Nosferatu, they’d already seen Dracula. Last year, I reviewed two versions of Harvey; the 1950 movie and the Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation from 1972. Though I liked the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie more than its predecessor, I didn’t like how it was a copy of the 1950 film. The movie’s sets even looked almost exactly like they did in the 1950 production. If you’ve never seen any version of this story, I’d recommend only seeing 1972’s adaptation of Harvey.
The Hallmark Hall of Fame Award
(Movie That Feels Like It Belongs in the Hallmark Hall of Fame Collection)
A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love
I have sometimes found a movie that feels like it should have been included in the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. So, when I find out a story isn’t associated with this series, it surprises me, whether it’s because the movie is based on a true story or the story itself covers a topic found within Hallmark Hall of Fame. That leads me to bring up A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love! Like other films in the Godwink series, the 2021 film is also based on a true story. Subjects related to faith, which usually aren’t found in a typical Hallmark Channel or Hallmark Movies & Mysteries production, are included within this particular story as well. In my opinion, the overall quality of A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love felt reminiscent of Hallmark Hall of Fame movies I like, such as The Valley of Light and A Dog Named Christmas. I’m honestly surprised SQuire Rushnell’s stories weren’t included in the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection back when Hallmark utilized that banner.
The “Based on a Book I Haven’t Read Yet” Award
(Movie Based on Source Material I Have Not Yet Read)
The Pit and the Pendulum
I feel like, more often than not, I find myself saying that a movie I review is based on source material I haven’t read. This prevents me from judging the film as an adaptation. It’s been years since I’ve read anything by Edgar Allan Poe. I even mentioned this fact in my review of the 1961 adaptation. Fortunately, The Pit and the Pendulum is a book I plan on reading for the upcoming Eurovisionathon readathon. Because of that, I selected The Pit and the Pendulum for this specific award!
My worst movies list of 2022 is different from that of the previous year. This time, I’ll be talking about more films that were “so bad they were bad”, as only three of these movies were disappointments. The Dishonorable Mentions portion of the list has also returned! Though I did see more good movies than bad, I couldn’t avoid coming across a “stinker” every now and then. I like to think I’ll, one day, see less than ten films for my annual worst list. But someday has not come this year, as the title of this article suggests. As I’ve stated in past lists, I did not write my list to be mean-spirited or negative. It’s just a way to express my own, honest opinion. Since some of these films have been reviewed on my blog, I will provide links to those reviews.
Dishonorable Mentions
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made, A Place for Annie, Swim Instructor Nightmare, Nikki & Nora: Sister Sleuths, The Corsican Brothers (1985), and Donnie Brasco (I only watched forty minutes of the film before turning it off)
In 2022, I was hoping to finally find my coveted “so bad, it’s good” movie. Sadly, The New Adventures of Heidi was not it. As I said in my review, this film is “spectacularly average”. The more I think about the 1978 made-for-tv movie, the less justifiable reasons I can think of for the project’s existence. Yes, The New Adventures of Heidi was intended as a “modern” re-telling of Johanna Spyri’s story. But the movie didn’t feel unique enough, despite all the changes. Every year I’ve participated in the So Bad It’s Good Blogathon, there has been a pattern between movies that turned out ok and movies that were just disappointing. Hopefully, in 2023, I can break this pattern.
When I first read the synopsis for Love in Wolf Creek, I was excited at the idea of a “cozier” story filled with adventure and excitement. The 2022 television film seemed better on paper than in practice. For a movie titled Love in Wolf Creek, there was very little romance in the story. The writing was weaker than I hoped, filled with scenarios that were too unrealistic for my liking. This project was too ambitious for INSP, the network who created the film. It was so disappointing, I didn’t bother watching its sequel, Christmas in Wolf Creek.
8. Harvey (1950)
I think the 1972 Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation of Harvey is better than its 1950 predecessor. While I’m aware how controversial my opinion is, the 1972 film had more success executing its intended points. A mistake the 1950 movie makes is trying to be a comedy and a drama. This decision led the comedy to not only be underutilized, but also showcased medical negligence in a way that didn’t sit well with me. “Magical realism” was lacking in the 1950 film. This took away any opportunity for the story to be charming and whimsical. When I reviewed Harvey back in January, it was the most disappointing movie I saw in 2022. Now, eleven months later, the 1950 picture still holds that title.
The 1995 Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation made the same mistake Durango did: not giving the audience a reason to care about the characters and their story. In the case of Journey, the creative team failed to provide explanations for the characters’ choices. At the beginning of the film, the protagonist’s mother, Min, abandons her family, claiming she hates her parents. But the script never explains why she made this decision. Even when there are cut-away scenes featuring Min, she isn’t doing anything significant. How am I expected to care about Min’s choice affecting her family when I don’t even know why she left in the first place?
6. My Mom Made Me Do It
According to a synopsis I read for this 2022 Lifetime film, the protagonist, Jade, turns to stealing in order to help her mom pay the bills. Both the title and synopsis turned out to be a lie because 1) Jade’s decisions were made on her own and 2) Jade never steals anything. What she does instead is crash wealthy people’s parties and photographs their belongings. Other issues contained in this movie are weak lead performances and characters who make one dumb choice after another. I will admit there was at least one effective plot twist. But I wish it had taken place in a better film.
