Okay, so I decided to get out all my Christmas movies & pile them all up ready to watch, & after seeing this film in my collection (still sealed in it's packaging, I decided to rip it open & watch it!) & I'm now asking myself why haven't I watched this film sooner?!! It was brilliant! I have to agree with most of the other reviews listed here that yes, it's a very predictable movie - you know what's coming but I guess most Christmas movies are like that, aren't they?
First of all, the cast are amazing - I can't say I've seen any of Brooke Burns's work before this movie (& I have to admit, I never watched Baywatch!). I wasn't familiar with Warren Christie either but I can't think of any other two actors who would have been more perfect for this little gem of a movie - the chemistry is right up there and on form throughout the whole film.
The humour is really good also, funny, predictable & light hearted - & yes the one-liners are right there!
Henry Wrinkler - perfect! I've seen a few of his movies (I think the first I saw him in was 'Scream' & then a couple of TV movies). If you're reading this review & you're a Wrinkler fan, be sure to check out the movie "A Child Is Missing" (starring Roma Downey & Keegan MacIntosh). A rare & hard-to-find movie but you'll love it.
But in this Christmas gem his bright ideas in pairing up Burns & Warren are just amazing. He's nailed the part as the comedic uncle.
As for the co-stars, Woody Jeffreys (Jen's Boyfriend, Richard) of course has to be completely opposite to Warren Christie's character (Morgan). It's to be expected that if a movie is going to have two guys pining over one beautiful woman, then they're personalities should be completely different - Richard plays the ever-so-serious boyfriend who never smiles, never shows Jen any affection, & hardly shows any interest in her son Brian (played by Connor Christopher Levins) other than offering a $500 gift card for Toy World - a nice gesture yes, but really? Not exactly something a kid can open on Christmas morning and play with....
Back to Warren Christie - very chirpy, upbeat, humorous, & clearly to us viewers we can see he's trying his best to make any little boy's Christmas special (buying him a bike, buying a 'real' Christmas tree, taking interest in the toys in his bedroom). He likes to joke around a bit & I just love the little flirtyness between him & Brooke Burns, especially the scene when he's just stepped out of the shower & she's right there to hand over some towels & he says, "I've already got one", & she says, "Yes I can see that." & then he comes right in with the line - "Imagine how embarrassing it'd be if I didn't." Great stuff!
Now then, I've read the other reviews here about the assault scene with the shop owner", I can't say I thought much of it really. But I'd hardly say it's something to raise concerns about - there was no blood - I just found it to be quite light and comedic really, similar to what you'd see in "Home Alone" with the famous shovel-over-the-head scene!. And we have to ask ourselves, would Jen's boyfriend, Richard have done that all for the sake of getting her son the Christmas wish he longs for. Sometimes a bloke has gotta step in and do what he's gotta do. Maybe I'd have done the same, I don't know.
Now, not to spoil too much here (if I haven't already) but yes, the airport scene made me crumble - I'm a sucker when it's come to the climatic endings in a movie (especially these Christmas gems). That big dash through the airport to stop the guy (or girl) from getting on that plane... we've seen it a hundered times, but in this movie you won't be disappointment. I like the ideas here & you'll know what I mean once you've watched this movie.
So, as I'm writing this review, I'm craving to watch this festive-feel good movie again, I can't fault it, it's definitely The Most Wonderful Film Of The Year!
