Fix page - Page 5 - Romantic Movies

Plot

Meg and her boyfriend are real estate agents in Los Angeles. However, one day Meg receives news that her father, whom she hasn't had much contact with for many years, has died. She is forced to go home to handle the inheritance. It turns out that her father has stipulated that she must complete a treasure hunt to gain access to her inheritance. Reluctantly, Meg starts searching and soon gets help from her neighbor Tom, who is trying to save his tomato farm.

Short review

A relatively childish story that feels both very contrived and amateurish. They even have a ridiculous tomato-throwing scene at the end, perhaps a self-aware nod to rottentomatoes.com?

The Bounce Back

Plot

Matthew has written a self-help book about getting over old love by forgetting the past and deciding to focus on future love. Kirstin, who is a therapist, is dragged by her friends to one of Matthew's lectures where she harshly criticizes his theories. This is picked up by a TV channel, and soon they find themselves in a TV studio debating each other. Before long, they are on a tour across the USA where they meet in various TV debates. Meanwhile, Matthew has to deal with his ex and their daughter while becoming increasingly captivated by Kirstin.

Short review

This movie is a good romantic film, even though it might get a bit too sugary sweet at the end. I was worried for a long time that it would take the wrong path, but it turns out well.

Summer Love

Plot

Maya has returned to university after becoming a widow. Her daughter is going to summer camp at the same time that Maya is starting her internship. She has got an internship as an accountant at Kizzmit, a hot tech company where she will be working with the CFO, Collin. As a somewhat older student, she has a bit of trouble fitting in with the other interns, and it doesn't get any easier when she soon attracts the attention of the company's hot CEO, Will. Kizzmit also has an internal competition for the best app idea, something Maya isn't interested in, but maybe she actually has a really good idea.

Short review

Overall, a good romantic movie. As usual, they rush the ending a bit. When will they learn that a brief epilogue tying up loose ends can make the whole movie even better?

Smooch

Plot

Prince Percy arrives in San Francisco for an arranged wedding, but before the wedding, he goes out for a pub crawl and gets robbed on his way home. Zoe, who lives with her mother, Gwen, is supposed to dissect a frog at school but decides instead to release the frog in a park. Before letting it go, she kisses the frog, and just as it hops away, Percy wakes up in the bushes. He has lost his memory, and Zoe believes he is a prince. She takes care of him, and soon she has a plan for how Percy, with his British dialect, will introduce himself and become her new nanny, hoping that he and Gwen will find each other.

Short review

The movie doesn’t lack charm entirely, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark. The overly obvious caricatures can sometimes become a bit tiresome.

Runaway Romance

Plot

Ann moved to Los Angeles to work in catering but instead became a reality star in a show that depicts her relationship with the star Scott. However, the ratings are declining, and the production company and Scott want to fix it by having Scott date another girl and move Ann behind the scenes. Ann, who thought Scott would propose, becomes angry and upset and sneaks away to go home to Pennsylvania. On the way there, she crashes into a ditch and ends up stranded in an Amish town. She is taken in at a small B&B and soon meets Hunter, who works in the town. Meanwhile, the production company has realized that the audience wants Ann back and starts looking for her.

Short review

A good romantic movie that might even have been worth a five-star rating if it weren’t for the fact that it leaves too many loose ends. It would have benefited from a proper epilogue. Unfortunately, this is all too common in romantic films.

Romance at the Vineyard

Plot

Aliee is struggling to keep her grandparents' vineyard afloat and to save it from being bought out by the large company Wine Inc., which has purchased all the other farms in the area and turned them into something bland and commercialized. Ethan works for Wine Inc. and is sent to buy the vineyard. When he arrives, he quickly realizes that it's not the right time to reveal where he comes from, so he claims his name is Greg and stays on, hoping to influence them to sell. However, he soon becomes inspired by Aliee's determination and even helps them create a new wine that they hope will save the vineyard. But what will happen when they discover who he really is?

Short review

Another vineyard threatened by the evil empire. The story holds up, and it turns into an average romantic tale.

Recipe for Love

Plot

Lauren is undergoing culinary training in hopes of attending the Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. Now, she has been assigned to ghostwrite a cookbook for celebrity chef Dexter. He has already dismissed several ghostwriters and is not at all keen on having a new one. However, his manager is pressing him because he has already received an advance for the book. Lauren is determined, and through hard work, she manages to reach Dexter, partly due to her cooking skills. She tries to uncover who Dexter really is behind the tough and hard-nosed TV persona he has created.

Short review

A good romantic movie where the conflict between them at the beginning is a bit tougher than usual. It delivers a happy ending as it should.

Mother of the Bride

Plot

Lana's daughter, who has been in London for a few years, returns home and announces that she is engaged and getting married. The daughter works as an influencer, and the wedding is paid for by her sponsors and will be held in Phuket, Thailand. Lana is a bit taken aback but wants her daughter to be happy and supports her decision. However, when they arrive in Thailand, it turns out that the father of her daughter's fiancé is Will, whom Lana dated during college. It quickly becomes awkward since they did not part on the best terms. It doesn't get any better when the sponsors take over the entire wedding planning.

Short review

It's a good and entertaining story, well-made as a romantic film. Brooke Shields as the mother who faces various challenges works well, though she might be a bit neurotic The other actors also performs well. I particularly liked Rachael Harris, who plays Lana's sister in the movie.

It's Christmas, Carol!

Plot

Carol runs the publishing company she manages harshly, and all the employees live in fear. Before Christmas, she is visited by her old, deceased boss who takes her to different scenes in her life—past, present, and future—which show her who she was and how a potential future could be. A classic Scrooge tale. She is given a reason to reflect on her relationship with her mother and her ex-boyfriend, Ben.

Short review

I was very hesitant about this one and for a long time I thought it would devolve into a "women shouldn't be ambitious" movie, but it picks up and actually turns out to be quite good and occasionally funny. It also takes the time to wrap everything up at the end. Carrie Fisher's role as the ghost works, and there's a bonus point for her mentioning Star Wars when she's helping Carol remember a Christmas movie.

Guess Who's Coming to Christmas

Plot

Kelly has moved back home to Illinois again because she is having trouble finding a job and is now living with her parents again. At the same time, Dax's career is in a slump and needs a boost. His manager announces a contest where Dax is supposed to fulfill a wish for his fans. Kelly's brother signs Kelly up for the contest, without her knowing it, with the wish that Dax would visit her and perform at the town's Christmas show. And she wins. Suddenly, Dax shows up and is supposed to stay with the family for a week, something he doesn't really want to do at all.

Short review

Another cheesy movie from UP Faith & Family, where clichés abound and the acting is mediocre.

Falling in Love in Niagara

Plot

Madeline's boyfriend dumps her five weeks before the wedding because she is too structured and rigid. After she has been moping for too long, her sister persuades her that the two of them should go on the planned honeymoon to Niagara Falls instead, since it can't be canceled anyway. In Niagara, Mike works as a guide. Mike hasn't been functioning properly since his girlfriend abandoned him two years ago, and now he is forced by his colleague to take the assignment of guiding Madeline and her sister. It doesn't start well, but over time, Mike challenges Madeline's rigid schedule, and things begin to change.

Short review

An average romantic movie. It works even though it is a bit too easy and doesn't offer much in terms of challenge or depth.

Cupids On Beacon Street

Plot

Eve is a book editor at a publishing house and responsible for a new book by an author couple. One week before the book is set to go to print, the couple comes with a new version they think is better. Now, Eve has a week to edit the new version. She is also persuaded to stay in their house while they go on vacation for Valentine's Day. Additionally, they want her to participate in their nephew Jake's couples workshops that he will be holding in the house. Reluctantly, Eve is drawn into these couple activities, but since she lacks a partner, she is forced to do them with Jake.

Short review

The movie was better than expected. It is made with great sensitivity and Eve's slightly quirky personality is well portrayed by Britt Irvin. The film has a subtle humor that appealed to me, making it a really good romantic movie.

