By: Julia Vorbeck
Whenever you need a little pick me up and want to dive into a world where everything ends with a happy ending, “Hallmark” has you covered.
Few genres spark as much debate as Hallmark movies. Some viewers eagerly await the time for movies with small-town charm and holiday cheer, while others can’t stomach another minute of predictable romances. To explore the great “Hallmark” divide, two perspectives are put in place: the individual who adores these films and the other who dreads them.
For fans like sophomore Jaydon Mangiaracina, Hallmark movies are a comforting constant.
“I like that I can depend on the same type of ending,” said Mangiaracina. “Yes, they’re predictable, but that’s part of their charm. My dad, who isn’t a huge fan, can still count on them always having a happy ending.”
The predictability isn’t a flaw for “Hallmark” lovers, it’s kind of the whole point. These movies offer an escape to a simpler world, where love conquers all, small towns are magical, and happy endings are guaranteed. But for Mangiaracina, a personal connection is tied with these movies.
“I used to watch them with my great-grandmother because she loved them, and it became something I just knew to like.” The appeal of Hallmark movies isn’t just the film itself, but the nostalgia that is linked to family memories.
However, there is a limit to this cookie cutter formula. “I don’t watch them all the time because they can be too much,” said Mangiaracina.
On the other hand, senior Claire Chatham argues that Hallmark movies have unoriginal forms of storytelling.
“These films are so predictable, often have the same tropes, and always end with a happy ending,” said Chatham.
Chatham explained how these films seem to follow three main genres:
1. Small town charm where a big-city professional returns home, helps with the family business and falls for the local handyman, farmer or baker.
2. The idea of Christmas magic where the main characters fall in love due to some type of holiday circumstance.
3. The meet-cute or conflict-driven-meet where the love interests meet in an awkward but sweet encounter or despise each other before inevitably falling in love.
Although these tropes are constantly used by “Hallmark,” Chatham can see how people can enjoy these films.
“There’s always a moment where the couple seems like they won’t work out, but surprise, they do,” said Chatham. “They’re comforting, romantic in a way, comforting because there’s typically a happy ending.”
Despite their differing opinions, both Chatham and Mangiaracina can attest to the personal connections these movies hold.
“I’ll watch them with my mom sometimes. She likes that they have a feel-good happy ending and a heartwarming message,” said Chatham.
For some, “Hallmark” movies are the perfect solution to a stressful day and a good resource of joy. While for others, it’s the same film covering the same tropes but retold in different ways. Either way, Hallmark has stayed true to being a place of spreading holiday cheer and sparking debates in every household.