by Liz Locke, Staff Writer, and cocktail purveyor at cinemasips.com

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, television Christmas movies are here to stay. Each year, the streaming platforms and cable networks devote more and more hours to these low-budget, cheesy holiday flicks, and I for one can’t get enough. Who wouldn’t want to watch their favorite forgotten television stars find love in a small town, surrounded by charming secondary characters and low-stakes conflict? They’re relaxing, they’re fun, and starting November 1st, they become my life. So pour a festive cocktail (I’ve got a great suggestion below!), and settle in with these picks for 2021:

Single All the Way, Netflix

Finally, a holiday romantic comedy that doesn’t skimp on the comedy! I was initially wary of the clichéd fake-dating plot (single guy ropes his roommate into posing as his boyfriend at the family Christmas gathering), but happily, this gets nixed early on when the lead character’s mom sets him up with her spin instructor. What follows is a funny love triangle as our LA roommates discover their true feelings for one another, along with a new appreciation for twinkle lights and cold weather. Jennifer Coolidge is thrown into the mix as the loopy aunt putting on a holiday pageant, giving us a welcome dose of leopard print coats and martini slurs. This is a romp with heart, and I adored every minute.

You, Me & The Christmas Trees, Hallmark

I’ll admit, this one made the list because it includes a fun scene involving cocktail mixology (who knew pine needles could create a balanced drink?*). But overall, this romance between an arborist (Danica McKellar) and a charming Christmas tree farmer (Benjamin Ayres) gave me everything I’ve come to crave from a Hallmark movie. Family issues? Check. Day dates in a picturesque setting? Check. Random, non-sensical reunion between 1990s television stars? Check. Winnie Cooper and Wayne Arnold—back together for a limited time only. These truly are The Wonder Years.

Love Hard, Netflix

Halfway through Love Hard, I turned to my husband and said, “Huh- this is actually really good!” I didn’t expect a movie about catfishing at the holidays starring Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang to be an instant classic, but you know what? It is. Solid acting, tight script, and enough Love Actually and Die Hard references to remind me why I never get into arguments about those movies. There are no winners. Watch this one and do your best not to cry over the candle that smells like the hero’s dead grandpa.

An Ice Wine Christmas, Lifetime

As noted above, extra points for a Christmas movie about alcohol. Ice wine isn’t a beverage I knew much about going into this, but now I’m intrigued! I kind of want to go buy some, watch this movie again, and take a drink every time someone says, “It’s Christmas in a bottle!” Kudos to Lifetime for their focus on diverse casting this year, and refreshingly attractive (read: non-bland) leads. The grapes might be frozen, but the chemistry between the sommelier and the wine scientist sent to save her small town’s vineyard is blistering hot.

Next Stop, Christmas, Hallmark

2021 is definitely the year of the time loop, in terms of movies, books, and even Kardashian cheating scandals. In this iteration of the trendy trope, an unhappy woman is forced to relieve a pivotal Christmas over and over until she gets it right. What sets this movie apart for me is the casting. Back to the Future fans will love the Doc & Lorraine reunion, and One Life to Live devotees will get a kick out of seeing Erika Slezak again. Just the simple knowledge that Victoria Lord Riley Burke Buchanan Carpenter Davidson Banks is alive and well, and living in a Hallmark movie, is all the Christmas miracle I needed.

*I was so intrigued by Danica’s cocktail in You, Me & The Christmas Trees that I decided to try it for myself. I guessed a bit on the quantities and made sure to google “are pine needles safe to ingest?” before attempting this, but I think it’s a winner! At the very least, it’ll probably make this movie a lot funnier. Cheers!

The Evergreen

2 oz Apple Cider
2 oz Bourbon
½ oz Lime Juice
¼ oz Benedictine or herbal liqueur
Pinch of Cinnamon
4-5 Pine needles

Sprig of Pine for garnish

Combine cider, bourbon, lime juice, Benedictine, cinnamon, and pine needles in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled, then strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a sprig of pine.