Christmas Song

Plot

Diana and Ken were music teachers at a girls' and boys' school respectively, which have now merged. They each have their own music class, but the merger might lead to cutbacks. Their different teaching styles soon come into conflict, which becomes a problem. The principal wants them to resolve this and also to participate with their own teams in a Christmas song competition organized on TV in order to gain publicity for the school and save the music program. Soon, competition arises between the teams when they realize that the losing teacher risks losing his or hers job.

Short review

A descently good and relatively predictable movie that delivers romance and feel-good moments.

Blind Date Book Club

Plot

Meg left her real estate job behind when she took over her mother's bookstore. Now she runs it with the help of an investment from her aunt. In the bookstore, she hosts a book club where participants receive anonymous books to read called the Blind Date Book Club. A radio station visits and does a feature on the club, and author Graham happens to hear the segment and becomes interested. He has a successful series of books but currently wants to try writing something different. He heads to the book club to see if he can find inspiration. Meanwhile, Meg's aunt contacts her and informs her that she needs her investment back.

Short review

A good film in honor of books. A well-functioning interplay between Erik Krakow and Robert Buckley, along with a lot of feel-good moments and books, makes the movie worth watching.

3 Holiday Tails

Plot

Lisa moves into her new apartment with her three puppies. Above her lives a retired couple who have a dog named Jack, and they quickly become acquainted. One day, while Lisa is out walking Jack and her puppies, the dogs break free and interrupt a proposal on the beach. It turns out that it is David, Lisa's childhood friend and ex-boyfriend, who is proposing to his new girlfriend. Lisa is completely taken aback; she had convinced herself that she was over David, but it is clear that this affects her more than she is willing to admit. The couple upstairs, who know both her and David, also get involved in the situation.

Short review

Yet another film based on the dubious concept of rekindling an old relationship. Why did they break up in the first place? As a romantic film, it works, but it is quite average.

12 Pups of Christmas

Plot

Erin is about to get married, but on the way to the wedding, it turns out that he has cheated on her with her best friend. Angry and heartbroken, Erin heads to her new job in Silicon Valley. She has been recruited as a canine therapist for a start-up company that manufactures dog collars with trackers. The company's CEO, Martin, is struggling to make the business idea work. He also has difficulty with dogs, and the company now has 12 puppies that need to be given away. However, Erin stands firm, forces him to participate in giving away the puppies, and also provides him with ideas to save the company.

Short review

This film has its quality flaws, but it makes up for them through the tough Erin, who truly knows her worth. One can overlook the flaws largely because of this, and it also has its funny moments.

Shifting Gears

Plot

Jess is a mechanic and restores old cars in her father's workshop. The workshop is now threatened with being bought out by their competitor, a former friend of her father who once refused a partnership and forced her father to start his own business instead. At that time, she was dating Luke, the son of her father's friend, but she broke off the relationship when Luke didn't take her side in the feud. Amid all this, Jess is contacted by the host of a motor show who wants her to participate in a competition for car restoration. Suddenly, she is confronted by Luke, who also enters the competition at the last minute.

Short review

In the midst of the climate crisis, people are praising the old gas-guzzling cars; it feels a bit stale. Tyler Hynes (who plays Luke) is 'cool' as usual and it works in other movies but not this one.

The Marry Me Pact

Plot

Charlotte and Rory are best friends. When Rory turns 29, Charlotte encourages him to go traveling, which he does. A year passes, and for various reasons, Charlotte ends up visiting a fortune teller who predicts that her true love is the one with whom she made a pact to marry if they are both unmarried at 30, which is Rory. Charlotte begins to think of him in a new light, but then he returns from his travels with a new girlfriend, and they are going to get married. Furthermore, Rory wants her to be his best man.

Short review

The film works and delivers. Not exactly above average, but it becomes a decent romantic story.

Irish Wish

Plot

Maddie is in love with the author whose book she has edited. But her friend sweeps in and charms him, and suddenly Maddie finds herself in Ireland to attend their wedding. During an outing, Maddie discovers a stone bench and is persuaded by a woman to sit there and make a wish. She does so and wishes that she were the one getting married instead. The next morning, she wakes up in a reality where she is the one who is about to get married. But is that really what she wants, and what about the photographer she met on her way there?

Short review

A good romantic film with an extra bonus for being set in Ireland, but it doesn't quite rise above average. Maybe it's the fairy tale theme.

Christmas at Dollywood

Plot

As a single mother, Rachel works hard in event planning. When an event is canceled, she gets a break before Christmas and takes her daughter to visit her parents in Tennessee. Suddenly, an opportunity arises for her to manage an event at Dollywood. However, she has to work with Luke, who wants to become the manager of Dollywood. They have slightly different approaches to how everything should be organized, but Rachel soon draws Luke into her constantly emerging ideas.

Short review

A relatively average story that is good but doesn't really stand out except for the fact that Dolly Parton is in it as herself.

Angels and Ornaments

Plot

Corrine works in a music store owned by her old friend Dave. She has recently been dumped by her boyfriend Tim but is trying to focus on celebrating Christmas instead. For the holiday season, Dave hires another employee, Harold. Without their knowledge, Harold has a deadline from above to spark something between Corrine and Dave before Christmas. However, he has to battle against the "friend zone" that exists between them and suddenly against Tim, who reappears.

Short review

A well-crafted story with angels and everything. It's good and filled with feel-good moments and sucessful endings.

A Taste of Love

Plot

Taylor has a cooking show where she just finished the latest series. Now she has the chance to move to prime time, but still within the limited concept where she cannot use her own recipes. During the break after the series, she takes the opportunity to visit her parents. Once there, she realizes that they are about to sell the restaurant where she grew up. At the same time, she meets her old childhood friend, Jacob. As a last effort, Taylor enters the restaurant into a cooking competition in an attempt to rekindle her father's passion and save the restaurant.

Short review

A typical romantic film following a familiar concept. It works as it should.

A Snow Globe Christmas

Plot

Meg works as a TV producer and drives her team hard as Christmas approaches. In an attempt to break the snow globe she has been carrying around, she accidentally knocks herself out. When she wakes up, she finds herself in a different reality where she is not a TV producer at all, but instead married to a childhood friend and has two children. She initially believes it is all a joke, but everything starts to feel increasingly real. She finds herself re-evaluating her life in this alternate reality. But what will happen if she wakes up in her old reality again?

Short review

Perhaps not one of the absolute highlights, but I was charmed partly by her stubborn conviction that the whole thing was a joke and by how they put the ending together. Worth watching.

A Royal Makeover

Plot

Angelica works at a museum and is somewhat of a specialist in the Kingdom of San Paolo in Europe. One day, she is contacted by the king of the kingdom. According to tradition, he will soon retire, and since he has no children, they have found a distant relative who is next in line to take over the throne, Ramone. However, he is a hopeless slob who only thinks about baseball. Now, Angelica is given the task of training him for the role, teaching him the history of San Paolo, etiquette, and Spanish.

Short review

Unknown kingdoms in Europe (how many are there) and it rarely turns out well. This movie ends up being a poor pastiche and feels altogether ridiculous. It is about as infantile as the poster suggests.

The Boxer And The Butterfly

Plot

Rowan is completely stunned when her dance partner, also her boyfriend, dumps her right before an important competition, claiming she's not good enough. Nevertheless, she continues to train while searching for a new dance partner, and one day she receives unexpected advice from a passing runner, Walt. Unable to find a dance partner, she turns to Walt, who used to be a boxer, and tries to persuade him to step in even though he has never danced before. Reluctantly, he agrees because the prize money could save his training gym.

Short review

This was unexpectedly good. Not a cinematic highlight, but as a romantic movie, it holds up and is somewhat elevated by Walt's slightly naive, but funny, boxer attitude.

The Big Sick

Plot

Kumail is trying to make it as a stand-up comedian. One day, he meets Emily in the audience and they spend a night together, agreeing not to make anything of it. However, they can't help but see each other again and again. This is somewhat problematic because Kumail's mother keeps trying to set him up with various Pakistani girls. Suddenly, Emily falls ill and ends up in a coma. Kumail spends time at the hospital with Emily's parents while hiding it from his own parents. Eventually, he can't keep it up any longer.

Short review

A good romantic movie about cultural differences portrayed in a good way. The stand-up comedy might not measure up, but the movie does.

