Nameless Best Friends

We predicted this one! Not that you had to be Karnac to see what was coming - they're party crashers! During the holidays! Will they get caught lying about who they are? Of course they will! Cute idea, We had fun with it.

Robert Buckley and Amy Groening need to be in FAR more movies. Together, not together, it doesn't matter, but these two are gold. As is stepdad Marcus. Actually pretty much the whole cast was great and that elevated this problematic plot into a sparkling little gem, with all the "pretty" you want in a Hallmark Christmas movie and some witty repartee to boot. But the big reveal at the end? Stupid. In our humble opinion.

We are so excited to have writer and comedian Blythe Roberson join us for this episode! Blythe is a grown up who had never seen HOCUS POCUS before, and we open with some meandering about books and publishing but then we do get into the plot and some extra fun film facts.

Is this movie perfect? No. Would it make it into the top ten 2024 Hallmark movies? Probably not. Is it fun and delightful? Yes. Should Rod Spence, who created this story, be king of Hallmark? Yes. Rod Spence also created Good Witch and this movie has the same Good Witch sensibility. There were some plot holes, yes. Some things that needed explanation or, preferably, our re-writing. But all in all this is a great example of what Hallmark needs to do with October!

We're going to give it to you straight right up front: the cranky old man in this movie is the lead's grandfather, not her father. Her mom's in the movie too, sort of, but since she's taking zero responsibility for her failing father's wellbeing. Also, the actor playing the grandfather is only 34 years older than the lead, and 13 years older than the woman playing his daughter, so it's pretty easy to just fill him in as the dad and not granddad.Anyway, this movie is about autumn. It's very pumpkin heavy. Except the enormous pumpkin that ends up in the back of the truck after they put a small one in - that's probably made of foam and NOT heavy at all.We had some requests to cover this movie and it's easy to see why - it's pretty, it's Hallmark, and it's got some really improbable plot points. What's not to love?

With virtually no information beyond the movie titles, Beth and Paige predict whether each of the 31 movies in Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas will be Good, mid, bad, or good-bad. We're really getting in the mood for the holidays now! And it's a good thing because the Christmas Countdown begins on October 18!Also, Paige is trying to make, "I hate it any shape you can make it" happen. She's calling it the show's catchphrase. Both hosts are not in agreement on that.Finally, Beth recommended this book and still does: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1804058564/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_GWAV8AW946JAXG1GFCDM?linkCode=ml1&tag=paigeharbison-20

We sure couldn't stay on subject for this one! Do they save the inn? They sure do. A good autumn yule log. Here is the pigeon article Paige referenced. Interestingly, "Pigeon" is Beth's nickname for Paige (Lady and the Tramp fans get it). That's about as relevant as anything else here.https://clickhole.com/can-you-match-the-pigeons-to-the-way-they-re-ruining-my-1825124723/

We go west, with beautiful scenery and NO GHOSTS (disappointed!) in this one. Kimberly Susted is brilliant, as always, and plays a widowed professor who takes her boys to meet her sister and aunt on a dude ranch. Or a working ranch where they let randoms stay. We just couldn't figure that out. Anyway, James Denton is there (yay!) but he's not the hero (boo!). But it all works out anyway.Here are links to the things mentioned besides the movie:Beth's book, EVERY TIME YOU GO AWAY (which DOES have a ghost in it...or does it?) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250043875/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_680XQFR87RQV2J7PVGWG?linkCode=ml1&tag=paigeharbison-20Paige's June 2025 book, which is about to have a big cover reveal! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250358078/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_4TY2XBA06WRABWYM5AYV?linkCode=ml1&tag=paigeharbison-20And by all means, RUN to Instagram and follow Paige to see her hilarious 30 second Hallmark movie spoofs! Danica McKellar does! https://www.instagram.com/pharbeaux