Martin Howard
Do you have a favorite Hallmark Christmas movie? How about a least favorite one? Did you know that Hallmark makes Christmas movies?
Now that the holiday season is in full swing, so is the 24/7 showing of Hallmark Christmas movies. And I think it’s great.
With the amount of decorations in a Hallmark Christmas movie, anyone who doesn’t like Christmas would probably hate everything about them.
I enjoy watching Hallmark Christmas movies. However, for personal reasons, there are certain ones that I refuse to watch.
Over the years, Hallmark has definitely increased the quality of their movies. Not just with editing but also the acting.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of them are extremely predictable. Perhaps that predictability is what draws people back for more.
In this article, I’d like to discuss six things that are often glaringly predictable with Hallmark Christmas movies.
One of the main characters dislikes Christmas
Not always, but a good number of times one of the main characters dislikes, even hates Christmas. Stereotypically, this is usually (but not always) the leading male.
At one point in life, in most cases, they loved Christmas. But some traumatic experience or death of a loved one “caused” them to dislike it. Of course, this is usually revealed throughout the movie.
It then becomes the responsibility of the leading lady to bring Christmas joy back. Side characters often use the term, “Christmas magic” to justify how it will happen.
There’s always some form of conflict between the two leading characters. Yet, through persistence, the one who loves Christmas eventually convinces the other to overcome their past and like Christmas again.
Something always stops the leading couple from kissing
Until they finally kiss at the finale, something typically stops the leading male and female from kissing. A ringing phone, a side character walking into the scene, or one of them realizes that they’re about to “make a mistake.”
As the movie goes on, feelings between the two deepen. But not before they have some sort of conflict that pulls them apart. Usually brought on by some form of misunderstanding.
By the end, they realize they love each other and share a kiss.
The stories are often focused on broken families
Many of us love an underdog story. Perhaps that’s why many of Hallmark’s Christmas movies focus on broken families. Whether it’s a single parent, a divorcee, widow(er), an orphaned child, or the like.
The broken family is usually one of the main characters but not necessarily one of the leading ones. For instance, it could be a family or friend of the leading male/female. Or it could be the leading male/female and their child because of a divorce or loss of the child’s other parent.
In any case, whether a leading or side character, there’s usually a broken family involved in the story. One might think that they’re trying to normalize broken families. Rather than put a focus on the traditional one.
Rarely do we see a follow-up to the love match
Despite their glaring differences, the leading couple predictably falls in love after just one to two weeks after meeting. Even though they live in different parts of the country (or world in some cases).
Questions of a possible long-distance relationship are spoken. Though discussed, a realistic resolution is never established. And we rarely see them after the holidays – let alone a year later.
Is happiness like that even possible?
Well, this is something that I can speak to from experience. My wife and I met on Friday, July 18, 2003. The following Friday, July 25, we married. And we’re still married.
Unlike a Hallmark movie, our real-life marriage has been a hard, and difficult journey. But it’s also something no one can take from us.
Then again, not seeing “realness” in movies is what makes us go back for more. They allow us to escape reality for a couple of hours.
Christmas performances consist of only one song
Some of the storylines for Hallmark Christmas movies involve either a recital, a play, or some type of performance.
Throughout the movie, they periodically practice for it. Undoubtedly, the character(s) would struggle with one or more areas in their part of the performance.
Encouragement from others to motivate them to get beyond their fears/shortcomings and make a magnificent performance.
Even though most recitals, plays, or concerts have several songs or acts. At the end of Hallmark Christmas movies, there’s usually only one song or act that’s performed.
Again, they take us away from reality for a couple of hours.
Most don’t even reference the reason for the season
Christmas has its foundation in the birth of Jesus Christ. Yet, the majority of Christmas movies (including those by Hallmark) don’t even acknowledge Him or Christianity.
Without Christ, there is no Christmas.
Don’t get me wrong, the list of Christmas movies I love to watch is quite extensive. It’s just nice and important to remember that Christmas starts with Christ for a reason.
As much as I enjoy watching a good Hallmark Christmas movie, they’re glaringly predictable. Which is okay if you like that sort of thing.
