Tag: movies

Why I’m living the Hallmark Channel lifestyle

I realize that I’m putting my Man Card at risk for this, but I’m coming out of the closet on a lifestyle choice. I, ahem, watch Hallmark Channel movies. A lot.

I’m not sure when this all started, but I’m thinking sometime last year. My wife had it on a lot, so I would just sit down and watch with her.

Then I began tuning in for myself even when she wasn’t around. Now, it’s a daily habit.

I know there’s a lot of Hallmark Channel hate out there, and for good reason. Most of stories are predictable, full of cliches like that of the up-and-coming big city girl who goes back to her quaint Vermont hometown for Christmas and meets up with her long-ago high school crush. He’s wearing flannel and is an incredible boy scout, helping old ladies cross the street and doing repairs free of charge for anyone and everyone.

And there’s more, like no sex. Ever! And Christmas seems to last year-round in Hallmark land. New England has a lock on locations. We see the same leading actors over and over.

Then why am I watching? Here’s what keeps me there:

First, we have a 6-year old in the house who watches with us a lot. He gets wrapped up in the Hallmark stories, and it seems pretty age-appropriate to me.  He loves the weekly Hallmark mystery episode.

But the big draw for me is the sense that, ultimately, each Hallmark Channel movie is positive and upbeat. I’m looking to escape the violence and horror that the daily news routinely brings. That’s why I can’t bring myself to follow true-crime podcasts or shows with antiheroes like Breaking Bad.

It all wears me out.

Now, over the past couple of years, I have escaped the Hallmark Channel enough to watch each season of Ted Lasso all the way through — twice. But, Ted Lasso may be the most positive and upbeat show I’ve ever seen, although not nearly as predictable — or innocent — as Hallmark movies.

I know I’m not alone. I have a friend I’ll call “Ed” who also watches a lot of Hallmark Channel, although he recently told me that he can’t get into this year’s crop of movies.

Your loss, Ed.

Christmas season launched on the Hallmark Channel the first of October, and we’ve still got dozens of new movies to watch. What’s not to like? It’s New England at Christmas. Snowfall. Town Square. Christmas tree lighting. Pushy, micro-managing boss back in NYC. Bed and breakfast. Beautiful girl. Plenty of flannel.

I’m always there, ready to hope against hope that the lovely young starlet and her handsome would-be beau can finally admit they have a thing for each other and share a Hallmark kiss in the final minute of each episode.

OK, there, I admitted it. I’m hooked on Hallmark. Whew, the weight is off my shoulders.

Wait, where is my Man Card?

BONUS CONTENT:

Favorite female Hallmark actor: Lacy Chabert

Favorite male Hallmark actor: Paul Campbell

Favorite episode: Three Wise Men and a Baby is a favorite. Plus an episode I can’t recall the title for, but revolves around a young woman/attorney who sets out to save her parents’ mom-and-pop restaurant against destruction by big city developers.

For crying out loud, ‘Ted Lasso’ packs emotional punch

Ted Lasso
American football coach Ted Lasso on the pitch as coach of a Premier League team in England.

Confession. I often get so caught up in the on-screen experiences of characters in movies that I have to choke back the tears. The emotion hits me like an unexpected punch.

Sometimes it’s a movie I’ve seen many times, with scenes that stir my emotions again and again.

It’s a Wonderful Life, for instance.

When the entire community of Bedford Falls rushes to George Bailey’s house to rescue him financially at the end of the movie, I’m fighting off the tears. Every. Single. Time. Can’t help it.

And I know what’s coming beforehand.

But recently a powerful scene in a television show hit me right in the feels. It was the final episode of Season 1 of Apple TV’s Ted Lasso.

If you’re not familiar with it, Ted Lasso is a series about an American football coach — Ted Lasso — who’s lured to England to coach a Premier League soccer team.

He knows absolutely nothing about soccer.

Lasso endures countless insults and plots against him throughout his first season as coach of the Richmond team. Yet, he never waivers from his relentlessly positive outlook in every situation.

He delivers a sort of American optimism and corny naivety that bewilders the British.

In fact, Lasso subtly and slowly wins the heart of his players, Richmond fans and even the scheming team owner. She hired him only because she thought he would do a terrible job and ruin the value of the franchise as a way to get back at her ex-husband.

In the end, Richmond does lose the final match of the season, which means it will be relegated to a lower league.

However, after the game, Lasso stands before his team in the locker room and delivers a heartfelt tribute to the players and shows them exactly how far they have come.

That’s when it hit me. Unexpected. Out of the blue.

Ted Lasso office
Ted Lasso in his coach’s office

I found myself all choked up as I watched Lasso’s speech. Fortunately, I was alone in the room, so no one was there to laugh as I blinked back tears.

Anyway, I highly recommend Ted Lasso if you can tolerate the incredible amount of profanity by virtually every character in the show, except Ted Lasso himself.

But Ted Lasso delivers what I see as an awesome message about having a positive impact on people around you — even those who may not be ready to receive it.

I’m not crying. You’re crying.

BONUS! I thought of a few other movies that can hit you with an unexpected emotional reaction. There are scores of them, of course. But these are the ones that are most vivid in my memory.

The Blind Side
A Star Is Born (2018 version with Lady Gaga)
Field of Dreams
Clouds
The Fault in Our Stars (I blame my daughter for taking me to see this one)
The Pursuit of Happiness
Toy Story 3
To Kill a Mockingbird
Good Will Hunting
As Good as It Gets
Moneyball
Dead Poets Society
Good Morning Vietnam