Christmas: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas

      In the grab bag, let's see what we have this time, hmm a Hallmark Channel movie.  Hmm interesting.  Hallmark Channel Christmas movies and their movies, in general, seem to be their own genre in a way.  Even the network itself has tried ideas to break away and do slightly different ideas, but also they know what the people come to watch.  

             This movie The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is from 2008, it's an older Hallmark Channel  movie that the network still seems to run. The network seems to bump movies that are older down to their other channels or streaming thing.  They tend to go rampant hard with Christmas and introduce a lot of new movies a season.   It is interesting that this one still gets repeats on the main channel. I'm not a big Hallmark Channel movie viewer, if anything I watch the channel for their sitcom reruns, but I do like this one. 

         The movie is simple and seems to set up things that became Hallmark Channel uh hallmarks in their movies later on.  The best thing about this movie is Henry Winkler.  Winkler plays Uncle Ralph, the protagonist woman's uncle.  He a retired police officer who coming to visit his niece, Jennifer, for Christmas. Ralph -and his wife- essentially raised her. He brings a quirky and loveable charm to the movie and makes it a fun trip. 

             The movie starts with Jennifer Cullen (Jen) played by Brooke Burns. She is a single mother with a son named Brian. She is single, because plot reasons, but she does have a boyfriend whom umm... also plot reasons.  Her son wants a bike called a rocket wheel.  Also boys at school had Brian think Santa isn't real because that also happens in Christmas movies.  Jen is a business woman who does business-y business stuff.  She also isn't big into Christmas anymore. 

Son, for Christmas, do you want a less boring room? / Copyright Hallmark Channel

             We finally see Ralph, our hero. Picking Henry Winkler for this role was great and glad they chose him and he said yes and we have this existing.  We see him leave  a bar a mugger wants to mug him.  Ralph decides that there's going to be need for an ambulance call, not for him, but the mugger. If had put Ralph in Home Alone Marv and Harry would be dead.  This is a fun start for a movie about Christmas. 

Took him down hard/ Copyright Hallmark Channel 

            Jen finds out that thing her son wants for Christmas is also very hard to get. I am also concerned that a Chicago newspaper's top story is about a toy.  Jen's mother isn't coming over for Christmas because Hallmark didn't get an actress for her.  (sure) Jen is bothered because she can't make turkey and Christmas dinner, she's trying to impress her boyfriend's parent. The boyfriend is named Richard. ( A bit on the nose, movie) I'm going to like spoil things in this, so this how these posts go.  Richard plays the role of the boyfriend that will not be one at the end.  He's not too bad as a character, he's not evil or over the top.  The characters in this do feel like people, maybe a little different too many others you'd meet since they are more business-y business people, minus uncle Ralph and the kid. He also doesn't seem to like Ralph. (He must have been mad how Happy Days changed later on)   

They created the most stiff guy they could/ Copyright Hallmark Channel 

             There's a neighbor woman who wants Jen to put up her Christmas lights and what kind and how, because reasons. Jen thinks about running her over with her car. (that would be a different movie)  She goes to a toy store. She wants to buy the rocket wheel bike in the window the guy uses to bait and switch and she makes a deal.   

             Ralph is taking an airplane and a man named Morgan Derby helps him. Morgan is played by Warren Christie. Ralph takes an instant comradery with the man.  He gets them both on the plane quickly and first class. (Henry Winkler should always get free flights)   Ralph and Morgan getting along on the plane is good and again I like how they mesh. Morgan is also a more a free spirit but not over the top and strange.  Ralph doesn't like her boyfriend either, he doesn't trust people with 800 dollar shoes. 

So, do you know Laverne and Shirley? / Copyright Hallmark Channel 

             There's a strange running gag in this movie of the wreath being too big and falling off the front door and Jen going it's not too big. I'm sure someone thought that was funny.  Morgan can't go to Denver because flights are canceled (typical) and he is able to somehow bump into Jen and Brian and creeps them out by knowing their names and what they look like.  Ralph asks Jen if Morgan can stay the night. She, of course, is against the idea but he wears her down.  Also saying that Morgan is a chef might be of help. 

more after the jump

Hallmark to Launch new TV Channel

TV NEWS 

    In an age where we  have more cable channels either "reinventing themselves, being shutdown , or rebranding,"  Hallmark seems to be bucking that and launching 3rd channel called, Hallmark Drama, which will join it's sister networks Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.

