FESTIVE FLICKS
Warm up with some sweet movies
The holidays were never going to feel normal in a pandemic, so it seems one of the most responsible ways to spend them might be sitting on a couch with a warm drink in hand, munching on popcorn while watching some mindlessly comforting TV movies.
Luckily, the annual barrage of ugly sweaters and eggnog-fuelled drama has already commenced, with some of the earliest contenders hitting streaming platforms in late October — Halloween be damned. Big Christmas knows no bounds, and not even an airborne virus can stop Hallmark, Lifetime and Netflix from churning out dozens of movies this holiday season.
Choosing from those movies can be a surprisingly daunting task, so we've narrowed down the field to several options available on networks and streaming services.
THE CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES 2
For Kurt Russell, the Christmas Chronicles movies, which star Darby Camp as a kid who helps Santa Claus save the day, are a family affair — stepson Oliver Hudson appeared in the first, while longtime partner Goldie Hawn plays Mrs. Claus in the sequel. It marks the couple's first time on screen together since 1987's Overboard. Streaming on Netflix.
CHRISTMAS COMES TWICE
The Mowry sisters returned to households across the country when Sister Sister hit Netflix earlier this year, and Tamera Mowry-housley is extending that presence into the holiday season. In Christmas Comes Twice, she plays an astrophysicist who rides a carousel in her hometown that somehow transports her back to five years ago, where she reconnects with her now-dead science teacher (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and frenemy-turned-love-interest (Michael Xavier). A Mowry time-travelling! What's not to love? Premières Dec. 19 on W Network. Streams on STACKTV and the Global TV app afterward.
CHRISTMAS EVER AFTER
Christmas Ever After stars Tony winner Ali Stroker as a romance novelist with writer's block who finds inspiration in the owner (Daniel di Tomasso) of the bed and breakfast she's staying at. It's a classic premise executed unusually — while filming more intimate scenes, Stroker and di Tomasso kissed through a Plexiglas partition that will presumably be deleted in post-production. Premières Dec. 11 on the CTV Drama Channel.
THE CHRISTMAS HOUSE
Jonathan Bennett, who you may recognize as Aaron Samuels from Mean Girls even without his hair pushed back, stars opposite Brad Harder in Hallmark's first holiday movie to feature a gay couple. In the film, Bennett and Harder's characters await a phone call regarding the adoption of their first child. Premières Dec. 5 on W Network. Streams on STACKTV and the Global TV app afterward.
THE CHRISTMAS SETUP
Christmas movies get the tiniest bit more diverse each year, and The Christmas Setup marks Lifetime's first to centre on a gay romance. Blake Lee plays a New York lawyer whose mother (Fran Drescher) plays matchmaker and sets her son up with his high school crush (Ben Lewis, Lee's real-life husband). Premières Dec. 18 on the CTV Drama Channel.
CHRISTMAS UNWRAPPED
Tiffany Haddish produced this movie about a reporter (Amber Stevens West) who investigates a man (Marco Grazzini), when he insists the gifts he gives out are actually from Santa Claus. She might not earn a Pulitzer, but she does learn the meaning of Christmas along the way. Premières Dec. 4 on the CTV Drama Channel.
DOLLY PAR TON' S CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE
This fun musical boasts a star-studded cast — joining Parton are Christine Baranski, Jenifer Lewis and Treat Williams, among others — and it was directed, choreographed and produced by another Hollywood icon, Debbie Allen. Parton wrote 14 songs for the film, which stars Baranski as a modern Scrooge who plans to sell her hometown's land to a mall developer. Streaming on Netflix.
HAPPIEST SEASON
Kristen Stewart stars in this queer rom-com as a woman who accompanies her girlfriend, Harper (Mackenzie Davis), to her family home, only to learn Harper hasn't come out to her parents yet. The film was co-written and directed by Clea Duvall and stars Dan Levy (Schitt's Creek) as Stewart's best friend. Available now On Demand.
HO LI DATE
Speaking of Scrooges, this movie stars Emma Roberts as a woman who seems to hate everything, including spending the holidays with family members obsessed with finding her a partner. She meets Luke Bracey's character at the mall — one of the holiest places to spend Christmas, second only to churches — and they create a doomed arrangement to platonically spend holidays together from then on. Streaming on Netflix.
LOVE, LIGHTS, HANUKKAH!
This bizarrely named movie has a strange plot to match: A restaurant owner (Mia Kirshner), takes a DNA test that reveals she's Jewish, and she somehow discovers a new family as a result. This movie also stars Ben Savage and should have been called Woman Meets Judaism. Premières Dec. 13 on W Network. Streams on STACKTV and the Global TV app afterward.
ONE ROYAL HOLIDAY
Aaron Tveit — the only actor to earn a Tony nomination for his lead performance in a musical this year — plays a prince staying at a Connecticut inn run by the family of a lovely young woman (Laura Osnes), who, of course, is unaware of his royal status. This is the film to watch for Broadway fans, as it also stars Victoria Clark, Krystal Joy Brown and Tom Mcgowan. Streaming on STACKTV and the Global TV app.
THE PRINCESS SWITCH: SWITCHED AGAIN
Two years after Vanessa Hudgens played a Chicago baker and the European duchess with whom she switches places at Christmastime, the actress reprises the double role — and tacks on a third, as the duchess's evil cousin who tries to steal her throne. Fingers crossed we get four Vanessas next time. Streaming on Netflix.