Christmas is a time for giving, receiving, and eating a ton of delicious food. It's also a holiday steeped in nostalgia. While you've likely got your holiday viewing faves, there's an unexpected avenue for those warm holiday feels. Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas films might not seem like they're at the top of your nice list, but this season the original holiday movies are stacked with nostalgic stars from TV past. So if you want to watch something new and catch up with some of the actors who shaped your childhood, then you're in luck!
From Christmas cops to unexpected roommates and hard-hitting holiday contests, 2021 has got '90s stars sprinkled through every kind of holiday movie. So see this as your primer, not only on the nostalgic talent that'll be starring in them, but also on the tropes, quirks, and traditions that make made-for-TV holiday movies so much fun. So strap in, you're in for a peppermint cocoa-drenched sleigh ride through the season's Christmas movie offerings.
If just reading the words Sister Sister didn't get that iconic opening theme into your head, we cannot relate. In the '90s, Tamera--alongside her sister Tia--led this hilarious teen comedy about twin sisters separated at birth who are unexpectedly reunited. Aside from that earworm of an opening, Sister Sister also featured some truly memorable '90s fashion. The hilarious fish out of water comedy was a kids TV classic for many of us and syndication helped it entertain the generations after us too! Most importantly, though, it launched the long-running careers of the Mowery sisters, both of whom are now Hallmark holiday movie stalwarts. While Tia has moved over to Lifetime this year, Tamera has a brand new Hallmark flick for the 2021 snowy season and it has a rather unique setup.
In The Santa Stakeout, Mowry-Housley plays a cop who's sent undercover with an annoying new partner. Because this is a Hallmark movie, they have to pretend to be lovebirds who are moving to a fantastically Christmassy town. Their aim is to uncover the mastermind behind a series of holiday heists, and their biggest suspect is their new next door neighbor played by none other than iconic character actor Joe Pantoliano. If saccharine sweet Christmas movies don't seem up your alley, the comedic crime twist and all-star cast here might sell you.
Known best for outrageous comedies like The Simpsons and Married with Children, Fox surprised '90s TV viewers when the network launched the teen family drama Party of Five in 1994. Lacey Chabert tackled the tough task of growing up in front of the world as Claudia Salinger, an adolescent violist being raised by her older siblings following the untimely death of their parents. While her older TV sister, Neve Campbell, went on to become an iconic horror lead in the Scream franchise, Lacey found her niche with cozier fare, becoming one of Hallmark's go-to leading ladies. And she's back with another holiday heartwarmer in 2021.
Chabert's newest addition to her impressive made-for-TV catalog is Christmas at Castle Heart. Like many of her more recent films, it takes place in a beautiful locale--honestly, get those free trips, Lacey!--this time in Ireland. Travelling to the emerald isle to connect with her own Irish roots, Brooke (Chabert) becomes entangled in a classic Christmas mixup. When she stumbles across Aiden Hart, Earl of Glaslough, she's mistaken for a prestige party planner and must suddenly take on the massive task of planning the castle's annual Christmas celebration! Sure, she could just tell him the truth. But where would the fun in that be? And, of course, as she plans the party she begins to fall for the dashing Aiden.
We've got layers of nostalgia with this Hallmark holiday stalwart! Launched in 1988, The Wonder Years was set 20 years earlier in the late '60s. Danicka McKellar made her mark on America as Winnie Cooper, a young girl coming of age in a time that was sure to inspire wistful memories from audiences across the country. Playing the crush of the show's lead, Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage), McKellar even shared her first kiss in front of audiences with Savage in the show's pilot. Now, over 30 years later, McKellar's career has become so synonymous with Hallmark movies that her very presence in a new one will likely spark nostalgia in those who have watched some of her earlier holiday offerings.
