Christmas Movies (October 1, 2025)

Something strange happened to me last month. I started watching Christmas movies, which I typically do not watch . . . or like . . . or tolerate (unless, of course, we’re talking The Santa Clause with Tim Allen or White Christmas with Bing and Danny and Rosemary and Vera-Ellen, or (of course) It’s a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.

I mean, come on! Some things are sacred.

There are more classics on my “to watch” list, but what I’m talking about are the quintessential “Hallmark-type movies” in which viewers know exactly what to expect: a bookstore, a bakery, and a girl returning home (sometimes a guy, but usually a girl). Either that or they land in some off-the-beaten path location, cookies, a Christmas market, and some hot chocolate.

And, ta da! Love.

They meet or they meet again. They get all giggly around each other. They fall in love. There is a crisis. One or the other leaves . . . but . . . in the end, they always come back to each other. Final scene: kiss-kiss.

These are not my style of movies. Not to say I haven’t watched them in the past; it’s just not typical. Until something strange happened in September. I plopped down on the sofa, weary from a day’s work, turned on the television to hopefully go mindless, and . . . what could be better for this than a Christmas “love” movie? So I clicked and . . .

. . . And then I watched another. Not the same day, of course, but I did, indeed, watch another one. And then another one. And I took notes.

What you will read beginning this Friday (for the weekend, ya know) is a recap of one movie per week that I have recently watched. I am preparing you either to be entertained or not to bother. I will even let you in on my favorite so far and of the season. None of these will be the classics. You’re on your own there. Some of these are older than others. But we’ll have fun, nonetheless. I will rate them by a number of Christmas ornaments with FIVE being the ultimate “watch this” movie.

Meanwhile, you tell me . . . what’s your favorite Christmas movie (classic, Hallmark-eque, or other)?

(Photos: Theatrical Poster for “It’s a Wonderful Life” found at Wikipedia.com. “Christmas Bauble” from Pixabay)