‘A Dream Of Christmas’ On Hallmark Channel And 6 More ‘Countdown To Christmas’ Movie Suggestions [OPINION]
A Dream of Christmas is one of Hallmark Channel’s new original movies. A part of the network’s popular Countdown to Christmas franchise. The film centers on a Christmas wish, gone awry.
If you have already watched A Dream of Christmas and are in need of more Hallmark movies to watch, you are in luck. Listed below are six more suggestions from Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas.
Below you will find the rundown on each movie, including their synopsis, cast info, and air dates. In case you have not seen it yet, the list begins with A Dream of Christmas.
#1: A Dream of Christmas
What It’s About:
The description for A Dream of Christmas on Hallmark Channel’s website describes the movie as revolving around a frustrated wife, who fleetingly wishes she was single again, and quickly lives to regret it.
Who’s In It:
Nikki Deloach stars as Penny, the married woman who momentarily longs for her days as a singleton. Andrew Walker stars as her photographer husband, Stu. Cindy Williams plays the Christmas Angel, who makes Penny’s wish come true.
Why You Should Watch:
This story plays out with a bit more suspense than many Hallmark movies, where the ending couple seems so inevitable, or in this case destined to be. Like many Hallmark movies, A Dream of Christmas teaches a valuable lesson about treasuring what you have, before it is too late. It is refreshing to have this storyline revolve around a married couple. So many movies deal with a new couple rushing to try to find their way to romance, and A Dream of Christmas features a story where an established one is trying to find their way back together.
When It Airs:
A Dream of Christmas will air twice before the end of 2016.
December 25 at 12:30 a.m. EST
December 31 at 10 p.m. EST
#2: Christmas in Homestead
What It Is About:
Christmas in Homestead, a famous actress unexpectedly finds love with the mayor of the small town she is filming her latest movie in.
Who’s In It:
Taylor Cole stars as Jessica McElliss, the actress that Michael Rady’s single dad character, falls for. General Hospital actress Brooklyn Rae Silzer stars as the mayor’s precocious daughter, Sophie. Soap opera alum Jeff Branson stars as Jessica’s ex-flame and co-star in the movie she comes to Homestead to make.
Why You Should Watch:
One of the many themes in Hallmark movies is a career person realizing there is more to life than what they do. Such is the case in Christmas in Homestead. In this charming story, it is an actress who comes to that realization. The movie features a couple you can absolutely get behind rooting for to be together, and that is not always the case. Actors Taylor Cole and Michael Rady share compelling screen chemistry that only adds to the story’s credibility.
When It Airs:
Christmas in Homestead will air two more times before the end of 2016 and once on New Year’s Day.
December 25 at 6:30 a.m. EST
December 27 at 8 p.m. EST
January 1, 2017, at 12 p.m. EST
#3: Sleigh Bells Ring
What It’s About:
According to Hallmark Channel’s website, Sleigh Bells Ring follows a single mom, whose Christmas spirit is restored by her former paramour.
Who’s In It:
Erin Cahill stars as the struggling single mom, Laurel. David Alpay plays her love interest and Dakota Guppy stars as Laurel’s daughter.
Why You Should Watch:
One of the many formulas for Hallmark Christmas movies is a character, who has lost their holiday spirit, eventually having it restored to them. This is the case for Sleigh Bells Ring. These sorts of stories never get old. There is something relatable about someone losing their Christmas spirit and timelessly touching about having them regain it.
When It Airs:
Sleigh Bells Ring will air three more times in 2016.
December 25 at 8 a.m. EST
December 28 at 6 p.m. EST
December 30 at 2 p.m. EST
#4: My Christmas Dream
What It Is About:
As described on Hallmark Channel’s website, My Christmas Dream revolves around Christine, the ambitious manager of a top-flight department store. She aims to earn a promotion with the help of a former employee/single dad, with whom she falls in love.
Who’s In It:
Danica McKellar stars as the resolute Christine, while David Haydn-Jones plays her love interest. Days of Our Lives actress Deidre Hall co-stars as the decider of Christine’s professional fate.
