A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe (TV Movie 2022) Poster

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7/10
Search for a recipe
Jackbv1231 December 2022
Does that sound familiar? Actually, it is not the most common premise, but it seems like a lot of them lately. There is a theft mystery thrown in. There is a cute kid who is slightly precocious. And lots of baking cookies.

Anne starts out as a Scrooge like executive who has taken over from grandma and made lots of cuts. Rachel Boston is one of my favorites, but I just can't picture her as a scrooge. I have always seen her as extremely outgoing and positive. I'm not saying she didn't play the part well. I'm saying that if she did, I couldn't have seen it. As the movie goes on, the real Rachel comes out which is a good thing.

There is a bit of Keystone Cops with the gang chasing suspects and Boston looking so inconspicuous with her sunglasses on. Not quite a trench coat. There are some funny lines and moments. Boston and Webster have chemistry. The movie sets up an excellent trail for a false identity of the thief. I followed it. The truth is a real surprise and maybe a bit of a stretch. The dance recital is also very cute.
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6/10
A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe
allmoviesfan10 December 2022
Rachel Boston brings her trademark effervescence - seriously, is she the brightest and happiest Hallmark actress going around? - to this charming story about Annie, a CEO on the the hunt for a cookie recipe that has been the backbone of a small town's cookie company for decades. Annie has to play amateur detective to figure out who stole the recipe during a Christmas party, and must also work with a baker in the same town (Victor Webster, who is a Hallmark regular these days, and for good reason) to try and recreate the recipe. Webster and Boston are good together, believable as semi-rivals and then, of course, love interests, and the film has a very nice ending.

If nothing else, ninety-odd minutes focused on cookies leaves you pretty hungry! A fun film!
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7/10
Christmas Mystery
mbiv77729 December 2022
Hallmark is definitely trying new things this year. They won't all work, but after so many years of running basically a one-play offense, any attempts at branching out are appreciated.

This film is a comedy whodunnit, starring Rachel Boston and Victor Webster. Both are familiar Hallmark faces, and both have done the lighter side before.

Boston is hit or miss for me. Sometimes she's too sugary, other times she's tolerable. Here she's in between somewhere.

Webster is always pretty much the same, but he can deliver a punchline when the situation calls for it.

I'm delighted to see Stephanie Sy in a role beyond Caroler #1, or Receptionist. She was great as the quirky assistant, and even when not speaking all the little faces she makes are hilarious.

The daughter was great too.

I can see watching this again next year.

Seven.
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6/10
Funny Holiday Romp
lymullen17 July 2023
"A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe" took me by surprise. As a frequent viewer of Hallmark movies, I expected the typical holiday romance storyline: the Big City CEO meets the Local Hero in a small town, and there's always something significant at stake that involves the entire tight knit town. This movie had ALL of the tropes, but thankfully managed to inject witty humor into the mix, making it an enjoyable watch.

What I appreciated most about this movie was the realistic conflict between the hero--local guy and the heroine CEO. Their disagreements felt genuine, and their encounters were filled with humorous tension and undeniable chemistry. One memorable scene involves the heroine accusing the hero of the cookie theft without revealing the specifics, leading to a humorous and heated exchange. It was a delight to watch their interactions and see their relationship develop when they decide to work together.

As someone who often uses Hallmark movies as background noise while multitasking, "A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe" grabbed my attention (tho I have to admit I was ambivalent until the recipe was stolen). The jokes were surprisingly witty, and the well-executed comedic scenes had me genuinely laughing out loud.

"A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe" offers the expected Hallmark movie formula but surpasses expectations with its comedic charm. From the hilarious sting operation when they were trying to catch the cookie recipe thief (which was soooo hilarious!) to the protagonist's transformation from a driven CEO to someone who learns the meaning of life and joy (this is a must with all of these movies, can't get around it) this movie actually delivers a delightful and heartwarming experience.
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7/10
I enjoyed
r96sk19 December 2022
'A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe' is one I enjoyed.

Naturally it features a fair few cheesy moments, though that's to be expected in this realm. It's actually a well done flick from it, it does what it sets out to achieve, I'd say. Rachel Boston and Victor Webster are a solid match, while Averie Peters leads the rest well enough.

