The Hallmark Channel is kind of like The CW. Sure, there aren’t aliens and no one is expecting to meet a vampire, but what I mean is that they have the same actors over and over again.
And I am not complaining about that. Just sometimes a little bit surprised. Sometimes, I overlook it and don’t say a word. Because there are some actors on the channel I love a lot.
One of those being Bethany Joy Lenz. I mean, after all, everything leads back to One Tree Hill for me.
The latest Hallmark movie that she brought all of my love for the channel back and made me think about just why I love holiday movies so much.
Five Star Christmas was a four star movie, but it was cute and followed the typical mold of a Christmas movie.
Returning home for the holidays, Lucy (Bethany Joy Lenz, ‘Bottled With Love’) plots with her siblings and grandparents to help her father’s new bed and breakfast get a five-star review from an incognito travel critic – even as she gets distracted by Jake (Victor Webster, ‘Summer Villa’), another guest staying for the holidays.
I think that part of the reason that I love Christmas movies so much is that for me – Christmas has never been a joyous time. But in the same breathe, these movies give me an idea of what things would be like if family could find their way through the arguments and feel the joy.
Lucy is the responsible one – the one in the family that everyone can count on. She’s the leader – which is always a role that Lenz seems to like to play. She’s determined to save her fathers dreams, as shit starts going array. It’s kind of fun to watch her as she tries to keep her family in line and make sure that everyone is performing their new roles the way that they should be.
The thing I love about this movie is that as much that is going wrong for this family, they are making sure that they have fun along the way. They are enduring the challenges that they are faced with, with smiles and perseverance. They bond through everything that happens, no matter what it is.
One thing that I also love about a Hallmark movie is that most characters also always have their own subplot and this movie is no different. I think that’s part of the joy of it though – you’re watching every character grow and become stronger and better people. And each of them knows that they have the support of others.
I love the family, but to be honest, the weak part of this movie was the romance. Jake, the travel critic, isn’t mesmerizing and sure, with his looks, he doesn’t have to do a lot, but I wanted more. I feel like that as with so many Hallmark movies, we don’t get to see from both sides of the love interest, and that kind of saddens me.
I am always left wondering more about one character in these films.
The movie is a bit predictable, but what Hallmark movie isn’t? None. Of course everyone is going to figure out all of the lies and manipulation that everyone was doing and there will be anger and frustration. But like any Hallmark movie it’s all wrapped up in a bow with a happy ending.
And I love those.
Five Star Christmas is a joy and one that you should allow into your lives. It definitely helps you to feel the holiday spirit.