Sugarplummed

Ok. So I didn't know what to expect from this movie. But what I definitely didn't expect was for Hallmark to be this self-aware. It was funny and charming. Maggie Lawson was her usual amazing self and I loved the acting choices made by Janel Parrish, she gave her character real life and I love the vocal choices.

She made her seem just cartoonish enough without becoming annoying. But gave her a few layers that made her likeable and real.

The meta was especially hilarious. Hallmark knew exactly what they were doing. So major kudos to them for this delightfully silly and heartwarming movie. Would definitely watch again.

I loved the engaging positivity of Sugar Plum with her rules for the town of Perfection.

When stressed career woman, mother and wife Emily makes a wish to have one perfect Christmas that brings her family together...the fictional character and star of a series of Christmas movies named Sugar Plum shows up. Emily originally thinks she is loosing her mind until she discovers other people can see Sugar Plum, but they don't recognize her. Adopting the pseudonym Sue Garplum, she stays with Emily and her family trying to use the rules to help Emily complete her Christmas list in time for Christmas.

I loved the first 2/3 of this film. I thought the premise was fun and unique. It did devolve a bit at the end into a more traditional Hallmark holiday film, but then it was a quick trip to the happy ending. I think Hsllmark holiday film fans will appreciate the uniqueness and the infectious happiness of the sugar plum character.

I believe this to be the best Hallmark Christmas movie of 2024, maybe ever actually. The level of campiness and outrageousness while at the same time honoring the tropes of the holiday movie genre were impressively balanced. Sometimes, when Hallmark tries to be tongue in cheek, it can be cheesy but this one was hilarious, I was chuckling the whole time. I hope they make more movies like this, tons of interesting plot and emotional development for all the characters plus an ending that isn't rushed and scrambled in the last five minutes. And more Janel Parrish! She needs to be at Lacey Chabert level, I would love to see her lead more movies!

Hallmark has done some new things this year that deserve applause, but nothing more so than this not-so-tongue-in-cheek movie about the rules of Hallmark movies. I actually laughed out loud-at the spot on rules and wild results-so many times that I lost count. Sugarplummed is well-crafted and sure to be a favorite of Hallmark movie aficionados.

Happily married mother of two, Emily (Maggie Lawson) wants a perfect Christmas, but things aren't going according to her checklisted plan. Her family isn't exactly onboard with her version of the holiday. They are busy and have more important things on their minds. Thankfully Emily makes a wish on a magical Christmas tree star, bringing Sugarplum (Janel Parrish) to life-straight out of a Hallmark-type movie franchise where everything is perfect and follows very defined Christmas movie rules.

The rules (and I won't spoil them here) are the unique levity that seems like we're breaking the fourth wall and getting an inside look into the Hallmark-movie production factory where our favorites are cranked out each season. The rules about big time jobs, Christmas tree farms, small towns, high school loves, contests and so many other things are spot on and familiar, but charming nonetheless.

Sugarplum's use of the rules in the real world are a big hit, until they aren't. And that's where the lessons come from. This tale is really about lessons and learning to love what you have. Ironically, in a movie about Hallmark rules, there is no love story driving or dragging the action to conclusion. The movie is centered on Emily and her learning what it really means to have a perfect Christmas. She isn't meeting a new fella. She's married to Ben, who is just a hardworking husband who learns some lessons himself. It's refreshing to see that you don't need a 1+1 love story to tell a great Hallmark story. The family love was enough.

I think this just might be a Hallmark classic, because it didn't follow the formula, but seemed familiar all the same. Simply a joy to watch and highly recommended.

Cast Kudos: Janel Parrish as Sugarplum. She's a bit Mrs. Miracle, Mary Poppins and Buddy the Elf all rolled into one delightful package.

Measuring Christmas Magic: Oh, yeah. It was magic. Come for the snowglobe/ indoor snowball fight and stay for the ski lodge/condo story, or the jailbird songs.

Alternative movie titles: The Rules of Christmas Movies; Sugarplum saves Christmas; Sugarplum comes to Seattle.

As others mentioned, Sugarplummed parodies the general slate of Hallmark Christmas movies (and others, because many Hallmark romances throughout the year use the same tropes, just without the snow or decorations.

Here, the Christmas magic, which happens sometimes, is a hyper-competent and hyper-perky character coming out of a series of Christmas movies about a small town's Christmases. Janel Parrish's high-pitched voice is a BIT grating, but you'll get over that.

We've liked Maggie Lawson since Psych, so that gave us a bias toward the movie before it even started.

The gags used in the movie to accomplish Maggie's Christmas Wish List are fun, and follow along with the same sense of good-spirited send up of their movies over the years.

This one will be rewatchable. Recommended, and I didn't even have to finish the movie to give it the stars.