Why You Should Watch:
The always-entertaining Danica McKellar gives another excellent performance as Christine, a slightly cold-hearted department store manager, who finds her heart melted by the plight of a single dad and his son. It takes a while for Christine to warm-up, but when she does the story really comes to life even more. Like A Christmas Dream, there is a lot of tension around whether the hoped-for happy ending for My Christmas Dream will come true. Rest assured, it is worth the wait to find out.
When It Airs:
My Christmas Dream will air twice more before the end of the year.
December 25 at 5 p.m. EST
December 31 at 6 p.m. EST
#5: My Christmas Love
What It Is About:
According to the official description for My Christmas Love on Hallmark Channel’s official website, the movie follows a young woman determined to find the perfect man, when she begins receiving the gifts from the “12 Days of Christmas” song via a secret admirer. She soon becomes enraptured by the mystery surrounding their true identity and whether they could be her true love.
Who’s In It:
Meredith Hagner stars as Cynthia, the recipient of the gifts. To find out if Bobby Campo or Aaron O’Connell plays her secret admirer, you will have to watch the movie. Megan Park and Gregory Harrison also star.
Why You Should Watch:
My Christmas Love is honestly, the best Hallmark Christmas movie that has ever been made by the network. The story is remarkably fresh, original, and devoid of any formulaic plot developments. Meredith Hagner is exceedingly entertaining as the vivacious Cynthia and her co-star Bobby Campo compliments her energy, perfectly. Rooting for a coupling on paper is one thing that Hallmark tends to succeed with, but in the case of My Christmas Love, the chemistry between the actors largely enhances its selling features.
When It Airs:
My Christmas Love will air two more times before the end of the year and once on New Year’s Day.
December 25 at 9:30 a.m. EST
December 28 at 10 p.m. EST
January 1, 2017 at 6 p.m. EST
#6: The Mistletoe Promise
What It Is About:
In The Mistletoe Promise, two professionals, who each share a dislike of the Christmas season for separate reasons, find themselves in need of a significant other for their work life through the holidays. So they decide to forge The Mistletoe Promise, a contract with parameters meant to help them handle their temporary, fake relationship. As time wears on, they find their attempt at romantic forgery turning into something real.
Who’s In It:
Jaime King stars as Elise, the jilted divorcee with whom Luke MacFarlene’s Nicholas makes his business arrangement. Lochlyn Munro co-stars as Elise’s spiteful ex-husband.
Why You Should Watch:
The inclusion of a jerk ex-husband provides The Mistletoe Promise with something that is rarely found in Hallmark movies, a straight-up villain. As Nicholas (Luke MacFarlene) helps mend Elise’s (Jaime King) broken heart, she helps restore his in turn. This movie features a sweet romance that’s tension is founded on the fact it is based on a lie. Worrying about it blowing up in their faces, certainly adds to the anxiety of the premise, but rooting for them to make it through whatever happens helps offset it.
When It Airs:
The Mistletoe Promise will air two more times in 2016.
December 25 at 3:30 p.m. EST
December 30 at 8 p.m. EST
#7: Crown for Christmas
What It Is About:
According to Hallmark Channel’s website, in Crown for Christmas, a recently fired maid is hired by a European king to be the governess to his young daughter.
Who’s In It:
Danica McKellar stars as the maid-turned-governess. Rupert Penry-Jones stars as King Maximillian and Ellie Botterill as Princess Theodora.
Why You Should Watch:
A heroine finding her fairy-god-prince is not a new storyline for Hallmark movies, albeit it is one that never actually gets stale. Crown for Christmas is a prime example of why. You want to see Allie (Danica McKellar) get a fairytale life and a happy ending. That’s because she truly deserves one and as the story develops that only becomes more apparent.
When It Airs:
Crown for Christmas will air three more times before the end of 2016.
December 25 at 9:30 p.m. EST
December 28 at 8 p.m. EST
December 31 at 2 p.m. EST
Be sure to catch A Dream for Christmas and all of the other movies mentioned above from Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas when they air at the times listed above.
[Featured Image by Hallmark Crown Media]
