Paris Christmas Waltz (2023)

Rating: G

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Jen Lilley and Matthew Morrison 

Synopsis: Follows Emma as she encounters professional dancer Leo, whose enthusiasm for competitive dancing is diminishing. However, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presents itself for the novice to join the pro and astound Paris.

Review: I’m not a fan of ballroom dancing so I wasn’t looking forward to this one but they manage to equally feature Paris and relationships to balance the dancing. I was entertained. Lilley and Morrison have great chemistry. I think if you like the dancing, you’ll love this.

Scoring: 3.5

Penguin Land (2019)

Rated: NR

Genre: Animation

Starring: Thomas Freeley

Synopsis: Zooey and Flip want to make sure that every penguin has enough food for Christmas.

Review: At first, I thought this might be a good educational video.  It talks about arctic animals and what they eat during winter.  It even used advanced vocabulary.  Then it popped it with a menacing zombie-like polar bear and expressions like, “sucks to be you”.  It got more and more boring as it went on.  Definitely one to skip.

Scoring: 1

Pentatonix: Around the World for the Holidays (2022)

Rated: PG

Starring: Fantasy, Musical

Synopsis: Follows acapella group Pentatonix as they struggle to find inspiration for their annual holiday album, and to make things worse, their misguided manager mistakenly locks them in a magic mailroom.

Review: I loved this. In addition to their beautiful music, we learned about holiday traditions around the world. This would be great for families. 

Scoring: 3.5

People Presents: Once Upon a Main Street (2020)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring:  Vanessa Lachey, Ryan McPartlin, and Patrick Duffy

Synopsis: A man and a woman take over the responsibilities for an annual holiday competition.

Review: This movie is chock full of Christmas traditions and Christmas spirit. Lachey and McPartlin make a great pair. What better example of Christmas than putting aside your own needs and giving with true generosity of spirit. I knew how it would end but I truly enjoyed their banter. A great movie. 

Scoring: 4

Peppermint and Postcards (2023)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Ella Cannon and Christopher Russell

Synopsis: 9-year-old Megan dedicates her Christmas wish to helping her mom Cara find love, but when the letter goes viral, will Cara realize that what she was looking for was on her doorstop the whole time?

Review: Is it fairly typical for a Christmas romcom?  Yes. Is it interesting and sweet?  Yes. I knew the ending from the start, but I still enjoyed it. It doesn’t have a lot of depth, but it kept me watching. 

Scoring: 3.5 

A Perfect Day (2006)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama 

Starring: Rob Lowe, Paget Brewster, Christopher Lloyd, and Frances Conroy

Synopsis: A mysterious stranger helps a successful author reconnect with his family and his agent during Christmastime. 

Review:  This movie is a heavy drama without moments of levity. Despite this, it’s a great reflection of society. People can be physically present but not be there. Brewster gives an emotional performance. There may be points in the film where you want to stop watching but I suggest sticking with it for the surprise at the end. 

Scoring: 2.5

The Perfect Gift (2009)

Rated: NR

Genres: Drama, Religion

Starring: Jefferson Moore

Synopsis: A spoiled schoolgirl, her overworked executive mother, and a disillusioned young minister each receives an uplifting message about friendship, commitment, and the truest meaning of Christmas from a friendly, but mysterious drifter.

Review:  This movie is simply done but packs a strong message about giving, faith, and love. In the beginning I found it hard to like Maxine even though I knew her behavior was partially from pain. But everyone else makes the movie worth watching, especially Jess. Inspiring. 

Scoring: 4

The Perfect Gift (2011)

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Drama, Family, Religion

Starring: Ruben Studdard, Golden Brooks, and Buddy Lewis

Synopsis: Hard times and holiday tensions teach a father, Michael Harris, what Christmas is all about. When both Michael and his wife Sandra's parents come for a visit, what should be a joyous and festive holiday turns into chaos. Michael learns that of all the many gifts he gives to his family, the gift of giving oneself is the greatest gift of all.

Review: There’s a good story here it just doesn’t unfold well.  There’s a little too much back and forth.  The fact that it looks like a play doesn’t take away from it.  The acting is pretty good.  It just resolves too quickly and easily.  I also wish if they wanted music in it they spread it out instead of the whole end.

                                                        Scoring: 2

The Perfect Holiday (2007)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Family

Starring: Gabrielle Union, Morris Chestnut, and Queen Latifah

Synopsis: Romance blooms between a single mother and a storefront Santa.

Review: A very sweet family movie with just a dash of Christmas magic.  The children being torn between wanting their parents back together and just wanting mom to be happy is something a lot of children can relate to.  Their father is almost a caricature which adds humor to the movie.  The children, as they often do, steal the show. 

Scoring: 3

Pete’s Christmas (2013)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy 

Starring: Molly Parker, Rick Roberts, and Bailee Madison

Synopsis: A put-upon teen finds himself reliving the same miserable Christmas day over and over again.

Review:  This movie is okay. It’s one of the least successful Groundhog Day Christmas movies. There’s so much negativity and not enough levity.  It feels juvenile. 

