Christmas is jeopardized when a newly blended family can't seem to get together on how to celebrate the holiday. All is seemingly made well when the two kids from the dad's side decide to go with what the daughter of their stepmom wants, which is to spend the holiday in Boulder. Unbeknownst to them, that daughter has decided it will be best to skip Boulder and stay in town for a Christmas Eve pageant in which her two step-siblings usually perform. To complicate matters, the former mother-in-law of the wife shows up for an extended stay and has her own ideas. The heart of this typical Hallmark TV movie is Dixie Carter's performance as the grandma to the Boulder-loving daughter. As always, Carter is terrific. And she is nicely supported by John Ratzenberger as the fun-loving and very shrewd grandpa to the pageant-loving kiddies. Ratzenberger and Carter play off each other very nicely. A pregnant-looking Julie Warner is the wife being pushed and pulled by the three kids.
7 Reviews
Worth seeing!
Zoooma5 March 2014
Made-for-TV (Hallmark Channel) production, one of about a hundred in the past decade alone. So many have lost their way, using Christmas in name only when the story itself has so little to do with Christmas. Here we get a different treat, a 1 in 10 movie that actually works. Despite taking place in Southern California, it's quite Christmasy throughout. The holiday spirit is the background for this. Unfortunately another background exists -- the orchestral score which is so in your ears at times that it's distracting. Why add that in so heavily? It's like they don't want to rely on strength of script to carry the film. Strip the score away and you get drama. Add it in you get schmaltz. Score aside, this is pretty good. Dixie Carter and John Ratzenberger are such a joy here! Anything with Cliff from Cheers is definitely worth seeing! Such a good and warm actor! The end result works and is sure to pull at the heartstrings the way a good Christmas movie should! Worth seeing!
6.4 / 10
--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener
6.4 / 10
--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener
Blended family issues
Jackbv12316 November 2017
This story is about what happens when a newly blended family tries to blend their traditions for Christmas. They do a good job of showing how traditions are bittersweet when someone is no longer there to share them. We see that these kids are not selfish and in fact very mature for their age in that sense. Giving up the traditions is like losing that loved one again.
This is not your stereotypical Christmas story, although I'm sure elements of it have been done before. The ending could have gone a couple of ways.
All the acting is good. Two of the kids seem especially mature for their age. I was particularly impressed with John Ratzenberger who was nothing like he was on Cheers and presented a Christian retired pastor as a reasonable man of faith and love.
There was a Bible reading about Christmas and saying of grace that was more than rote. The movie may be a little preachy, but it is not about religion. It is about the importance of family.
This is not your stereotypical Christmas story, although I'm sure elements of it have been done before. The ending could have gone a couple of ways.
All the acting is good. Two of the kids seem especially mature for their age. I was particularly impressed with John Ratzenberger who was nothing like he was on Cheers and presented a Christian retired pastor as a reasonable man of faith and love.
There was a Bible reading about Christmas and saying of grace that was more than rote. The movie may be a little preachy, but it is not about religion. It is about the importance of family.
Lost Lewis Smith
Carolyndowning703 November 2014
I watched this 3 times to see Lewis Smith. i guess he was on the cutting room floor. Lewis is the best contemporary actor I've seen since the day of big studio & big stars. I'd buy anything he does but the business is more interested in nepotism than quality of performance. The story line touched on real issues & confusion in blended families. Many hallmark stories portray realistic content but entertainment still needs to give an escape from some of the daily conflict. Inspiration is so much desired in a very difficult political & financial climate. More period/teaching story lines are great for taking us away from daily disappointments.
A Great Film. Where Nobody is the Bad Guy
Christmas-Reviewer7 August 2016
I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 (C H R I S T M A S ) MOVIES AND SPECIALS.
BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I AM HONEST! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN!
"Our First Christmas".
In this film: After a whirlwind romance, widowers Cindy and Tom and their children are spending their first Christmas together. Planning and hoping for the perfect holiday, the couple finds themselves in a dilemma. Both sets of children are determined to keep their traditions of the past, even if it means spending the holiday apart.
The film has many familiar faces including "Dixie Carter" and John Ratzenberger.
What I like the most about this film was the fact "NOBODY" comes across as a bad person at anytime during the film. From the Children to the eldest adult! Everyone's point of view is herd! Nobody is ever called "Stupid" for feeling or wanting certain things.
The writer of this film did a great job. She did not take the easy approach on certain subject matter.
This film might not be for everyone especially if you recently lost someone you love. Please if you LOVE Christmas you will love this film. The film is about what is important in life and how we should all treat one another. A Huge Winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I AM HONEST! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN!
"Our First Christmas".
In this film: After a whirlwind romance, widowers Cindy and Tom and their children are spending their first Christmas together. Planning and hoping for the perfect holiday, the couple finds themselves in a dilemma. Both sets of children are determined to keep their traditions of the past, even if it means spending the holiday apart.
The film has many familiar faces including "Dixie Carter" and John Ratzenberger.