Jersey Girl (1992)

Plot

Toby lives in Jersey and has a dream of finding a rich guy who can take her away from there. One day, while she’s out scouting, she accidentally bumps into Sal in his new Mercedes. However, she seizes the opportunity to keep in touch with him despite the social chasm that separates them. Her persistence slowly makes Sal take notice of her, but the distance between Manhattan and Jersey is significant, and Toby's friends pull her in one direction while Sal's circle of acquaintances and girlfriend pull him in the other. But still…

Short review

The film may not have entirely stood the test of time. It's not completely worthless, but it doesn't quite measure up to today's standards.

Cake

Plot

Pippa leads a carefree and unattached life as a travel reporter. However, when her father falls ill, she returns home to help with his business. She takes over as editor-in-chief of a wedding magazine, the last thing she would ever choose from a newsstand. Things get off to a shaky start, complicated by her being charmed by the photographer Hemingway and having to work with her father's right-hand man, Ian. But what is really going on with her father's business? What is he hiding, and what is Ian up to?

Short review

The film isn't entirely without merit and is fairly good. It might just be a notch above the rather childish films of this genre from the 80s, but it still has a bit more to offer.

A Royal Christmas

Plot

Emily jobbar som sömmerska och designer och har en stadig pojkvän sedan några år, Leo. De planerar att fira jul med Emilys familj men Leo kallas hem över jul. Det visar sig nämligen att han är prins, något han inte vågat tala om för Emily. Den lite chockade Emily övertalas dock att följa med Leo och träffa hans mor, drottningen. Det visar sig dock vara en utmaing då drottningen är inställd på att Leo ska gifta sig med en hertiginna. Emily får en tuff tid trots att Leo kämpar mot sin mor.

Short review

The movie might work as a fairy tale and would probably have received a four if it weren't for the fact that it actually falls outside my definition of a romantic film since they are already together when the movie begins.

Steal Your Heart

Plot

Melissa works with her sister in their shop after giving up on the idea of becoming a jeweler. Her sister is soon to be married, and Melissa has made new earrings to complement the necklace that everyone in the family has worn when they got married. However, by mistake, these end up in a bag belonging to the CEO of a jewelry company. She refuses to return them unless Melissa helps Jake, who is a designer at the company, to develop a new wedding series to be launched. Jake lacks the inspiration needed to succeed. Reluctantly, they are now forced to work together so that Melissa can get the jewelry back and Jake can get his promotion.

Short review

A typical romantic movie that delivers what it should and doesn't leave any lasting impressions.

Like Cats & Dogs

Plot

Lara has decided to take a break from her parents' company and has rented a house to which she travels with her dog. Spencer has also rented a house so that, together with his cat, he can devote time to his dissertation that he is writing. When they arrive, it turns out they have been double-booked in the same house. As they try to solve the problem, they soon realize that they are forced, at least for a short time, to live in the house together. Something that isn't so easy since they are very different, and their pets are like cats and dogs, for real. However, as time goes on, many of their attitudes change.

Short review

Seen it before in another outfit but it holds up like a romantic feel-good.

Upgraded

Plot

Ana is a simple assistant at an auction firm dealing in art. After identifying a mistake in the catalog before an auction and saving the deal, she gets to accompany her boss to a very important auction in London. Upon witnessing how badly she is treated by her colleagues during check-in, they upgrade her to first class. On the flight, she ends up sitting next to William, unaware that he is the son of the client who is selling her art collection at the auction. Due to a misunderstanding, they believe she holds her boss's position, and the whole situation develops into something very complicated.

Short review

A very good movie that is about more than just romance. Ana is an underdog who is mistreated but through fortunate circumstances and determination, she manages to turn it around, but not quite as one might expect. The film is well-made with a little humor and romance without being a classic romcom.

Romance With A Twist

Plot

Luna has put her dancing shoes on the shelf and is now working at the family's construction company. They have been tasked with preparing a space for aerial silk acrobatics. The city is hosting a festival, and one of the main attractions will be Olympian Bennet and his partner. However, when he arrives, it turns out his partner has been assigned another job. He wants to do it solo, but his sister insists he should perform with a local talent. No one passes the auditions until Luna has an impuls as a former dancer and tries. Reluctantly, Bennet starts training Luna to 'dance' in the silk strips.

Short review

The movie holds up as a romantic story and is decently good. The gymnastic exercises are somewhat limited but still.

Paging Mr. Darcy

Plot

Eloise is a doctor specializing in Jane Austen. She is hired as the keynote speaker at the Jane Austen League of America's conference. Even though she knows everything about Jane Austen, she is not much for dressing up and enacting but focuses on getting there and speaking as it could give her a chance to get a position at Princeton. At the conference she gets Sam, in full Darcy attire, as a liaison. When she realizes he is the nephew of the person who can decide if she gets the job and that he wants help keeping one of her competitors away from his aunt, they make a pact to help each other.

Short review

This is one of the better ones. It is entertaining and well-made, and offers a bit of extra romance on the side.

Which Brings Me to You

Plot

Jane and Will meet at a wedding and are nearly about to have sex in the closet but they back off. However, it leads to them starting to talk. They spend the following days talking to each other, sharing about all their past relationships, their feelings, and memories while they drive around. It's an emotional rollercoaster, but they find it hard to tear themselves away from each other.

Short review

A bit of a romantic "road movie" that is turning out well. Their openness about their failed relationships leads to an unexpected friendship and perhaps romance. It makes for a captivating film.

The Love Issue

Plot

Darcey suddenly receives the assignment to design the magazines cover for the 15th anniversary issue from her boss and former boyfriend. She feels happy but also surprised, as there's naturally some tension between them, but also because he usually never relinquishes control over the front page. She starts with the task, and the first thing she needs is a good and experienced photographer. Through a contact, she gets hold of Nate, who has returned to the industry after a year's absence. He is hesitant about the assignment but allows himself to be persuaded. Now Darcey and Nate must agree on a layout for the cover.

Short review

It's a decent romantic movie, but it doesn't quite hit the mark. It feels a bit sloppy. Why is she attending the company's anniversary party when she's just quit? What actually happens to her ex, who is also her boss, at the end of the movie?

You've Got Mail

Plot

Kathleen continues to run her mother's bookstore, which she inherited. Now a large bookstore chain is moving into the neighborhood, and she ends up in conflict with the chain's representative Joe, the owner's son. Both of them are in relationships that are somewhat stagnant. They start corresponding anonymously via email, without knowing who the other person is. Their online connection over internet blossoms, but in the meantime, Joe's new large bookstore drives Kathleen's bookstore out of business.

Short review

One of the classics of romantic films. It is good and should be watched. The reasons it doesn't receive the highest rating are that it's not entirely believable that Kathleen (Meg Ryan) forgives Joe (Tom Hanks) for both driving her bookstore out of business and hiding his identity from her online.

Love's Fast Lane

Plot

Nikki 'Sparks' Turner is a mechanic. One day she walks past a TV star who is having car trouble and offers her help, but the star doesn't believe a girl can assist him. Despite that, she manages to get the car running, and it's filmed by the star's fans. Soon the video goes viral, and 'Sparks' becomes famous. Jeremy, who was the TV star's agent, lost his job because of the video and needs a new candidate to propose as the host for the USA's biggest car show. He seeks out 'Sparks' and convinces her to try for the job as the first female host of the show and a role model for girls who want to work on cars.

Short review

It is noticeable that it is a slightly cheaper production, and although the message of the film (that girls can) is well-intentioned, it doesn't quite ring true.

Five Blind Dates

Plot

Lia runs a tea shop with the help of her grandmother's inheritance. She struggles to attract customers and business is slow, something she'd rather conceal from her parents. Now, her sister is getting married, and as part of the wedding preparations, they follow a Chinese tradition of bringing in a fortune teller to read the bride's future. It turns out, the fortune teller also reads Lia's future and predicts that before the wedding, she will have five dates, and one of them will be the right one. Her family soon gets involved in setting up dates for her. Meanwhile, there's also Richard, whom Lia once hoped would join her when she started her shop but didn't, something that now makes her resent him.

Short review

A slightly unusual environment with a Chinese community in Australia. The film maintains a typical standard for a romantic movie and mostly revolves around Lia's concerns.

