Nauseating Holiday Movies
As I attempt to write “25 Days of Christmas Movies,” I’m amazed at the countless Christmas movies out there, especially on the Hallmark and Lifetime channels. Unfortunately, those predictable, cookie cutter made-for-TV movies nauseate me. Mom has an extensive number of those movies recorded and ready to watch on our shared DVR. I have difficulty bringing myself to watch those predictable, cookie-cutter holiday romances.
I wonder why Hallmark and Lifetime think women want to watch these predictably, cheesy romances. I guess filmmakers assume women like this kind of stuff, because the romance novel genre, also predictable, is popular among women (especially younger women) who buy into this unrealistic crap of happily-ever-after. Also the same crap that Disney movies, like Snow White, infiltrate into the minds of little girls who dream about their future wedding before they’re old enough to start school. In both the cheesy made-for-TV movies for women and the romance novel genre, the main characters are unrealistically good looking. The leading ladies have the perfect figure while the leading men are at least six-foot tall with a full head of hair. Everyone has pearly white teeth. Do you ever notice that a not-so-good-looking, but talented actor like Steve Buscemi has never been the leading man? The plot is the same with the same unrealistically, happily-ever-after ending. Same movies and books, but different titles, settings, and actors. Yet, there are some actresses like Candice Cameron Bure (Full House alum) and Lacey Chabert (Party of Five and Mean Girls) who keep starring in this mindless entertainment that offers viewers an escape from reality by trying to make them feel good for about ninety minutes or so. Then, it’s back to the daily grind of life.
Hallmark and Lifetime, especially Hallmark, use the need for a reality escape to their advantage. Krystie Lee Yandoli (2019), Buzz Feed reporter, shares:
“People need to feel good. They need to feel positive,” said Michelle Vicary, the executive vice president of programming and network publicity for Crown Media Family Networks, which owns the Hallmark Channel. “There’s so much good television that is dark, edgy, and fantastic. But in the huge spectrum of the human experience, things can also turn out okay. Life can be good and life can be positive, and people need that too. That’s where we come in and that’s where our brand comes in and delivers on an emotional experience that says, ‘You know what, things are going to turn out okay, and you’re good and life is good.’” https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krystieyandoli/hallmark-christmas-movies
My idea of an escape from reality is watching comedies, with or without the romance. Give me something with witty humor that may be a bit raunchy and contain slapstick. The obviously, clichéd happily-ever-after movies may be a reality escape for a lot of women, but to me, they are a reminder of what I don’t have and the happily-ever-after I came close to having two Christmases ago. In December 2017, two of my dreams came true: I published my second book, Living Single Today, and got engaged on Christmas Eve. After 15 years of singleness, I believed my dreams for marriage and family were about to come true. Eight months later, we broke off the engagement, but decided to stay friends.
I had never been a fan of holiday romance movies even before my romantic Christmas. Two years after my long-awaited dream almost came true, I find it harder to watch holiday romances. Surprisingly, my 65-year-old widowed mother enjoys these movies. They remind her of Dad, who’s been gone six-and-a-half years now. Though Mom has no desire to remarry, she likes to reminisce about her time with Dad and if I had had a love like that, I might feel the same. Maybe someday, I may have a romance of my own. For now, I’m not ready and I prefer to enjoy my freedom as a single woman.
