Melt My Heart This Christmas

Rating: 7/10

Reason: The art was interesting, the story line was predictable, the acting was fine.

*Watched on W Network, also available on StackTV (Age 7+)

SPOILERS BELOW!

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Glass Artist Lady is trying to get her art into the Christmas Fair, but the Organizer Guy won't let her in. 

Famous Lady shows up with a crisis. Her assistant just quit, she can't do the fair without an assistant! GAL offers to assist Famous Lady, which will give her a way to sneak her own art into the Christmas Fair as a Secret Artist.

Organizer Guy is told by his boss that if the Christmas Fair doesn't do well this year, there won't be another one. The fate of the fair rests on OG's shoulders. 

Famous Lady has started a new art collection, and GAL is not a fan. It's not unique, it's boring, but, Famous Lady has an ego that must be coddled or she's quitting the Christmas Fair! 

GAL teams up with OG to keep Famous Lady happy. If Famous Lady is happy, the fair should do well. If the fair does well, then OG will be happy. If OG is happy, then he won't mind GAL's art being in the fair. 

Famous Lady confides to GAL that she's nervous about a news interview because the Interviewer once said her art was too "loud", thus her current collection is monochromatic. 

GAL mentions to OG that the central Christmas tree at the Christmas Fair is boring. OG tells her he plans on having the artists each create an ornament to decorate the tree, and also to promote the artists. GAL thinks that's a great idea. 

Interviewer tries to get an interview with Famous Lady, but she hides. While Interviewer waits, he looks at the boring art collection.

As people come to look at Famous Lady's art, they are not impressed. It's boring and monochromatic. Meanwhile Secret Artist's art has sold out.

Interviewer notices Secret Artist's art and wants to find out who it is, and do an interview with her. GAL is not ready to reveal herself as Secret Artist.

Famous Lady hears about Secret Artist's art being super popular, and gets jealous because of her own lack of success. She's not used to playing second fiddle. (This story line is already getting complicated.)

Famous Lady tries really hard to track down who Secret Artist is. She is not successful.

GAL and OG accidentally break one of Famous Lady's pieces, and rather than tell Famous Lady, GAL says she can recreate it, so they sneak into Famous Lady's workshop and work together to cover up their mistake. Meanwhile they have a heart to heart talk about their hopes and dreams.

Everyone at the Christmas Fair is talking about Secret Artist. Famous Lady tells GAL she's going to create something amazing so everyone will start talking about her instead. 

OG shows GAL the newly decorated Christmas tree, and GAL tells him what a great job he's doing. They have a moment, and GAL almost tells OG that she's Secret Artist... then she doesn't.

Famous Lady tells GAL she's nervous about her new art pieces. She shows GAL, and GAL can't hide her displeasure with them. They are still boring. GAL tells Famous Lady she needs to use colour! Famous Lady's confidence is restored. She vows to wow everyone including Interviewer!

The next day Famous Lady finds a shard of glass on the ground and starts to piece together that GAL is hiding something. 

Interviewer has figured out that Secret Artist is GAL. Famous Lady has figured out that Secret Artist is GAL. OG has figured out that Secret Artist is GAL. Uh oh! 

They all confront GAL at the same time. "Why didn't you tell us?" GAL was just afraid of being rejected (sounds like she has a lot in common with Famous Lady). OG is disappointed, he should never have trusted her. She made a mockery of the Christmas Fair! Interviewer is thrilled! What good TV this will be!

OG's boss is so disappointed that OG let a random artist in without proper vetting, that he's closing the Christmas Fair for good.

GAL finds Famous Lady to apologize. She never meant to hurt her. She just wanted to help Famous Lady get back to her roots. Famous Lady knows that GAL broke, and then remade one of her art pieces. She's begrudgingly impressed by GAL's talent. 

Interviewer's news clip is going to reveal that Secret Artist is really GAL who was also being Famous Lady's assistant, and he is going to blow it out of the water, but before he can, Famous Lady goes online and tells everyone herself! 

Interviewer then goes live and awards the Christmas Fair with the best Christmas Fair award! OG's boss decides to continue with the Christmas Fair after all, and let OG take the reins. OG did such a good job to get the award, he obviously knows what he's doing after all. 

Famous Lady says she's going to help GAL with her career, but GAL needs to promise to use her own name from now on, she can't hid as a Secret Artist anymore. GAL agrees.

GAL apologizes to OG for lying to him. OG apologizes for not letting her have a space in the Christmas Fair in the first place, forcing her to use subterfuge.