#Breaking Crown Media Family Networks to launch @HallmarkDrama, a new TV Network on October 1 #TCA17.

— Hallmark Channel (@hallmarkchannel) July 28, 2017

      It will not be replacing any of the other channels they own, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries will continue as is.

We will be launching a new @hallmarkdrama, and @hallmarkmovie will still continue to be the mystery destination everyone loves! #TCA17 https://t.co/Blwax4l6SC

— Hallmark Channel (@hallmarkchannel) July 28, 2017

 The channel will air programming like repeats of their original series like  "Cedar Cove" , and repeats of Little House in the Prairie (which left main channel earlier this year )  and of course more will be announced later.    They don't have a website yet , but it is on twitter. 


    It is interesting to see a  totally new cable linear channel launch  in this age.   you can read the press release here  .


   Also, they are launching a stand alone streaming service for you Hallmark Channel Movie fans so any cord cutters won't have to worry either.

Crown Media Family Networks to launch standalone subscription/ streaming video on demand service, called Hallmark Movies Now #TCA17.

— Hallmark Channel (@hallmarkchannel) July 28, 2017

 

The Lookback :Pete's Christmas

Christmas Hallmark Channel  The Flashback  

    We continue our look at the story telling of Christmas everyday (though not every Christmas lookback we do will be based on this the story telling of Christmas Everyday) and this is our first Hallmark Channel Made for TV movie featured lookback. (yay!)  Pete's Christmas came out in 2013 on Hallmark Channel , it stars the kid from  the live-action "Wimpy Kid" movies Zachary Gordon, and  Bailee Madison. (Who you may remember if you liked "Wizards of Waverly Place , played Max , when he was turned into a girl).

The cover says they are the stars and in HD! 

        Like our "Christmas Everyday" 1996 post , we won't go into detail of the special  itself  but more into the plot and where it fits into our  talk of Christmas everyday. (We disused that in our last post in depth)  Much like  CE , this movie follows the "Groundhog Day" effect where our main character spends multiple Christmases until he learns something. (That he isn't Bill Murray) 

     So , of course we have got to take a look how Pete  and since he is a teenager and this isn't  a situation where he lives by himself , and his family  celebrate the holiday. (First Tuesday in February)  Plus, it helps us get to know Pete's character , since will be focusing on him. (It is called Pete's Christmas after all)  The movie starts like it's  Hallmark  card (ooooh ) with the family  singing Christmas carols. Well  not really , the kids really don't care.  Meanwhile the Mom has to work on Christmas eve  and the dad has finding a new job, while Grandpa shows up unexpectedly.  

Now we need the Christmas, so that's the next morning  and of course in these type of movies the details of every shot are important ,even the mundane things  like Pete's little brother saying nothing stops the the train under his bed from departing at 7:35 A.M. (We the audience will be hearing this alot). 

  

 Ok Men, Toy Story 4 has to look realistic /copyright  Hallmark 

   Pete is the middle brother, the younger brother seems to be that character  who is above average smart and will make sure everybody knows it ,by the way he talks , the older brother seems to be the one who likes sports (because reasons). He also seems to be cocky and likes his looks.   Grandpa seems to be the the cranky one who may be the reason why they were bothered when he showed up.      Some key moments from Christmas Day : Pete's little brother ,Kenny,  gets the telescope Pete wanted for Christmas. (because conflict)  Pete's parents didn't get him anything , they kind of well forgot.  There seems to be tension between Grandpa  and his son (the father, he might have name but I don't care).  Plus,  there are new neighbors , (Madison's character is part of  these new neighbors).  Time for things to go  well wrong: When  Jake, the other brother,   was trying to plug in something, Pete warns him that he has to unplug the tree first or the everything will short-circuit ,while Pete tries unplug the tree the older brother gets impatient (it was 3 seconds) and decides to plug in something anyway causing a short-circuit and he trips the tree falls over knowing over Pete and the telescope.   The parents ask what happened Jake blames Pete and I guess the believe him. (because reasons)   Next there's a football game, and since Pete is not very athletic it doesn't go well for him.  Remember that power thing? Well the food didn't make it because nobody turned the oven on, so they have Christmas at a place this open and this goes well bad.  The day ends with food poisoning, and Grandpa decides to leave early and gives Pete an empty box.   