Scoring: 2

Pets: Christmas Furball (2020)

Rated: NR

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Synopsis: Everyone’s favorite couch potato pets, Bella the cat, Bagel the dog, and Alvin the parrot break it down from the comfort of their own cushions with holiday-themed pets.

Review: This wasn’t bad to sit through for me as an adult which makes it a little more family friendly.  The content seems geared for the younger children but the pets don’t move making the dialogue more like listening to a story.  The lack of action may cause children to lose interest.

Scoring: 3

Pettersson And Findus 2 (2016)

Rated: TV-G

Genres: Animated, Comedy, Fantasy

Starring: Stefan Kurt

Synopsis: Christmas is just around the corner, but Pettersson and Findus are worried the snowy weather (and lack of a tree) may keep them from celebrating.

Review:  There’s one major problem with this story, it’s in German.  The problem is that the story appeals to very young viewers who can’t read the subtitles.  Children old enough to read them probably won't like the story.  So, unless you speak German, this won’t work for you.

Scoring: 1

Picking Up And Dropping Off (2003)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family, Romance 

Starring: Scott Wolff, Amanda Detmer, Rachel Lefevre, and Eddie McClintock

Synopsis: A divorced father and a divorced mother start to meet at Denver airport when picking up and sending off their children.

Review:  A sweet romantic comedy with a sprinkling of the reality of parents who only have their children part of the year. 

Scoring: 3

Picture A Perfect Christmas (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Merritt Patterson, Jon Cor

Synopsis: A photographer returns home to take care of her grandmother and gets involved with helping a neighbor look after his young nephew.

Review: While this movie has all the standard clichés; girl returning to small home town, single father, cute boy, grandmother with injury, and so on, it does it in what feels like a unique to this movie way.  I also wasn’t sure how it would end.  I thought the two might end up together, but how.  I loved that.  I was sure it would be a happy ending but I wasn’t sure what it would look like.  There was real emotion and it kept my interest the whole time.

Scoring: 4.5

The Picture of Christmas (2022)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Chelsea Hobbs and Giles Panton

Synopsis: Ember Morley, a graphic designer and aspiring storybook illustrator in Manhattan is surprised when she learns she has inherited her Grandmother's Christmas tree farm. She heads back to Willow Hill in order to sell it.  When forced to work with Brandon Hart, the farm's handsome caretaker, on the Christmas festival, Ember is reminded of the things she once wanted in life.

Review: Like many Christmas romances, the ending is obvious from the beginning.  This movie has so much Christmas, community, kindness, and joy.  It’s full of Christmas spirit.  Of course, the little girl, Emily, pulls all the pieces of this lovely puzzle together.  There’s nothing unexpected but it’s a lovely watch.

Scoring: 3

A Picture Perfect Holiday (2021)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Tatyana Ali, Henderson Wade, and Dina Meyer

Synopsis: Gaby Jones, fashion photographer, takes a holiday retreat against her desire by advice of her friend.  She will find that there’s more behind a photo when she meets wildlife photographer Sean.

Review: Viewing a romance through the lens of photography made for an interesting story. Two opposites stuck together who meet in the middle isn’t as original but it’s handled well. The characters are relatable and the photography doesn’t overwhelm the story. 

Scoring: 3

Picture Perfect Royal Christmas (2020)

Rated: NR

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Roxanne McKee and David Witts

Synopsis: Amanda is the assistant to a famous photographer.  She poses as her boss to photograph the Christmas festivities in the kingdom of Pantrea where she falls for Prince Leopold, who is already engaged in an arranged relationship.

Review: There are many Christmas movies with a commoner falling for a Prince.  This one is not one of the best.  It’s okay but it’s too corny and expected.  The story has too many abrupt stops and starts.  It also resolves the, yes I easily see it coming, problem and provides and easy happy ending.  Skip this one and watch the better royal movies.

Scoring: 2

Pinocchio’s Christmas (1980)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Alan King

Synopsis: Pinocchio tries to raise money for Gepetto’s Christmas present.

Review: I haven’t seen the original Pinocchio in a long time.  This movie goes back to his origin.  It shows him being made, how his nose started growing, and how he got paired up with Jiminy Cricket.  Pinocchio, of course, has adventures and learns that gifts come from the heart, not money.  It’s a sweet movie reminiscent of Rudolph and Frosty.  A good family film.

Scoring: 3

Pixi Saves Christmas (2018)

Rated: NR

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Starring: Kate Bristol

Synopsis: For centuries, the many Christmas Genies of the world have worked together to bring magic and happiness to children. This year, however, former genie Monopolish is determined to become The One and Only Christmas Genie and launches a vicious attack on the secret Genies’ Forum. All hope for the survival of Christmas rests with Pixi Post, a lowly elf, who must use all her wits and skills to thwart his evil plan and save the most magical time of year.

Review: This movie is a cute and original story.  I like the introduction of so many different cultures.  There are parts that children will have questions about like why are they called genies (including Santa), why are multiple of them sitting together at a store when we aren’t supposed to see them, and who all the characters are.  Still, it’s enjoyable.

Scoring: 3