This holiday season I treated myself to watching a lot of Christmas romance movies. While I enjoyed the stories and loved the characters, I struggled to suspend my disbelief in the outdoor winter scenes.
In many of the movies—even those where a snowstorm closed airports, roads, and towns—the characters headed outside in below freezing temperatures wearing a light winter coat hanging open. They rarely wore mittens, boots or hats, and their scarves were merely stylish accessories.
What would the reality be? I’ll simply say when I attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, we called the open center of campus Little Siberia. To walk across campus, I wore two pairs of wool socks, hiking boots, long underwear, jeans, a turtleneck under a wool sweater, under a wool blazer and a down coat. Under my hood, I pulled my hat down to my eyebrows and wrapped my scarf over my nose.
In one movie, despite conditions like above, the town managed to plow Main Street for the Christmas parade. Because other roads were impassable, the entire town walked to the event dressed more for October weather. One girl in the crowd wore nothing more than a knitted poncho with bare arms visible as she waved to those on vehicles easily navigating the freshly plowed street. In reality, the street wouldn’t have been plowed and if it had, the city still would’ve cancelled the parade.
In many movies, the couple have had conversations outside. Often the heroine wore a strapless ball gown or cocktail dress, but the hero generously offered his tux/suit jacket to keep her warm. The couple finish their discussion, usually involving a big emotional reveal, and share a romantic kiss. Really? In reality, after two minutes tops they’d be charging inside or turning into well-dressed icicles.
Another thing I found odd that pulled me out of the story was everyone drinking hot cocoa and no one asking for coffee. How often in a coffee or donut shop do you see anyone over twelve order hot chocolate rather than coffee? In addition, when the characters wandered into the kitchen because they couldn’t sleep and ran into each other, they drank hot cocoa, chatted, and shared a romantic moment. Don’t get me wrong. Give me a cup with a peppermint stick and a dollop of real whip cream and call me happy. But in the real world, if I had hot chocolate in the cupboard, chances are it’s expired or dried into a hard clump.
I found myself developing a holiday decorating inferiority complex because every house inside and out looked as if the owners hired a professional decorator. The reality? Who knows how long it took the set director and crew to accomplish the task. For me, even if I started in September with an unlimited budget, I wouldn’t obtain those results by Christmas. And don’t get me started on stories where a Christmas shop provided the character’s sole income. No wonder she was having financial troubles.
Okay, I know they were movies, not documentaries. Maybe I had trouble suspending my disbelief because authors rarely get away with tweaking reality that much and my last novel, Aiming for His Heart, was set in winter. I considered how would my characters get around if the roads were closed. What would they eat? How long would they be cut off from the world?
Would I give up a moment of watching any of the movies? No way. But while I enjoyed these movies, I couldn’t help but think, would it hurt the story and destroy the mood for characters to wear hats (okay my cover heroine doesn’t have one, oops), gloves, and decent boots and for the character who adores Christmas to own a store that sells other items during the year?
What do you think ab0ut Christmas romance movies? What’s your favorite thing or your pet peeve about them?
Julie Benson has written five novels for Harlequin American, and her Wishing, Texas series is available from Tule Publishing. Now that her three sons have left the nest in Dallas, when she isn't writing, Julie spends her time working on home improvement projects, rescuing dogs, and visiting Texas wineries with her husband. Visit her at www.juliebenson.net.
I’m not a huge fan of Christmas romance movies… I love the classics, like It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street, but not the more modern movies. They seem too cliche and shallow (hallmark movies are too cookie cutter for my taste).
As far as drinking cocoa, I’m all for that if I can use my own homemade recipe & use milk instead of water as a base! We actually make a couple of batches of our cocoa mix by the end of every winter. My husband especially love it!
Ami, It’s a Wonderful Life is one of my top three movies! I love the message. It reminds me that even small things and kindnesses make a huge difference. “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.” And I can’t help but say every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings when I hear a bell ring.
Thanks for stopping by today. May your 2024 be blessed!
It isn’t just Christmas movies that have disconnects from reality: I willingly suspend my disbelief and lose myself in fiction when watching movies and reading books (how many mention necessities like having to use the necessity and so on). “Home Alone” had a ridiculous premise, but I still enjoy watching it (and in our family, a male cousin was once left behind during a pit stop on the NJ turnpike, requiring a quick trip back to retrieve him, once my aunt and uncle noticed he was AWOL [6 kids in family]).