In a unique new string to the holiday movie bow, You, Me & the Christmas Trees stars McKeller as Olivia, who is "Connecticut's resident expert on evergreens." It's a nice continuation of the made-for-TV trope of jobs you've never really heard of that either lack specificity or are way too specific to exist. She's called in to help the handsome Christmas tree farmer Jack, whose firs are suffering from a mysterious illness that's blighting their farm. Intrigued by the issue, Olivia decides to stick around and begins to grow ever closer to Jack. It's an ecological twist on the classic Hallmark set up which definitely makes it stand out from the crowd. Plus it's McKeller's last Hallmark movie for a while so even more reason to watch.
Though it began in the late '80s, Full House was still swinging way into the '90s. Bob Saget stars as Danny Tanner, a recently widowed father of three who enlists his best buddy (Dave Coulier) and brother-in-law (John Stamos) to help raise his kids. You know, that classic setup. In the sprawling ensemble, a young Cameron Bure played the eldest Tanner kid, DJ A.K.A. Donna Jo. Deej, as she was often sweetly called by her family, was very much in the mold of every '90s girl next door. She was a little tomboyish but also had regular crushes on local boys. Plus, as the eldest, she often took on a motherly role when it came to her younger siblings. Since then, Cameron Bure has become a regular in made-for-TV movies and recently returned to the role of D.J. in Fuller House. But that hasn't stopped her from making her mark on the holiday movie season.
Cameron Bure is nothing short of a Hallmark legend. Each year she has a selection of seasonal fare and this year is no different. Her big Christmas 2021 release is The Christmas Contest, which pits her against her ex in a battle of Christmas wits in order to win a cash prize for their favorite charity. Of course, things are never that simple, and as the pair spend more time together they realize that they might be rekindling more than just an old rivalry. If you're a new student of Hallmark holiday flicks, this is a good place to start to understand the formula that has made them such a cultural phenomenon. And if you're a Full House fan, even better.
She was the coolest little sister you could dream of and as she grew up a lot of '90s kids' first crush! All hail Tatyana Ali. Though she's best known for her role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, she was already a seasoned performer when she joined the series, cutting her teeth on the iconic kids show Sesame Street. It was as the youngest Banks sibling Ashley that Ali became a household name, though. Funny, sweet, and smart, she was Will's one true ally in Bel-Air and also deeply looked up to him. Post the Fresh Prince, Ali pursued a career as an RnB singer but over the last few years she's become a holiday movie regular.
Continuing her charming streak at Lifetime, this year Ali stars in A Picture Perfect Holiday. The movie centers on fashion photographer Gaby (Ali) who travels to a small town--you might be noticing a pattern here--for Christmas. What inspires the choice? Well, she's been selected for the famous annual Christmas Photography Retreat, of course! Gaby doesn't love Christmas, but when she arrives and has to share her cabin with a hunky wildlife photographer she might start to find the magic of Christmas after all. But it'll take some learning and collaboration with her unexpected holiday housemate. Lifetime's holiday fare tends to be a little more modern and realistic while still appropriately magical, so this is a good first step into the snow-capped world of made-for-TV holiday movies.
While this is definitely more '00s nostalgia than '90s, we couldn't not mention this unbelieveable reunion. If you've ever watched a Disney Channel Original Movie then you likely know Monique Coleman and Corbin Bleu from High School Musical. The comedic take on Romeo and Juliet launched the careers of Zac Efron (Troy) and Vanessa Hudgens (Gabriella), but was an ensemble piece about the warring high school factions of geeks, jocks, and musical kids. Coleman and Bleu played the best friends of Gabriella and Troy respectively, and have since had impressive careers. But in this smart and savvy nod to their most famous roles, they return in A Christmas Dance Reunion.
It's a direct attack on millenials who grew up on DCOMs and a very clever marketing technique from Lifetime. The story follows Lucy (Coleman), a successful big city lawyer who heads back to the Christmas resort she spent her time at as a child. Accompanied by her mother, she's shocked to be reunited with the owner's nephew, who was her one-time Christmas dance partner. In order to save the resort they loved so much as children, the pair team up to create and reinstate traditions, including a Christmas Dance! This one hits a ton of classic holiday movie tropes with a smart meta twist, so definitely check it out.
