I watched a couple GAF movies this weekend instead of Hallmark.
I'm not really into the various actors that Hallmark is using now, and these are all new to me.
I agree with you
@PrincessShmoo. Part of the reason why I wanted to watch the GAF movies this weekend. I'm feeling meh with some of the new Hallmark actresses. The Hallmark casting directors don't seem to understand that the leading lady is supposed to have an extra charismatic quality that makes us want to watch her. It's what the French refer to as a, "Je ne sais quoi," an undefinable appealing quality that someone has.
Most of the previous Hallmark female leads were in major TV shows on the 3 national networks, Candace, Danica, Alicia Witt, Tricia Helfer, Jill Wagner, Jen Lilly, Autumn Reeser, or were in movies, like Lacey in
Mean Girls and again Alicia in
Mr. Holland's Opus. It wasn't just that they had more experience, someone else noticed these women have leading lady quality. Or in Candace, Danica and Alicia's case, an extra something, young girl quality.
This new Hallmark is so focused on making Hallmark different than before, some of the actors & actresses just are kind of lacking. And hiring someone who's a supporting character on yet another small cable network and turn them into a lead, sometimes just doesn't cut it. They have been
supporting actors for a reason. I often internally cringe when I see a Hallmark movie cast with unknowns. Hallmark has hit it out of the park a few times with unusual casting and a great, new script. But, other times they are just low budget time slot fillers.
And for us, time slot wasters.
Anyway, back to the GAF movies:
Great American Family (GAF):
Bringing Christmas Home at 8pm ET / 7pm CT
Re-airs:
Tues 10/31 at 8pm ET
Thurs 11/2 at 2am ET
Sat 11/4 at 6pm
Starring: Jill Wagner and Paul Greene.
Description: Military History professor, Caroline Upton (Wagner) is enlisted to assist antiques store owner, Russell Carlisle (Greene) in finding the family of WWII Army officer Orin Newton before Christmas with the hope of returning precious personal artifacts – Orin’s dress uniform, medals, and a stack of love letters from his beloved Alice who waits for him back home. Epaulettes and insignia provide initial clues, though the search seems to dead end when Caroline discovers Orin was captured and listed as MIA. Caroline and Russell then search the love letters for clues as to what happened to Orin and whether he ever made it home to Alice.
I liked this movie. It was great seeing Jill Wagner and Paul Green again. This movie is a quest, searching for the family of WWII officer.
I liked how Paul was able to say the word, "God," and really mean it. The Great American Family network is NOT afraid to go there and say God has a hand in things happening.
And that THIS is the only overall message they are trying to get across, especially at Christmas time.
I liked how this was a "classic Hallmark movie" even though it wasn't on Hallmark.
Great American Family (GAF):
Twas the Text Before Christmas
Re-airs: Wes 11/1 at 10pm ET
Fri 11/3 at 10pm ET
Sun 11/5 at 10pm Et
Starring: Merritt Patterson and Trevor Donovan.
Description: Addie mistakenly receives a text from “Nana.” The accidental text turns into a loving friendship between the matronly Nana and Addie who now communicate regularly. Nana invites Addie to spend the holiday in Vermont. It is picture-postcard perfect and exactly as Nana described except for one surprise. Nana’s single son, James is also home for the holidays. Over three consecutive years, James and Addie are together during the holidays, though it isn’t until they are both single that they begin to see each other in a different light.
I really liked this movie. I'm only 4 new Christmas movies into this season, but this may be one of my favorites of this season. (I said that last season and I ended up right about my prediction for myself.)
Merritt and Trevor never acted together before, that I know of, but they were very comfortable with each other. And that fit the theme of the movie too. There was nothing to prove and no need to rush things, as the movie spanned a few Christmases as their friendship grew over time, naturally. There is really something about watching two seasoned Hallmark actors working together, who seemed to be saying, "We got this.
"