Mary, good point. I think the weather thing first caught my eye because I know when it gets really cold here in Texas no one knows how to dress because they dress like the folks in . Then once I thought that, critiquing winter wear became like a running joke for me. We all have our funny quirks. My oldest son has a degree in forensics and refuses to watch shows like CSI because he says they get too many things wrong!
BTW, I love Home Alone. I can see how they left Kevin behind. (My mom was one of seven and when they were all together with their families chaos reigned.) Now all these years later, as a mom, it’s scary to think how many weapons and traps Kevin could create from household items. But then, I can believe that too. It’s something my oldest son would’ve done, and my youngest at four would hide my favorite shoes to watch me go crazy trying to remember where I left them!
Thank you for stopping by today to chat. I hope 2024 brings you many blessings.
I agree with you about the coats and how everyone walks around like it’s spring or fall… I love Christmas movies and I try not to judge this part of it. I just enjoy and like the warm Christmassy feelings they give me. I must admit, I did not watch a whole lot of Hallmark movies this season. But the ones I watched for the most part I enjoyed.
Kathleen, I loved every moment of watching the movies but for me, once I noticed the winter wear thing it became almost a running joke. Of the movies I watched, I think my favorite was Three Wise Men and a Baby. I probably enjoyed it so much because the main characters are three brothers. They were all very different the way my boys. They also picked at each other and fought the way my three did and still do! There were hilarious scenes because it showed how clueless guys can be at times. My favorites were the picture with Santa and the Sugar Plum fairy dance scenes. If you haven’t watched that one, you should! An added benefit is it stars two of my Hallmark favorite actors, Andrew Walker and Tyler Hynes.
Thank you for stopping by to chat. May your 2024 be blessed!
Hey Julie! I chuckled through some of your post! I agree. But, in Florida, it’s rarely too cold! Although any degrees below 50 is cold to me! LOL I’m not much on Christmas movies or Hallmark. I do like a good western or even those regency period movies. And I was a Downton Abbey fan. I’m not a fan of contemporary. But, I guess that is where the fan club is going these days.
Happy New Year!
Tracy, isn’t it funny how our definition of cold depends on where we live? When I was at Iowa State in the spring if it hit 50 there were those who’d throw on shorts and sit outside in the sun!
As to contemporaries, I think there will always be historical and period movies and books. I loved Downton Abbey, old westerns like John Wayne’s Big Jake, and good historical romances.
Thank you for being here today. Wishing you many blessings in 2024!
Those are all the reasons I have a hard time watching many of the Hallmark movies, but there have been a few good ones. My pet peeve is the empty to-go cups they walk around with – swinging their arms!
Susan, I thought I was the only one who noticed the to-go coffee cup thing! I see you’re another keen observer. My son graduated with a degree in musical theatre and acts in local productions. Them doing that would drive him crazy. I mean, really, how hard is it to remember you’re supposed to be carrying hot coffee? Oh, excuse me. If it’s a Christmas movie, piping hot cocoa! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by to reassure me that I’m not the only one who notices things like this in movies and for making me laugh!
Have a wonderful day and may your 2024 be blessed!
Hi Julie. I am over twelve and drink hot chocolate occasionally but never in a coffee shop!! Seriously, where are all the coffee lovers? I also appreciate all of the made up corporate logos in these movies.
Paul, I have to give you credit for this post. It never would’ve happened without our discussions about movies at a certain coffee shop. The next drink, even if it’s not hot chocolate is on me. Thanks again for the help and inspiration for this one!
I chuckled as I read through your post because it’s so true! I think part of it is the way our brains accept what is visual over what is written. If it’s visual, our brain is more easily lulled into a feeling of belief (until that belief is tested). Whereas, with written media, where the reader must provide the visual in their own mind, that suspension of disbelief is harder. Now that I write, I find it more difficult to enjoy shows and movies I once did. It’s probably why I pretty much only watch crime documentaries anymore LOL. Happy New Year, my friend.
Kari, I’m the same way with having trouble enjoying shows and movies the way I did now that I write. I often find myself thinking “an editor would never let me do that because it’s not accurate.” I don’t understand why authors are held to a different standard than screenwriters. Maybe it’s because of what you explained about our brains more easily accepting what’s visual. (BTW, I didn’t know that fact! But then your knowledge and business sense always astounds me.
