In the world of television movies, there are Lifetime movies and Hallmark movies. Lifetime movies are filled with the pathos of being a woman, generally in peril. In my most recent infamous venture, Stalked by a Neighbor, a teenage girl and her mother are attacked in their big city apartment and move to the suburbs, where the girl proceeds to take photos of the entire neighborhood, unearthing a murder plot involving the people across the street.
On the other hand, Hallmark movies are about the joy of affluent country or small-town life filled with old-timey traditional (read: Christian) values and magical realism. The one I’m watching as I’m writing this stars Harry Connick, Jr. and Connie Britton as a family in a small town with Lyle Lovett as a neighbor. Harry has to deal with his past hatred of Christmas that involves Willie Nelson…think a feature length edition of Phoebe Cates’ Christmas reveal from Gremlins.
Mariah Carey is making her directorial debut on the Hallmark Channel with A Christmas Melody, a movie about…Christmas and Mariah Carey. I guess there are some children involved. Because this is the Hallmark Channel, there’s only 30 seconds for them to tell you that she’s starring and directing in the movie, along with Lacey Chabert (aka Gretchen Weiners from Mean Girls) and Kathy Najimy. These stars fill my heart with such unforeseeable joy. If that weren’t enough, there’s a hidden treat that the trailer is not revealing.
A Christmas Melody is written by David Diamond and David Weissman. Right now, you might be asking yourself, “Who?!” Well, shame on you. This duo writing team has been kicking around Hollywood for the better part of 2 decades! Their breakthrough hit was the Nicholas Cage downer The Family Man. Next up was the Ivan Reitman sci-fi comedy Evolution starring David Duchovney and Julianne Moore. They also were responsible for the John Travolta and Robin Williams vehicle, Old Dogs, and the Kristen Bell romantic comedy When in Rome. With such a blockbuster line-up of acclaimed hit after hit, this whole concoction starts turning into a ready-made Christmas Classic.
I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that this movie could be something special. I hope you join me in watching at least the trailer. Enjoy!
