A Review for Christmas

Book Watchers is a podcast where we watch books. By that we mean we dive into the differences between novels and their screen adaptations. In our FIRST EVER EPISODE we had to cover a classic: Jane Austen's beloved Pride & Prejudice. While there have been an abundance of adaptations, none stand quite as tall as the 1995 mini-series or the 2005 film.  Because Ariel has read the book many many ti...

You never ask, but we always answer. Ariel and Chelsea dissect the men of season 4 to determine who among them is worthy of the shortest courtship known to man.    Insta: areviewforchristmas TikTok: review4xmas YouTube: A Review For Christmas 

When we saw that this movie *briefly* had a higher score on Rotten Tomatoes than the Godfather, we knew it had to be this year's finale. Kathy (Lacey Chabert) is a young widow just trying to get by. She gifts a scarf to a snowman in the square and he magically comes to life as Jack (Dustin Milligan). He streaks, he steals, he is constantly on the verge of melting, and we love him for it. This camp...

Welcome to Christmas 2024. This year, Lifetime made a movie inspired by a very public romance that is barely a year old.  A young, successful popstar and a hot shot football player find romance in this kooky film. Bowyn Sykes (Jessica Lord) and Drew "Gonzo" Gonville (Laith Wallschleger) meet at her concert and he decides to shoot his shot. After a "lowkey" first date, these two decide to date for...

Last year, Hallmark gave us a gift and a masterpiece. Today we share that with you. Ever wondered what would happen if Hanukkah and Groundhog Day crossed over? Rachel (Vic Michaelis) is having the worst 7th night of Hanukkah ever, her boyfriend ditches her, the sufganiyot gets ruined, and the house catches fire. After spinning an antique dreidel she then gets to live that day over and over and ove...

2023 Hallmark chose to ask a question not many of us consider..."What if Santa was hot?"  Avery (Italia Ricci) is a budding News Anchor who might have finally gotten her big break. The night before her big Christmas broadcast, Chris (Luke Macfarlane) ends up in her house dressed as Santa. Thinking him a crook, they begin their wacky journey of her trying to save her career and him trying to save C...

Blake Shelton meets Christmas (KIND OF) in this weeks film. A businesswoman and country music star find themselves stranded in a storm trying to get home for Christmas. They travel from New York to Tulsa and FALL IN LOVE. Join us as we discuss the blossoming love of Heath (Josh Henderson) and Cara (Megan Park). Homework: Catch Me if You Claus Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas YouTube:...

In today's episode we are diving into Christmas Wedding Planner. While trying to plan her cousin's extravagant wedding, Kelsey (Jocelyn Hudon) comes face to face with Connor (Stephen Huszar), a PI who threatens to ruin it all. They team up, Kelsey hoping to prove him wrong but they soon discover that something may be amiss with the husband to be. This Christmas mystery may keep you on the edge of...

Jane Austen meets Holiday Romance in this charming tale of an event planner and a billionaire falling in love. Elizabeth Bennet (Jessica Lowndes) teams up with William Darcy (Michael Rady) to throw a town Christmas festival at his up-for-sale Manor. Between Lizzie's charm and Darcy's unflinching eye contact, we were hooked.  Homework: Christmas Wedding Planner Insta: areviewforchristmas YouTube: A...

WE ARE FINALLY TALKING ABOUT JONATHAN BENNET!! Spoiled Luce (Lexi Giovanni) is walking a neighbor's dog for some extra cash when she meets Dean, (Jonathan Bennet) a handsome local dogwalker & veterinary student. The dog park is in danger of being turned into a Spa and Luce's boss is the developer in charge! Dean works hard to convince Luce to save the dog park which will somehow save the town...

WE'RE BACK BABY! For the third and (hopefully) final installment of the Christmas Prince series. Amber(Rose McIver) and Richard(Ben Lamb) are parents to be but there are BIGGER ISSUES! A royal treaty that has been signed before Christmas every hundred years is up for renewal. Between Amber's inability to act like a royal and the treaty going missing, chaos ensues.  Insta: areviewforchristmas tikto...

After a whirlwind year, Amber (Rose McIver) and Richard (Ben Lamb) are finally set to be wed. With the hustle and bustle of planning, the over the top wedding planner Sahil (Raj Bajaj), and the never ending judgement of Ms. Averill (Sarah Douglas), Amber is beginning to feel like this life may not be for her. Can Amber and the Prince figure out how to make their two worlds work? Will Sahil create...