The two highlights of Deadwood were rooming with you and meeting Kathy Rader and her hubby.
I always prefer books over movies, so I watch very few movies these days. With books, I get a better insight into how the characters think, and I use my imagination to picture it all and fill in any gaps. After I finish my work for the day, you’ll find me curled up with a good book, not in front of the television or a movie screen.
Janice, books do allow us to have better insight to characters. That’s one thing that’s kept me from trying to write a screenplay. It’s also why when I watch some movies I feel like I haven’t seen enough of a relationship progression that the happily-ever-after feels real.
Thank you for being here today. It’s coldish (cold for Texas) here today and very gray. Curling up with a good cup of tea and a good book this afternoon sounds like a great idea. I wish you a happy and blessed 2024.
I have a friend who watches all the Hallmark movies every Christmas. I find them similar. I watch a few but that is it. Where are the tea drinkers?
Debra, that’s another good point. I’m a tea drinker, too. Personally, I think the Christmas movies would be a touch better if they wouldn’t be so over the top Christmas wise. I think that’s where the everyone drinking hot cocoa comes from. Because it’s Christmas everyone has to drink that and have a Christmas cookie. However, I have seen a couple where folks drink hot cider. If they toned down the decorations and Christmas festivals some, for me the movies would be more relatable and real. Sometimes I wonder if the screenwriters have ever been to a small town parade or know what kind of a budge towns have for parades and festivals. Few of the small towns I’ve been to have the money and volunteer base to put on events the small towns in movies pull off.
Thank you for being here today. Tea drinkers unite! May you have wonderful varieties of that beverage to enjoy this winter and may your 2024 be blessed.
You know what bugs me? When one of them steps out the front door, to meet a visitor or whatever, they leave the front door wide open while they talk. NO ONE WHO LIVES IN COLD COUNTRY WOULD DO THAT!!!
Shut the door for heavens sakes. You’re letting all the heat out of the house!!!
Mary, you are so right! How could I have missed that detail? I ended up cutting another thing that REALLY bothered me that I saw in a movie. The family who ran an Connecticut inn always placed the tree by the fireplace! Seriously?! Did the writers not realize what a fire hazard that was? And with it being a business the liability issue would be a huge risk. That made me mad because I worried someone would think putting the tree there was a great idea without knowing how unsafe it was. How did no one catch that and change it since there was no story reason for the tree to be located there? I can tell you our editors sure wouldn’t let us do anything so foolish? And on the off chance it got by, our readers would let us know because they’re smart.
I remember Gilmore Girls, which I watched some but not faithfully, it bugged me that people were forever pouring themselves HUGE cups of coffee, barely taking a sip, then setting the cups down and leaving for work or school or wherever. EITHER FINISH YOUR COFFEE, TAKE IT WITH YOU, OR GET SMALLER CUPS. I suppose they decided holding a big mug was cool for the camera???
You’re right about this too. In the real world, if we pour a big cup of coffee we put it in a travel cup because we know we won’t finish it and then we can take it to work! You saying it probably looked cool on camera reminded me of something I heard about the Friends set. They were supposed to be struggling young people, but apparently a lot of items in the apartments were very expensive!
I have a select few that are my favorites and they don’t look like Hallmark movies today even though some may be. They look more realistic. I have noted the lack of winter clothing in them before and thought the same that the characters would be freezing. My main pet peeve is that the majority of those movies look like Christmas barfed in their house with all the decorations that in reality no one has.
Naomi, thank you for the laugh! I wish I’d have said that the houses look like they barfed up a Christmas store! I wanted to but decided to be more polite. You’re right. Even my bff who LOVES Christmas and decorating her house doesn’t have that many decorations. I wish they’d make it more realistic and give us ideas that we could implement in our holiday decorating.
Thank you for stopping by today and making me laugh. From now on when I see over the top decorating in movies I’ll think of you and how they barfed up Christmas! May your 2024 be blessed.
oh wow I so agree with you on this. but because it is all made up, I try to just go with the flow. at one time I said something about this to my husband. he looked at me and just said “would you rather I just turn the movie off?” oh wow no, I do so enjoy the movies set in winter. and the books I read in winter. so stop complaining Lori, LOL thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year to you and yours
Lori, I wouldn’t give up watching the movies because of this, but it does give me a good laugh when I watch. I guess the lightweight winter clothes makes me think of how cold it was simply opening the door to grab a package on days like they depict. Then my mind is off and racing about how cold we’d be after coming in from making a snowman or watching a Christmas parade. But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the movies and the hopeful message they often convey.
