Merry & Bright (2019)

Rated: G

Genre: Romance

Starring: Jodie Sweetin and Andrew Walker

Synopsis: Cate, CEO of the Merry and Bright Candy Cane Company, meets Gabe, who works for Empire Corporate Recovery, which has been hired to  find ways to make the company more profitable. As Cate and Gabe begin to work together, they find ways to elevate the business and find that they have more in common than savvy business sense.

Review: Sweetin and Walker are delightful as always.  The movie doesn’t offer many surprises but it offers a good love story and some funny side stories.  I especially liked that it gave us a solid ending.  I wasn’t that surprised at how she chose to expand the company, as I was wanting to yell it to her from the beginning, but I was worried she wouldn’t get there.  It’s a nice sweet movie.

Scoring: 4

Merry Christmas, Baby! (2016)

Movie 4 of 5 in the series.

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family

Starring: Malinda Williams and Karon Riley

Synopsis: Marci throws herself into preparing for Christmas and building her new event-planning business. But when the business gets off to a rocky start and members of her family face their own hardships, Marci steps up to help everyone have a good holiday.

Review:  The fourth movie in the series continues the Chandler family adventures. It has the same feel and meaning behind it as the first three. The personalities of the family shine.  I love the community being brought into the story.  It would be better enjoyed if you watch the whole series in order.  It's worth it.

Scoring: 4

A Merry Christmas Match (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Ashley Newbrough and Kyle Dean Massey

Synopsis: Corey who works in her mom's antique shop, puts on a Christmas pageant in honor of her late father. When a man named Ryder visits her store, she wonders if she should have left town to follow her dream of becoming a theater director.

Review: This movie has so many special aspects to it.  You know it will have a happy ending but there are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing how it will happen.  The characters are varied and interesting.  I was completely invested in the story from the beginning.  Could it use a little spice?  Sure, but that might ruin what’s great about it.

Scoring: 4

A Merry Christmas Wish (2022)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Jill Wagner and Cameron Mathison

Synopsis: It tells the story of Janie. She returns to her hometown of Woodland Falls when her great-uncle passes away. He surprises Janie with a special gift: the family homestead, her childhood home.

Review: It’s a typical Christmas romance where you know the ending from the beginning but it’s still good thanks to Wagner and Mathison. The movie is also filled with Christmas practically everywhere you look. 

Scoring: 3

Merry Ex-mas (2014)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family

Starring: Kristy Swanson, Dean Cain, Lochlyn Munro, and Jodi Lyn O’Keefe

Synopsis: During a blizzard at Christmas, a man becomes snowbound with ex-wife, her wealthy suitor, his former mother-in-law, and his daughter.

Review:  Just no. It’s so negative and awkward and just uncomfortable to watch. It’s the opposite of what a feel-good movie is. 

Scoring: 1

Merry Ex-Mas (2016)

Rated: TV-MA

Genre: Comedy

Starring: London Brown and Angell Conwell

Synopsis: A woman comes up with a diabolical plan to ruin her ex’s Christmas wedding.

Review: Sometimes sweet, sometimes funny, sometimes heartfelt. The movie has everything. The ending wraps everything up almost too perfectly. I feel we could have used a little more backstory but it’s still good. 

Scoring: 3

A Merry Friggin’ Christmas (2014)

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family

Starring: Candace Bergen, Lauren Graham, Joel McHale, Wendy McLendon-Covey, Oliver Platt, and Robin Williams

Synopsis: Boyd Mitchler and his family must spend Christmas with his estranged family of misfits. Upon realizing that he left all his son's gifts at home, he hits the road with his dad in an attempt to make the 8-hour round trip before sunrise.

Review:  First, this is NOT for children. Second, it’s hysterical. I haven’t laughed out loud that many times during a movie for a long time. It has its moments where you’re waiting for something to happen but they’re worth sitting through. 

Scoring: 4

Merry In-Laws (2012)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: George Wendt, Shelley Long, and Lucas Bryant

Synopsis: A recently engaged woman plans a get-together so her parents can meet her fiancé's family. It turns out that his parents are Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

Review:  At times too at odds with itself, like the Clauses vs. non-believing parents, but Long and Wendt are fantastic. They make the movie special. You’ll want them for your family. 

Scoring: 3

Merry Kiss Cam (2022)

Rated: TV-14

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Jesse Bradford and Katie Lowes 

Synopsis: When Jess and Danny go on a first date to a hockey game, their team scores a winning goal after their "kiss cam" smooch. Now, Jess and Danny must continue attending the games or risk the wrath of fans who believe their kisses are a good luck charm.

Review: I’ll start by saying I don’t think this is truly a Christmas movie. It had small dabs of Christmas but it’s really a romance. That aside, it’s a great movie. I loved it all the way through. The main characters are done in a very relatable way and I couldn’t help rooting for them.

Scoring: 3.5

Merry Liddle Christmas (2019)

Movie 1 of 3 in the series.