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From Christmas cops to unexpected roommates and hard-hitting holiday contests, 2021 has got '90s stars sprinkled through every kind of holiday movie. So see this as your primer, not only on the nostalgic talent that'll be starring in them, but also on the tropes, quirks, and traditions that make made-for-TV holiday movies so much fun. So strap in, you're in for a peppermint cocoa-drenched sleigh ride through the season's Christmas movie offerings.
Tamera Mowry-Housley - Sister Sister
If just reading the words Sister Sister didn't get that iconic opening theme into your head, we cannot relate. In the '90s, Tamera--alongside her sister Tia--led this hilarious teen comedy about twin sisters separated at birth who are unexpectedly reunited. Aside from that earworm of an opening, Sister Sister also featured some truly memorable '90s fashion. The hilarious fish out of water comedy was a kids TV classic for many of us and syndication helped it entertain the generations after us too! Most importantly, though, it launched the long-running careers of the Mowery sisters, both of whom are now Hallmark holiday movie stalwarts. While Tia has moved over to Lifetime this year, Tamera has a brand new Hallmark flick for the 2021 snowy season and it has a rather unique setup.
In The Santa Stakeout, Mowry-Housley plays a cop who's sent undercover with an annoying new partner. Because this is a Hallmark movie, they have to pretend to be lovebirds who are moving to a fantastically Christmassy town. Their aim is to uncover the mastermind behind a series of holiday heists, and their biggest suspect is their new next door neighbor played by none other than iconic character actor Joe Pantoliano. If saccharine sweet Christmas movies don't seem up your alley, the comedic crime twist and all-star cast here might sell you.
Lacey Chabert - Party of Five
Known best for outrageous comedies like The Simpsons and Married with Children, Fox surprised '90s TV viewers when the network launched the teen family drama Party of Five in 1994. Lacey Chabert tackled the tough task of growing up in front of the world as Claudia Salinger, an adolescent violist being raised by her older siblings following the untimely death of their parents. While her older TV sister, Neve Campbell, went on to become an iconic horror lead in the Scream franchise, Lacey found her niche with cozier fare, becoming one of Hallmark's go-to leading ladies. And she's back with another holiday heartwarmer in 2021.
Chabert's newest addition to her impressive made-for-TV catalog is Christmas at Castle Heart. Like many of her more recent films, it takes place in a beautiful locale--honestly, get those free trips, Lacey!--this time in Ireland. Travelling to the emerald isle to connect with her own Irish roots, Brooke (Chabert) becomes entangled in a classic Christmas mixup. When she stumbles across Aiden Hart, Earl of Glaslough, she's mistaken for a prestige party planner and must suddenly take on the massive task of planning the castle's annual Christmas celebration! Sure, she could just tell him the truth. But where would the fun in that be? And, of course, as she plans the party she begins to fall for the dashing Aiden.
Danicka McKeller - The Wonder Years
We've got layers of nostalgia with this Hallmark holiday stalwart! Launched in 1988, The Wonder Years was set 20 years earlier in the late '60s. Danicka McKellar made her mark on America as Winnie Cooper, a young girl coming of age in a time that was sure to inspire wistful memories from audiences across the country. Playing the crush of the show's lead, Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage), McKellar even shared her first kiss in front of audiences with Savage in the show's pilot. Now, over 30 years later, McKellar's career has become so synonymous with Hallmark movies that her very presence in a new one will likely spark nostalgia in those who have watched some of her earlier holiday offerings.
In a unique new string to the holiday movie bow, You, Me & the Christmas Trees stars McKeller as Olivia, who is "Connecticut's resident expert on evergreens." It's a nice continuation of the made-for-TV trope of jobs you've never really heard of that either lack specificity or are way too specific to exist. She's called in to help the handsome Christmas tree farmer Jack, whose firs are suffering from a mysterious illness that's blighting their farm. Intrigued by the issue, Olivia decides to stick around and begins to grow ever closer to Jack. It's an ecological twist on the classic Hallmark set up which definitely makes it stand out from the crowd. Plus it's McKeller's last Hallmark movie for a while so even more reason to watch.
