“Will you marry me?” The momentous question most people hope to hear sometime in their life. It can change the whole future, getting to spend the rest of their lives with the person they love most. However, this may seem unrealistic to many, and various representations of this ideal can be found in movies today. Growing up, children are told stories that have the perfect fairytale ending, but these conclusions seem impossible. Plenty of pressure builds from this, which can perpetuate hurtful stereotypes. On the other hand, dozens of good movies also stem from it.
Hallmark was brought to life in 1951 by J.C. Hall. His original plan was to create a company that would one day become the world’s leading provider of greeting cards. Through heartfelt sayings and scripture, the creator wanted to design something that would make an impact on the person receiving the card. Over the years, Hallmark’s popularity grew, enabling it to establish channels across multiple networks and streaming platforms. It first started with the production of movies, with TV shows following shortly after. Nowadays, one may watch their works on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, or Hallmark+. As their media becomes more popular, there have been questions about the films and how similar many appear.
While numerous people have certain opinions about the company’s work, there is still an abundance of Hallmark media popularity, especially during the Christmas season. The company decided to provide something that would bring people back every year, called the Countdown to Christmas, where the company shows all of their different films and TV series. As reported by Forbes, it is estimated that over the following weeks in December, the Hallmark Channel will attract nearly 80 million viewers, each watching at least one film on average. This might make an individual think that the channel is simply popular and highly admired by fans. In stark contrast, there are many critics who think Hallmark’s movies are pointless, boring, and repetitive. Every production ends with each protagonist falling in love and living happily ever after, which may appear harmless. However, one factor that appears to influence viewers’ minds is how the plot is presented to audiences. There aren’t excessive amounts of drama, conflict, or cinematic value to the movies. So, why does Hallmark keep making these films if the ending is inevitable? Well, this is what they have always done. The company desires to make its work something that will leave its loyal patrons with that cozy and warm feeling.
Within the movies themselves, there are many faces that audiences don’t usually see. Hallmark likes to bring in a large quantity of actors who aren’t typically seen in the Hollywood landscape. Some notable performers include Candace Cameron Bure, known as D.J. Tanner, from “Full House;” Lacey Chabert, who plays Gretchen Wieners in “Mean Girls”; and Chad Michael Murray, best known for “A Cinderella Story” and “Freaky Friday.” If these more obscure actors do not reel in viewers, why doesn’t Hallmark just get more prominent people to play in their movies? Well, this would mean copious amounts of money they would need to spend on production, and less they would be able to accumulate in such a short amount of time.
Despite numerous controversies surrounding Hallmark movies, they leave an enduring sense that endless possibilities and bright futures lie ahead. There is no doubt that many people like to include these films in their Christmas traditions, but others seem to think that there is no point in watching them. The one thing that everyone agrees on is that there is nothing like cozying up with hot cocoa, a fuzzy blanket, and knowing that the ending of the movie is going to be full of happiness.
