HotToastyRag

It's a really cute premise: Santa's "naughty and nice" list is actually real, and he contracts out with "spies" throughout the world who collect data on children during the year. So, you'd better watch out! Through satellite footage, phone and online records, and personal observations, Santa really does know if you've been bad or good, and if you get coal in your stocking, it's deserved. Lacey Chabert stars as one of the top spies, and she's been assigned to a difficult case: Cadence Compton. Cadence seems to be a very naughty preteen, but Lacey wants to see the good in everyone, and she keeps following her around hoping for redemption. Are there good reasons for Cadence's mischief? One of the rules of Lacey's job is that she's not allowed to make contact with the assignment or anyone in the assignment's family. So, when she accidentally meets Cadence's cutie pie dad, Andrew Walker, she gets herself into quite a bind. Plus, Andrew is very taken with her and keeps asking her out! (Although why is someone that handsome so insecure about dating? I'm pretty sure every woman he asks out will say yes.) It's an all-around cute story, but I think I'm too old for most of the humor. It has a lot of modern humor included in the teleplay, like Lacey's boss, Steve Bacic, acting like an imbecile because he's a man and men take every opportunity to throw their weight around (and the implication that he only likes another employee better because he's a man). If you're able to look past the modern humor, it's an enjoyable Hallmark holiday flick. It might not be one you return to every year, but it'll entertain you for the evening.

Get out your Kleenex boxes! Although not a tragedy, like some of those Hallmarks about a young child who needs a heart transplant, everyone in my family reaches for the tissues while watching it. It's as close to a remake of It's a Wonderful Life as you're going to get (Marlo Thomas's version just doesn't count), and it's a very good adaptation. It manages to have its own story elements but still remind audiences of the original.

Desperate Housewives fans will adore it simply for the casting, reuniting Susan and Mike, but even if you're never seen the soapy series (what are you waiting for?), you'll still love it. James Denton plays a businessman who's worked in the same company for twenty years but never made it to the top. His wife, Teri Hatcher, gave up the idea of going to law school when they married, and no one really appreciates her sacrifice to be a housewife. Tensions are rampant at the moment, with Christmas coming, trying to find the money for college tuition, and James facing a promotion if he can strike an unethical business deal. In the heat of the moment, James wishes he never got in the same elevator as Teri twenty years ago (leading to their introduction, courtship, and marriage).

When he wakes up in the morning, his wish has been granted. He chose the other elevator, never met Teri, never married, and rose to the top of the company by making unethical choices. As he discovers his new life, he also has to come to terms with his new personality. Of course, he misses his wife, so imagine his surprise to find out that the lawyer suing him for his latest unscrupulous business deal is Teri (who went to law school instead of becoming a stay-at-home mom). "Where are our kids? I need you, Mary!" Oh, wrong movie. But still - if you want to see a solid tribute to James Stewart and Donna Reed, rent this very moving Hallmark drama. James gives a wonderful performance, showing surprising acting chops, and puts his heart and soul into the movie. I've already bought a copy. I highly recommend it!

Emilie Ullerup is so cute - and beautiful and charming and instantly elevates whatever lousy script she's saddled with at the Hallmark channel. I'll watch anything she's in, including the "you've got to be kidding me?" teleplay of With Love, Christmas. Emilie and Aaron O'Connell work in the same advertising agency, and when she pulls his name in the Secret Santa exchange, it becomes incredibly obvious that she's the one hunting for his gift. She creates a fake email account and sends him "anonymous" emails to get to know him, but Aaron proves himself to be the stupidest man in existence. How can anyone be that obtuse? I know, Hallmark movies sometimes feature unrealistic plot points, but I just couldn't get behind this one.

If you don't care that the love interest is supposed to be a smart, capable ad-man who literally can't see what's right in front of him, you can try this one. I just thought Emilie's character could do so much better. If a closed-off guy is only able to open up to an anonymous email chat, that's not a good sign. If he's on a date with a beautiful woman, acts awkward and disturbed, then starts emailing his Secret Santa (while his date's back is turned!), it's not a good sign. Even if he figured out the emails were coming from Emilie, he should show a hint of maturity and have a decent conversation with her in person.