User reviews

"A Christmas Romance" was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. That provides one of the pluses of this film, which really needed more - real snow, and lots of it. The filming location is pertinent in my comments because the sense and feel of the screenplay is that this film is set somewhere in the Blue Ridge or Appalachian Mountains. It's never really made clear in the movie.

The other plus for the film is the two young girls, whose characters provide much of what is enjoyable about this film.

Olivia Newton-John does well with her role as Julia Stonecypher. But Gregory Harrison's Brian Harding is hard to take. It may have been written that way, which makes the screenplay itself mostly at fault. While the story has a somewhat different plot for the year-end type of Christmas romance films, it's not a very good or interesting one. Again, the screenplay and the role of Brian Harding are bad. There is no chemistry between the leads, and any blooming romance isn't believable. Indeed, his character is so dull, and poorly acted, that his sudden turn around isn't believable.

The musical background throughout tries to imply comedy, but it turns more on hokeyness. Except for Daisy the ewe birthing its lamb and a couple of good lines in the script, this film doesn't have much of interest. Here are those lines.

Deenie, on her mom lettering the five-year-old Emily Rose go out into a blizzard by herself, "You let her go out there, all by herself?" Julia Stonecypher, "She'll be all right." Deenie, "Sure."

Brian Harding, eating some of Julia's Christmas cake, "What it this flavor in here? I can't get enough of it." Julia, "Bourbon." Brian, "What is it?" Julia, "Bourbon. I use artificial flavor for the Methodists and the Baptists. The Catholics and the Episcopalians like the real thing. That cake is Episcopalian."

The Christmas Stranger was an excellent storyline. The casting was great. The story was a lot like my life, except I haven't found the right man after my husbands sudden death. I love Christmas just as Julia, can't bake like her though. But, back to the movie, it was great, I wished I could own it on VHS or DVD. I would love that.

My fiancé and I are huge fans of Hallmark-type Christmas flicks, and we're even BIGGER fans of Christmas, in general. It was her turn to choose what film we'd watch, tonight, and she happened to pick this one, with the most misleading title ever. Talk about clickbait being around before the internet became mainstream.

The house this film mostly takes place in is beautiful, even romantic. But every character-accept for the two daughters-are absolutely unlikable, and rude. So there's a romantic atmosphere, but it's all ruined by the despicable adult characters. Our two adult leads have no chemistry AT ALL-even by the end of the film. It has one of the most uncomfortable kissing scenes I've ever seen since Rose kissed Finn in "The Last Jedi".

Out of the two child actors, the eldest daughter is fantastic, in my opinion. There are two different scenes involving her acting capability that actually made my girlfriend and I tear-up. The whole sideplot about her pet lamb being sick was waaaaaaaaay more engaging to us than the "romance" this film claims to have to it.

Don't be fooled, friends; this is not like modern Hallmark-style Christmas films. It's advertised, these days, to be for that niche of viewers, but it will not satisfy them whatsoever.

Julia is a widow, who resides up in the mountains with her two daughters, but now low on cash she does her best to sell cakes during the Xmas holidays. Brian Harding is a city guy, who works in a bank and before Xmas holidays he has to go and repossess Julia's home because she was unable to pay the loan back. With harsh words said to each other Brian jumps back in his car on that snowy night, but ends up crashing his car not far from Julia's house. Seeing this she helps this stranger in and attends to his wounds. Brian tries his best to leave, but with the poor weather condition he is forced to stay put and slowly the two of them become friends and then more than friends. This is a really good movie to watch during the Xmas season. Gregory Harrison and Olivia Newton-John were brilliant in their roles. the part which i liked best was when Julia was trying to undress a very weak and drowsy Brian! It was just hilarious!

I was a child when this movie was made. Hollywood movie plots told single mothers they needed a new father for their kids (like they still do today). So many kids have been abused in so many ways because there are men (and women) around who prey on single parents by pretending to like their kids. That is the vibe I got during this whole movie. Single man from the city is suddenly happy to have kids who aren't his. Holding hands with a little girl and calling her sweetheart etc. Single parents all have to be careful of predatory people while Hollywood tells you your kids need a father or mother with these unrealistic love interests. No one can be 'alone' (or uncommitted) according to Hollywood.

This is got to be one of the best Christmas movie's ever made. Olivia Newton-John and Gregory Harrison do a wonderful job in this movie. I would love to see them in another movie together. They act together as well as Olivia and John Travolta do. I recommend this movie to everyone who love's Christmas movie's. Olivia's real life daughter Chloe is also in this movie and she does an excellent job of acting herself. Chloe and her mother Olivia also star in another movie together called The Wilde girl's which is also a movie to see. I believe Chloe will be starring in other movie's, as she is a good actress like her mother. Those who will watch this movie will by no mean's be disappointed.

Olivia plays a widow with 2 young daughters living high in the mountains and facing the prospect of a bleak xmas having lost her job and with the threat of the bank taking her home through non mortgage payments.