For a little while, I thought The Sundowners was going to be the worst movie I saw this year. Even though I was proven wrong, the 1960 film has still remained in my top five. Like I said in my review, one of the worst things you can do as a film-maker is waste your audience’s time. The story felt longer than necessary, which made the movie two hours and thirteen minutes not well spent. One of my biggest issues with The Sundowners was its “bait and switch” ending. While I won’t go into detail about the ending, as I don’t want to spoil the film, I will say it was cruel for both the characters and the audience.
This movie attempts to answer the question; “Wouldn’t it be funny if a group of women came together to solve a mystery”? By the time The North Avenue Irregulars was released in 1979, that question made the film dated on arrival, as there were several television programs from the ‘70s featuring at least one female character solving mysteries or fighting crime. The movie’s creative team told too many types of stories, yet failed at all of them. One minute, the film felt like a precursor to the Mitford series, revolving around a preacher trying to live his best life. The next minute, the film turns into a gangster heist picture, paired with car chases that were longer than necessary. Honestly, I wish this movie was a Scooby Doo-esque story about the film’s fictional band, Strawberry Shortcake. Maybe then the movie would seem more timeless.
3. Lake Effects
For the first time in 18 Cinema Lane history, all the movies in my worst list’s top three are Hallmark productions. Accepting the bronze is the 2012 film, Lake Effects. This movie has so many Hallmark movie clichés, you could create a bingo game around them. You could also create a bingo game around the many storylines found in this script. Lake Effects is a production that relies on style over substance. While Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia was captured well on film, there’s only so much the movie’s creative team could do with the weak script at their disposal. In my review from August, I stated how the movie seemed forgotten over the years. Its poor quality makes it not worth remembering.
In 2019 and 2020, a Hallmark Christmas movie ended up in the top three of my annual worst movies list. History is kind of repeating itself with A Boyfriend for Christmas in second place. Like Lake Effects, the 2004 film contained a weak script. But in A Boyfriend for Christmas, I only liked two minor parts of the story. The lack of Christmas magic made my movie viewing experience unenjoyable. It was one of those stories that became worse the longer I watched it. I know this movie is one of the most beloved titles in Hallmark’s cinematic library. Honestly, though, I found it over-rated.
Remember when I said one of the worst things a film-maker can do is waste their audience’s time? Well, another worst thing a film-maker can do is disrespect their audience’s intelligence. As I watched Francesca Quinn, PI, I was given the impression the film’s creative team didn’t want me to solve the mystery alongside the protagonist. That’s because Francesca explained things that didn’t need explaining. Despite Francesca being a professional private investigator, she constantly made decisions an amateur detective would likely make. Her lack of personality didn’t help either. According to IMDB, Francesca Quinn, PI could replace the Mystery 101 series. The reason is “the main characters’ relationship and the crime at the end of Deadly History are the same as the main characters’ relationship and crime in Francesca Quinn, PI”. If this is the case, the Mystery 101 fans, including myself, deserve so much better.
A Boyfriend for Christmasposter created by Hallmark Entertainment, MAT IV, Alpine Medien Productions, Larry Levinson Productions, Gaiam Entertainment, and Hallmark Channel
As the sun begins to set on 2022, it’s time to publish my best and worst movies of the year lists! Last year, every film on my best list had been reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane. But that’s not the case this time around. For this list, only two movies were not reviewed, while another movie served as an editorial subject. Any film I covered on my blog will have a link included in this post. I’m thankful another year was filled with more good movies than bad. I’ll even have more titles in my Honorable Mentions! While these lists have become great traditions on their own, the variety of this collection of films has become another tradition. So, without any delay, let’s begin the list of the best movies I saw in 2022!
Honorable Mentions
Cut, Color, Murder, Sailor Moon S: The Movie, Cyrano de Bergerac (1950), Children of a Lesser God, Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Honeymoon, Honeymurder, The Princess and the Pirate, Dirty Little Secret, Singin in the Rain, McBride: Tune in for Murder, McBride: Dogged, McBride: Requiem, Hugo, Akeelah and the Bee, The Shoplifting Pact, and Secrets at the Inn
When I reviewed the 1971 musical back in February, I said it was too early to say whether it would be one of the best movies I saw this year. But Fiddler on the Roof captivated me so much, the film ended up on my annual top ten list! I described the movie as a well-made quilt, with each of the film’s strengths representing a different quilt piece. The inclusion of Jewish faith/culture also gave the project a unique identity by asking questions and discussing topics that aren’t often found in musicals. Looking back on this movie, Fiddler on the Roof was three hours well spent. It’s a special project in both the world of musicals and cinema. I hope to check out more Jewish cinematic stories in 2023!
