(Very minor spoilers) Cinnamon is a dog: a very spoiled dog belonging to divorced university professor and single mom Madeline (Cynthia Gibb). Madeline is dating, but the dates are complete disasters, and Cinnamon is relieved to have Madeline basically to herself. But then Madeline meets the architect working on a new addition to the university, a widower named Kevin (Greg Evigan) and his son Jordan. Madeline and Kevin are smitten immediately, and Cinnamon is convinced her life is going to change for the worse if Kevin and Jordan become a permanent part of Madeline's life. Cinnamon therefore sets out to wreck the budding relationship, and employs tactics ranging from barking and biting, to urinary attack, to running away to insure her position as "top dog" in Madeline's life. Unfortunately, Cinnamon is also a dog of a movie, with Brenda Song (from Zack and Cody fame) wisely choosing not to be credited with the annoying voice she gives to a very annoying character. You see, Cinnamon cares nothing for her owner's happiness, only her own, and the change-of-heart essential to movies of this sort will come about not by Cinnamon realizing the error of her ways, but rather by Cinnamon having a new selfish agenda. And Madeline – if you were crazy about your dog, would you let your dog run off to play with a child you've only just met outside of your supervision? Would you then drop off the little beastie unannounced for your new boyfriend to dog-sit, knowing that your dog seems to hate said boyfriend? Of course you wouldn't, because that would be logical – unfortunately, Madeline does both these things, and more. There are also cringe-worthy bits of dialogue (my personal favourite is Jordan saying "How can I live with myself?" when Cinnamon goes missing), as well as random plot lines that are started, and then dropped like a spoiled child (dog?) getting bored with a toy. Gibb and Evigan do their best with appalling material, and are the reason the movie is not rated lower. What Lesley-Ann Down was doing in the movie is a complete mystery - her character seems almost entirely superfluous. Even the original title (it is titled CINNAMON in South Africa) is suspect: "MY DOG'S Christmas MIRACLE" seems to be a cheap cash-in on the festive season, since the story has almost nothing to do with Christmas, and Cinnamon does very little to accomplish anything miraculous. Give this one a skip unless you or your children are absolutely crazy about talking dogs.
5 Reviews
Rather juvenile but not objectionable
mike4812831 October 2020
Annoying
Jackbv12330 October 2020
I'll admit that, after 15 minutes and the first commercial, I had to give up. To that point, almost everything was way too annoying.
This movie is definitely aimed at a younger audience with things to appeal to children. The dog is one obvious thing, especially given the annoying spoiled kiddie voice. Likewise the dog's "only me" selfish attitude.
The leading lady's daughter isn't much better. It's stereotypical teen 'tude, but it's overplayed. The same lady has a housekeeper with overly obvious impatience and disrespect for her employer's family.
All this in 15 minutes. I could see where this movie was going style wise and gave up.
This movie is definitely aimed at a younger audience with things to appeal to children. The dog is one obvious thing, especially given the annoying spoiled kiddie voice. Likewise the dog's "only me" selfish attitude.
The leading lady's daughter isn't much better. It's stereotypical teen 'tude, but it's overplayed. The same lady has a housekeeper with overly obvious impatience and disrespect for her employer's family.
All this in 15 minutes. I could see where this movie was going style wise and gave up.
Very sweet!
musiclady-115 November 2020
Loved it
nhphjy19 November 2023
I love Maltese so the fact that the main dog character was a Maltese was icing on the cake.
It was a very cute and fun movie. Obviously it's more for children and I think kids would love it. It didn't labor unnecessarily over the adults relationship and focused more on the dogs for the bulk of the movie.
I don't think that it was focused much on the holiday so I'm not sure I would consider this a Christmas movie outside of the fact that it took place Dorothea winter months. If there was much Christmas theme involved I can't recall it.
My main complaint is that it's almost impossible to find it to stream or find it for purchase.
It was a very cute and fun movie. Obviously it's more for children and I think kids would love it. It didn't labor unnecessarily over the adults relationship and focused more on the dogs for the bulk of the movie.
I don't think that it was focused much on the holiday so I'm not sure I would consider this a Christmas movie outside of the fact that it took place Dorothea winter months. If there was much Christmas theme involved I can't recall it.
My main complaint is that it's almost impossible to find it to stream or find it for purchase.
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