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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Starz / Anchor Bay
Salesrank: 28448
Released: August 31, 1999 |
| Our Price: $77.88 |
| Used Price: $41.95 |
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MPAA Rating: G (General Audience)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Grab an econo-pack of tissues, gather your loved ones around a cozy television, and bring on the hot cocoa--it's time for a dose of Christmas spirit. The tender and charming Mary Steenburgen (Parenthood) dons a sour disposition in her role as Ginny Grainger, a woman who finds little joy in life lately--let alone in the impending holiday season. Money is tight, her husband (beautifully downplayed by nice-guy Gary Basaraba) lost his job, and the family must move out of their house. Ginny cannot even bring herself to say, "Merry Christmas," despite her family's enthusiasm about the big day. With help from Ginny's brave and loving daughter (sweetly performed by Elisabeth Harnois) and a Christmas angel named Gideon (Harry Dean Stanton), Ginny undergoes a life-altering experience à la It's a Wonderful Life. The result? Happy endings, hugs and kisses, pass the tissues.
Not a light holiday entertainer by any means, the plot verges on depressing at times, as the family struggles through money issues and the tedium of daily suburban survival. While handled fairly subtly, some of the bridging story--including a shooting, a kidnapping, and a drowning--might prove disturbing to children under 6 years old. And really: if the somber Harry Dean Stanton (Paris, Texas) repeatedly appeared in your neighborhood, cloaked in a cowboy hat and overcoat, would you allow your kids outside? Still, a well-made favorite to cherish. --Liane Thomas
One Magic Christmas Reviews:
Great movie and presents a purpose in our future. 
2009-12-25 - I agree this is a great movie. It has many good messages. Since it deals with death and angels use caution. Not for real young children. It does resolve itself and ends up happy. It also has a hidden message of hope. During the course of showing Santas workshop it shows people working for Santa who have passed on. It is presented in a non scarey welcome home kind of way. It is a sort of heaven. It is not clear if Santa is a Santa or possibly God. They leave that to your imagination. It does present a warm and friendly afterlife. An afterlife where we will have purpose. A job to perform. A team to belong to. One that provides joy for others and helps childrens dreams come true. What would be a more nobel way to spend eternity? I think this presents a view of heaven many can relate too. Especially a child who may be terminal. Santa Claus taking care of us and us helping him would be much less frightening. This is just an observation of mine and not intended to change anyones religious beliefs. The movie maker put it in and it made me feel better.
item never shipped 
2009-12-24 - I ordered a product with expi shipping two weeks ago that was in stock and the items that were ordered regulary came before.
best christmas movies 
2009-12-19 - Though I will always think that Dicken's THE CHRISTMAS CAROL is the best book and the best movie (especially the George C. Scott version) for the holiday, this one is close behind. It is a beautiful story of the Christmas spirit that is NOT a modern day "revision" of Dicken's best. The actors, including the children, make this story seem real. Also, they have the REAL Santa Claus in this movie.
Jackson Alan
2009-12-19 - One of the best Christmas movies ever made. This movie always gets us in the mood for Christmas and it's true meaning.
Terrific
2009-12-15 - The DVD arrived right away. I enjoyed watching an old favorite. Recommend this product and seller.
