Chateau Christmas
The Christmas Setup
In A Timeless Christmas
Christmas On The Square
TV of Comfort & Joy The December 2020 best of Hallmark, Lifetime, Hulu, and more
By Meg Weichman In a year when our holiday celebrations will look a little different, it’s extra comforting to turn to some of our most beloved traditions. And one thing that remains a treasured constant is the onslaught of Christmas movies that flood our televisions the moment the Thanksgiving dishes are cleared. You can not only sit in your pajamas in the safety and comfort of your home while you enjoy 90+ new holiday movies this year (it really is a Christmas miracle that quarantine didn’t affect production schedules) but also step into a world untouched by the effects of COVID-19. It’s a place where tree lightings, Christmas concerts, and gatherings continue without any masks or social distancing measures. Where two strangers with differing perspectives on the holidays can open their hearts and find unexpected romance. Where old flames can reconnect and fall in love, where big-city career women can slow down and enjoy a slower pace of life, where attractive young men may or may not be Santa, and where actresses you might remember from the ’90s find new career relevance under the mistletoe. As cheesy, predictable, and unrealistic as
2020’s slate of holiday flicks might be, they all abide by a sincere belief that the true meaning of the Christmas season doesn’t come from the parties, toys, or treats, but something more, something a pandemic can never change. And it’s that earnest message that makes these films resonate all the more. Here, our picks for the new must-see holiday movies — helpfully arranged by trope — to get you through this most un-traditional season. MUSIC-MAKING MERRIMENT Carols go hand in hand with Christmas cheer. But this year, in addition to some starstudded full-on musical extravaganzas, several films feature an emphasis on classical music musicians. • Spend Christmas in Vienna with a driven classical cellist who unexpectedly finds herself nannying for a handsome widowed American diplomat at Christmastime. As she teaches the kids music and grows closer to their father, she reignites her passion for the cello and uncovers the true meaning of Christmas. Now Playing on Hallmark. • It’s a Chateau Christmas when a world-famous, exceptionally driven classical pianist returns to celebrate the holidays in a
26 • dec 07, 2020 • Northern Express Weekly
charming small town with her family. There she is convinced to help with the hotel’s annual Christmas concert by her handsome old flame (a classical cellist). As they work together to put on the show feelings reignite while they show each other the true meaning of Christmas. Now playing on Hallmark. • In addition to helping gift us a COVID-19 vaccine, Dolly Parton gives us Christmas on the Square, a new holiday musical with 14 new songs penned by the icon herself. Christine Baranski, Treat Williams, Jenifer Lewis, and Parton all star in this heartfelt Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life mashup about the true meaning of Christmas. Now Streaming on Netflix. ROYAL RESOLUTIONS Royalty-related plots remain a rich realm for heightening Christmas fantasy. • Featuring two major Broadway stars, including a 2020 Tony winner, One Royal Holiday follows a woman on the way home to her charming small town who offers a stranded mother and her handsome son a place to stay during a blizzard, only to find out they are the Royal Family of Galwick! As she introduces them to an old-fashioned American Christmas,
she just might find romance with the persnickety prince and show him the true meaning of Christmas. Now Playing on Hallmark. • In this sequel, Vanessa Hudgens reprises her dual roles as the princess of Belgravia and her American look-a-like for The Princess Switch: Switched Again. This time around, not only are they switching places, but Hudgens also adds a villainous third role who is in desperate need of being shown the true meaning of Christmas. Now Streaming on Netflix. • In one of multiple films this year where carousels play a prominent part, A Christmas Carousel features a driven antique restorationist who is hired by the Royal Family of Ancadia to repair a carousel. There she must work closely with the handsome prince to not only complete the project but also realize the true meaning of Christmas. Premieres December 19 on Hallmark. MILITARY MIRACLES While thanking and supporting our troops has always been an important part of the holiday TV movie season, this year, in addition to films set within the armed forces, an incredible amount of your standard Christmas romances also feature military-related subplots.