.... For anyone who is reading this review, these other people are also in this film that I watched... which... I enjoyed... anyway...back...to...this...below... (including Stephanie Sy, Erik Athavale, John B. Lowe, Jaime Barr, Dan De Jaeger, Brandon McEwan, Dylan McEwan, Chase Winnicky) /s.
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7/10
About a lonely woman
MickyG33310 January 2023
7.4 stars.

I feel the writer's goal was to misdirect the audience beyond a simple cookie mystery. While I find this story to be fun and engaging, the real mystery here is about how a once tenacious woman who was the "princess" of a cookie company (Nod to Little Debbie) has lost her confidence and become very lonely.

There are a few mysteries being solved throughout this story, which is why it should be named 'A Christmas Cookie Mystery'. By the way, I had several suspects in mind and the true thief was my third pick, so good job Hallmark and writers for the subterfuge. The other mysteries to be solved are the cookie caper itself, and the third and most puzzling one is regarding the male lead's inability to open his heart to a struggling woman. Her attempts at loving him in a most innocent and profoundly vulnerable way are shunned and regarded as too invasive or assertive. Good job for the realistic and nuanced portrayal as she is overly apologetic for being genuine and putting herself out there. To think that he felt she was trespassing on his fragile sensitivities, such a travesty. She was not being pushy, she was being honest. In the end, she is rewarded for her courage. For you women, I believe there is a lesson to be learned. Take a chance, be vulnerable, many guys are clueless and we need the woman to make the first move.
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1/10
Don't waste your time on this absurdly contrived plot with holes big enough to push Santa's sleigh through
DonNunn29 December 2022
Decades-old cookie company with a "secret recipe" that no one seems to know by heart. Only one printed/physical copy of the recipe which they inexplicably keep on display in a glass case in the cookie shop. And the electronic files used in the manufacturing have been erased, with an utterly clueless IT guy who apparently didn't keep backups.

Why are the movies so utterly clueless and the plots so absurdly contrived?

Flashed me back to the episode of "Friends" where Phoebe's grandmother's chocolate-chip cookie secret recipe turned out to be printed on every package of a major brand's chocolate chips.

Skip this one. Not even worth rage-watching.
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8/10
This is one we could rewatch
VetteRanger2 December 2022
Even though this movie had the common trope of "big city exec threatens small town company", the film overcame that cliche with a nice story about the awakening of the big city exec, who happens to be the small-town company's founder's granddaughter.

When her grandmother's secret recipe is stolen, she convinces a local baker to help recreate it from the list of ingredients. Just forget that any employee who'd actually been baking the cookies for YEARS in her own company would have known anyway. LOL

Still, the movie has charm, even if very few amusing moments, and we enjoyed it. By the way, I guessed immediately who the thief was. Can you?
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3/10
you got that right
montgomerysue9 December 2022
The title says it all. This is a catastrophe alright. First of all, the writing and sets are just amateurish. Sometimes, it sounded and looked like a high school production. And most of the performers here just tend to ham it up to the point of being obnoxious. Rachel Boston is a very inconsistent actress in these Hallmark movies. Sometimes, she is very good, but other times, when the script is mediocre, she tends to act way over the top to the point that she becomes irritating. Such is the case here. And the actress playing her assistant is beyond belief when it comes to hamming it up. We always enjoy Victor Webster's performances, but here, he just seems bored with the whole production and the goofy, typical storyline.

Sometimes he looks like "why am I saying and doing this ?" This is a real disappointment and a waste of time.

One of Hallmark's "filler" movies - just made to fill the schedule. Better luck next time, Rachel and Victor.
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9/10
A delightful Christmas who done it!
maggie122414 December 2022
Okay it is a bit "hamy" BUT it is a delightful change up from the same old same old Christmas movies, a Cookie Christmas Caper is a wonderful premise for a movie. I get that somaae Hallmark fans will not appreciate this movie for the delightful comedy it is, so to those folks, come on lighten up, this was funny and such a change for a Christmas movie. In the end there is enough of the traditional, romance, lessons learned and happy ending for those needing that fix. Do the lead characters seem a bit like they are at times a wee bit silly? Sure, but that is the jest of the movie, it is just a "sweet" movie and I for one enjoyed it and laughed a lot which, who doesn't need a good ha ha today! So take of the serious hat, put on your silly Christmas sweater and grab a coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, turn on the Christmas lights watch the snow and just let your mind take a bit of a Christmas break from the stress and ENJOY!
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5/10
Not a complete catastrophe, but . . .
adamjohns-4257513 January 2023
A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe (2022) -

Was it a lame comedy or a poor romance with too many jokes and stupid actors, because it was really daft for the usual style.