Kissing happens. Someone takes a photo of them. More kissing. 

The end

The Snow Must Go On

Rating: 6/10

Reason: It was an ok premise, not the worst or best movie I've seen. The acting was pretty good. 

*Watched on W network, also available on StackTV (Age 7+)

SPOILERS BELOW!

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Broadway Boy is bummed that his one man show about Rudolph was a bust.  But he decides to go try out for a Christmas musical, which he doesn't get. Then he's fired from his job as a Christmas caroller. His week is not going well. 

Sister invites Broadway Boy to come visit her for Christmas.  She is a candle maker very busy making candles. Broadway Boy volunteers to pick up his niece from school. As he enters the school, the drama director walks out and quits.

Niece asks Broadway Boy to step in and direct the Christmas play. She lays the guilt on thick until he agrees to do so. He will also need to write the ending of the play.

The principal agrees as long as there is a staff member overseeing. A very pretty Teacher Lady gets roped into being the staff supervisor.

Broadway Boy quickly realizes that wrangling a group of high school kids who are eager for the spotlight is going to be a challenge...

Shy Girl's mother comes to pick her up, and BB discovers that the mother is a top Broadway producer on the Christmas musical that he tried to audition for. He hatches a plan to cast himself as the lead in the high school play so that Producer Mom can see what a star he is. He's also going to use his one man show script as the ending of the school play. What could possibly go wrong? 

Teacher Lady has some notes on the new script, but BB is not ready to hear any criticism. He's keeping the play the way he wrote it.

Some Punk Kid has been sent to the theater to help out as a consequence for skateboarding on school grounds. BB thinks he can get through to him by asking him to audition. The play needs more male vocalists anyway.

SPK is a very good singer of course. The rest of the cast is not on board with SPK being in the play, but they have even more questions about BB casting himself as the lead in the school play.  The children also are very confused by the ending of the play. It's like 2 totally different plays were smashed together!

Shy Girl is starting to come out of her shell under BB's tutelage, and SPK is taking notice. Romance could blossom 🌸 

Teacher Lady is helping BB tweak the script. They are vibing. Romance could blossom 🌸 

Shy Girl is nervous that she'll embarrass herself if she messes up on stage in front of everyone, and her Producer Mom. BB assures Shy Girl she'll be great, then Producer Mom comes to pick her up and says maybe Shy Girl should just be in the chorus instead of having a big role. Shy Girl is sad PM doesn't believe in her.

The play needs a Christmas tree, so Teacher Lady and BB go to the tree lot to find one... and have some deep conversations. BB has been so focused on his career, he has neglected his friends and family. He's discovering there are more important things than his career. BB has something important to tell Teacher Lady. She says, "I know," (she doesn't know), and she kisses him. 

BB takes the kids carolling to settle their nerves and get some practice singing in front of people. They do ok, but Shy Girl gets nervous again. Teacher Lady is impressed with how good BB is with the kids, boosting their confidence.

The supplies for the set are delayed, and BB spirals. Without the play supplies, they can't build the set. Without the set built, they can't have a play. Without the play, how will BB impress Producer Mom. Without impressing Producer Mom, how will he restart his own career?

Niece rallies the troops and they build the set. The show can go on! Morale is boosted!

The play happens! BB preforms and impresses Producer Mom! She asks BB to come for an audition for the broadway play! Teacher Lady is upset that it was all a ploy to boost his career. The kids are disappointed that he didn't really care about them at all. Morale is destroyed.

BB goes for his audition. He begins to rethink his life choices. Once again he is putting his career first before friends and family. He's been selfish. BB tells Producer Mom it's more important for her to see Shy Girl in the play, than for BB to get this role. They rush back to the school. 

BB apologizes for being self absorbed, and tells the kids how amazing they are. Morale has risen yet again! 

Shy Girl performs brilliantly. Producer Mom is amazed. SPK is enamoured. BB has found his place here at the school. Teacher Lady is confused. What about BB's career? BB has discovered what truly matters isn't his career, it's these people.

Kissing.

The end

Tinsel Town

Rating: 8/10

Reason: British humour, a Panto, an American out of his element... what's not to love?

*Watched on Amazon Prime (age 13+)

 SPOILERS BELOW!

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Mr Movie Star is not super likeable, and his movie opportunities are drying up. His agent suggests he try his hand at theatre in England. And a side perk will be reconnecting with his daughter who lives in England. 

When he arrives in England, his limo driver brings him to his hotel, which is not downtown London as Mr Movie Star thought. His hotel is actually a guest accommodation in Tiny Town 3 hours outside of London. 