Anyone But You

Plot

Bea and Ben meet at a café, leading to a fantastic first date. However, shortly afterward, they misunderstand each other, leading to anger and disappointment. Two years later, they suddenly reunite when Bea's sister is marrying the sister of Ben's friend. The wedding is a destination wedding to be held in Sydney, Australia. Now, Bea and Ben are forced to spend a whole week together with both brides' families. It also turns out that Ben's ex is there too. Things are further complicated by Bea's parents bringing Bea's ex-boyfriend and pressuring them to get back together. Bea and Ben's animosity also becomes a problem for the entire group.

Short review

I think this movie occasionally has some "humor" that's borderline, but despite that, it holds up pretty well as a romantic film. I was a bit surprised by the deep necklines, small bikinis, and some nudity (not entirely, but almost, and mostly it's guys).

Food for the Heart

Plot

Lia has a food delivery company, The Loving Spoonful, which she runs with the support of a friend who helps her alongside her studies. The company is barely getting by, partly because Lia insists on doing everything herself and doesn't want to grow and bring in more help. Now she gets a new neighbor when Eli and his niece move in. The niece is going to summer camp and they need a food provider. Eli then thinks of his new neighbor and tries to get her to take on the task. It could save her company but also mean more work than she has the capacity for. However, Eli and Lia's friend persuade her to take on the challenge.

Short review

This story holds up like a light romantic movie. It delivers what it should without standing out from the crowd.

Betty's Bad Luck in Love

Plot

When Betty was in school, a classmate placed a curse on her that she would suffer constant misfortune in love. Now she is an adult and works as a risk analyst, and in all the relationships she has had, she has experienced misfortune and ended them before anything really serious happens. Upstairs in her apartment, photographer Alex moves in. He soon becomes fond of Betty, but she tries to keep her distance because she doesn't want anything terrible to happen to him. But at the same time, she also likes him. Can she somehow break the curse, and is there really any curse at all?

Short review

As a romantic story, it holds up even though Betty's anxiety sometimes becomes a bit too much. It serves as an average romantic movie.

The Proposal Spot

Plot

Trina runs a café known as the perfect place to declare love and propose. It has even become one of the café's main features. Now, she learns that her landlord plans to sell the property, putting her business at risk. Meanwhile, comedian Pete hastily attempts to, at the spur of the moment, propose to his girlfriend at the café, and uncharacteristically that fails. Desperate to win his girlfriend, who is a famous influencer, back he wants to engage Trina to help him. In exchange for this he offer his assistance in raising money for Trina to save her café by doing a fundraiser.

Short review

The movie holds up as an average romantic film if one can overlook the slightly silly elements of improvisation theater.

The Secret Gift Of Christmas

Plot

Bonnie works as a personal shopper and has a talent for finding personalized gifts for her clients that really mean something to the recipients. Now she is getting a new assignment for Patrick, whose assistant and nephew have found Bonnie and her services on social media. Patrick is a bit skeptical of Bonnie's ideas, but she tackles the task with her usual energy. After the initial purchases, Patrick realizes that her ideas might not be as bad as he thought, and he and his daughter get drawn into more of Bonnie's Christmas enthusiasm.

Short review

A good romantic Christmas movie. Perhaps it is most elevated by Bonnie's red clothes; I wish I had counted how many different red coats she wore throughout the movie. Despite Christopher Russell's somewhat stiff acting, the film holds up.

It Only Takes a Night

Plot

When Ruby thinks her boyfriend is about to propose, he instead breaks up with her. She withdraws into a shell of self-pity, but after three weeks, her three friends take her out for a night out in an attempt to help her move on. It turns into a night full of partying where they encounter Ruby's ex with a new girl, as well as other new acquaintances, including the Australian Andy, who works as a bartender. A lot happens in the lives of all four girls on this night, and Ruby gets the chance to process what has happened and maybe even find something better.

Short review

Recommended. A well-made (British) film with humor and a strong cast of characters. I don't want to say more to avoid spoiling the plot, but it includes both a good 'get back', side romances, and excellent acting performances. A movie that will make you happy.

Laughing All the Way

Plot

Aubri works as an assistant and ghostwriter for the comedian Bella. She actually wants to perform herself but is far too shy. Now she has taken on the task of organizing a Christmas variety show at the club owned by Bella. She needs a headline act to draw an audience. Suddenly, the club is visited by Mike, who once made a breakthrough there. He is waiting for news about a film role he wants, but when he meets Aubri, he offers to perform where he once started. They begin working on the event, and Mike encourages Aubri to assert herself and also step forward as an artist.

Short review

No, it's not good. Despite being all about stand-up comedy, they don't deliver a single funny joke throughout the entire movie. Sad.

The PA and the Manhattan Prince

Plot

Lucy works as a personal assistant and has just finished with a very demanding client. Now she gets a new assignment, and the new client turns out to be Prince Rupert, who is in the USA to organize a ball where he is also expected to declare which princess he intends to marry. Lucy becomes involved in the arrangements, but soon also in the interviews of the prospective princesses.

Short review

These prince stories have difficulty turning out well, and this one doesn't succeed. It doesn't even work as a fairy tale. That partly has to do with the strange perception surrounding all these unknown kingdoms with medieval traditions and partly with unconvincing acting performances.

A Royal Recipe For Love

Plot

Emma runs a bakery in New York. She is such a good baker that the princess of Sanovia wants to hire her to make the desserts for the royal couple's anniversary dinner. She is persuaded by her friend and colleague to go. Once there, she learns that the main courses will be made by the younger prince in the family, Oliver, who loves cooking and wants to become a chef. Now Emma is forced to collaborate with him, something that proves to be not entirely easy as their styles in the kitchen are very different. However, they are forced to learn from each other while the big anniversary approaches.

Short review

Another prince in an unknown country in Europe. This time, at least, he is not next in line to become king. The movie holds up as a romantic film even though it has the shortcomings that come with all films set in unknown kingdoms.

Holiday in the Vineyards

Plot

Carter is living a carefree playboy life, but his mother, who runs a large wine company, wants him to straighten up. She sends him off to secure a deal where they intend to purchase the last vineyard they don't own in the valley where the company started. He is supposed to find out how the sale of the estate is progressing so that their company can step in and clinch the deal at the last minute. There, he meets Valentina, who is the real estate agent handling the sale. She gets the impression that he is a carpenter and hires him to fix her guest cottage in exchange for him staying there for a week. While Carter is living there, he gets to know the valley and realizes that acquiring the estate would destroy the local wine culture that the entire town is invested in. And disappoint Valentina who really wants to save the vineyard for the locals.

Short review

A entertaining and well-crafted story that belongs to the better ones. The plot itself we have seen in other movies (even one with Josh Swickard in the lead role, A California Christmas), here they have managed to create a balance of romance, feel-good, and a touch of humor that works.

Sealed with a List

Plot

Inspired by her best friend, Carley makes a list of New Year's resolutions. Nearly a year later, she still hasn't fulfilled any of them. After all, she's still working at the same job with the hopeless son of the CEO, Wyatt, as her boss. When she realizes she's soon going to meet her friend (who has been in Italy), she wants to tackle all the promises. The first one she fulfills is quitting her job, or rather ensuring she gets fired for something Wyatt caused. When Wyatt visits her to find out why, he soon gets involved in helping Carley fulfill her resolutions in exchange for Carley helping him get his life together.

Short review

The movie becomes a good romantic film largely thanks to a great performance by Katie Findlay as Carley. Wyatt's transformation from slacker to decent guy is a bit extreme, but they at least give it some background.

The Christmas Classic

Plot

Elizabeth travels to her old hometown to buy the city's ski resort on behalf of her future father-in-law. However, the owner of the resort, Randy, is unwilling to sell and also turns out to be an old schoolmate. Without a quick deal, Elizabeth is forced to stay and consequently meet her sister and their parents. Her sister is completely focused on winning The Christmas Classic for the tenth year in a row, but Elizabeth becomes determined to finally beat her sister and soon she has won Randy over to her side.

Short review

A rather cheap production with quite a few cheap points. It's not entirely worthless but struggles to reach average.

