Christmas Movie Reviews

December marks the start of watching Christmas movies, particularly those from Netflix and Hallmark. Christmas movies offer an escape from reality and get me in the holiday spirit. The movies have a feel good storyline coupled with a small-town setting. Despite the movies having similar plots that are very predictable, the fantastical and unbelievable nature brings me comfort. 

The Princess Switch: Switched Again is the sequel to The Princess Switch. The Netflix movie stars Vanessa Hudgens as Margaret, the Duchess of Montenaro who is to be queen, and Stacy, a baker from Chicago who becomes the Princess of Belgravia. Margaret and Stacy look identical and decide to switch places. 

As if two Vanessa Hudgens is not enough, Netflix decided to give us three by introducing us to Margaret’s cousin, Fiona. Fiona looks just like Margaret and Stacy except she has blonde hair and darker makeup. I also need to point out that Margaret and Fiona have a bad British accent throughout this movie since they are supposed to be from a small European country. 

I thought the first movie was better because it was more fantastical and played into the Christmas theme more. I do have to acknowledge that Vanessa Hudgens did keep her three characters distinct and differentiable even throughout the switch. It was easy to follow as a viewer. The Princess Switch: Switched Again is a cheesy movie that pushes its boundaries to be more extravagant. The movie is predictable and could very well lead itself to a third movie with yet another switch.

I recently watched Holly and Ivy, a Hallmark movie starring Janel Parrish as a librarian named Melody that is searching for a job in a small town in Wisconsin. Melody buys and moves into a fixer-upper and meets her neighbor, Nina and her two daughters Holly and Ivy (there go the holiday names). Melody also has a love interest named Adam who is a contractor.

Despite being a Hallmark movie, the characters do not lead perfect lives. Melody is struggling to find a job as a librarian since the libraries have cut their budget, Adam struggles with his furniture business, and Nina has health issues. I thought the characters had amazing chemistry and the storyline was deeper than I expected. Holly and Ivy was a cute movie that brought me comfort and joy. I enjoyed that Melody was a strong, independent, and driven character that was complemented by Adam rather than relying on him. Although I will not give away any spoilers, I will admit that I did cry watching this movie. Holly and Ivy is a great movie that is worth watching. 

Another movie I recently watched was Feliz NaviDAD on Lifetime. Mario Lopez stars as a high school principal named David Morales who also works as a deliveryman around the holiday time. On his delivery route, he meets Sophie (AnnaLynne McCord), a professional musician. David has a daughter named Noel (another holiday name) that is in a choir that needs a music instructor 

Despite Noel being a teenage daughter, she actually likes her dad and has a positive attitude. David and Sophie are also likable characters that have a very predictable storyline that you can probably imagine. I understand that the title of the movie is called Feliz NaviDAD but I felt they overused the song Feliz Navidad. The song was probably sung a total of ten times during this movie. 

This movie had a compelling story that dealt with the pain behind losing a spouse, a plot I did not think Lifetime would do. The movie had Mario Lopez and a cameo from Melissa Joan Hart, which was a nice addition. Overall, this movie was fine and would be great for people who enjoyed Holiday in Handcuffs, Mario Lopez, and Melissa Joan Hart. 

These Christmas movies are not meant to be deep but this cheesy genre lends itself to some fun and imaginative ways to depict the holiday season. I enjoy that these are light-hearted movies that can be enjoyed with the entire family and provide some comedic relief along the way.