These films are always obvious as to what will happen, but this one was ridiculously obvious and a bit pushy with it, like it was trying to force me to appreciate their romance, whether I wanted to or not.

There was none of the usual nuance or even an attempt to hide how things were going to turn out.

It was interesting to see Rachel Boston in the different role of executive high flyer instead of the Miss Nice she had played before, but you could at least see that her character, Anne, wanted things to work out for everyone. She wasn't the dogged financial wiz that only goes by the numbers that I've seen so many times before.

Victor Webster as Sam, was a roguish nice, but maybe a tad old for her and for his daughter, but he was a nice character after a while, when he mellowed.

However, the idiot twins that sprung up every now and then, were not needed and should have been the first to be let go in the cost cutting lay offs at the cookie factory. There was no way that their productivity would have met the company standard.

The basic plot was that Anne needed to work out her Granny's famous recipe, after it was stolen, but instead of going to the police or the people that work in the factory, she went to Sam's nearby bakery and together they tried to work out the correct balance of ingredients and preparation methods.

Honestly, they must all have the most refined palates of anyone ever? The concept was a little far fetched to say the least. Even comedies have to be based in some sort of reality.

It definitely wasn't one of Rachel or Victor's best films and I'd probably struggle to sit all the way through it again, but by the end I did like the connection that they had made.

5/10.
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9/10
Super cute Christmas mystery
acborgia28 November 2022
I loved this movie and not just because of Rachel Boston and Victor Webster. I found it super cute and refreshing among all my other Christmas movie watching. Yes there was a romance but it was truly secondary to the story. It really didn't hit until the last quarter of the movie. Also while a character deaths were mentioned it didn't harp of them in a sad way. The mystery of who stole Grandma's recipe was fun and had me guessing. It also had me laughing at some points. The cast was phenomenal from the stars to the minor rolls. Yea it's Hallmark so it was a little corny at times but corny in a good way. This is one I will definitely watch again and again.
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10/10
So good!
cpalell4 December 2022
This was so good! It was funny, playful, and acting was great. Yes, sometimes a little silly, but at least it wasn't the same old same old story lines... Ex boyfriend, and ex girlfriend discover they have to work together to save a farm, a pageant or a festival...

The supporting characters were very funny and added a lot to the storyline.

Love that they added a mystery into the storyline! Excellent. Hallmark needs more storylines like this. They need to get away from the same old boring storylines. These actors a too talented to waste. This is one of the few movies this year that I didn't fast forward a bunch.
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10/10
Funny, Cute, Romantic and a bit of Mystery!
HallmarkJenny2 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was so funny and cute and bouncy and happy and I loved every single scene! Major romantic vibes with a mystery. Every single character is well-formed. I loved learning about the workings of Cooper's Cookies, we got to see a little more about how a small business turned big business operates. Rachel Boston is so talented and Victor Webster is super-hot; their chemistry was unbelievable, just like their baking recipes!

Summary: Annie takes over as CEO of her Grandmother beloved Cooper's Cookies. She immediately approaches the business as she did in NYC, cutting costs and obsessing over the bottom line. Annie has to as Cooper's Cookies as been operating at a loss and will need to shut down in two years. At the company's drab Christmas Party, Grandma's Secret Recipe for Cooper's Cookies is stolen! The thief left behind a frequent flyer card to Bella's Bakery, which Sam runs. Annie enlists Sam's baking help to uncover the secret recipe.

"A life baked with love tastes ever so sweet." -Grandma Cooper's saying.