Thank you for being here, and may your 2024 be blessed.
I love Christmas movies.
Balsam Hill provides the Christmas decor for many of the films, and you can tell when they don’t.
Hot chocolate is a requirement in a pitch. Snow is required. There are specific things producers and networks require in a pitch. They are usually filmed in Canada in summer, though some are filmed as late as November.
They are filmed in about 2.5 weeks, and they can be turned around to air in about 2 weeks if necessary.
When the winter movies (January) actually contained wintry scenes, those were filmed near Banff in December and January.
I know a lot of BTS–behind the scenes.
Are they always realistic, no, but I still love them.
Denise, you are a great source of info. When I mentioned the weather/clothes thing, a dear friend Denise, reminded me the movies are filmed in Canada in the summer and the poor actors would roast if they dressed appropriately. I’d also heard Balsam Hills provides the tree. I’m amazed at how real those look because the trees are always real. I actually miss having a real tree at the holidays. We had to trade them for fake when my children were little. After a couple years of the boys having ear infections and being at the pediatrician on Christmas Eve, we realized they were allergic.
I had no idea they were filmed in that short a time and that things like snow and hot chocolate were required in the pitch. While a lot of folks tell me my stories would make great Hallmark movies, I’ve been told they currently don’t like stories set on ranches, and many of my stories contain that element.
But don’t get me wrong. I love a good Hallmark movie. There’s nothing better on a cold December day than curling up under a fleece blanket with my dogs snuggled beside me and watching a Christmas movie.
Thank you for being here. I always enjoy chatting with you, and I appreciate all the info on Hallmark movies/requirements. Take care. in 2024 may you create wonderful memories and receive endless blessings.
Julie, I find myself seeing that woman outside in her ball gown bare arms and top of her chest and I scream, “Go back inside and get your coat!!” While he offers her his jacket, HE then stands freezing. Brrrr!! I grew up in Iowa so I also know what COLD is! I am now in KY and get to be a little warmer, but some days, not by much. I like most story lines, but a few of them are similar and I lose my interest. I also am with you about Christmas decorations. It is often OVERKILL, both inside and outside, and not necessary. There goes the budget for that movie! My husband does not watch these movies, so he has no interest in my perspective and I just keep my mouth shut. I talk to myself.
Have a blessed 2024.
Judy, I’m glad I’m not the only one who yells at the TV telling her to get a coat. LOL
Where in Iowa did you grow up? My grandparents lived in Decorah. I grew up in Dubuque. My husband is from Davenport, and my bff grew up in Exira. I know what cold is too. There were days when I walked to and around the ISU campus when with the wind chill it was below zero. All I can think of when I see the piles of snow and how they’re often dressed in movies is, how cold it is if the snow isn’t melting. Thankfully this doesn’t keep me from enjoying the movies. If you haven’t seen Three Wise Men and a Baby, you should watch that one. It was my favorite of the ones I watched this year. It really hit home because the main characters were very different brothers who fought and picked at each other the way my boys did and still do.
Thank you for being here today and making me smile. May your 2024 be blessed as well.
I love watching Christmas movies. I tend to focus on the story and not how people are dressed for the weather. I chuckled when you asked about coffee or hot chocolate. I always ask for hot chocolate since I abhor coffee.
Barbara, I love watching them too. I don’t know why the winter clothing bothers me or even how/why I first noticed it. I’m not a coffee fan either. But since I’m not also a huge chocolate person, I order a chai latte. They are wonderful, especially with added cinnamon.
Take care and thank you for stopping by today. May you have a blessed 2024.
I too have thought unrealistic clothing for cold weather and coats unzipped. Also the sidewalks are always snow free. Perhaps the producers have never been in a snowy reality, but for those of us who have – we have pet peeves about the unrealistic actions. I still watch some hallmark Christmas movies- the ones not pushing gay rights.
I’ve thought that about the sidewalks, too. There are never slick spots unless it’s needed for the plot. I do have to say the actors do a good job of making me feel they have the Christmas spirit despite them filming in the summer!
Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have a blessed 2024.
