If You Watch One Holiday Movie This Weekend: Hallmark’s Where Are You, Christmas? Is Our Pick
True, we haven’t bought our Halloween candy yet, but as loyal fans of the holiday romance genre, we are prepared to start the most wonderful time of the year today. With Hallmark Channel’s annual Countdown to Christmas and Great American Family’s Great American Christmas now in full swing, and Lifetime and other networks loading their sleighs, we’re here to help you choose between the season’s many offerings. Each Thursday, we’ll spotlight the movie that should be at the top of your weekend list and preview why other debuts will make you merry.
More from TVLine
Hallmark's Time-Loop Hanukkah Movie Round and Round Seeks Answers in Comic Books - Watch Sneak Peek
The Way Home Season 2 Sets January Premiere Date at Hallmark
THE ONE TO WATCH
Where Are You, Christmas?
(Premieres Saturday, Oct. 21 at 8 pm on Hallmark Channel)
Hallmark fans think they’ve seen it all when it comes to alternate-reality plots. They’ve never seen this twist: For the first time, Christmas itself disappears. Branding exec Addy (Lyndsy Fonseca) reluctantly opts out of her traditional holiday decompressing in the Maldives to visit family in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota. Facing tension with her dad (Jim O’Heir) and a long to-do list from her mom (Julie Warner), Addy admits to an app Santa that she sometimes wishes there was no Christmas. Before long, everything in her town is in black and white and no one but her has even heard of Christmas. Luckily, reclusive mechanic Hunter (Michael Rady, tender as ever), helps her realize the way to restore a person’s color (and decorations!) is to spark a meaningful memory of Christmas that brings them peace or joy. It’s Pleasantville meets It’s a Wonderful Life, and a refreshingly novel idea for a network known for mandating Christmas decor be visible in every frame.
You’ll appreciate the visual effects magic as the townsfolk slowly return to normal. “There were over 1,600 composite shots to pull this off,” director Dustin Rikert tells TVLine. “It took over 25 artists over 100 days.” Yet perhaps the biggest feat was co-writers Michael Reisz and Timothy Kuryak reminding us, at a time when the real world feels anything but festive, what we’d miss if we choose not to celebrate the season this year. Just know this: Even in a Christmas-less world, TV movies are still popular. They’re New Year’s-themed and start airing in June!
Runner-Up: Under the Christmas Sky
Gone are the days of every Hallmark heroine being an event planner or bakery owner! Jessica Parker Kennedy stars in our runner-up pick Under the Christmas Sky (premiering Sunday, Oct. 22 at 8pm on Hallmark Channel) as astrophysicist Kat, who’s developed a blind spot in her vision that means she’ll never go to space. She can, however, spend her holiday consulting on a new sun exhibit at her childhood planetarium and trying to convince curator David (Ryan Paevey, in serious-minded cardigans) to liven it up with surprisingly relevant Christmas references and decorations. Along with infectious Kat being idolized by divorced David’s daughter (Emmy Richardson), who’s use of a wheelchair won’t let her stop reaching for the stars, most heartwarming is just how cozy and inviting the planetarium, filmed on location at Canada’s Manitoba Museum, is made to feel. Decking the displays was a labor of love for production designer Gord Wilding, who’s visited that museum with his children since they were small and brought them by set to have a look.
The Best of the Rest…
Checkin’ It Twice (premieres Friday, Oct. 20 at 8 pm on Hallmark Channel)
In this old-school Hallmark movie, Scott (Kevin McGarry), an aging hockey player still hoping to make it to the NHL, is traded to the Idaho Falls Fighting Trout — right as Ashley (Kim Matula), a real estate agent working in New York City, arrives home for the holidays. It’s a story about accepting that hard-fought dreams can change, filled with jolly community events, good banter, and solid physical comedy from McGarry, who should drink bad eggnog in every film.
‘Twas the Text Before Christmas (premieres Saturday, Oct. 21 at 8 pm on Great American Family)
Merritt Patterson stars as New York City chiropractor Addie (popular name!), who bravely accepts an invitation to spend Christmas day with the Vermont “Nana” (Jayne Eastwood) who mistakenly texted her rather than stay home alone cyber-stalking her newly-engaged ex and missing her family. Nana’s ulterior motive — matchmaking for her traveling doctor son James, who’s never been in love — plays out over three Christmases and multiple perfectly-fitted Henleys for Trevor Donovan.
2023 Christmas Movie Schedule
Best of TVLine
Get more from TVLine.com: Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Newsletter