Turns out Mr MS is performing in Tiny Town's Christmas Pantomime! The local actors are thrilled to have such talent join the cast! 

Mr MS is not familiar with the British tradition of a Christmas Panto. He is also not on board with this plan. Mr MS calls his agent to complain only to discover that his contract is ironclad, and his agent, since she had him on the phone, fired him for being so difficult to work with.

Mr MS receives a phone call from his ex-wife and daughter asking about his Christmas plans now that he's in England. He proceeds to show us what a deadbeat dad he truly is, making excuses about why he can't make it to see his daughter, and promises to send her an Amazon gift card to make it up to her.

The next morning Mr MS goes to the theatre to say goodbye to the cast, and to quit, but it seems his agent added a clause to his contact that if he quits, he can be sued for lost revenue to the tune of £3,000,000 (that's 3 Million POUNDS!).

Director Lady sits down with Mr MS to give him a bit of a pep talk. He thinks Panto is a joke, but Director Lady tells him that Panto is a really big deal! He has the chance to put smiles on everyone's faces! 

Mr MS realizes he doesn't have much choice anyway, so he accepts that he will be in Tiny Town's Panto.

Apparently, surprisingly, Mr MS is a pretty good singer and dancer! How convenient! Mr MS proceeds to charm the rest of the cast. 

There's a spate of break-ins in Tiny Town, and his first accommodations get robbed, then another cast member is also burgled.

Mr MS stumbles upon a robbery in action, and helps to apprehend one of the perpetrators. Tiny Town's hero has brought extra attention to the Christmas Panto.

Having a bit of a change of heart, and no longer embarrassed about being in Tiny Town's Panto, Mr MS goes to visit his daughter. Ex-wife grants him a 3 day visit. Mr MS was not expecting to spend that much time with Daughter. He's got rehearsal! Ex-wife tells him to figure it out. She's off to Paris! 

Mr MS brings Daughter to the theatre to hang out during rehearsals. Director Lady offers Daughter a part in the Panto. A great time is had by all.

Mr MS gets roped into presenting some awards to local students at Tiny Town's Christmas Fair. Ex-wife barges in to pick up Daughter, and whisk her away. Daughter wants to stay and be in the Panto! Ex-wife says being in the Panto is nothing to be proud of and publicly berates Mr MS.

Mr MS defends Panto, and Daughter begs to stay with her dad. Ex-wife forbids it, and leads Daughter away. 

Mr MS reads a bad press release, and goes to the pub to drown his sorrows. Next up, Mr MS is tasked with turning on Tiny Town's Christmas lights. Mr MS is a bit inebriated and goes on a rant on stage, and gets himself arrested. 

Director Lady bails him out of jail, and Mr MS has a revelation that he's actually enjoying himself in the Panto, and he doesn't want to backslide on the progress he's made with Daughter.

Daughter sneaks away from Ex-wife and shows up at the theatre just in time to be in the Panto!

The Panto goes off beautifully, and brings the town together. Ex-wife even made it to the show on time, and is amused and entertained.

Mr MS vows to commit do Panto from here on out. He loved it. He's a changed man. Everyone is happy.

The end

All She Wants For Christmas

Rating: 7/10

Reason: While the premise was pretty obvious, the quips and sarcastic comments were keeping it entertaining the whole time.

*Watched on DVD I purchased from a library sale, but it's also available on PlutoTV (Age: DVD PG, Pluto ALL)

 SPOILERS BELOW!

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Silly Girl and her friend are setting up Christmas decorations on the town square. Silly Girl doesn't look where she's going and walks into a giant inflatable snowman. 

Giant inflatable snowman goes flying through the air and lands on handsome New Guy in town's Jeep, just as he drives into town. 

Silly Girl runs to apologize to handsome New Guy, and also flirt. Now they have a date.

New Guy picks up Silly Girl at her house, only to discover she's hosting not a book club, but a women's investment group.  Silly girl has brains!

(The sarcasm is strong in this movie. Everyone has it....)

Over dinner we learn that Silly Girl is focused on Wall Street and investment portfolios. New Guy is all about travelling and adventures.

New Guy gets a job at the Christmas ornament factory. 

(This is a musical? 🎵It's a musical in the vein of Willy Wonka... 🎶)

Silly Girl asks New Guy how his job is going and he tells her his boss is too serious. Boss Lady is Silly Girl's mom.

An Auditor Lady comes to the ornament factory to see how things are going. She is the granddaughter of the previous owner, who has died.