In 2017, Netflix dipped it's toes into the Christmas romance game with the surprise hit "A Christmas Prince". Today we discuss this I C O N I C film and the absolute disaster that it is. Amber (Rose McIver), is a young editor and is sent off to Aldovia to see if playboy Prince Richard (Ben Lamb) will choose to rule the land or abdicate the throne. A case of mistaken identity ensues where she goes...

Hallmark's gatekeeping has FINALLY come to end and we are here to regale you with all the gory details. Naomi (Janel Parrish) and Liz (Pascal Lamonthe-Kipnes) are two best friend trying to change the world one app at a time. They are heading home for Christmas and there they reconnect with high school heartthrob Chris Silver (Tyler Hines). From there you are expected to believe a love triangle occ...

You've heard us discuss and tease this episode for a while now, it's finally here! Ariel and Chelsea unpack THREE SEASONS worth of love interests and discuss if they worth getting engaged to within 10 days or less. Grab your hot cocoa, take a seat, and maybe buckle up, cause this is one doozy of a chat.    Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: reiew4xmas

No foolin' here, it's another BONUS EPISODE. Today we cover Easter Under Wraps; Erin Cavendish (Fiona Gubelmann) goes undercover at the family chocolate factory to see if handmade or automation is what is best. She meets the head chocolatier, Brian Bailey (Brendan Penny) and together they solves some factory issues, eat chocolate, and maybe fall in love? Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4x...

Fáilte to the bonus episode! Today we take you to magical Ireland where Maddie (Lindsay Lohan) is watching the love of her life marry another. After making a wish she finds that she is now marrying Paul Kennedy (Alexander Vlahos) BUT has she been given what she wants, or what she needs? These questions start to arise as she travels around Ireland with James Thomas (Ed Speleers), a handsome strange...

SURPRISE!!! Happy Valentine's y'all!!!! Today we bring you: My Secret Valentine: A young woman takes advice from the chalkboard notes that her mysterious tenant leaves when a slick sales rep arrives with plans to buy her family's prized winery. - This is the first description of this movie when you google it...and it's....kind of accurate? "Advice" is generous, but we digress, enjoy the first ever...

The Season Finale is upon us and so is another Snow Globe story. Meg is a high powered producer that is akin to Scrooge. When a snow globe hits her in the head she is transported to an alternate life where her guide, Sal, will not let her leave. In this life she is married to her high school sweetheart, showtunes Ted. Will Meg learn how to be a better person or will she sleep with the mayor and se...

Angela longs for a perfect Christmas. When she receives a mysterious Snowglobe in the mail she is transported to a land where it is always Christmas and the people there are always full of cheer. Will she choose Douglas, the town shoveler, or Eddie, a charming man who doesn't live in a Snowglobe? Homework: A Snow Globe Christmas Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas

The Christmas Kiss saga has come to an end with "Merry Kissmas". Kayla, in a loveless engagement, randomly kisses Dustin in an elevator. Neither of them can seem to forget the kiss or stay away from each other. Kayla is torn between the two men. Who will win her heart in the end? And can she set up some boundaries??? Homework: Snowglobe (2007) Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas

The magic of the elevator strikes again! This time, fashion editor assistant Jenna, kisses her boss' playboy brother under the mistletoe when an elevator shakes and squeals. Will this magic kiss help Cooper reform his bad boy ways? Can Jenna learn to trust him? Will Ariel be deeply disappointed in Chelsea's choice of men? Homework: Merry Kissmas (Christmas Kiss III) Insta: areviewforchristmas tikt...

After sharing a kiss in an elevator, Wendy learns her handsome stranger is actually her boss' boyfriend. She is then forced to work on the Christmas party for the man that cannot remember her. Will Adam remember Wendy? Will Ariel remember Wendy's name? Homework: A Christmas Kiss II (Another Christmas Kiss) Insta: areviewforchristmas tiktok: review4xmas

When town baker, Emily, receives a mysterious advent calendar, an entire town goes bonkers trying to figure out who it is from. In the meantime, newcomer and also a baker, Gerard, finds himself quite taken by his competition.  Homework: All 3 Christmas Kiss Movies Insta: areviewforchristmas Tiktok: review4xmas    

Every year at Christmas, Jackie sends a glowing newsletter to her friend Charlotte. When Charlotte's son puts in Jackie's address into their GPS, the family lands on Jackie's doorstep just days before Christmas. Thus begins Charlotte's attempts to prove Jackie is a liar and that her life is anything but perfect.  *if you have young ears listening, there is discussion of Santa Clause being real or...