If you are a Hallmark or GAC Family Christmas movie junkie, this is a fun blog to visit for trivia, discussion, opinion polls, movie quizzes, and more as we share our love for these clean, heart-warming movies all year long.
Emily and Jared are looking forward to celebrating the holidays together as a couple, and they prepare to work with their neighbors on Evergreen Lane to make this year's Christmas celebrations the best yet. When a house on the block goes up for sale, the soon-to-be-neighbors are holiday royalty, but they are so competitive that they nearly ruin Christmas for everyone. Starring: Lacey Chabert, Wes Brown, Stephen Tobolowsky, Ellen Travolta, Melissa Peterman, Seth Morris, and Jennifer Aspen Image: Hallmark Media Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up Has a Moral When the residents of Evergreen Lane learn that their new neighbors are the Jolly Johnsons--famous holiday reality stars--they are thrilled to welcome them to the block. Everyone assumes the Johnsons will fit right in since they share their same affinity for elf culture. Emily, Jared, and the rest of the holiday crew quickly realize that the Johnsons aren't interested in joining in on the fun--they plan to take over. Image: Tw
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REVIEW: Hallmark Fans Are Calling "A Biltmore Christmas" the Best Movie of the Season
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Screenwriter Lucy Hardgrove lands the job of a lifetime when she is hired to remake the beloved holiday movie, His Merry Wife!
Starring: Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha
Image: Hallmark Media
What Is A Biltmore Christmas About?
The fictional movie, His Merry Wife!, is a classic Christmas movie from 1947 that generates a similar vibe comparable to It's a Wonderful Life.
Balaban Studios, the original producer of the film, wants to remake His Merry Wife! to appeal to a modern audience. Charlie Balaban tasks Lucy Hardgrove with creating the screenplay for the updated version, but he doesn't like the ending she's written.
In the original production, actor Jack Huston plays the part of Charlie--a man who dies, becomes an angel, and watches his wife begin to fall in love with another man. To earn his wings, Charlie must help the new man win over his former wife, but Charlie can't resist sabotaging the mission. Ultimately, Charlie ceases his shenanigans, appears to his wife, and gives her his blessing to move on with the new man she loves.
Lucy thinks the movie's ending is unrealistic. Life rarely works out so perfectly (we could say the same about all the Hallmark movies!), which is why the ending Lucy pens is a bit of a downer. Mr. Balaban doesn't like it, so he sends her to the Biltmore to find inspiration, just like William West, the original screenwriter, had done decades previously.
While at the Biltmore, Lucy receives VIP treatment and behind-the-scenes access. She is fascinated by the hourglass that she learns isn't merely a prop from the movie but a private piece from the Biltmore personal collection. The piece will soon be on its way for a year-long exhibit at the Smithsonian.
Image: Hallmark Media
When the hourglass tips over unexpectedly, Lucy rights it but then finds herself transported back in time to the 1947 filming of His Merry Wife! where she ultimately meets Jack Huston, William West, and other cast members.
Lucy discovers that the original script for His Merry Wife! had a different ending than what made it to the big screen, and she's determined to dig up the details--it could be the key to unlocking her updated spin on the classic tale. To learn more, Lucy must revisit the past, but she only has one hour each time to find out what she can--until the hourglass breaks and she fears she'll remain in the past forever.
Why Fans Are Raving About A Biltmore Christmas
Hallmark fans are calling A Biltmore Christmas the best movie of the season, and rightly so. The movie is crafted in the image of a classic MGM production.
Lucy visits the past to find an ending for her screenplay, never expecting to fall in love.
Image: Hallmark Media
A Biltmore Christmas is packed tighter than Santa's sleigh with delightful goodies:
It is filmed on location at the gorgeous Biltmore Estate.
Bethany Joy Lenz and Krisoffer Polaha sing a lovely rendition of Jingle Bells.
Wes Brown and Rachel Boston, co-stars in Check Inn to Christmas, have cameo appearances in the updated release of His Merry Wife!
A Biltmore Christmas is well cast with strong and talented leads, and it is delightful and classy from start to finish. It's about giving up everything for the one you love.
What Is The Biltmore Known For?
The Vanderbilts became the wealthiest family in America through the shipping and railroad industry but eventually lost their fortune due to poor money management and living a lavish life without working to replenish and preserve the family coffers.
The Biltmore Estate was constructed by George Washington Vanderbilt and remains the largest, privately owned home in America. The name of the palatial estate is derived from De Bilt, the family's ancestral origin in the Netherlands, and more for the open, rolling land upon which it sits.
Vanderbilt open his Gilded Age estate to friends and family on Christmas Eve 1895. The home was designated as a national historic landmark in 1963 and is still a major tourist attraction in North Carolina, boasting approximately1.4 million visitors each year.