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Kelly Rowland and Debbi Morgan

Synopsis: This story of a woman trying to get her dysfunctional family to look picture perfect for the holidays, who falls in love with her neighbor amidst the chaos.

Review: The first time I watched I felt so horrible about how the family behaved.  They didn't respect Jacquie.  I didn't get how she got over it so quickly.  After watching the trilogy together, I realized the answer was family.  She put her hurt feelings aside. because she loves her family, and they love her.  And her family really gets into shenanigans.

Scoring: 4

Merry Liddle Christmas Baby (2021)

Movie 3 of 3 in the series

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Kelly Rowland and Debbi Morgan

Synopsis: The Liddle family has much to be merry about this Christmas as Jacquie and Tyler prepare for the arrival of their first baby, while her sister, Treena and her husband Julian are planning to adopt a baby.

Review: I think part of the enjoyment here is already knowing the family and picking up with them again.  It’s typical Liddle antics.  The only thing that didn’t really seem normal was the mom being trapped in Utah.  Other than that, it’s all the Liddle madness you’re used to but tamed down and even more love.  Watching this as a stand-alone movie might be okay but I highly recommend watching the series.  I’m hoping for another. 

Scoring: 4

Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding (2020)

Movie 2 of 3 in the series

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Kelly Rowland and Debbi Morgan

Synopsis: A couple try to plan the perfect destination wedding amid family chaos and drama.

Review: The Liddle family is at it again. I have to say Jacquie Liddle is a far better person than me. If my family showed up for my wedding, did everything I asked them not to, and ruined my wedding, I wouldn’t just smile because they had good intentions. Luckily, she does. This movie has tons of Christmas activities and fun even though it’s mostly about the wedding. A sweet sequel. 

Scoring: 4

A Merry Scottish Christmas (2023)

Rated: G

Genre: Family

Starring: Lacey Chabert and Scott Wolf

Synopsis: Follows estranged siblings Lindsay and Brad as they travel to Scotland at Christmas to reunite with their mother Jo.

Review:  I found it a bit disappointing. My grandmother is from Scotland. There were lots of cliches and it lacked depth. I felt like I didn’t really know the family and they didn’t seem to accurately show Scottish traditions. 

Scoring: 2.5

A Merry Single Christmas (2022)

Rated: PG

Genre: Romance

Starring: Chelsea Gipson and Andrew Rogers

Synopsis: Morgan escapes to a single's retreat to rekindle her Christmas spirit, but things get complicated when her Ex, Liam, shows up.

Review: This is a darling romance. The pace is uneven at times but it’s worth it. The concept of singles finding the joy at Christmas without couples reminding them they’re single is unique. Fun watch. 

Scoring: 3

Merry Swissmas (2022)

Rated: PG

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Jodie Sweetin and Tim Rozon

Synopsis: It follows Alex as she returns home to spend Christmas with her mother, and she finds out her best friend and her ex-boyfriend, who are now dating, are also visiting.

Review: I enjoyed learning about Swiss Christmas traditions.  There was just one too many relationships that took focus away from the main couple.  There’s the former best friend, the friend’s boyfriend, the friend’s mom who just got divorced, the mom opening an inn after losing her husband, the brother with his wife and child, the chef, and the widowed male lead with a son.  I wished it had focused more on the leads.  Besides that, it’s a layered and interesting movie.  I liked it a lot.

Scoring: 3

Merry Switchmas (2021)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Family, Romance

Starring: Rebekah Aladdin, Rachel Aladdin, Joel Harold, and Joseph Harold

Synopsis: Two identical sisters play identity switch during their family Christmas party, finding out more about their family and themselves before the night ends.

Review: The beginning seemed slow and silly, the middle was confusing-two sets of identical twins switching places back and forth-and the end unrealistic.  No group of people just all say they were wrong and apologize.  With all that said, it was still somewhat entertaining.  Even when I wasn’t sure who was who I wanted to see how it ended.

Scoring: 3 

Merry Textmas (2022)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Family, Romance

Starring: Rodrigo Massa and Ariana Ron Pedrique

Synopsis: Every year, the family gathers at Abuela's house in Mexico. When Gaby accidentally adds Alex to the family group-chat, her well-meaning family decides to secretly invite him to join them for Christmas.

Review: There’s one major problem with this movie. A good portion of it is in Spanish and the translation is in small white, barely readable, text. If I didn’t speak enough Spanish to get it I would have been lost. Other than that, I enjoyed the story and the 12 challenges. I do wish I had learned more about Mexican traditions, but I loved the family. 

Scoring: 3

Merry Wishmas (2018)

Rated: PG

Genre: Family, Religion, Romance

Starring: Tamela Mann and David Mann

Synopsis: A successful Atlanta businesswoman reunites with an old high school friend at his wellness facility.

Review: The main part of this is saving the center. There’s a lot of faith in God and a learned faith in family. Characters, like the secretary, are funny but not too over the top. Sweet movie but a little all over the place. 

Scoring: 2.5