That  Christmas Story remake is weird /copyright Hallmark 

  

    After that misberable Christmas , Pete wakes up and thus begins the "Groundhog Day" effect , though Pete goes through many Christmases  he thinks at first it's a  joke being played on him.  Then he tries to figure out what's going on.  After a few of the Christmases he talks with grandfather and something he says helps him. Grandpa suggests that if he could relive the same day it would be gift,because he could live consequence free, this gives Pete an idea. Getting us to our  stage 2, Pete tries to fix his Christmas experience.

Darn it trick or treaters...you are late/copyright Hallmark 

   

   The next Christmas (in this movie I lost track) he wakes up a little early and does some changes like, switching the gift tags on the presents.  Kenny ends up with the football . Pete gets the telescope, and Jake is left out now. He also defeats the bully boys in their snowball fight , gets Kenny gets smashed by a Christmas tree, he tries to impress the girl next door. ( I think we skipped a few Christmases).  He saves dinner with Pizza (after a few more Christmases),  The football game goes well , and Grandpa still wins his bet. )  If this movie was to fix Pete and Grandpa's relationship , it worked. He finds out that his Grandpa wanted to come because it's what Grandma would have wanted.    Pete then works on trying meet with his neighbor , Katie and impress her. 

                        

     Even though , the Christmas went well, Grandpa still leaves the house and Pete feels un accomplished.   He asks  Katie what she would do if every day was Christmas, she tells him that it forces you to slow down and look up.  Another Christmas, when he asks again, she tells hum she wishes for one more Christmas with her family, with her father still alive. Appreciate what you have is her message. Pete takes this to heart and decides to make the Christmases better for everyone. (Again I lost track of the days)  There is one thing he is having a  hard time with, how to get his Grandpa and his father to not fall out.  Kenny talks with him and offers to help him ,and Pete finds out that his brother is a little jealous of him because he thinks everyone expects him to be perfect , and he didn't want the telescope.  Pete suggests he can loose up and have fun. (awww) 

Then they fought.. with snow/ copyright Hallmark 

      Pete then talks with his father  about the relationship of him and Grandpa.  Pete's father says that  things started not doing well after Grandma died.  Pete's father realizes something about why his father gripes about Christmas, that he misses Grandma.  Pete refashioned the Christmas star and shows it to Grandpa and the father and they make up. (awww)  The next morning ,Pete wakes up and notices some differences and yes Christmas is over now.  

     Back to our 'Christmas Everyday'  talk :  This movie does something different with it's use of Christmas Everyday, it kind of makes you wonder what would you do if Christmas was repeating itself?  Pete tries the better things for himself type, then slowly tires to do things for others as well. Like "Christmas Everyday" our main character is a teenage boy which makes it interesting how he seeings things. Though was no wish  at all in this one, it's more related to Pete learning a lesson , like in "Christmas Everyday" the moral of the story can be Christmas is about family. 

  Now our review:  If  I had to pick between  "Christmas Everyday" and "Pete's Christmas" I would pick CE, but that doesn't count against this movie. It's a Hallmark Movie so it's a little silly ,well at least it doesn't force a romance.  I do enjoy this movie, it does have at first watch an err to feel like the characters are  unlikeable , this changes a little later in the movie, which I am glad it does.  So yes , do watch it , Christmas movies are supposed to be syrupy  right? 

Tune in next time when  we go mad after having  to re-write this post over and over again and again.