I Took a Chance On Great American Family...Here's How It Went
Is GAF the new Hallmark? Maybe. Am I judging by ONE of their films? Yes.
While surfing Hulu for my nightly cheesy romance watch, most often a Hallmark movie, I came across the title “Catering Christmas”. It looked like your average Hallmark, even starring one of my favorite Hallmark actresses Merritt Patterson.
However, after clicking on the movie, I saw the producer was Great American Family (GAF).
Wait. Is this even a Hallmark movie?
Let’s get into the context behind these companies.
Great American Family is not affiliated with Hallmark, however it is owned by Great American Media (GAM), which was acquired by former Hallmark Media CEO Bill Abbott in 2021.
In simple terms, the old boss who knew all the recipes went off and started his own business doing the same thing and calling it something else.
Since its a major competitor network with the Hallmark Channel, I was shocked to discover the amount of actresses and actors who have jumped ship to GAF.
Big names in Hallmark like Merritt Patterson, Trevor Donovan, Cameron Mathison and even Candace Cameron Bure who is now the chief creative officer at GAM have all ditched Hallmark.
This link even has a complete list of Hallmark talents who left for Great American Media.
But did they make the right choice?
Let’s take a look at their 2022 release, “Catering Christmas”.
Like always, I watch Hallmark (or in this case, Hallmark-esqe) movies to enjoy and critique based on their quality.
Firstly, the quality of acting is one of the most important facets of a good Hallmark movie.
Off the bat, I was thrilled to see Patterson as our protagonist. She has starred in countless charming Hallmarks like A Royal Winter, One Perfect Match, and Christmas At The Palace.
However, I was even more pleasantly surprised by our leading man, Carson Harrison (Daniel Lissing). He was genuine, kind, funny, and (obviously) quite conventionally attractive.
My mom and I agreed he was an actor of caliber slightly above most Hallmark men, who often cheesily swoon over the lady and recite basic-sounding dialogue.
Lissing was adorable as Carson in this movie, making us blush at his compliments and laugh at his witty banter.
Secondly, I was more than impressed by the premise of this movie. Sure, it was a romance set in a cute small town in New Hampshire, but the catering idea really took this movie in a fun direction.
Patterson plays Molly Frost, a struggling new businessowner with a passion for food and bringing people together. She gets the chance to cater for the Christmas Gala hosted by the richest family in town.
And oh? Who is that?
Carson Harrison is the family’s single, attractive nephew who gets assigned to oversee the catering for the event.
Looks like these two singles will be spending a LOT of time together over the holiday…
Maybe it’s my soft spot for baking and food, but this premise couldn’t have been cuter.
“Molly’s Menu Magic” was the most adorable hometown catering business I’ve ever seen, not to mention the perfect engine for a “meet-cute” in this film where Molly mistook Carson for her sous chef.
Do I want to be a businessowner and have my own little catering shop because of this movie? Yes. Yes I do.
In addition to the acting, casting, and premise of “Catering Christmas” being top-tier, the themes of the movie were surprisingly meaningful.
The Harrison Family is the richest in town, owners of the Harrison Foundation, a non-profit with many successful organizations such as the community center.
It wasn’t until Molly showed Carson these places that he pieced together how important the foundations’ members are; they’re not just snobs with money.
This movie tackled the intense themes of class differences, putting emphasis on the wealthy who give back to their communities, and showcased how two people from very different backgrounds can learn and grow from each other.
Overall, “Catering Christmas” was my favorite watch of this holiday season thus far.
Did it feel like cheating on the Hallmark channel?
Yes. Absolutely.
But was it worth it?
I’d have to say yes as well. This movie was well-produced, well-written, and well-casted. I couldn’t ask for more in a cozy Christmas romance. I may continue giving Great American Family films a try, or stick to my trusty Hallmarks, but I wouldn’t discount them from your watch list this December.
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