Today, the estate covers around 8,000 acres and is overseen by The Biltmore Company--a trust set up by the family--and it's one of the largest employers in the Asheville area. It includes restaurants, gift shops, a winery, inn, and hotel.
The Biltmore estate has been used numerous times over the years as a filming location for movies and televisions shows:
The Swan (1956)
Being There (1979)
The Private Eyes (1980)
Mr. Destiny (1990)
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Richie Rich (1994)
My Fellow Americans (1996)
Patch Adams (1998)
Hannibal (2001)
The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012)
A Biltmore Christmas (2023)
Watch the Trailer for A Biltmore Christmas
A Biltmore Christmas is one of those movies that will stay on your DVR as you wait with fingers crossed for a DVD release.
It earns 5/5 Christmas trees on my rating scale--a rarity!
If you haven't seen A Biltmore Christmas yet, you can watch the trailer below.
For those of us who are crazy about Christmas and eagerly anticipate a healthy dose of holiday cheer during the summer months, the wait is almost over! Hallmark Movies & Mysteries continues their annual tradition of bringing us Merry Movie Week 2023 , leading up to Hallmark Channel's Christmas in July event. Merry Movie Week kicks off the evening of June 23 and runs through June 30. Hallmark's Merry Movie Week 2023 Details If you're hoping Merry Movie Week means 24/7 Christmas movies for an entire week, you may be disappointed. You can expect round-the-clock festive movies on Saturday and Sunday, June 24 & 25, but for the rest of the week, it's regular mystery shows during the day and twinkly lights and tinsel from 5pm-11pm Eastern. No new premieres will be featured during Merry Movie Week, but Hallmark Channel will unveil two new Christmas movies in July. Hallmark's Merry Movie Week 2023 Printable Schedule Hallmark Movies & Mysteries currently has
Starring: Merritt Patterson and Luke MacFarlane Released: 2020 Summary: A world-renowned pianist returns to Chateau Newhaus to spend the holidays with her family and try to find her passion for music again. Chateau Christmas. Image: Crown Media Luke MacFarlane Is Julliard-Trained Julliard, located in New York City, is the world leader in training students in the performing arts--dance, drama, and music. Luke MacFarlane's dad was a cellist, which inspired MacFarlane to start playing the cello by the time he was four years old. He set his sights on attending Julliard, and he graduated from the prestigious institution in 2003, afterwards finding success off-Broadway, then on Broadway, and eventually on screen. The script for Chateau Christmas originally cast MacFarlane playing the violin, but when he asked the writers to change his instrument to the cello, they quickly made the adjustment. Luke MacFarlane really does play the cello. While in quarantine before filming, Mac
Home for the holidays, BFFs Naomi and Liz reconnect with high school crush, Chris Silver. A complex love triangle forms, forcing them to take stock of their lives and find the value of friendship. Starring: Janel Parrish, Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes, and Tyler Hynes Image: Hallmark Media What Is Never Been Chris'd About? Chris Silver (Hynes) was the most popular guy in high school. Like most girls, Liz (Lamothe-Kipnes) and Naomi (Parrish) both had crushes on him, but he never seemed to notice them. Whenever a lucky lady became Chris' girlfriend, she instantly catapulted into popularity. Liz and Naomi dubbed this phenomenon being "Chris'd." The tables have turned. Thanks to the innovative "Best Pals" app that Liz and Naomi have created, they are now local celebrities. The two are acknowledged by former classmates when they come home for Christmas and finally experience being the "cool kids." Chris is a former marine and an English teacher at t
Everything is on an app these days, including the Hallmark Christmas in July 2023 movie schedule. Many of us, however, still prefer a paper checklist that allows us to see everything at once without swiping through screens. Some like the Hallmark app since they can set reminders to alert them about the movies they plan to watch. The rest of us love pouring over a tangible copy so we can make notations and highlights. We can also share the document on social media and with our friends and family who look forward to the Christmas in July movie slate. Hallmark's Christmas in July 2023 --What You Need to Know Contrary to what many people assume, Christmas movies are NOT playing 24/7 on Hallmark Channel during the Christmas in July 2023 event. Don't despair! According to Hallmark Channel's website, there are 5-7 Christmas movies on tap for each day of July. In between Christmas movies, you can expect the usual sitcoms: Golden Girls , Frasier , Cheers , and Reba . Hal
When a romantic painting of a Christmas market captures the imagination of copy editor, Lea, she is sent to France with a moody reporter, Mark, to uncover the mystery behind the artist. Starring: Jaicy Elliot and Brant Daugherty Image: Hallmark Media Joyeux Noel Combines Romance & Mystery Joyeux Noel was written by Brant Daughtery and his wife Kimberly and tells the tale of a copy editor and aspiring journalist (Elliot) getting the break she's been waiting for. After visiting an antique store and purchasing an old jewelry box, Lea opens it to find a journal. While she's deciphering its contents, she tunes into the news where journalists are raving about a new painting featuring an unknown artist known only as "F." Lea is shocked to notice that a sketch in the journal matches the newly unveiled painting. She reads on to discover that decades earlier, Mon Fleur had met and fallen in love with a woman at a Christmas market in a small French village. The two s
