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Mom’s Christmas Boyfriend – Review
Mom’s Christmas Boyfriend – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Emma and her daughter, Lily, plan the seating arrangements for Emma’s Christmas Eve dinner. Lily points out that everyone has a date but Emma. Emma assures Lily that she is content with their two-person family. Emma and Lily go to the mall to buy donations for a needy family. Emma sends Lily to find gifts a 10-year-old would like, and Emma looks for a coat. A mall elf tells Lily about a Children’s Christmas Wish contest. Kids write their wish, and the winner gets their wish granted and money for a charity of their choice. Lily throws caution to the win and writes a wish.
Zach retrieves the wish box from the mall elf and walks to his office but bumps into Emma along the way. They share a laugh, apologize, and retreat. Zach’s co-worker, Brady, stresses over the new and predictable wishes because they haven’t finished the last box. Zach and Brady created the concept to drive more customers to the store. Their boss, Veronica, puts their jobs on the line. Zach stops at Lily’s illustrated card as they read through the wishes. She wants her mom to have a boyfriend for the holiday and her charity family to receive the donation. Zach and Brady pick Lily as their winner.
Zach and Brady call Emma and Lily to announce Lily as the winner and get Emma’s permission to film them. However, they leave out Lily’s wish. They come to Emma’s home with a camera crew and a reporter. Zach and Emma recognize each other from the bump. The reporter asks Lily about her wish, and she tells the truth while Emma sits stunned. Before Emma can protest, the reporter focuses on Lily. At the end of the interview, the reporter lets viewers know that they can email Emma directly through a link on the store’s website. The wish goes viral and attracts scores of suitors. Emma selects the ruggedly handsome Clark. As Emma spends time with Clark, Zach follows for content and starts to fall for Emma. Will he reveal the truth or keep quiet for the wish promotion?
Thank goodness we have a child acting their age in a holiday movie. Lily is funny and sassy, thanks to her Aunt Britt. She is wise beyond her years and caring. When viewers meet Clark, they will know he wants to be insta-famous. He treats everyone like a personal photographer and documents everything for social media. It’s a stark contrast to Emma and her reserved nature. Also, the script lets viewers see the unbreakable bond between Lily and Emma. They have a Christmas checklist, eat together, and share their feelings. It’s beautiful to see a lovely family in a Lifetime movie. Lily is the shimmering glue that holds this predictable film together.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
She needs to get cuffed – Lily
I’m speechless – Emma
I’m the guy who bumped into you – Zach
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Smart Home Killer – Review
Smart Home Killer – LMN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
After surviving a home invasion, Leia signed up for a beta community of smart homes. The company, Soteria, created an automated home with glowing devices in every room. This network of devices has a link to the home’s brain. Leia loves the heightened security, but her teenage daughter, Harper, thinks it’s creepy. Soteria’s CEO, Devin, introduces Leia to the system and shows her what it can do, but he can’t finish because he has another meeting. Devin asks his associate, Wesley, to come over later to finish the demo.
Wesley shows Leia and Harper the rest of the system while Harper and Wesley exchange flirty quips. They walk outside, and Wesley asks for Harper’s phone. He hacks into the camera system and creates a loop. If Leia looks at the outside camera feed, she will see them standing there doing nothing. They exchange phone numbers and plan to meet later.
Devin talks to her handsome friend, Oscar, at work when she gets an alert for Harper’s school. Harper missed her after-lunch classes. Leia checks the camera feed for the front door and sees nothing. Then she checks the pool’s camera and sees Harper and her friend, Nikko, in the pool with Wesley. Leia runs home, kicks Wesley out, scolds Harper, and reports Wesley to Devin. Leia hopes Devin will keep Wesley under control so she can focus on her new job and smart home. Who is in control when the advanced house turns evil?
This movie feels predictable, with a creepy man targeting a teenage girl. But the script never explains why Wesley stalks the family in the beginning. Before Leia and Harper meet Wesley, he watches them through the security cameras. The plot doesn’t give him a rhyme or reason for his obsessive behavior. The film’s saving grace is one shocking moment that changes the plot from expected to wild. Don’t watch this film expecting a mystery. Viewers know who is doing what and when. It’s Leia and Harper who are in the dark. If you need to kill two hours while not paying attention, this movie is what you should watch.