Gregory Harrison plays bank employee who is to deliver the fatal news on xmas eve gets stuck in her house due to a car crash in a snow storm on xmas eve.

Making xmas cakes to try and make some extra money for the holiday season,Olivia and daughters,one of whom is played by real daughter Chloe whose acting at such a young age is quite credible.

Despite his somewhat nasty character Olivia falls for gregory harrison who although already has a fiance and in true disney fashion all ends happily with Olivia getting to keep her house and is given a framed drawing of her two daughters by harrison.

Bleak settings help to give atmosphere to the film and Olivia is maturing as a tv actress with this film being made not long after her successful battle with breast cancer.Not a glamorous role for Olivia but one with real grit and determination. 8 out of 10.

This movie distribution puzzles me VERY greatly. It's near impossible to get in any North American format (DVD region 2 UK appears to be the most available version) Why not North America? No idea. Would sell like hotcakes! Set your VCR (or other recorder) if you see it on TV! As for the movie...

Imagine one of the cleverest romantic stories you will see, the leads have great chemistry, and the children (one played by Olivia's daughter, how's that for a holiday "keepsake"?)are charming and not over acted.

If you expect a musical, no, that's not it... (very little singing, and all in context of the plot) comedy, well, sometimes... drama? Hmmm... not really... My "9" rating is based on "best of class" as watchable clever romantic stories are far apart. (WAY apart!) Screenplay vs. book? (yes, I actually found a copy of the book) I was interested in seeing how they compared... not well, I fear.

Screenplay beats the book with a baseball bat, one of the very few movies I've EVER seen where the "basic" idea of the book is kept, and the details tossed out the window, with the screenplay winning hands down.

The movie is FAR, FAR better than the book, it "flows" better, is far more a solid plot than the book, comes together without the cheap "gimmicks" of the book, etc. (ever seen a screenplay beat the *daylights* out of the book? and not vice-versa?) Nice work, Darrah Cloud (screenwriter), whoever you are, I'll look up your work! The book left me wanting my fifty cents back, the movie is fun, and more fun to watch than it would lead you to believe.

Keep a heads up for this one, you'll want to snap out the "erase allow" tab on your tape to protect it! Hey guys out there! BIG heads up on this, GREAT "at home" date movie, the fact that Olivia Newton-John is at her "cute looking" best is reason enough to watch. For the ladies out there, Gregory Harrison looks nicely groomed for the part.

I read somewhere the whole movie was done in several weeks (!) Some TV episodes take longer, but don't look it.

Enjoy!

Olivia makes a tremendous leap in her acting abilities following a rather "wooden" (pun intended) performance as a mannequin in yet another Christmas television movie, "A Mom for Christmas." This wonderful movie co-stars Gregory Harrison, whom she would also act with in the AIDS-drama "It's My Party," and also marks the acting debut of her daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi, whom, much later, would become an international singing sensation in her own right.

The film centers on a widowed mother of two young girls who is struggling to make ends meet in order to save the bank from foreclosing on her mountainside home. Bleak stuff for Christmas, huh? Then, along comes mean mister bank man, played by Gregory Harrison, who must give Olivia the bad news that the bank has taken over her house and she must move. All this fun on Christmas Eve...

Well, along comes a storm and forces Harrison to stay with Olivia & girls , and romance ensues, but not without some trials (including a dying lamb)... It really seems bleak, but it all works out in the end, and Olivia turns in her strongest role yet.

It is unbelievable that this movie has yet to be released on DVD - it was a top 10 favorite the year it was made, and has been re-run on television throughout the years since. Also, with Olivia's (and now Chloe's) popularity, the movie would surely be a strong seller. Repeated viewings have proved just how strong this film is, and it definitely ranks up there with the seasonal holiday classics that are re-run every year. It's a beautiful film.

Snow strands a young widow (Olivia Newton-John) and her two daughters with a banker (Gregory Harrison) holding their eviction notice. Olvia Newton-John plays her part effortlessly.

A Christmas Romance

Olivia Newton-John plays a widow with 2 young daughters living high in the mountains and facing the prospect of a bleak "Christmas" having lost her job and with the threat of the bank taking her home through non mortgage payments.

Olivia's 1994 film A Christmas Romance was really Olivia's celebration that she was alive and well after her ordeal with breast cancer.

The film was also special as Chloe, in her screen debut, played her on-screen daughter (billed as Chloe Lattanzi).

TV Movie where a debt collector gets stranded by bad weather at the house of the lovely single mother (Olivia) he is harassing for unpaid debts....This did very well in the 1994 Christmas ratings, reaching #7 in the ratings for that week.

This film is worth watching. Watch it if you get the chance. Never boring. Its one of the better Christmas TV-Films that pop up in December.

Cute and typical sweet Christmas movie. To all those who gave poor ratings in this crazy world today we need some of these surgery cute movies!!! Also the older daughter is Chloe Lattanzi, Olivia Newton John's real life daughter!!!