The Jinglebell Jubilee

Plot

Teacher Hope keeps her grandmother's tradition of "ReGiftmas" alive in her school. Her old schoolmate Nate moves back to town with his son to take on the job as city manager, and his first task is to organize the city's Christmas celebration. The planning is unfinished, and there are only a few weeks left until Christmas. When Nate meets Hope in his sons new school, he soon sees that her "ReGiftmas" could be what brings engagement to the Christmas celebration and gets her involved to help. At the same time, Hope gets the idea to set Nate up with her colleague who is looking for love.

Short review

The movie is a typically average romantic film. When one sees all these fundraisers for the poor in these films, one can reflect on the absence of a social safety net in the USA, the large number of needy individuals, and whether some Christmas presents will improve their situation.

Rescuing Christmas

Plot

Two of Santa's elves get the idea to grant a person 3 wishes before Christmas in an effort to increase belief in Santa. By chance, the choice falls on Erin, who really struggles with Christmas, especially after her boyfriend broke up with her last Christmas. To avoid being too obvious, Erin is tricked into believing that the wishes are promoted by a radio channel. Erin is overwhelmed by the Christmas stress, so for her third wish, she wishes that Christmas didn't exist. The next day, she wakes up and discovers that no one knows about Christmas. In a panic, she tries to take back her wish and eventually gets help from Sam in the fight to reintroduce Christmas.

Short review

The movie certainly sounds corny and could easily have fallen flat. But it's well-executed and somewhat funny and Rachel Leigh Cook as Erin also elevates it. It's worth watching.

My Christmas Hero

Plot

Nicole works as a doctor at a military hospital. There, she gets Daniel as a patient after he had a knee incident during training. Daniel wants to ask Nicole out, but she doesn't date her patients. He persuades her nonetheless to have a coffee. They start seeing each other more often as Daniel is involved in the same charity as Nicole's mother. Later, when Nicole wants to find out what really happened to her grandfather who died in World War II, she also gets help from Daniel, who can use his contacts to research the archives and maybe find someone who knows what happened.

Short review

This time, the American glorification of the military gets a bit excessive, and even though there's a lot of feel-good sentiment, it leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Miracle in Bethlehem, PA.

Plot

Mary Ann suddenly receives news that she is finally getting an adopted child. She heads to Bethlehem to pick up the long-awaited child. After collecting her new daughter, she gets caught in a snowstorm and is forced to stay in Bethlehem. All hotels are full, so she ends up staying with Joe, who is the brother of one of the inn owners. Joe quickly has to accommodates Mary Ann and the child. The storm and the bad road conditions persist, prolonging their stay for several days. During this time, Mary Ann learns to appreciate the city and perhaps also Joe.

Short review

One easily becomes weary of all the religious references and uncritical belief that everything depends on the intervention of a higher power. It also becomes somewhat incomprehensible what a successful and beautiful lawyer like Mary Ann finds in the slightly shady Joe.

Love on Your Doorstep

Plot

Maisie works hard as a TV host and hopes to land bigger assignments. She lives entirely for her job, which is fortunate because so does her boyfriend. Now, she is pitching herself for the opportunity to do a deeper report, but her producer gives her an assignment she didn't expect. She's tasked with making a report about the flower company that promises same-day delivery. The company is led by Wren and his father. However, Wren is unwilling to cooperate, and it takes all of Maisie's persuasion skills to get the report done.

Short review

A 'run of the mill' romantic movie that doesn't stand out in any direction.

One Perfect Match

Plot

Lucy runs a match-making company but is single herself. One day, while out to meet her sister and her soon-to-be-married boyfriend, she meets Finn waiting at the bar. She is immediately attracted to him, but her sister interrupts their interaction. The next day, she is supposed to meet a new client to find him a suitable date, and it turns out to be Finn from the day before. Lucy, who strictly adheres to the rule of not dating her clients, now finds herself in the difficult situation of trying to remain professional while secretly hoping Finn won't find anyone, as she really likes him herself.

Short review

A relatively common romantic movie that holds up as such, but one may wonder why Lucy thinks it's unprofessional to acknowledge her feelings. (Although, of course, it wouldn't have become a movie then.)

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe

Plot

Eva and Jeff work as real estate agents at the same firm where they compete for the award of the year's best agent. When a couple shows up wanting to sell their house, both of them try to secure the listing. It ends with the sellers wanting them both to work together to sell the house before Christmas. Eva because she is quick to sell, and Jeff because he has experience selling larger houses. Suddenly, they have to collaborate instead of compete, which proves to be challenging. But the longer they work together, the more they learn to appreciate each other's strengths.

Short review

A rather blend story that doesn't impress much. As so often, lacking a little epilogue.

Rediscovering Christmas

Plot

Mia designs window displays and is busy before Christmas as she hopes to win a competition that could lead to a promotion. But she is persuaded by her father to go home for the weekend before Christmas. At home, she soon gets involved in organizing the town's Christmas dance, which is threatened after the venue where it was supposed to be held is damaged by fire. She tries to convince the somewhat reluctant Adam not to give up but to relocate the dance to another venue. However, her commitment causes Mia to stay longer than intended, and she is needed at home if she is to win the competition.

Short review

No, I don't buy into this. It just doesn't feel genuine, simply put (if one can even talk about genuine in these contexts).

Magic Carpet Rides

Plot

Callie sustains herself as an influencer and lives a lot of her life online, with much of it revolving around her various failed dates. One evening, outside a club where she had been with her friends, she gets into a conflict with Leo. It becomes an awkward walk home as they're heading in the same direction. They are polar opposites; Leo lives on a boat and doesn't even own a phone. However, a few days later, they happen to run into each other again, and despite their diametrically opposed personalities, a friendship slowly develops where they challenge each other's quirks and find reasons to question their ways.

Short review

A remarkably good romantic movie where their differences become an eye-opener for both of them (perhaps primarily for Callie at first, but later equally for Leo). I think it's well-balanced, and the cast of characters is a bit different but not overly exaggerated. Quietly entertaining yet still a bit deeper.

Santa, Maybe

Plot

Lila works as the theaters manager. Ahead of Christmas, the board is worried as sales have been a bit lower than last year. They bring in Glenn to bolster the marketing efforts. Glenn starts by recruiting a star for the theater's Christmas production of the ballet "The Nutcracker." This turns things upside down. But that's not the worst part; Glenn was also the bully in school who made life miserable for Lila. Now she's forced to work with him, and despite it being many years ago, she vividly remembers their school days. Glenn tries to convince her that he's sorry for what he did, but struggles to get through to her.

Short review

It works well as a romantic film. Lila doesn't get over her bad memories from school too easily, which makes the movie a bit better.

A Season for Family

Plot

Maddy and her adopted son, Wesley, are heading home to her parents for Christmas. There, she meets Paul, who runs a ski rental business. Paul is a single father to Cody, who soon becomes friends with Wesley. Meanwhile, it is revealed that Cody is also an adopted child and, in fact, the brother of Wesley. However, this poses a dilemma for Paul, as he has never told Cody about his adoption and had promised his late wife not to disclose it until Cody is older. Maddy tries to handle the situation with respect for Paul, even though Wesley is aware of having an unknown brother and has wished to meet him for Christmas.

Short review

The film is well-made with a lot of feel-good moments. Even though the outcome is predictable (and in which romantic film isn’t it?), they manage to capture Paul’s stubbornness and inner struggle in a good way, even if his stubbornness can be a bit irritating, and Maddy's challenge is also portrayed well. Paul’s sister and his best friend are also a nice addition to the film.

Catch Me If You Claus

Plot

Avery has long wished to become an anchor in the news broadcasts. When the regular presenter loses her voice, she gets the opportunity to host the morning news on Christmas Day. However, the night before, she is awakened by sounds in the living room and surprises an intruder whom she overpowers. The intruder identifies himself as Chris, Santa Claus, which Avery finds hard to believe, especially as there is a series of break-ins by someone dressed as Santa happening in the neighbourhood. However, they soon find themselves drawn into the events surrounding the real burglar, and it becomes an interesting night.

Short review

Actually, there's nothing inherently wrong with the performances and the atmosphere, but the storyline itself feels weak and doesn't hold up.