What I like the most about this film was the fact "NOBODY" comes across as a bad person at anytime during the film. From the Children to the eldest adult! Everyone's point of view is herd! Nobody is ever called "Stupid" for feeling or wanting certain things.
The writer of this film did a great job. She did not take the easy approach on certain subject matter.
This film might not be for everyone especially if you recently lost someone you love. Please if you LOVE Christmas you will love this film. The film is about what is important in life and how we should all treat one another. A Huge Winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A+ Standing Ovation - GREAT MOVIE
windtar27 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
A+ to everyone involved in this Christmas movie.
This is a perfect example of how a family holiday movie should be made. It had every angle covered to keep your interested with a ending that makes you happy and tear.
This movie is about 2 families who each lost a mom/dad who come together in marriage and each side "kids" wanting their own tradition Christmas. Not giving in and sticking by their own "selfish" desires causes tension within the family.
I really liked John Ratzenberger in this movie as the logical calm grandpa. His chemistry between the kids and parents was only over shadowed by his sincerity to Dixie Carter, the mother in law. Ratzenberger is a very good drama actor, a far cry from Cliff on cheers. John, can I have your autograph? hehe
The storyline between the mom and dad's tension was well written, and even better was how everyone intermingled with their own sub-plots. In the end, the entire story was wrapped up perfectly.
SPOILER -- *** When Dixie carter goes home and Ratzenberger goes to get her, WOW, that was so well written i would give a award to John for that alone. The tears rolled from my eyes from there, and my heart made me think of my family until the final climactic ending with grandma walking in living room.
The only thing I would have changed a bit was the ending and families reaction when Dixie walked in. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but they could have did something a little better, maybe a bow around Dixie, lol.... They should have put a dramatic momentary pause in the kids faces when they saw grandma, maybe tears in their eyes before they ran to her.
To me, this movie was Christmas perfection.
It's a MUST SEE for anyone who loves family movies. A+++
MERRY Christmas 2008
This is a perfect example of how a family holiday movie should be made. It had every angle covered to keep your interested with a ending that makes you happy and tear.
This movie is about 2 families who each lost a mom/dad who come together in marriage and each side "kids" wanting their own tradition Christmas. Not giving in and sticking by their own "selfish" desires causes tension within the family.
I really liked John Ratzenberger in this movie as the logical calm grandpa. His chemistry between the kids and parents was only over shadowed by his sincerity to Dixie Carter, the mother in law. Ratzenberger is a very good drama actor, a far cry from Cliff on cheers. John, can I have your autograph? hehe
The storyline between the mom and dad's tension was well written, and even better was how everyone intermingled with their own sub-plots. In the end, the entire story was wrapped up perfectly.
SPOILER -- *** When Dixie carter goes home and Ratzenberger goes to get her, WOW, that was so well written i would give a award to John for that alone. The tears rolled from my eyes from there, and my heart made me think of my family until the final climactic ending with grandma walking in living room.
The only thing I would have changed a bit was the ending and families reaction when Dixie walked in. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but they could have did something a little better, maybe a bow around Dixie, lol.... They should have put a dramatic momentary pause in the kids faces when they saw grandma, maybe tears in their eyes before they ran to her.
To me, this movie was Christmas perfection.
It's a MUST SEE for anyone who loves family movies. A+++
MERRY Christmas 2008
Has a Brady Bunch Vibe
latanalacks15 July 2017
This is a great film. It is as family as a "The Brady Bunch" episode and is that is not a bad thing. Its heartfelt. It comes across as "Real People" adjusting to new family members and I love the fact that is does have the "Typical Love Conquers All" ending but, the ending is moving it makes you wish there was maybe this much love in your own family.
A movie about blending a family is almost as old as movies themselves. This film has a "Great Cast" and I can't wait to see this again next Christmas!
Widower Tom Baer, a school counselor, recently married school coach Cindy Noll, a widow. Their respective offspring gets along fairly well, despite different parenting styles, but as their first Christmas with all step-siblings approaches, each set is desperate to respect their own seasonal traditions, reminiscent of their late parents. Tom's father, retired preacher Joe Noll, and Cindy's mother-in-law (from her deceased husband, Dave), Evie, a businesswoman, each liked by both, hoped to bridge the gap, but when that fails, she returns home alone. Just that gets the kids reconsidering their pouting pact.
ONE OF THE BEST HALLMARK FILMS OUT THERE~
A movie about blending a family is almost as old as movies themselves. This film has a "Great Cast" and I can't wait to see this again next Christmas!
Widower Tom Baer, a school counselor, recently married school coach Cindy Noll, a widow. Their respective offspring gets along fairly well, despite different parenting styles, but as their first Christmas with all step-siblings approaches, each set is desperate to respect their own seasonal traditions, reminiscent of their late parents. Tom's father, retired preacher Joe Noll, and Cindy's mother-in-law (from her deceased husband, Dave), Evie, a businesswoman, each liked by both, hoped to bridge the gap, but when that fails, she returns home alone. Just that gets the kids reconsidering their pouting pact.
ONE OF THE BEST HALLMARK FILMS OUT THERE~
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