I give it 2.5 out of 5 stars
I feel better already – Leia
I feel that all this tech makes people a little lazy – Harper
Third-wheeling is so fun – Nikko
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Miracle In Bethlehem, PA – Review
Miracle In Bethlehem, PA – HMM – 2 hours and 0 minutes
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After years of waiting and praying, Mary Ann got the call. Her adoption went through, and now she needs to drive to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and get her baby girl, Natalie. After her ex-husband, Brad, left Mary Ann because she couldn’t get pregnant and remarried a woman half her age, Mary Ann was hurt. Now, she’s reconciled with the divorce and wants Natalie more than ever. She quickly packs her baby items and drives to Pennsylvania.
Brooke grows tired of Joe’s lazy attitude. He runs his father’s auto repair shop. But Joe lost his passion for his band and home maintenance after his father died. She is done with his uninspired ways and with him. As Brooke walks out the door, Joe’s sister, Frankie, enters with Joe’s nephew. Joe pretends he remembered that he committed to watching his nephew, but Frankie can see through his lies. She knows Joe isn’t the most responsible man. However, he cares about his nephew. Frankie will work overtime tonight taking care of her inn.
After Mary Ann gets Natalie, she drives home, but a blizzard forces her to pull over. She stops at Bethlehem Star Inn for a room. However, everyone in the area wants a room, and Frankie tells Mary Ann that there are no vacancies at the inn. Frankie mentions other hotels in the area, but emergency services shut down the roads. Frankie recalls Joe has a spare bedroom and offers it to Mary Ann. Frankie warns Mary Ann that Joe’s place is a barn, but it’s a comfortable place for Mary Ann and Natalie. Joe reluctantly lets Mary Ann and Natalie stay at his home for one night. But Joe and Mary Ann will change the course of their lives forever.
This movie, loosely based on the birth of Jesus, has the faith viewers miss during the holidays. However, it’s not direct. It hints at the biblical references and leaves it for viewers to discover. Mary Ann doesn’t take single motherhood lightly. Her single mom raised her, and Mary Ann saw her mother struggle. Mary Ann used that drive to become a successful and benevolent lawyer. Joe is depressed after losing his father. He kept the business alive but stopped caring about everything else. With the community’s help, Joe and Mary Ann fall in love, and it’s beautiful to watch.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
God, please grant me patience, peace, and trust as I wait for your divine timing – Mary Ann
Yeah, you need a little more formula – Joe
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Merry Magic Christmas – Review
Merry Magic Christmas – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Beth wakes up at 6:30 am, exercises on her stationary bike for 5 miles, and sets her cooking timer for 5 minutes. Beth offered to work pro bono as a financial planner for a local children’s theater. It’s vital to her niece, Riley, who emerged from her shell and got the lead as Scrooge. Beth goes to dinner with her friend, Coley, and opens her fortune cookie. It has a poem. It tells her to make a wish and that her destiny will incorporate 624. Beth laughs it off, but Coley puts the fortune in Beth’s bag.
Bill meets with Nate, the theater’s owner, to get more information about the bean counter coming today. Nate doesn’t want to discuss the finances with someone who doesn’t understand the spirit of the theater. Bill begs Nate to give Beth a chance because she could save the theater. However, Nate believes things will work itself out.
Beth wakes at 6:24 am, exercises on her stationary bike for 6.24 miles, and sets her cooking timer for 6 minutes and 24 seconds. She travels to the theater and meets Bill outside. He wishes her the best before running away. Nate meets with Beth, and she asks for his paperwork. He hands her a goblet and skull full of receipts and final notices. Beth implores him to do more and send more information later. However, Nate doesn’t want to work with Beth because she won’t connect to the theater.
Beth discusses Nate with her sister, Kat. Kat begs Beth to continue helping Nate because that theater has been a godsend for Riley. Beth decides to use the theater to change Nate’s mind. Later, she dresses as a ghost and performs a skit for Nate. Beth is there to change his money habits and save the theater. She will work with Nate and learn more about the theater’s meaning to him. Nate agrees to have her assistance. She gets Nate’s numbers and calculates how much he owes. Nate has to collect $25,000 in 11 days to save his theater. Kate says it will be uncomfortable, but they can do it. Will 624 be a guiding light for Kate, or will Nate’s inability to take ownership of his financial problems destroy their destiny?