Blessings of Christmas

Plot

Mandy is quitting as the host of a popular cooking show on TV to embark on her next project: visiting all the three-star Michelin restaurants around the world. Before setting out on her journey, however, she goes to sell a property she inherited from her aunt. Adam, who owns the adjacent property, is interested in buying it. During the sale, a person called Otto unexpectedly appears and reminds them of the charity events Mandy's aunt organized every Christmas. Mandy convinces Adam to host one final Christmas on the premises before the sale. Soon, Adam becomes involved in the charity work, with the somewhat mysterious Otto also lending a helping hand.

Short review

This movie holds up as a average romantic movie. Otto is a humorous spice in the story, and his role is gradually explained (has something to do with the title). However, the side romance could have been made clearer.

The Santa Summit

Plot

Jordin gets the idea that she and her two friends should participate in a Santa Claus event. After some persuasion, they agree to join. The first thing that happens when they arrive is that Jordin encounters another Santa, Liam, and immediately sparks a romantic connection. However, they lose track of each other, and since both were in disguise, it's not easy to find each other again. We follow how Jordin and Liam search for each other during the various events in the evening. Meanwhile, some romance unfolds for her two friends as well.

Short review

The concept of a Santa Claus-themed event where everyone is supposed to dress up as Santas feels a bit forced. The movie is reasonably decent, but it never really becomes truly good.

A Prince And Pauper Christmas

Plot

Sydney is set to babysit Patrick, a thief whom the police are using in an operation to expose and apprehend a larger criminal. They are both staying at the same hotel, where Prince Alexander and his entourage also check in during a visit to America. Coincidentally, Patrick and Alexander look exactly alike. Soon, Patrick escapes from his police escort, and Sydney mistakenly takes Alexander for Patrick. However, Alexander is immediately enthusiastic and willingly pretends to be Patrick to ensure the success of the operation. At the same time, Patrick is mistaken for Alexander and gets the opportunity to live like a prince.

Short review

This is an attempt to blend a prince story (with a prince from another unknown country in Europe) with a crime story. It could have worked, but not this time, once again mostly due to strange perceptions about royalty.

A Heidelberg Holiday

Plot

Heidi is a glass artist and has long had a dream of having a booth at the Christmas market in Heidelberg, where her grandmother comes from. Suddenly, an opportunity arises, and she quickly packs her thingss and travels to Europe. There, her grandmother has arranged accommodation with acquaintances, the Opperman family. She soon receives help from their son , Lukas, who has taken over the family's furniture craftsmanship business. He also nurtures a dream of developing his artistic aspirations in wood carving.

Short review

A decent romantic movie that doesn't stand out in any particular way. A plus is that there is actually quite a bit of German spoken. Otherwise, it mostly feels like a comparison between Christmas celebrations in the USA and a romanticized depiction of Christmas in Germany.

Christmas at the Chalet

Plot

Lex's son wants her to come to Aspen for Christmas. He is there with Lex's ex-husband and his new girlfriend. Lex hesitates, but faced with the prospect of celebrating Christmas alone, she decides to go anyway. When she tries to check in at the hotel, her reservation is missing, and there are no available rooms. Upon hearing that there is a room for a chalet girl, she offers to step in and work at the hotel. After some hesitation, the hotel owner, Eric, accepts her help. Lex tackles the task with great energy, even though it means confronting her ex-husband and his much younger girlfriend.

Short review

A reasonably good romantic movie where the main characters, for once, are a bit older (55+).

Christmas at Graceland: Home for the Holidays

Plot

Harper returns to Memphis after working in Europe for three years. She is back to visit her sister and her family, but also to interview for a job at an art museum at their branch in London. While waiting for news about the job, she accepts a request to step in as a nanny for a single father, Owen, and his three children. She also gets involved in an exhibition at her former workplace, the Elvis Presley Museum in Graceland. Harper comes in and nudges against Owen's well-established routines, causing him to reassess certain aspects of his life.

Short review

A routinely good romantic movie. Perhaps one could have done without Priscilla Presley's cameo. Her immobile, plastic-surgeried face hardly suits anything other than still images.

A Christmas Vintage

Plot

Samantha's sister is secretly dating the co-owner of the family's largest competing wine producer. The other co-owner is his stepbrother, Parker, and they have signed a contract agreeing not to jeopardize the company, something Parker feels he is doing by dating Samantha's sister. Now, the sister has come up with the idea of calling Samantha back home, who otherwise works as a flight attendant, to convince her to date Parker and change his mind.

Short review

The movie doesn't quite work as the personality change in Parker feels a bit too abrupt. Samantha also seems a bit overly glossy.

A Not So Royal Christmas

Plot

Charlotte, who is actually interested in history, works as a reporter for a gossip magazine. In an attempt to get a salary increase, she takes on a task to try to secure an interview with the very secretive Count of Sorhagen in the country of Nordin. During her first visit to the castle, she meets Adam, who works, among other things, as a gardener and she believes he is the very secretive count. In reality, the count abdicated many years ago, and the monarch of Nordin wants to keep it a secret. Adam is persuaded to play the role of the count in an interview with Charlotte. Soon after, the whole situation quickly spirals out of control.

Short review

Among all the stories about royalty in unknown countries in Europe (where everyone speaks English), this one doesn't hold up very well. The theme is classic, overturning old rigid traditions, but it is so Americanly executed that you never fully buy into the story itself.

Puppy Love (2012)

Plot

Ben, a baseball pro aiming for the major league, is away to play. While he's gone, his dog, Jake, escapes. At the same time, Megan has moved to the town with her daughter. The daughter is sad because she misses their old home. To cheer her up, after much hesitation, Megan decides to get a dog. They go to a shelter for rescued dogs where the daughter immediately takes a liking to Jake, who ended up there. Chaos ensues at Megan's home as Jake is very mischievous. To make matters worse, Ben shows up and wants his dog back. They work out a schedule so that the daughter doesn't get too sad again.

Short review

An average romantic movie that holds up as such. However, one can discuss the title since Jake is hardly a puppy.

Under The Christmas Sky

Plot

Astrophysicist Kat's dreams are shattered when, after an accident, she is afflicted with a vision impairment that prevents her from realizing her dream of becoming an astronaut. Persuaded to take a break over Christmas to contemplate her future, she is also convinced to act as a consultant for the local planetarium, which is planning an exhibition for the holidays. There, she encounters David, who works as a curator. They have differing opinions on how the exhibition should take shape but must collaborate. David also has a wheelchair-bound daughter who shares Kat's passion for space.

Short review

A sweet movie about finding new values when life throws you a curveball. It turns out well in a familiar fashion.

The Other Zoey

Plot

Zoey doesn't believe in romance but has a more technical view of relationships. She has even created a dating app based on it. When the school's popular soccer star, Zach, crashes into a car and hits his head, he confuses Zoey for his girlfriend, also named Zoey. He is taken to the hospital where Zach's family is thrilled to finally meet Zach's girlfriend. Zoey is about to tell the truth when she discovers that Zach's cousin ticks all her boxes and, therefore, decides to stay to be close to him. Soon, things spiral out of control for Zoey.

Short review

This movie had all the potential to flop, but they manage to create a pretty good story after all (even though some parts about the concussions are not directly credible). It's largely thanks to Josephine Langford, who plays Zoey, that the film comes together.

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost

Plot

After splitting up from her partner and boyfriend, Elliot, Julie is set to begin working as a real estate agent in her father's firm. The first property she gets to sell is a large house that has been unsold for a long time. As she goes through the house, she encounters a ghost who has been there for a hundred years since she died in an accident. The ghost strongly opposes the sale of the house and does everything she can to stop it. However, Julie starts organizing the house while trying to learn more about the ghost and why she is lingering. Soon, she also receives help from Elliot, who visits the town for a job.

Short review

Ghost stories aren't exactly my thing, but the movie still turns out to be a pretty good romantic film in a double sense.

A Christmas Serenade

Plot

Jeremiah is tired of playing the same old songs all the time on tour with the band he's in. He gets a little break when the band happens to stop for a few days in his hometown, and he gets to visit his parents. In the neighboring house lives Willow, whom Jeremiah used to be with before he left the town for his music career. She has stayed with her father, who is a bishop, working with him as a minister and singing in the choir. Her father involves Jeremiah in the work for the church's Christmas concert, something Willow really recents as she is still angry with Jeremiah after he left.