MeetCute: Annie runs into Sam's daughter at the Christmas Tree Farm who tells Annie that her Dad thinks the new CEO is a Grinch.

After Cooper's Cookies Secret Recipe is stolen, Annie finds a Bella's Bakery card and visits the bakery where she meets the owner, Sam. Annie dresses incognito and snoops around the bakery, asking him if he has seen anyone strange. He says yes and Annie realizes he is referring to her!

She then accuses Sam of stealing the secret recipe. His daughter sweetly gives Annie a cookie from Bella's Bakery.

Setting: Maplewood Cooper's Cookies Head Quarters is beautifully decorated with lots of Christmas Trees; the company gives so much to the community.

Sam runs Bella's Bakery, a quaint bakery with a broken, old oven. Annie will buy him a new oven to help him re-discover the secret recipe.

Cooper's Cookies Head Quarters is beautifully decorated with lots of Christmas Trees; the company gives so much to the community.

Sam runs Bella's Bakery, a quaint bakery with a broken, old oven. Annie will buy him a new oven to help him re-discover the secret recipe.

Cooper's Cookie Secret Recipe: The ingredients are listed on the box, but it would take a highly skilled baker to figure out the right combination.

Sam makes batches and batches of cookies trying to replicate the cookie. None of them can agree on which batch is "the most right."

Sam learned to bake cookies when his daughter asked for them after her mom passed away. H e is used to baking cookies with emotions and love. He says trying to crack the secret recipe is too "mathematical" and there is no instinct or emotion involved.

At Sam's request, Sam and Annie bake together multiple times to try to find the secret recipe, laughing and learning and getting closer.

Ending Kiss: Annie discovers her Grandma Rose instigated the stolen secret recipe all along so that she would be led to Sam. She attends Bella's Nutcracker dance recital and helps Bella overcome her fears by dancing with her onstage. When the performance is over, Bella tells her Dad to go after Bella!

Sam stops Annie as she is walking down the street as it snows, he tells her he has been scared to let somebody into his life again. He asks,

"Annie Cooper, can I please hold your hand?"

They kiss as it snows and he twirls her in the air.

Christmas Morning, they open Christmas presents as a family and Annie tells Sam she knows what the missing ingredient is before the kiss.
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10/10
Anne "Annie" Cooper (Rachel Boston)
aab87410 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Favorite scene with

Anne "Annie" Cooper (Rachel Boston) - Hilariously Catching the Wrong Cookie Recipe Thief! Very Slapstickish!!! Rachel Boston (Anne "Annie" Cooper) is So Dang Adorable!!! And I Love Victor Webster (Sam)! He is So Charming and So Ruggedly Handsome and So Dang Hot!!! BTW, I Loved this Movie! I Loved the Mystery Aspect of it! I Loved the Outcome - Who the Thief was!

Set in New Jersey. If Maplewood was Indeed set in New Jersey, I've been there before! So Quaint and So Charming! It was also the Setting - and filmed in - for the Movie One True Thing Starring Renee Zellweger, Meryl Streep, and William Hurt.
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8/10
Little bit of everything
the_doofy8 January 2023
Acting is pretty good, including the support caste, from top to bottom

There was a nice emphasis on cooking

There was a nice who done it mystery that was thought out

There is smoo smoo but not over the top

There is humor and drama mixed in, the movie does not do like so many, start out funny and then choke U with drama scenes half way through

A board of stock holders for a small town cookie store was over the top, but it guess it fit the script and what the script writer was looking to achieve

I definitely have a sudden Cookie fetish right now and am pestering wifey for cookies. I have a feeling this will be a universal effect of the movie.
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10/10
Light-hearted all-age mystery romcom
SunnyDaise10 December 2023
The mystery plot makes this novel addition to the now-massive Christmas movie bank. Unlike many mysteries however, the whole family can watch as it isn't violent etc, the age spread is well done and there's plenty of friendly fun along the way. There's quite a big cast, obviously needed to provide lots of suspects, but they all bring something different to the party. There's also a good mix of relationships eg colleagues / friends / family etc and interests packed in. It may be fluffier than an Agatha Christie, but there's plenty of red herrings and distractions along the way. They could do a 'crime' series developing from this.
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