Viewers must be attentive to the opening scene because it involves the numbers in Kate’s morning activities. After she gets her angel number, it’s everywhere. It interrupts her morning routine and guides her path to love. At first, Kate wants to ignore it. But it’s impossible. This movie is mildly entertaining and lives up to its title. It will entertain for two hours. But it will get lost in the mountain of holiday films.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
She’s working pro bono, which proves you get what you pay for – Nate
Wow, you are like a calculator in heels – Coley
That’s one handsome hurdle – Beth
Good luck – Phil
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Friends & Family Christmas – Review
Friends & Family Christmas – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Amelia sits with her father, John, and converses about their clients. John abruptly stops and confesses that he worries about Amelia. Since Amelia and her ex-girlfriend, Margot, broke up, Amelia keeps to herself. John thinks Amelia needs to interact and make friends because it will help when she becomes his law partner. And he knows the perfect person, Dani. John and Dani’s father, Luke, were college roommates, and now Luke thinks Dani works too much. John wants Amelia to make an effort and meet Dani. Then, he gives Amelia two invitations to the required company Christmas Eve party.
Dani calls her parents, Luke and Raquel, with sad news. She can’t visit them for the holidays because she is working on her photography portfolio. Dani’s advisor believes she could get a traveling art grant, but Dani needs to complete her collection with inspired artwork. Also, Dani is coordinating a silent Christmas auction for the Brooklyn Artists Lab and will display her artwork at the event. Then, Luke tells Dani that his friend’s daughter is new to the city and needs a companion. He thinks she and Dani will get along. Dani agrees to meet with Amelia.
Before Dani meets with Amelia, she gets a surprise. Her parents arrive in New York City to see her. They explain they have other reasons to be there, but Dani knows she is their focus. Dani meets with Amelia at a café and shares a laugh. However, they don’t believe they will see each other again. Amelia returns home, and John calls for an update. She tells John that the date went well and that she and Dani are dating. Amelia reaches into her pockets and pulls out two pairs of gloves. She realizes that one is Dani’s. Amelia texts Dani and plans to meet to return the gloves.
Dani and Amelia meet at the café again and joke about the gloves. Then, Raquel and Luke enter with smiles. Amelia excuses herself and asks Dani to follow her outside. She admits to telling her father they were dating and assumes her dad called Dani’s dad about the ‘good news.’ Dani laughs at the predicament and comes up with a plan. They can ‘fake date’ until Christmas Eve. Amelia can spend time with Dani’s parents and keep them distracted. Amelia agrees, but only if Dani will be her plus one for the Christmas Eve party. Dani says yes. What will happen when faking it becomes too real?
For Amelia and Dani, this isn’t a coming-out story. Their parents know and accept their daughters and want the best for them. And they aren’t the only LGBTQIA+ characters. They have a supporting community of friends and family. The script is funny and allows them to fall in love without forcing it. Amelia and Dani unknowingly inspire each other to grow and strive for better. Dani lets the world see her art, and Amelia opens up about becoming a legal partner. Although their parents set them up, their relationship is part of their destiny. This film is sweet and easy to watch.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
I have friends – Amelia
Hey, I was really close – Dani
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Dial S for Santa – Review
Dial S for Santa – UPtv – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Insurance Investigator Lana gets a call from her mother, Ginnie. Ginnie wants to ensure Lana is coming home for the holidays. Ginnie hopes it will lift her grandson’s spirits because his father couldn’t get permission to leave the base. Lana promises to take off now but reminds Ginnie that she will take a trip with her friend on Christmas day. Then, Ginnie mentions there were several robberies of local businesses. However, she doesn’t think anyone will rob her bakery. This information piques Lana’s interest. Lana wants to be head investigator at her insurance firm, but her boss says she needs experience investigating an actual crime. If Lana solves it, she will prove she can do the job. Lana drives to the town of Riverly.
Detective Nick meets up with Victor outside the latest burgled store. The thief took small items that they could easily carry out. However, the culprit didn’t break it, and their wasn’t an alarm. Victor is glad to have Nick on the case because the city cops don’t take crime in their town seriously. Nick has to solve this crime quickly, or City Hall will give it to city detectives. And Nick will lose his job. Then, Nick spies a woman with a jimmy at a car door and walks over.
Lana arrives in town but accidentally locks her keys in the car. As she picks the lock, Detective Nick spots and questions her. Lana pulls out her license and registration to prove the car is hers. Nick apologizes and offers to call a locksmith but stands impressed as Lana opens the door. Lana heard about the robbers and now probes Nick for information. Nick tells Lana to let him work the crime and focus on spending time with her family. But Lana won’t let it go. Soon, Nick and Lana go from adversaries to partners. Will Nick be by Lana’s side when she accuses Santa, or will he pull her off the case to save his job?