Candace Cameron Bure - Full House
Though it began in the late '80s, Full House was still swinging way into the '90s. Bob Saget stars as Danny Tanner, a recently widowed father of three who enlists his best buddy (Dave Coulier) and brother-in-law (John Stamos) to help raise his kids. You know, that classic setup. In the sprawling ensemble, a young Cameron Bure played the eldest Tanner kid, DJ A.K.A. Donna Jo. Deej, as she was often sweetly called by her family, was very much in the mold of every '90s girl next door. She was a little tomboyish but also had regular crushes on local boys. Plus, as the eldest, she often took on a motherly role when it came to her younger siblings. Since then, Cameron Bure has become a regular in made-for-TV movies and recently returned to the role of D.J. in Fuller House. But that hasn't stopped her from making her mark on the holiday movie season.
Cameron Bure is nothing short of a Hallmark legend. Each year she has a selection of seasonal fare and this year is no different. Her big Christmas 2021 release is The Christmas Contest, which pits her against her ex in a battle of Christmas wits in order to win a cash prize for their favorite charity. Of course, things are never that simple, and as the pair spend more time together they realize that they might be rekindling more than just an old rivalry. If you're a new student of Hallmark holiday flicks, this is a good place to start to understand the formula that has made them such a cultural phenomenon. And if you're a Full House fan, even better.
Lifetime Christmas Movie Double Bill: Bonus Nostalgia
Tatyana Ali - The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
She was the coolest little sister you could dream of and as she grew up a lot of '90s kids' first crush! All hail Tatyana Ali. Though she's best known for her role in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, she was already a seasoned performer when she joined the series, cutting her teeth on the iconic kids show Sesame Street. It was as the youngest Banks sibling Ashley that Ali became a household name, though. Funny, sweet, and smart, she was Will's one true ally in Bel-Air and also deeply looked up to him. Post the Fresh Prince, Ali pursued a career as an RnB singer but over the last few years she's become a holiday movie regular.
Continuing her charming streak at Lifetime, this year Ali stars in A Picture Perfect Holiday. The movie centers on fashion photographer Gaby (Ali) who travels to a small town--you might be noticing a pattern here--for Christmas. What inspires the choice? Well, she's been selected for the famous annual Christmas Photography Retreat, of course! Gaby doesn't love Christmas, but when she arrives and has to share her cabin with a hunky wildlife photographer she might start to find the magic of Christmas after all. But it'll take some learning and collaboration with her unexpected holiday housemate. Lifetime's holiday fare tends to be a little more modern and realistic while still appropriately magical, so this is a good first step into the snow-capped world of made-for-TV holiday movies.
Monique Coleman & Corbin Bleu - High School Musical
While this is definitely more '00s nostalgia than '90s, we couldn't not mention this unbelieveable reunion. If you've ever watched a Disney Channel Original Movie then you likely know Monique Coleman and Corbin Bleu from High School Musical. The comedic take on Romeo and Juliet launched the careers of Zac Efron (Troy) and Vanessa Hudgens (Gabriella), but was an ensemble piece about the warring high school factions of geeks, jocks, and musical kids. Coleman and Bleu played the best friends of Gabriella and Troy respectively, and have since had impressive careers. But in this smart and savvy nod to their most famous roles, they return in A Christmas Dance Reunion.
It's a direct attack on millenials who grew up on DCOMs and a very clever marketing technique from Lifetime. The story follows Lucy (Coleman), a successful big city lawyer who heads back to the Christmas resort she spent her time at as a child. Accompanied by her mother, she's shocked to be reunited with the owner's nephew, who was her one-time Christmas dance partner. In order to save the resort they loved so much as children, the pair team up to create and reinstate traditions, including a Christmas Dance! This one hits a ton of classic holiday movie tropes with a smart meta twist, so definitely check it out.
Continue reading...