I didn’t watch ANY holiday movies! To be honest, they are NOT my thing! For starters, my house, though a 3bed/2bath, would fit inside most of their houses, that’s no way I’d decorate like they do! NONE of my real life is in any of those movies! Granted, my real life isn’t like most books I read, but the books make me want to be friends with the people in them, and the characters in the movies are so shallow, that I don’t even like most of them! And, I’m always left wondering what the hero and heroine see in each other, after the way they’ve interacted with the other characters!
Trudy, I get what you say about the houses. I think book authors don’t feel they have to make things over the top the way they are in movies. That allows me to connect more with the characters. Also the fact that we can give some description but it’s up to the reader’s imagination to complete the picture helps.
Thank you for being here. Take care and have a blessed 2024.
Some of your pet peeves have crossed my mind during romance movies. I choose to watch and enjoy and just let the romance take me away, kinda like a “Calgon take me away” commercials from a bath commercial, ?. However, they could wear proper clothes for the weather!
Carol, I still love and enjoy the movies but for a bit it pulls me out of the story. What makes me sad is I think adding a little more realism would actually make the stories better.
Thanks for sharing with me today. Have a blessed 2024.
You are so right about all this Julie, I dont think the characters in the movies dress warm enough during winter, except for the classic movies, now they knew what they were doing. I think this Christmas season I only watched 1 Christmas movie, and it wasn’t an old one either, maybe my problem was I should have just watched the older ones. May you and your Family have a Very Happy and Blessed New Year. I enjoyed reading your awesome and very down to earth post.
Alicia, thank you for stopping by to chat. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. The winter clothing issue has become something I laugh about and I had a couple good chuckles writing it.
May you have a blessed 2024.
I watch the movies for pure enjoyment and tend not to pick them apart. I also know they are filmed during the summer… It is normally not cold but the opposite. so there is that too. I enjoy them and that is what is important to me!
Sandra, thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I enjoy the movies too, but I still chuckle when I see how they dress the characters. It’s got to be hard for the actors wearing winter stuff to film in the summer.
Take care and have a blessed 2024.
You must have watched the same movies I did because those were my thoughts exactly!
Rhonda, that’s funny. My favorite Christmas movie this year was Three Wise Men and a Baby. It was about three very different brothers who pick at each other like my boys do.
Thank you for stopping by today. Take care and have a blessed 2024.
What a fun post. I love holiday movies but you have to be in the mood for sure to suspend the disbelief you captured so perfectly. Not sure why, but I do find it harder to suspend disbelief in a book. Not fair to the author, right? All the best for 2024.
Sally, I’m the opposite. It’s easier for me to suspend disbelief in a book. I guess it’s because I skim a lot of the description, especially scenery, when I read. May you have a blessed 2024.
I had to smile reading your post. They mirrored my thoughts and reactions exactly. My husband and I binged on that certain pair of channels this year and shared many of the same comments you made. In very few of the movies could you “see their breath” when they talked, even though it was supposed to be cold out. The truth is most of the movies are filmed in the summer when it is in the 70’s and 80’s. No wonder they were willing to go outside in strapless gowns, better than suffering heat stroke in those winter coats.
We looked at the over decorating, even in homes of average means, and it really is too much. Understandable considering who the sponsor is, but not realistic at all. Few people have the space to store that many decorations until the next holiday season. As for the hot chocolate, much more realistic if they had added a few drops of coconut rum. (I too have packets of hot cocoa mix that are solid lumps. The rum helps.)
As for the number of movies where the characters drive off because a storm has shut things down, just no. Been there, done that, and suffered the consequences. Not a fun or romantic trip. We spent 4 days in a really bad motel, trapped in a blizzard when moving from NY to CO. The snow blew in around the door and the room never got above 55 degrees. Parents, 2 grade schoolers, a cat, and a dog spent the time in bed trying to keep warm. Not to mention having to unload house plants, and cases of canned (in glass) vegetables to keep them all from freezing. We had to carry the dog out so her feet wouldn’t flash freeze to the ground. An adventure, but not very romantic.
Thanks for the fun post. Have a wonderful 2024.
Patricia, thank you for your comment. It brought back memories and made me laugh. I think your “adventures” describe exactly why the winter downplaying/unrealistic view bothers me. Getting caught in a blizzard is scary, especially with children. Movie characters always manage to find a wonderful B&B or inn that has room and electricity. Then despite the supposedly brutal weather, all the holiday activities and festivals are still on! No one blizzard experience comes close to the reality you experienced.
Thank you for being here. Have a blessed 2024.