Out of all the movies on my best list for 2022, The Lost Empire/The Monkey King is the most unique one! A fantasy film based on Chinese folklore, this was an imaginative production I enjoyed watching. The story was sometimes thought-provoking and even somewhat educational, as it included literature related discussions. Strong acting performances brought to life characters who seemed believable. The set designs boasted a realistic and fantastical setting, which effectively presented the illusion of an immersive world. I wish Hallmark created more movies like The Lost Empire/The Monkey King, where the stories and ideas are more creative. With the network prioritizing rom-coms and dramas, though, I don’t know what their decisions will be in the new year.
Talking about this movie is bittersweet, as it is the last film in the Aurora Teagarden series. I’ve thought about all the moments the fans will never get to see, such as Aurora and Nick’s first Christmas, Phillip’s college graduation, and Sally falling in love. But if this is where the story must end, at least it ended on a strong note. The realistic and supernatural elements of the story complimented each other nicely. Supernatural elements being incorporated at all gave this chapter a more creative approach to the series. It was nice to spend time with Lawrenceton’s favorite residents; the acting performances and on-screen camaraderie remaining consistent. Even though I would have loved to see the Aurora Teagarden series continue for many more years, I know nothing lasts forever. But as the saying goes “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened”.
7. Redwood Curtain
There are very few movies I found better than their source material. Redwood Curtain just so happens to be one of them! The creative team behind the Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation took advantage of the expansive nature of film by providing the story with more locations. Allowing characters like Julia and Laird to appear in the movie showcase the Riordan family dynamic not present in the play. I found Geri more likable as a character in the movie. Lea’s performance paired with the screenwriting gave Geri an empathetic and understanding personality. Redwood Curtain is a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation I wish was re-released on DVD.
The Pit and the Pendulum was one of the biggest pleasant surprises of 2022! Despite the film not being my first choice for its respective blogathon, I thought it was engaging and entertaining. Vincent’s performance didn’t disappoint, as his portrayal of Nicholas was versatile and fueled on emotion. The mystery not only started right away, but it also allowed the audience to experience the journey alongside Francis, the main character. The Pit and the Pendulum is, to me, one of the more effective horror movies, like 1962’s Cape Fear. While this film would be a perfect choice to watch on Halloween, I’m glad I had the opportunity to see it around Vincent’s birthday!
Redwood Curtain poster created by Chris/Rose Productions, Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, American Broadcasting Company (ABC), and Republic Pictures (II)
5. The Song of Bernadette
And another film of Vincent’s joins my list! Faith based films come in two forms; those that emphasize a message and those that emphasize a story. The Song of Bernadette falls into the latter category, as it revolves around religious phenomena affecting a small town. What I like about the 1943 film is how different perspectives relating to the phenomena are explored, highlighting how various members of the town view the events unfolding. The story doesn’t choose sides on the main topic, allowing the audience to come to their own conclusions about what is taking place in the movie. Even though The Song of Bernadette was released during the Breen Code era, the film is a good representation of the quality from that period in cinema. As I said in my review, Easter would be an appropriate time to watch the movie!
Heaven Is for Real shares a major similarity with The Song of Bernadette. The 2014 film also revolves around religious phenomena affecting a small town. But what Heaven Is for Real does differently is encourage the audience to have a conversation about their beliefs on Heaven. Like I previously stated, faith based films come in two forms; those that emphasize a message and those that emphasize a story. However, I’ve rarely seen a movie of this nature start a discussion about one of their themes. This creative decision brings something new to the table and gives Heaven Is for Real a unique identity.
3. Words on Bathroom Walls
It seems like I’ve been talking about this title for as long as my blog has been around. But I’m glad I finally got the chance to see Words on Bathroom Walls this year, as it was such a good adaptation! There were changes between text and film. Despite that, the adaptation was, for the most part, respectful to its source material. The visual presentation of the story gave the audience a glimpse inside Adam’s mind. Interactions between the characters were believable, thanks to the actors’ performances and screenwriting. As I mentioned in my review a month ago, the adaptation for Words on Bathroom Walls seems more underrated. Based on the response my review received, my statement may be wrong.
I’m going to be honest; I had low expectations for Top Gun: Maverick. That’s because sequels released over ten years after their predecessor can be hit or miss. Top Gun: Maverick ended up surpassing my expectations, making it in the top three of my best of the year list! From what I know about Top Gun, the sequel respected what came before it. At the same time, new elements were added to the story, like focusing on an overarching mission. In a cinematic landscape where a film receiving over a billion dollars has become a rarity, Top Gun: Maverick achieved what some studios only dream of. As the 2020s move forward, maybe more filmmakers will turn to this film as an example of what can be cinematically possible.
When it comes to “Godwink” stories, I prefer those that focus on a conflict. While that is the case for A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love, I found the overall production impressive! The interactions among the characters, as well as each volunteer’s talent being showcased, provided a nice amount of character development. Christmas activities were incorporated in more unique ways, such as the Romero family’s gift exchange. The inclusion of Advent was a newer approach to the Christmas movie genre. I don’t know what’s in store for the Godwink series. But I’d love to see more adaptations of these stories!
18 Cinema Lane 