Posts Tagged Christmas in the City

Lifetime TV movie review: Christmas in the City

Posted by Amy Steele in TV on December 5, 2013

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Many holiday films tangle around the naughty vs. nice theme. Throw in a bit of family struggles right before the holidays, a love interest and it’s a trifecta. So it is with Christmas in the City. When she discovers her family candy store struggling, Wendy (Ashley Williams) and her six-year-old daughter Grace move to the city where an old friend (scene-stealer Shanola Hampton) offers her a job in the toy department of Wolmans. She plans to save money to help her mom save the store back home. However she runs into interference from the store’s new consultant, Teanna, (Ashanti) who doesn’t appreciate Wendy’s do-gooder, cheerful attitude. It gets in the way of her grand scheming.

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As Teanna, Ashanti’s delightfully cutthroat, conniving, bold and direct. She implements unconventional changes for the holiday like pink Christmas trees and hunky male underwear models. She also makes unpopular cutbacks. Ashley Williams portrays Wendy in a sugary sweet manner. Grateful for everything. Surprised by everything. When she and Tom Wolman (Jon Prescott) fall for each other it’s not a shock at all. I’m not sure what city they’re in but it seems small. Are they in Canada? Maybe. She’s been raising daughter and running her father’s candy shop. That’s not exactly living in the fast track. Of course the store Santa turns out to be very mysterious and knows more about Wendy than expected. Shanola Hampton has all the fun in this film. She performs Christmas songs in the store. She’s spirited and optimistic. Overall, this is a cutesy, predictable happy happy Lifetime film.

Christmas in the City airs on Lifetime on Saturday, December 7 at 8pm.

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“It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” Holiday Programming LINE-UP

Posted by Amy Steele in TV on November 15, 2013

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Twelve Trees of Christmas
Saturday, November 16, at 8pm ET/PT

Local librarian Cherie (LINDY BOOTH) is ecstatic to celebrate the holiday season until she learns that real estate developer Tony (ROBIN DUNNE) plans to demolish her library. Cherie establishes a Christmas tree decorating contest to save the library. Tony joins the competition and recruits professional interior designer, Cordelia (MEL B), to help him beat Cherie. Will Cherie’s devotion be enough to save her beloved library?

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Kristin’s Christmas Past
Saturday, November 23, at 8pm ET/PT

Estranged from her family, Kristin (SHIRI APPLEBY) falls asleep alone on Christmas Eve only to wake up and discover it’s Christmas morning 1996 and she has to relive the worst Christmas of her life! But this time, Kristin decides to do things differently to change not only her imperfect past, but also her less- than-perfect future. ‘80s icon and Golden Globe nominee JUDD NELSON returns to the screen alongside DEBBY RYAN and Revolution’s ELIZABETH MITCHELL.

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Dear Secret Santa
Saturday, November 30, at 8pm ET/PT

After breaking up with her boyfriend, Jennifer (TATYANA ALI) moves back to the house she grew up in, bringing back memories of her recently deceased friend Jack (LAMORNE MORRIS). But after receiving a Christmas card from a secret admirer, she is stunned when she discovers the truth. JORDIN SPARKS, BILL COBBS, DELLA REESE and ERNIE HUDSON headline the star-studded cast.

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Christmas in the City
Saturday, December 7, at 8pm ET/PT

After closing down her small-town family business, Wendy (ASHLEY WILLIAMS) and her six-year-old daughter Grace move to the big city where an old friend offers her a job in the toy department of Wolmans. But her excitement is short lived when the store’s new consultant, Teanna (ASHANTI), ruins the holiday spirit throughout the store by replacing Santa with a hunky male underwear model. It’s only when Grace begins to lose faith in the holiday that Wendy realizes she must bring the true meaning of Christmas back to Wolmans before it is too late.

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Christmas on the Bayou
Saturday, December 14, at 8pm ET/PT

One Tree Hill alums HILARIE BURTON and TYLER HILTON reunite in this charming love story. When successful New York marketing executive Katherine (BURTON) discovers her workaholic ways are taking a toll on her eight-year-old son, Zac, she decides to spend Christmas with him and her mother, Lilly (MARKIE POST) in her home town on the bayou. When Caleb (HILTON) tries to rekindle a childhood romance and convince her to move back home, Katherine is torn between the bright lights of the big city and the quiet, gentler rhythms of her Southern roots. Only a Christmas miracle orchestrated by Papa Noel (ED ASNER) can steer her heart to her true home. Also stars RANDY TRAVIS.

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A Snow Globe Christmas
Saturday, December 14, at 10pm ET/PT

A cynical television executive (ALICIA WITT) looks at the perfect world inside a snow globe and rants about how the Christmas movies she produces fall short of real life. Upset, she tries to smash the globe in to pieces, but instead, ends up knocking herself in the head. She wakes up in a perfect snow-covered town, married to her ex, Ted (DONALD FAISON), with two kids. Trying desperately to return to her old life, she slowly realizes the importance of family and begins to find happiness. Also stars CHRISTINA MILIAN and TREVOR DONOVAN.

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