Haul Out the Holly Plot Summary When a woman unexpectedly spends the holidays alone at her parents' house, their homeowner's association insists that she participates in its many Christmas festivities. Starring: Lacey Chabert and Wes Brown Image: Hallmark Media Fans' Response to Haul Out the Holly is Divided A new Lacey Chabert movie each Christmas is always the season's icing on the sugar cookie. Until recently, every Chabert romcom has been pure gold in terms of ratings and enjoyment. For the first time in Chabert's Hallmark career, not everyone is raving about her latest movie. One camp finds Haul Out the Holly a sheer delight. It's Chabert's first Hallmark comedy, and the emphasis is heavy on humor and light on romance. Many love the change-up. After years of the same recycled plot lines and cookie cutter tropes, fans are relieved to watch something new and fresh. Life is too serious, so it's fun to laugh and be entertained. The other hal
When Addy wishes for a year without Christmas, she wakes up in a world of black and white. She must work together with the town mechanic to restore Christmas. Starring: Lyndsy Fonseca and Michael Rady Image: Hallmark Media Hallmark Tries Something New with Where Are You, Christmas? As much as fans love Hallmark movies, most of us are growing bored with the same recycled plots. In response, Hallmark enlisted the talents of seasoned writers Michael Reisz and Timothy Kuryak to deliver something fresh. Where Are You, Christmas? inventively imagines a world in which Christmas doesn't exist. It's an interesting concept. Without Christmas, the world is dull and colorless. People have no joy. Christmas is a season of hope and a time for miracles. Without it, people miss the chance to find healing from the things that are hurting them, which makes them angry and a little bitter. Addy's high-pressure job in branding means Christmas is her business every day of the year. Af
Juniper Jones travels to Mystic, Connecticut during the holidays to work at the rehabilitation center and aquarium. While there, she reconnects with Sawyer, the owner of the pizza shop and the man she once loved. Starring: Jessy Schram and Chandler Massey Image: Hallmark Media A Movie That Pays Homage to Mystic Pizza Mystic Pizza is a coming-of-age movie from 1988 that gave a young Julia Roberts the career breakthrough she needed. The story followed three friends who worked together at a pizza shop in a seaside Connecticut town. Hallmark combines nostalgia with a modern love story to bring us a 2023 Christmas movie based in the same fishing town of Mystic, Connecticut where we visit a pizza shop and a planetarium, just like in the original, though the aquarium is the setting for a chunk of the story. Juniper Jones and Sawyer Adams were in love 10 years ago, but when Juniper shared her heart in an e-mail, she never received a response. Now things are awkward as Juniper returns to
Starring: Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp Released: 2020 Summary: After a woman's storybook Christmas wedding gets cancelled, a dance instructor helps her face her fear in life by fulfilling her dream of learning how to dance. Lacey Chabert & Will Kemp wow fans with their beautiful dance performance in Christmas Waltz Image: Crown Media Jilted at Christmas Getting dropped like a dense fruitcake during the most wonderful time of the year would ruin Christmas for most of us. Each subsequent, annual celebration would be marred by the memory of heartbreak. Right after Avery (Lacey Chabert) decides on a Nutcracker-themed wedding cake and pays for 10 ballroom dancing lessons, she learns her fiance, David (Jeremy Guilbaut) has accepted a job in Boston and will be leaving New York. Despite David's feeble attempts to keep their relationship alive after the devastating blow, Avery calls off the wedding and ends things with him for good. You must admire Avery's spunk. To
A shopping channel host known as Ms. Christmas receives a terminal diagnosis, which inspires a multi-city excursion set to spread Christmas cheer before her farewell broadcast. Starring: Erica Durance, Brennan Elliott, and Barabara Niven Image: Hallmark Media Barbara Niven Delivers Top-Notch Performance Move over, Santa, because MS. CHRISTMAS is coming to town! Barbara Niven is stellar in her role of Gale Storm--the woman who, for 24 years, has been selling merchandise every holiday season on HSC (Holiday Shopping Channel). Ms. Christmas oozes more sweetness than a hot chocolate bomb, even when she receives bad news about her declining health. While many of us might be tempted to wallow in despair following a terminal diagnosis, Ms. Christmas decides to focus on making it the best year yet for her loyal viewers by taking her show on the road. Think of that--using time wisely to do good deeds in the time you have left. If only we approached everyday life with this kind of attitude!
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