While the script isn’t captivating, it does have a worthwhile mystery. The plot allows viewers to figure out the robber with Lana and Nick without foreshadowing. Because this film is Christmas-themed, viewers get some Santa magic and a soldier trying to return home. Those storylines are for the kids and people who need a good cry. Let’s not forget the love connection between Lana and Nick. This movie could become a holiday series if it keeps the same writers.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
Because a real investigator doesn’t give away their whereabouts – Ryan
So, you’re not going to help me – Lana
Well, if everyone’s telling you the same thing, maybe you should pay attention – Nick
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A Christmas Intern – Review
A Christmas Intern – Lifetime – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Cecilia calls her daughter, Alexis, but forgets about the 3-hour time difference. She wants to make plans for Christmas. However, Alexis is too busy getting her company, Cyber Santa, ready for their investors at River Road. They invested a little money to test Cyber Santa but now must analyze the company’s growth potential before investing more. Alexis promised Cecilia they would spend the holidays together since her father died, but now Alexis can’t. Days later, Alexis enters her kitchen and finds Cecilia making tea.
Charlotte calls Donte into her office. The firm worries that Cyber Santa’s numbers are only feasible during the holiday season, so she wants Donte to meet with the CEO, Alexis, and see how she plans to handle the future. If they plan to invest, River Road thinks removing the first-time and young CEO is a good idea. However, Donte believes Alexis is competent. Charlotte tells Donte to get on a plane and examine the day-to-day operations.
Alexis goes to work, and everyone is in a panic. They need to raise their user numbers with marketing while keeping the staff steady. Also, the programmers found bugs in the code. Alexis’s assistant, Sari, thinks they should hire someone, but it would look irresponsible to their investors. So, Sari suggests they get an intern. Alexis assigns Sari the task. Cecilia steps into Alexis’s office and offers lunch, but Alexis doesn’t have the time to eat and leaves. Sari tells Cecilia that Alexis skips lunch often. Sari plans to place an ad for a marketing intern to help lighten Alexis’s load. Cecilia was the VP of marketing before she retired. So, Cecilia tells Sari to make her the intern. She can spend time with Alexis and help. Sari agrees. Can Cecilia make the company look profitable without driving Alexis and her staff crazy?
This movie offers a love story between Donte and Alexis, but it’s a means to an end. The relationship between Cecilia and Alexis takes center stage. Cecilia walks a tightrope between being helpful and overbearing. Unlike other Lifetime moms, Cecilia quickly sees the error in her ways and makes the necessary adjustments. Also, Alexis begrudgingly listens to Cecilia’s advice. She never talks down to Cecilia or calls her ‘behind the times.’ She gives Cecilia time and respect to explain her marketing strategy. These ideas teach Alexis how to be a better CEO and person. This film is a loving expression of growth and respect that stretches between the workplace and home.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
But it’s only 5 a.m. there – Cecelia
Fortune favors the bold – Donte
Ok, who wants to go first – Alexis
Is that better, Mr. Christmas – Charlotte
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The Christmas Detective – Review
The Christmas Detective – OWN – 2 hours and 0 minutes
Former pageant winner Kate turned her love of mystery novels into a private investigation firm, Bennett and Associates. However, her family and friends remind Kate she is a one-woman operation. Kate sifts through her mail and finds a final notice for her office space. If she doesn’t solve a case by New Year, her landlord will terminate her office lease. Kate gets a call that the police are in front of the Art 313 gallery. And she runs to investigate.
Kate passes the broken glass and spies an empty spot on the wall. Detective Derek Oakley, whom Kate calls Oak, tells her to leave it alone. Kate asks for some information and Oak relents. Someone broke into the gallery between 2 and 5 in the morning and stole a portrait of Bernard Melling, the first African American mayor of the town, painted by Jesse Rousseau. It is a significant artwork in the city. The owner, Sue, didn’t install the camera system because the gallery hadn’t opened yet. Kate asks to work the case with Oak, but he says no.
Kate finds a young man, Ian, playing outside the gallery. He is Sue’s son and misses his old home. Ian informs Kate that Sue is inside, talking to the insurance company, and directs Kate to the back door. Kate gets information about Sue, the portrait, and the gallery from Sue. Sue thinks the original owner of the space, Gunner Fisk, took the painting. Gunner Fisk’s family owned the property as a bar for decades. It was a staple in the community. When he couldn’t make the payments, the bank took it and sold it to Sue. Gunner hasn’t been shy about his feelings towards Sue and her gallery. Oak walks in during the interview to stop it, but it’s too late. Later, Sue hires Kate to investigate the crime. Can Kate find the painting, or will she lose her agency?
