Christmas on TV: Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade

Hallmark Channel Christmas 2012 Movie #2

I went into this movie with high expectations. Other than the food, the Thanksgiving Day Parade is the highlight of my Turkey Day. One of the greatest holiday movies ever, Miracle on 34th Street, begins with the Macy's Parade. And it's starring Autumn Reeser, the charming girl next door on my favorite short-lived sitcom, Complete Savages.

And guess what? Those expectations were met within the first five minutes. Because this Thanksgiving Day Parade is set in Chicago, the best place for romantic comedies, particularly Christmas ones. (See While You Were Sleeping.) And Autumn's vintage wardrobe transforms her into Maureen O'Hara circa 1947. (At first, I found myself wondering why the main character dresses only in vintage clothing. But after five minutes, I was only wondering why I don't. Don't let it bother you either; just go with it. And it does get explained later on.)

Best scenes stolen from other rom-coms
1. Boy and girl trying to avoid each other at the grocery store, similar to that classic scene in You've Got Mail (also coincidentally a Thanksgiving scene)

2. Boy and girl eating food with their hands at a favorite local restaurant, similar to Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond in Sabrina

3. Boy and girl taking a romantic carriage ride downtown to get to know each other, as seen in Little Women and every Jane Austen adaptation ever

4. Boy and girl dancing to vintage music underneath a gazebo in the park, similar to the "Stranger on the Shore" dance in The Majestic

5. Boy takes girl to drunken karaoke to get over her stupid boyfriend (the drunken karaoke part at least happens in a lot of movies, like (500) Days of Summer)

6. Boy and girl get locked on the roof all night...and honestly I'm drawing a blank right now, but I know it's happened before

7. Boy takes a stealthy picture of girl when he's starting to like her, like Mark Ruffalo in 13 Going on 30

8. Girl brags about doing the New York Times crossword in ink, just like Heather Locklear and Chris Noth in The Perfect Man

9. Boy takes girl on a romantic boat ride--so Ben Affleck in Pearl Harbor

10. Boy and girl must kiss for the Kiss Cam at a basketball game, in the manner of Kate Hudson and Matthew McConnaughey in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

11. Several scenes of boy and girl having sleepless nights in separate beds on a split screen, like any Doris Day movie ever made

All of that might seem like a bit much, but trust me, this movie uses all these conventions to its greatest advantage. On top of all that, the music breathes nostalgia into the story, the Chicago architecture shines on the small screen, and the main characters' personalities play off of each other with charm and ease. And I loved the entire movie. Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade is easily the best of this season's holiday movies so far. Give yourself something to be thankful for and watch it!