New Guy is working a double shift, so Silly Girl kindly picks up a burger for him. When she returns with it she discovers New Guy talking to Auditor Lady! How dare he! 

Silly Girl and New Guy bump into each other later, and he says he thinks Auditor Lady is too serious. Silly Girl is happy with his assessment, and even more pleased when he asks her on another date! 

Silly Girl asks New Guy how he can afford all his travelling and adventures. He confides that he has a big trust fund. (Why is he working in the factory then?)

Silly Girl is going through the Christmas ornament factory's books, and finds out the deceased owner was keeping the company afloat with his own money. But now he's dead, how will the company succeed? Silly Girl reports her findings to Auditor Lady. Auditor Lady is impressed.

Tonight is the town's festival of lights. New Guy can't make it. He has to make an international phone call. Silly Girl goes alone, but on her way home she sees New Guy talking to Auditor Lady! Again! 

Silly Girl confronts New Guy for being a lying boyfriend. Woah, they've been on 2 dates!  He tells her that Auditor Lady was just asking him about the factory. Silly Girl has had enough with his two-facedness! She walks away and goes home.

It's tree trimming time. Silly Girl is down in the dumps. Boss mom says trust New Guy if he says he's not into Auditor Lady... Go find him.  Silly Girl bumps into New Guy on her driveway as he's coming to apologize.

They decide to go out for drinks. Aka a third date. 

Bar lady recognizes New Guy, but can't place him... Wait, he's the lead singer of a band she saw one time! Silly Girl tells New Guy he should be in the talent show! 

Also, the bar has a wall of dollar bills. You write you name on a dollar bill, make a wish and put it on the wall. On Christmas someone throws a dart, and if it hits your dollar bill, your wish comes true. They rush to add their dollars, and Silly Girl is so irresistible writing her name on it that New Guy kisses her!

Silly Girl is still so jealous of New Guy and Auditor Lady that he vows not only to not spend time with Auditor Lady, but also to spend all his free time with Silly Girl. 

Auditor Lady tells Silly Girl she's going to choose the factory. It makes financial sense. Auditor Lady offers Silly Girl a job in New York as her right hand girl. Silly Girl isn't really interested in that.

Silly Girl thinks the factory closing is a sign she should go to New York to work on Wall Street. Suddenly, Silly Girl spies new guy walking through town with a bunch of roses and decides to follow him. He hugs Auditor Lady and then they get in a car together and drive away. Not to be deterred, Silly Girl follows them all the way to the cemetery where New Guy gives Auditor Lady the flowers which she deposits on dead factory owner's grave. Silly Girl jumps to conclusions, and heads back to town. 

At the bar New Guy drops his wallet, and Silly Girl looks in it to discover... He's Auditor Lady's cousin! He's dead factory owner's grandson! He's the one shutting down the Christmas ornament factory. 

New Guy tries to explain, but Silly Girl calls him a spoiled little rich kid who doesn't care about the factory or the workers. But New Guy does care. He just didn't know how to change it so the factory can make money. He asks Silly Girl to help find a way because he likes her, AND this town. 

Silly Girl cries. This is too much responsibility on her shoulders. Then she takes a deep breath and tries to come up with a plan...

The plans are not forthcoming.

Silly Girl goes before the town council to negotiate with the big box store that's coming to town, in order to make a deal that will help both the store and the factory. But it still doesn't look good.

New Guy tries to cheer up Silly Girl. She suggests he enter the talent show yet again, but he's busy Christmas Eve, and won't be able to attend the talent show with her. Silly Girl mopes.

She decides to go to the talent show, and on the way runs into Auditor Lady who is leaving town. Silly Girl convinces Auditor Lady to come to the talent show with her instead. 

Much to Silly Girl's surprise, New Guy is in the talent show. That's what his Christmas Eve plans were. Silly Girl is delighted.

New Guy decides this town is so awesome he's going to save the factory. How? The same way his grandfather did. By subsidizing it himself. Silly Girl says that's stupid. 

They decide to head over to the bar with the dollar bills. It's Christmas Eve, and it's time to make some wishes come true. 

Silly Girl gets to throw the dart, and it hits her own dollar bill. Big box store guy comes to tell Silly Girl that he accepts her plan. 

New Guy tells Silly Girl he's staying to help the factory. Silly Girl was planning on moving to New York... Now what will happen? 

New Guy comes over for Christmas morning and gives Silly Girl a present. It's a job as the factory CFO! They can both stay, and work together!

Kisses. Fake snow falls. More kisses. More fake snow.

The end