Analysis of the Cheesy

I did something totally cheesy, completely mindless, and yet something millions of people do every year, though not usually in September. And, it wasn’t the first time either. .

Last Saturday I flip-flopped my way to the air conditioning thermostat, flipped the temperature way down and then flopped into a comfy chair with my Christmas throw. Grabbing the TV remote, I flipped the channel to the Hallmark station and settled in to watch a movie that some might call a flop! But, not me! The Rotten Tomato-meter might not agree with me, but the snowflake and mistletoe meters are totally with me on this one. Hallmark Christmas movies are a winner every winter and I certainly do my part to make their success possible.

With ninety-something degree temperatures outside, it is hard to believe that there are only ninety-something days now until Christmas, the countdown has begun. For lots of folks that means an Amazon- searching, home-shopping splurge. For me, though, the Christmas countdown only means one thing for sure and that is that it is time for a sugary sweet fix of wholesome predictability and happy endings found reliably in one simple place and accessed easily from the comfort of my own home.

When I want a sweet story with simple plot lines set in a small town with scenes of snowy days and silent nights I turn to Hallmark.

This most recent preseason flick did not disappoint. Rather, it was a good escape for a couple of hours. More importantly, when the movie ended, I realized I had a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart. The low-level conflict allowed me to forget for a while how complicated life really is. And, this one added in a well-behaved and beautiful dog who didn’t shed on the furniture or slobber on the beautiful heroine. (How DO they do it?)

As always, the familiar cheesiness with expected misunderstandings and predictable romantic hiccups resulted in a neatly packaged ending with a fat bow of peace on top. As the closing credits rolled across the screen, everything felt right with the world for a minute or two. And, it felt good.

I think that is when I realized that what I love most about Hallmark movies is the innocence of it all. After watching one or two or a hundred, I never feel like I need to jump into the shower to wash off the smut. Because I am a words person and maybe because I’m functionally blind, I am highly susceptible to earworms.

When I hear a catchy tune, it sticks in my brain and runs through my thoughts constantly until the next one dislodges it. The same thing happens with movies. What I hear in surround sound at high decibels, sits with me on the drive home, popping in and out of my thoughts like popcorn in a popper-- sometimes for days on end.

I’ve learned I have to be careful with what I hear.

That’s why Hallmark is often a go-to for me. I love curling up with wholesome words, hopeful words, happy words. Words that help, lift, encourage. When my head and heart are filled with these kinds of expressions, those are the kinds of words that come out of my mouth. When I am not careful what I hear and when I fill my mind with hateful, hurtful, harassing, highly combative, hugely negative words, those tend to come quickly to my mind whether I say them or not.

In the final analysis, I’ll choose cheesy Hallmark with hunky heroes who love decking the halls, trimming trees, baking cookies, and even making elaborate gingerbread houses. (Yeah, right?) And, I’ll happily watch until the girl gets the guy, lands the job, and sings Joy to the World while snowflakes drop softly into her lashes as she cries pretty little tears of happiness. When the credits roll, I’ll always smile a cheesy smile and shut off the TV with no guilt, no shame, no regret, and (perhaps best of all) no haunting or taunting earworms to have to try to forget.