Short review

This film becomes surprisingly good despite the starry-eyed Christianity. It operates without overly explicit religious preachiness and I suppose it becomes quite natural for someone living in the American Bible Belt.

A Perfect Christmas Pairing

Plot

Grace, who is a chef, receives a negative review from an influential critic. Feeling a bit off balance after this, the restaurant manager convinces her to visit her family over Christmas. In her hmoe town is Rita, attempting to take over the center for "development," which also includes Grace's parents' vineyard. Grace encounters the travel writer Asher, who is the brother an old friend. Soon, they become involved in trying to thwart Rita's plans and save the old businesses in the town.

Short review

The movie feels a bit sloppy. A lot of it doesn't ring quite authentic. Maybe no major flaws, but it doesn't come together.

50 First Dates

Plot

Henry Roth lives in a Hawaiian paradise surrounded by an endless number of women with no commitments. That is until he meets Lucy Whitmore. Both Henry and Lucy enjoy each other's company and feel that the beginning of a serious relationship is underway. When Henry approaches Lucy the next day, he is confused when Lucy doesn't recognize him. It is here that Henry discovers Lucy actually suffers from short-term memory loss after a car crash and cannot remember each individual day. Henry doesn't let this deter him and is determined to make her fall in love with him again, every day.

Short review

The concept may have its flaws, but it still results in a reasonably good movie, despite Adam Sandler, who rarely comes across as natural, and Drew Barrymore, who also doesn't usually impress.

A Biltmore Christmas

Plot

Lucy is tasked with writing a new script for the old classic film "His Merry Wife," originally filmed in 1947. However, her client is not satisfied with the ending she has written, so she is sent to Biltmore House where the first film was shot. Reluctantly, she goes there and not only sees the environment but also the items used during the filming. When she accidentally turns over an hourglass used in the film, she suddenly finds herself back in 1947, amidst the actual production with all the actors, including Jack, who plays the angel in the film.

Short review

Not as bad as I feared. It holds up as a romantic tale, if taken just as that. SPOILER ALERT: I always wonder how things will turn out for someone suddenly transported 70 years into the future, without any identification documents, knowledge of recent events, etc., but the story doesn't reveal that

Where Are You, Christmas?

Plot

Addison, who works in marketing, is tired of Christmas and usually escapes to some exotic place instead. This year, she's aiming for the Maldives. However, her brother calls and confidentially reveals that he plans to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas, persuading her to come home instead. Her hometown, however, goes all out for Christmas, and Addison feels overwhelmed, wishing in an unguarded moment that Christmas didn't exist. When she wakes up the next day, the whole reality is in black and white, and no one knows about Christmas. Now, Addison must set everything right and soon receives help from the somewhat grumpy mechanic, Hunter.

Short review

Even though the storyline may seem a bit absurd when everything turns black and white just because there's no Christmas, the movie still becomes decent as a romantic film if you view it as a fairy tale.

Catch and Release

Plot

Grey has just lost her boyfriend, whom she was about to marry. Since she can't afford to stay in the house they were supposed to live in, she moves into her late boyfriend's old room with his two friends and a third friend, Fritz, who is visiting from California. It becomes an eventful time as she slowly uncovers secrets in her deceased boyfriend's life that are not always easy to handle. Grey faces many challenges in coping with her grief. However, Fritz, whom she didn't like much, especially after the funeral, turns out to be more understanding than she thought, and he helps her gradually cope with her grief and disappointment.

Short review

The movie revolves a lot around Grey's grieving process and the surprises she encounters, but the romance also develops well. The film features a fun cast of characters and is both fun and serious at the same time.

Christmas Island

Plot

Kate, who is a pilot, wants to fly a private jet. She gets the opportunity before Christmas when she is assigned to fly the Sharpe family to Switzerland. During the flight, they encounter bad weather and are forced to land on Christmas Island. It soon becomes apparent that the storm will linger, and they are compelled to stay. They are offered accommodation by the town's mayor, and Kate, feeling responsible, does everything she can to keep the Sharpes entertained during the forced layover. The storm doesn't let up, but she receives assistance from the mayor's brother, Oliver, who works as an air traffic controller at the airport.

Short review

A good romantic movie (even though it's just feature flying right at the beginning). It's partly about how the Sharpe parents need to spend more time with the family.

Been There All Along

Plot

Charley's company, which owns a dating app, is threatened after her boyfriend breaks up with her and writes an article about their relationship. She is persuaded by one of her employees to meet Liam, who works in public relations and media crises. He recommends that instead of hiding and focusing on new features in the app (which is her immediate reaction), she should confront the criticism by openly going out and using the app publicly. Charley refuses, but eventually realizes that she truly needs Liam's help. He invests time and energy in getting Charley to turn the situation around.

Short review

Maybe a bit hesitant at first but it won me over, primarily by Charley's (Marlie Collins) slightly quirky personality. It becomes a good romantic movie.

An Ice Palace Romance

Plot

Lori's boss wants to send her to her old hometown to cover a story on how the town is reacting to the threat of losing its ice rink and, consequently, the Christmas celebrations that are always held there. Initially, Lori refuses, as she has painful memories of the town and the rink where she fell and lost the chance to compete as a figure skater in the Olympics. However, as her career depends on the assignment, she eventually goes there. Upon arrival, she meets the owner of the rink, Mark, who is determined not to give in to the threat of closure. Soon, Lori becomes involved in the story while also processing her difficult memories from her time in the town.

Short review

The movie holds up and turns out quite well as a romantic film. Perhaps one might think that her profound trauma doesn't seem to be so profound after all, but it works.

Christmas Party Crashers

Plot

Tara is trying to sneak into a party at a wealthy family's house to pitch her idea for an app. On her way in, she encounters Tre, who is also attempting to sneak in to promote his clothing designs. Somehow, they manage to enter together but soon find themselves entangled in a web of lies. One thing leads to another, and they are invited to organize the family's Christmas celebration. They get involved in the family's various challenges, and it becomes increasingly difficult to achieve what they originally wanted without ruining everything. Meanwhile, something develops between them.

Short review

No, the movie doesn't work. It often becomes exaggerated and very artificial.

Romance in Hawaii

Plot

Leah is sent with a colleague to Hawaii to try to acquire a property that their company wants to develop. They will each try to acquire the property separately, and the one who succeeds is in a good position to become a partner in the firm. On Hawaii, Leah is fascinated by Hula dancing, and she persuades Ikaika, the hotel's activities manager, to teach her how to dance Hula. However, they must do it discreetly because if Leah's company found out that she was dancing, she would be in trouble. Additionally, Ikaika's mother is critical of their traditions being taught to a tourist, and she also owns the property that Leah is trying to acquire.

Short review

The movie delivers a good romantic story that may not stand out from the crowd but delivers. One might get a bit tired of the mysticism attributed to the Hula dance.

Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas

Plot

Carly has been assigned to take care of a church choir before Christmas. This means she has to leave Philadelphia and head to the small town of Waterford Creek. She arrives on the same bus as Matthew, who is returning from his military service. Carly starts training the choir, which really needs improvement. The choir is also strengthened by Matthew's sister, who has a beautiful singing voice, leading Carly to spend a lot of time with Matthew. However, there are also reasons why Carly specifically received this assignment from the priest and his wife.

Short review

A reasonably good romantic film that reflects the American rural church life but still manages to avoid overly explicit religious pointers.

The Art of Christmas

Plot

Olivia is facing her breakthrough as an artist when the gallery where she is supposed to exhibit is hit by a fire. In order to cope, she goes back to teaching and takes on a temporary job. Jake, whom Olivia happened to meet at the gallery just before the fire, also works at the school. At the school, Olivia mentors a new student who is struggling to find her way in the new environment. Meanwhile, Olivia has to handle her boyfriend, who owns the gallery where she was supposed to exhibit, and navigate her interrupted career as an artist. All the while, she and Jake spend more and more time together.

Short review

A slightly cheaper production that doesn't quite measure up. Superficially, it manages, but the quality isn't quite there.

