When you care enough...

I'm sure this is just the first, of what will be many, blog posts about one of my favorite institutions...I love Hallmark for oh so many reasons, but this past weekend I was reminded of one. It was Saturday night and my mom texted me with a note saying there was a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie on CBS and was I watching? To which I texted her back that no, I wasn't watching because it was a repeat (one I'd already seen, good, but not one I watch over and over). My mom knows how much I love those HHF movies and was looking out for me--thanks mom!

If you've never seen a HHF movie, I'd highly recommend you check them out--at your local library, on the Hallmark Channel (if you have cable!), through Netflix, or watch for them to be broadcast on network TV, etc. What I love about the HHF movies is that they are family-friendly, often educational (ie, about a specific time in history, a significant individual, or a subset of humanity), and almost always have a happy ending. Though they first started broadcasting back in 1950, it wasn't until the 1990s that I remember seeing my first HHF flick, Sarah, Plain and Tall, starring Glenn Close. That's the other crazy thing about HHF movies--they have all these MAJOR celebs starring in them...and I don't think that Hallmark is paying them big bucks. Everyone from Rosie O'Donnell to Alicia Silverstone, Jennifer Garner, Faye Dunaway, Nathan Lane, Anna Paquin, Dean Cain, Gary Sinise, Diane Lane, Ving Rhames, Kyra Sedgwick, Kathy Bates, Anne Heche, Aidan Quinn, James Garner, Jeff Daniels, John Lithgow, Clive Owen, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Christopher Walken, Tate Donovan, Alfre Woodard, Matthew Modine--the list goes on and on! I think these actors work with Hallmark because they know it's a good product--it's not about the money, it's about enriching the lives of the audience and making something of substance.

Two of MY favorite Hallmark Hall of Fame movies (and ones that I actually own and would be happy to lend to anyone interested!) are The Magic of Ordinary Days (2005) and Loving Leah (2009). The Magic of Ordinary Days stars Keri Russel (of Felicity fame) and Skeet Ulrich. And yes, it's a love story, but it's so sweet! The time period is WWII, in rural Colorado. Keri is a city gal and relocating to a farm, for a variety of reasons, is not her idea of fun. (Side note: letters and a library play small supporting characters in this flick!) I still remember watching this for the first time (on TV) with my friend Mel--good memories!

Loving Leah is a more recent flick and a total love story involving mostly actors I'd never heard of before and an interesting story line involving ancient Jewish traditions, a young doctor, a woman who wants to go to college, an overpowering mother, and Ricki Lake as a reformed rabbi. Yea, so totally not-believable, but I love the fairytale!

And, ok, so I need to come clean here. It's not just the movies I love...it's the Hallmark commercials that are shown (when a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie is broadcast on network TV). They re-broadcast many of the same commercials (and I have some favorites) and they still touch my heart every time!!

And I just saw that Hallmark is turning 100 this year--wow! Happy Birthday my friend (from your biggest fan)!!!