The Daily
How a Skeptical Critic Came to Love Bad Christmas Movies
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- Hallmark Christmas movies serve as a comfort during challenging life moments, offering a predictable escape.
- Cultural critics can evolve in their appreciation of genres they once dismissed, reflecting their personal growth.
- The landscape of holiday films is changing, with platforms like Netflix introducing new twists that resonate with younger audiences.
Summary
Embracing the Monotony of Hallmark Christmas Movies
Amanda Hess, a culture critic for The New York Times, chronicles her unexpected journey from skepticism to affection for Hallmark Christmas movies. Initially viewing them as anti-feminist and overly sentimental, Amanda’s perspective shifted during a challenging personal time, where the simplicity and predictability of these films became a comforting escape. Hess outlines the common tropes of Hallmark movies, highlighting their clichéd storylines that ultimately serve as emotional balm during stressful moments.
Changing Perceptions and Cultural Critique
The episode dives into Amanda's journey of self-discovery and how her views on success and modern ambition have evolved alongside her embrace of these films. Reflecting on her past as a career-driven city woman, she finds common ground with the female protagonists who trade their bustling careers for quaint lives in small towns. Amanda reveals that the Hallmark formula offers an idealized escape, allowing her to confront deeper questions about fulfillment and happiness in a chaotic world.
The Evolution of Holiday Films and Audience Engagement
The discussion also touches on the broader landscape of holiday films with the emergence of Netflix alternatives. While Hallmark maintains its traditional formulas, Netflix incorporates comedy and more millennial-friendly narratives, appealing to a younger audience. Amanda notes the recent trend of winking at the genre's clichés, making these movies more relatable while simultaneously allowing for humorous commentary on the genre itself.
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Show notes
Hallmark Christmas movies are corny, predictable and just what our critic needed to embrace the holiday spirit.
The story of how a big-city culture critic, Amanda Hess, found love where she least expected it — in the monotony of Hallmark’s Christmas movies.
Guest: Amanda Hess, a critic at large for the Culture section of The New York Times
Background reading:
- One December morning, a millennial critic awoke to discover that she had been begrudgingly charmed by an onslaught of Hallmark and Netflix holiday films.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
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