The Christmas Parade

Remember the Northern Exposure gender switch (Christmas Under Wraps)? This one is Doc Hollywood, down to the judge's destroyed fence, plus swap a doctor for a television correspondent and the community service involves the titular parade. Filled with mondo-cheesy lines like, "Sometimes broken roads lead to the best destinations," but Christmas factor is high, Jennifer Gibson's supporting performance as the producer/best friend makes up for the lead's lack of charisma and the anti-capitalist small town lure isn't as aggressive as normal. MSG approved.

The Mistletoe Inn

By now, Alicia Witt has become the Holy Ghost of the Hallmark Christmas Cheddar holy trinity, with Lacey Chabert the Daughter and Candace Cameron Buré the Mother. Her offering this year features her as an aspiring Christmas romance novelist, not doubt because to the good people at the network this is a lofty aspiration. The male lead is a guy I don't know from anything else but these Christmas movies, but he's done a whole bunch so he's a big fish in this little pond. And good for him, it's really hard to make a career as a working actor, and apparently he's a voice in Call Of Duty WWII, my holiday present to myself, so it all comes full circle. Lucie Guest plays the instant best friend and does a good job, enough that I hope it earns her some work, maybe a lead someday. There's Christmas imagery in almost every frame but the meta plot could really apply to any time of year, and the big twist is so obvious you should catch it literally 10 minutes in. Witt has never looked better so I'll probably watch it next year, but if you’re not crushing on her there’s probably no point in watching this. Not MSG approved.
SECOND LOOK:
I caught the second half of this while I was getting ready today and I’m giving it a second evaluation. The Christmas factor is high enough to overcome the nausea factor and Alicia Witt gives a very welcomed X Factor. I’ll say MSG approved now.

Annie Claus Is Coming To Town

Subtlety referred to as Miss Annie Claus (say it out loud if you don't get it), the girl who played Kenny's literally blind date on that episode of 30 Rock continues the tradition of Santa Claus' daughters, sons, brothers, 3rd cousins once removed, etc, out in the real world. Here she travels to Los Angeles in a Yule time version of the Amish Rumspringa and ends up directing a pageant and having a love triangle with a toy store owner and the most douchy looking guy on the planet (trust me), with adequately entertaining consequences. There's also an odd class structure at the North Pole which may or may not be unsettling, you decide. Christmas factor high. MSG approved.

Once Upon A Holiday

Princess gets lost in a city which is supposed to be New York but couldn’t look less like it, finds her down to earth everyman, yada yada yada. Even though we’re in the city, Hallmark makes sure we know our contractor leading man was a high powered executive who chucked it all for the simple life of working with his hands. It’s not offensively anti-capitalist and there’s a whole thing with retired cops who all play Santa. This is on the cusp but I’ll say MSG approved. What the hell, it’s Christmas after all.

Christmas Under Wraps

This is essentially "Northern Exposure" with a gender switch + the town which may be Santa's workshop. These are not known for their originality, and the setting makes it work for the season.
MSG approved.

A Very Merry Mix-Up

In contrast to Christmas List, Witt's first Christmas Cheddar film for Hallmark is just a nauseating mistaken identity romcom in December.
Not MSG approved.

Christmas List

Redhead firebrand Alicia Witt makes her fourth Christmas Cheddar appearance for Hallmark and fifth overall. While this succumbs to the familiar trope of the executive boyfriend who morphs into a douche halfway through, paving the way clear for the small town Romeo, this is a heavily Christmas saturated story with some genuine laughs and a charismatic turn from Witt.
MSG approved.

Second Chance Christmas

Obviously non of these movie are SAG Award contenders but this one is particularly badly acted, not to mention poorly written with a premise that's morally questionable. Not MSG approved.

My Christmas Love

Despite the nauseating title, this was my favorite from Hallmark last year. Granted I'm a little biased because Meredith Hagner is in it but it's also has a lot of seasonal imagery and an interesting twist. Dangles on the verge of vomit inducing towards the end but there's also some emotional weigh that will hit anyone who's gone through losing a parent. And did I mention Meredith Hagner?

An MSG fav.

The Christmas Spirit

There's virtually nothing Christmas about this one. Shut it off halfway through last night. MSG middle finger