Christmas movies that made me smile, and the ones I wish I had skipped

This time of year, people like to relax and watch Christmas movies–especially those sappy romances on Netflix. But which ones are really worth watching? Over the last few weeks, I have spent my free time watching several of these movies, and am here to offer my hard-earned opinion.

Romance is my favorite genre. Whether it is watching movies with my mom or reading a romance novel, I have always loved a good love story, even since I was a little girl.

A good romance movie should have a good plot, a dramatic arc, and creativity. One film that captures these elements is “Meet Me Next Christmas.” In it, Layla is a woman on a quest to meet the man of her dreams. She meets James, a hopeless romantic, who races across New York City to find a ticket to a sold-out Pentatonix Christmas concert.

I liked “Meet Me Next Christmas” because not only did it get me in the holiday spirit, but it also brings a heartfelt twist to Christmas romance as Layla realizes James might not be the one for her.

A second movie that captures the heart of the season is “Holiday in the Vineyards.” In it, Carter Baldwin goes undercover as a carpenter for his mother to visit a vineyard that’s up for sale to avoid suspicion. This sentimental movie blends a cozy and a refreshing storyline. It’s a heartwarming take on love during the holidays as Carter unexpectedly falls in love with a widowed mother and takes on a fatherly instinct for her children.

However, just because I enjoy the romance genre does not mean I enjoy all the holiday fluff. “Operation Christmas Drop” and “A Castle for Christmas” are a case in point.

I really hated “A Castle for Christmas.” In it, a recently divorced author travels to Scotland and falls in love with a grumpy duke who owns a castle that he is trying to sell. The reason this movie didn’t really appeal to me is that it barely had anything related to Christmas, and the plot was lacking.

In “Operation Christmas Drop,” a congressional aide is sent to an Air Force base to keep an eye on a charming captain’s annual Christmas aid mission, only to find herself falling for him. Again, this one just didn’t really feel like Christmas. It was slow, and not much happened.

This said, I have no regrets slowing down, falling in love, or stopping a bad movie for a better one. As Christmas break rolls around, enjoy your favorite holiday films–and maybe skip the ones that don’t appeal to you! Enjoy the magic of the season.