By MAGGIE MEDVETZ – Break out the Old Navy jingle jammies and chocolate stained Christmas mugs in the back of the cupboard, because ladies and gentlemen, it’s every middle-aged mom’s favorite time of year.

That’s right folks, it’s Hallmark Christmas movie season.  The time when not only heartwarming Christmas stories are played twenty-four-seven,  but new movies premiere every weekend, often starring everyone’s favorite Hallmark icons such as Lacey Chabert, Candace Cameron Bure, and Chad Micael Murray.

One of the biggest criticisms that Hallmark movies are burdened with is their predictability.  Yes, every movie ends the same way; but it’s about how the characters get there, and how the small town baking competition or local bookstore is saved.  Although cliche, the phrase “it’s about the journey, not the destination,” rings like the jingle bells on the old red truck driving through every Hallmark town.

“I like Hallmark movies especially the Christmas ones because they always have a good story and always put me in a Christmas mood,” shares senior Ashley Hite.

The predictability of Hallmark movies also warms the mind and body with its security.  Watchers are never left wondering if there will be a happy ending or not because from the moment the two leads come on the screen, they know.

Adding to their security, the movies are on all the time, running twenty-four-seven from the end of October through the holiday season.  Having a lazy Tuesday afternoon?  Insomnia keeping you up?  Just turn on the Hallmark channel and you’re in for a good time.

I, along with other students, understand why Scrooges and Grinches across America choose to cast their shade upon Hallmark Christmas movies.  

Same actors, same plot, bad acting; trust me, as an avid Hallmark movie enthusiast, I’ve heard all the half-hearted excuses.  Yet there are many reasons as to why these ice-cold feelings should be saved for the credit card bills coming in January.

“I think they might get a bad rap because some people say that all of the movies have the same storyline,” explains Hite.  “But each one is different and tells the same story in a different way in my opinion.”

Junior Anna Margita agreed noting, “Hallmark movies may get a bad rap because of the acting; it isn’t well, believable.  Along with this, each movie is always the same ending.  Although, they shouldn’t get this bad rap because I believe each movie puts you in a mindset, and that mindset makes me want to go about and do Christmas miracles in our own Hallmark town!”

To validate these feelings, Hallmark Christmas movies demonstrate the importance of small towns and shopping small.  Everyone knows the iconic small towns featured in just about every Hallmark Christmas movie.  With this in mind, we cannot forget the classic Hallmark plots of finding the perfect gift at an uptown antique store or saving a local restaurant.

As proud citizens of Indiana, how can we not love these small-town values that are depicted?  Ligonier, just a short drive away, was ranked #4 on a national ranking of most Hallmark-like small towns.  Indiana was consistently ranked amongst the top 10 in Pennsylvania for the same topic.

Viewers can also get their fix of familiar faces with frequent actors and actresses.  Mean Girls’ Lacey Chabert, A Cinderella Story’s Chad Micheal Murray, and last but certainly not least Full House’s Candace Cameron Bure all make recurrent appearances on Hallmark Christmas movies.

Critics of these movies can complain all they want, but there is no denying that Hallmark Christmas movies aren’t as bad as some make them out to be.  There are multiple elements of each movie that make them comforting and put watchers into the holiday spirit. 

So, if watchers find themselves in this critical perspective, I hope that they take advice from every 30-year-old woman in Hallmark movies and give things a second chance. Whether it be a Hallmark movie or a hometown ex back in Christmasland, Evergreen, or Graceland.

Photo courtesy of The Hallmark Channel