There’s no doubt that Hallmark movies are a more common sight during the holidays. Whether or not they are quality entertainment is another question altogether. Read the article below for the pros and cons of having a Hallmark holiday.
As the holidays inch closer, your odds of coming across the Hallmark channel are practically guaranteed. With movies that seem to come straight out of a Christmas card, having a happy holiday has never been easier. However, some choose to openly avoid them like the Grinch avoids Christmas. And due to their somewhat banal plots, to others, Hallmark movies exist solely to be ridiculed. These two polar opposite responses raise an interesting question: what makes Hallmark movies lovable to some and despicable to others?
From “Meet the Santas” (2005) to “Christmas Under Wraps” (2014), Hallmark movies all have certain elements that have some of us coming back for seconds each year. If you’re looking for a happy ending, look no further. Considering every Hallmark movie ever made, there’s about a 99.9 percent guarantee of finding one. And unlike other modern films, these stories seem to be in their own little snow globe—an apolitical world without swearing and unproblematic relationships. Besides the fact that these movies tend to be a bit cliché, they’re like the ugly Christmas sweater of films—they’re ironically entertaining and are a tradition that Christmas wouldn’t be the same without.
However, despite the plethora of Hallmark Christmas movies, all of their plots seem to be made with the same formula. An outsider becomes an insider with the power of love, the Christmas spirit—you get the idea. In terms of storyline, consistency is key, as the only difference between Hallmark movies is a varying amount of tropes to sift through. In one of the more cliché movies, “The Christmas Ornament” (2013), a widow who decides to skip the Christmas tree for a year has her mind changed after she “conveniently” meets a Christmas tree shop owner who helps her rediscover the joy of Christmas. The basic foundations of the story line are familiar to us because it has been recycled for so many movies. Tropes aren’t the only repetitive thing about these movies—their cookie-cutter characters are only unique in terms of their names and hometowns. Their mundane characterization can be a result of the lack of distinction between the sexualities and races of these characters. That being said, the banality of these movies is what many believe make them unbearable to watch for more than two hours.
Unlike the movies found on Hallmark channel, it seems as if classic Christmas movies are so cherished and entertaining that they are untarnishable despite their flaws. For instance, although the focus of this movie is mainly on young children, “The Polar Express” (2004) is also a trip down memory lane for adults and continues to be a movie that many families watch. It’s the ability to relate to more than one audience that makes these Christmas classics a holiday go-to for anyone looking for a good laugh for the whole family.
The most appealing thing about Christmas movies isn’t their plotlines or characters—it’s the timeless nostalgia that has kept us entertained no matter how many years have passed. But what Hallmark movies lack in childhood sentimentality they make up for with genuine optimism and holiday spirit. Everyone has their own holiday favorite that they’ve grown up with, and whether or not it is found on the Hallmark channel, movies such as these will continue to be highly anticipated Christmas stories for years to come.