If you watch enough TV mysteries, it’s easy to spot the culprit the moment they are on the screen. So, the enigma isn’t the selling point for this film. It’s the relationship between Kate and Oak. Kate is oblivious to Oak’s feelings about her. He invites her to romantic evenings. And she either forgets or doesn’t know. Your heart will ache for him because he is a genuine person. Also, the relationship between Kate and her parents is intriguing. Her mother is overly critical, but her father is easygoing and understanding. Kate’s father plays peacekeeper and sounding board for these women. So, viewers should come for the mystery but stay for the family.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars
It would be a crime if you didn’t – Kate
You’re trying to distract me with flattery – Oak
Just don’t put me on hold – Sue
So why are you really here – Fisk
Absolutely – Kenny
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Sealed with a List – Review
Sealed with a List – Hallmark – 2 hours and 0 minutes
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Carley’s boss, Vincent, calls Carley into his office during the holiday party. The director of quality control position will be vacant in the New Year. He recognizes all of Carley’s hard work and dedication to the job under the current director. Vincent thinks she is the perfect person to train the director’s replacement, his son Wyatt. Carley sits dumbfounded and accepts the duty.
Carley airs her frustrations to her best friend, Kendra, because she envies Kendra’s fearless attitude. Kendra is going to France to be a sommelier. Carley dreams of being as brave as Kendra, so Kendra gives Carley her Christmas wish. She wants Carley to make her fantasies a reality. Carley always discusses quitting her job and pursuing a fashion career. Kendra wants Carley to make friends and have adventures. Kendra tells Carley to make a list and gives her a year to finish it. Carley agrees and writes the list.
Almost a year goes by, and Carley doesn’t think about the list until she gets a phone call from Kendra. Kendra will return to spend Christmas stateside and wants to see how many things Carley accomplished. Carley lies and says she checked off a few items. Kendra cheers with excitement.
Carley gets a phone call from a dissatisfied client. The T-shirts in their order were flimsy. Carley runs to Wyatt for an explanation. He says someone should have checked the order, and she reminds him it’s his job because he is the director. Wyatt, Vincent, Carley, and the team meet with the client, and the client wants someone to pay for the mistake. Before Wyatt can confess, Carley recalls that one item on her list was to quit her job. So, she takes the blame and gets fired.
Vincent sits with Wyatt after the meeting. He knows the mix-up was Wyatt’s fault and blames Wyatt for having to fire Carley. Vincent believes Wyatt is too spoiled and doesn’t live up to his potential. So, Vincent cuts Wyatt off and tells Wyatt’s house manager and butler to stop working. Wyatt assumes Vincent is overreacting until Wyatt wakes up without a prepared breakfast. Wyatt must prove his independence by impressing Vincent. Then, Wyatt can get his inheritance and luxuries back. Wyatt decides to visit the most responsible person he knows for help: Carley. Later, Carley offers to teach Wyatt how to be independent if he helps her finish her list by New Year’s Eve. They agree to help each other, but it leads to much more.
The conclusion is predictable, but the humor is not. The jokes are comedic gold and not hurtful. Wyatt and Carley one-up each other every chance they have. They are two dynamic people and the hot topic of today’s comment boards. Wyatt is a Nepo Baby with zero drive, and his father hands him opportunities. However, the script allows viewers to understand Wyatt on a deeper level. It does the same for Carley. Carley is uptight, but it stems from past issues. In the beginning, they pick at each other’s shortcomings. Then, they get to know each other and discover the root cause. They never want the other person to change completely. But incorporate new habits to improve their situation. This movie starts simple and predictable but becomes complex and hilarious at the conclusion.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
There was glitter in places that were not meant to sparkle – Carley
Sounds like someone needs a cookie – Wyatt
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Categories: A Christmas Intern, Ai Barrett, Ali Liebert, Andrew Dunbar, Anwen O’Driscoll, Benjamin Ayers, Brad James, christmas, Ciarra Carter, Countdown to Christmas, Dial S for Santa, Evan Roderick, Friends & Family Christmas, hallmark, Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, HMM, holiday, Humberly González, Its A Wonderful Lifetime, Jackée Harry, Javicia Leslie, Jeananne Goossen, Julian Haig, Katie Findlay, Laura Vandervoort, lifetime, lifetime movie network, lmn, Merry Magic Christmas, Miracle In Bethlehem, PA, Miracles of Christmas, Mom's Christmas Boyfriend, Most Uplifting Christmas Ever, Natalie Brown, OWN, OWN For The Holidays, Patricia Isaac, Sarah Dugdale, Sealed with a List, Slay Bells, Smart Home Killer, The Christmas Detective, UPtv, Vivica A. Fox
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