The Sound of Violet

Plot

Autistic Shawn struggles to find a girlfriend, largely due to his diagnosis. He is determined to get married before his grandmother passes away. When Shawn meets Violet, who works as a prostitute, he doesn't understand her profession but sees a girl he genuinely likes. Violet, compelled to work by her pimp, finds it challenging to comprehend Shawn, but his determination breaks through her defenses. Slowly, she gets to know him and his quirks, such as his aversion to physical touch and his ability to perceive colors. However, she remains trapped in the difficult world of prostitution, which is not easy to escape.

Short review

A different romantic movie about a more serious subject. It is definitely not as polished as the usual romantic films, even though this one also becomes a kind of fairy tale. It turns out as a good movie, although they could have avoided involving the church in the whole thing.

The Love Gala

Plot

Kate and her partner are building up their event planning company. Now, they receive a task from Kate's mom, who is one of the city's leading celebrities. They have to quickly organize this year's celebrity party that her mom is hosting. The party is always held in the city's botanical garden. However, this year the garden has a new manager, Danny, and he wants to limit what they can do inside the garden. Kate must come up with a new concept that is accepted by both Danny and her mom, who have completely opposing opinions.

Short review

Kate is a bit too cheerful and forced, and the romance feels somewhat "matter of fact" rather than romantic.

Christmas of Yes

Plot

Amy only has time for her job and her hobby, roasting her own coffee. However, leading up to Christmas, she loses her job. Her brother, frustrated that Amy always says no to everything because she doesn't have time, now convinces her, while she is unemployed, to promise to say yes to everything until Christmas. This has the consequence, among other things, of her ending up at an improvisational theatre performance. There, she is pulled onto the stage by Nico, one of the actors. The whole thing doesn't go well, but afterward, because she can't say no, she is drawn by the actors into a charity activity to wrap Christmas presents. She and Nico get to know each other and realize that they might have some things in common after all.

Short review

A good romantic movie with freshly brewed coffee and a feel-good atmosphere. It's about changing but does so in a fairly credible and not overly dramatic way. It's not just about them learning from each other, but also about Amy having to deal with childhood trauma involving an alcoholic mother. (It's not a heavy film, after all, it's a fairly amusing romantic movie).

Yuletide the Knot

Plot

Rachel works as a wedding planner in the town where she grew up. Suddenly, a famous influencer reaches out and wants her to organize her celebrity wedding at Christmas. Time is tight, but Rachel takes on the task as it could be beneficial for her business. She is expected to coordinate most of it in collaboration with the influencer's manager. This may prove to be a challenge as it turns out the manager is Logan, who left the town and Rachel to pursue a career in Hollywood. Old feelings resurface while the wedding preparations must go smoothly.

Short review

An average good movie following a familiar recipe. Yet another old relationship that, for some reason, can only be revisited.

Christmas with a Kiss

Plot

Mona, who works as an influencer in New York, goes home to participate in her hometown's traditional Christmas celebration organized by her parents. One of the first people she encounters upon returning home is Fletcher, whom she dated during school. Is he the one she has missed all these years? Meanwhile, the family is visited by Dez, who is there to write an article about the city's Christmas festivities. He and Mona do not get off to a good start at all.

Short review

Actually not qualitatively worse than average, but I became upset by the undertones that modern life is not worthwhile and that Mona would be better off giving up her career and moving back home.

Christmas in Notting Hill

Plot

Graham is a famous football star struggling with a bad knee. In the midst of this, his brother reveals that he plans to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, Georgia arrives in London to celebrate Christmas with her sister and her sister's boyfriend's family. While she is out shopping for Christmas decorations, she happens to encounter Graham, who realizes that she doesn't know who he is, something he finds refreshing as he is quite tired of his celebrity status. Imagine their surprise when they later meet again, and it turns out that it is Georgia's sister whom Graham's brother intends to propose to.

Short review

It feels like a Notting Hill wanna be with some obvious parallels. The movie also includes a few references to the original where you can clearly see where some of the dialogue drew its inspiration (at one point, Georgia's dad also reads Horse & Hound, a clear reference). The film is by no means as good as the original, but if you get past the obvious "wanna be" complex and maybe the first half of the film, it picks up and becomes a reasonably good romantic movie.

Three Wise Men and a Baby

Plot

The brothers Luke, Taylor, and Stephen are still living with their mother for various reasons. Luke is a firefighter, Taylor is a game programmer and Stephen is an animal therapist. The week before Christmas, a baby is left at the fire station where Luke works, along with a note asking Luke to take care of the baby for a while. Even though Luke is certain it's not his baby, he decides to care for the child, and soon both of his brothers become involved in babysitting. Many aspects of their personal situations, upbringing, and potential romances come into a new light.

Short review

This movie is entertaining. They have brought in three of the male top stars from romantic films, Andrew W. Walker, Tyler Hynes, and Paul Campbell, to play the three very different brothers. Although the romances themselves (and there end up being three in the end) are a bit in the background in this film, it is worth watching because it is amusing with good performances. It has two sequels, Three Wiser Men and a Boy and Three Wisest Men, but they are not as good.

This Is Christmas

Plot

Adam commutes every day on the same train. He starts to wonder about his fellow passengers and why they don't talk to each other even though they see each other every day. One day, when the train stops at a red signal, he stands up and invites everyone to a Christmas party for everyone on board. The reactions are initially lukewarm, but as the days go by, the passengers slowly start talking to each other. Adam makes contact with Emma, who is about to move to the USA, and she agrees to help him organize the party. As the days pass, more and more people join in.

Short review

A heartwarming tale of new acquaintances and good deeds. A well-crafted story, which may not come as a surprise given that it's British and a bit more lavish. This one you should watch.

To All A Good Night

Plot

Ceci is a photographer for the local newspaper. Her father has recently passed away, leaving her and her mother-in-law with the family estate where her father used to organize a Christmas party. During this event, the townspeople would decorate trees on the grounds, and the proceeds from the Christmas tree sales would be donated to charitable causes. One day, Ceci comes across a motorcyclist who has had an accident, and she saves him. However, she soon begins to suspect that the motorcyclist, Sam, is there to buy her and her mother-in-law's land. Unexpected events unfold, and suddenly, they find themselves reviving her father's tradition.

Short review

A genuine feel-good movie without too much drama and some everyday humor. Worth watching.

A Cowboy Christmas Romance

Plot

Lexie, who is known for always getting parties to say yes in the real estate deals she handles, is sent to her old hometown of Tubac, Arizona, to push through the purchase of a farm. The farm is owned by Coby, who is not willing to sell at all. Lexie takes on the challenge but must also confront her father and her brothers who live on the neighbouring farm to the one Lexie is tasked with buying. She left the family ten years ago when her father denied her the opportunity to take an active part in managing the farm. Now, old grievances resurface as she tries to approach Coby to succeed in her mission.

Short review

The movie functions as a romantic film even though the conflict with Lexie's family also plays a significant part. Perhaps the conflict is resolved a bit unsatisfactorily; it would have been good to see what happened between the final conflict and everyone sitting at the same table…

A Royal Christmas Holiday

Plot

Katie suddenly gets her chance when the regular host takes a Christmas break, and the country receives a visit from Prince Jonathan for the inauguration of an exhibition he is going to carry out. She is assigned to conduct an interview with the prince, something considered very difficult as he generally refuses interviews. However, when Jonathan meets Katie at the airport, he suddenly opens up to the possibility. It depends, though, on Katie getting to know the prince for the interview to go well.

Short review

This type of film with royalties from unknown places in Europe is facing tough odds, and this one doesn't make it.

16-Love

Plot

Junior tennis star Ally gets injured and has to undergo rehabilitation to come back into the game her father coached her for. She wants to, but is also a bit tired of the whole circus. She is persuaded by Farrell to train him in tennis as he aims to win a scholarship to college. Ally's father is against the idea, but Ally secretly trains Farrell. Farrell also encourages her to start experiencing things she hasn't had time for, as she has always focused entirely on tennis. With Farrell's help, will she find a better balance in life and perhaps something more?

Short review

A mix of a youth film and a romantic film. It turns out decently well even though it sometimes falls into the pitfalls of collage films.

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