Typically, the holidays are a time of year for top-tier films. When all the general public can finally watch the projects critics have been raving about since the annual summer film festivals. Most of these films are going to be Oscar contenders, while others are going to be lost in the void of motion pictures. The iconic films with Margot Robbie, as an old Hollywood star, or Austin Butler, portraying one of the most prominent rockstars in history. 

But unfortunately, in this day and age that’s not entirely the truth anymore.  Jodie Sweetin is playing real-estate executive, Erica, who is traveling to Alaska for the holidays. She ends up staying at a bed-and-breakfast, eventually discovering it’s owned by her ex. 

From the predictable plot to the atrocious acting, to the far-fetched amount of time it takes for two people to fall in love. Hallmark Christmas Movies are the bane of the holiday experience. 

In case it hasn’t registered yet, Hallmark recycles the same plot for every single one of their movies, as well as the same antagonizing clichés.

This is one of Hallmark’s biggest issues: once you’ve watched one, you’ve practicaly watched them all. Each film has the same structure that starts out with one of the main characters returning to their hometown after pursuing a career in the big city. In the meantime, the other main character has lived in the same small town they both grew up in to work on their family’s Christmas tree farm.

When disaster strikes, and the character is forced to return to their past, they end up getting  stuck in that small town till Christmas. This is when the two main characters bump into each other, sparking their flawless romance. 

The constant, cringy encounters, progress their relationship sending the two of them going on a roller coaster of emotions, with the city goer threatening to return to their normal life, and the viewers  gaining commitment to the film. At this point, the hometown lover professes their undying love for their short time fling. This leads to the ultimate happily ever after.

One of the more noteworthy problems with Hallmark movies is the atrocious acting. These films are practically guidelines for filmmakers who want their movies defined by forced laughter, and cringy dialogue that makes you question all of your life choices.

The actors regularly break the number one rule of the art: Don’t make it obvious to the viewers that you are acting. It shouldn’t feel forced. Time and time again the actors are smiling way too much or laughing at a joke that never in a million years would be considered funny. In general the acting is what turns most people away from these films.

 Finally it’s time to talk about one of the most unrealistic parts of these movies: the fact that these characters are falling in love so freaking quickly. We’re all familiar with the classic love at first sight trope, but the fact that it is happening film after film shows the repetitive nature. The people in these movies are falling in love quicker than most high school relationships last. Any reason minded person would know that it takes a lot more than being stuck in a blizzard and the holiday spirit to fall in love with someone the way that the characters in these movies do. 

Sure, Hallmark Movies can be heartwarming and peaceful, showing holiday spirit, and happy endings that leave people feeling good inside. But in the end the flaws that are ingrained in these films end up seeping through. These movies have a variety of issues, like their repetitive nature, and the vile acting, that turn some people away. So next holiday season, when you sit down to watch a movie with your family, remember the films that are meant for the silver screen instead of the ones destined to be ignored on streaming services.