Holiday Movie Time!

 

A Special Look: Wonderful Holiday Movies!  

The holiday season is upon us, and I can’t wait to watch my favorite holiday movie. I love watching classic movies, especially during the holiday season. You know, the one where the angel saves the guy from committing suicide, then gives him a glimpse of what life would be if he had died, OR the one where the guy wants to impress his neighbors with a thousand lights, and a comedy of errors ensues. How about the one where the family gets together, and all hell breaks loose because of petty jealousy? There are numerous movies to choose from and enjoy, each suited to the mood that calls for them. 

My favorite holiday movies are shown on the Hallmark Channel. This time of year is when they air their latest holiday movies! Yay!

I want to live in one of the towns depicted in these TV movies. I love, love, love seeing the crisp mountain air and the bluest skies ever seen, and watching the snow come down in big fat flakes. You know, that deep, fluffy kind of snow that never seems to stain boots, or mess your hair for that matter. I can’t wait to see the clean, nothing-out-of-place open-floor-plan homes or the cozy confines of the cabins; I swear you can almost smell the knotted pine. Speaking of pine, those trees! Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce, or Balsam Fir, all with no nettles out of place. Oh. My. God! The perfect holiday decorations, and that hot chocolate with marshmallows—I can almost taste it. And the cars! Not a speck of dirt or snow on any vehicle, not one! No run-down, beat-up hooptie, no sir. And if you do see one, it’s an old Ford truck that runs like a dream. It has that nostalgic look which makes you say to yourself, “I want one of those!”

So cool!

Then there are the characters. Women are beautiful, and men are ruggedly handsome; all are well-dressed in the latest fashions. High-end sweaters and legwear are also prevalent. Women carry Birkin or Dooney & Bourke bags; apparently, Coach bags are not permitted. The characters are always smiling and in good spirits. If a frown can be found, it’s because of forlorn love, missing a parent, or a royal celebration that is bound to end with a ‘happily-ever-after’ conclusion despite any calamity that might befall. Ah, we can’t wait for the couple, pair, parents, grandparents, neighbors, and community to find happiness. True love, that loves truly.

Such joy.

Let’s not forget that the Hallmark commercials are stellar. Whether it’s selling artificial Christmas Trees or wringing a tear or two from your eyes because of a sentimental scenario, it gets me every time. Very well produced and timely, these commercials capture the holiday spirit that harkens back to when we were young, or touch that particular spot in your heart that no one can possibly know, because the memory is your very own.  

Well, okay, but spare me. Is this real life?

Imagine this for a second: In the real world, when you get to your destination to celebrate the holidays, it ain’t no Hallmark movie. You have to endure wet snowflakes mixed with rain, dampness, and dank, dark skies. The snow that once was white is now a dingy grey or black from dirt and splashbacks that have muddied your boots and ruined your coat. The house is a mess of clutter with breakfast dishes still waiting to be washed, kids clamoring for the TV remote, lots of noise from a barking dog, and you’re exhausted from working all day while trying to get dinner on the table. Struggling to bed is an adventure of wading through toys on the floor, water that has splashed from the bathtub, and soggy socks from playing in the snow for longer than allowed. The husband is cranky because the Christmas wish list is far too long, and you have to prepare for in-laws to visit, AGAIN! The forty-dollar tote bag is ruined from the crud on the family car, which hasn’t seen a wash in a month of Sundays. “The First Noel” is being sung off-key outside your door by well-wishing Carolers, and you’re too exhausted to say, “Thank you.” However, you really, really appreciate the effort.

By the time the house is finally quiet, you find yourself thinking of those otherworldly movies on the Hallmark channel and wonder, “How the heck do they come up with this stuff?”

BUT…I have to say it is an inspiration. The movies provide an escape from the reality that most of us live in. I can’t speak for everyone, but I, for one, like the fact that I can get lost in the fantasy of fictional Brentwood, Montana, for a few hours with Kleenex at the ready for when the commercials air. And still wonder, where she got that bag, how they keep their cars so clean, and if people really are that nice?  

So go on—indulge!

Enjoy the escape and remember—hot chocolate tastes delicious on a cold, frosty morning when the house is a mess, the kids are a terror, and the husband is not the best conversationalist. You’ll get by…until the in-laws arrive.

“Happy Holidays!” 

~ DaMarie

Photo Courtesy of Jasmin Ne