This time magic was gone : I was lucky to have 2 Christmas movies with Alicia in one week but this one is really not interesting : Alicia plays a sort of Scrooge who turns from bad to good by Christmas spirit but her transformation happens in a stupid tale : without knowing it, she has a black husband and two teens as child ! The small town is supposed idyllic but we don't see it ; Christmas is supposed to be a family Holiday but here it's rather belonging to a community (remember the Kranks ?) and the big drama is about a play ! So there's nothing to keep you awake and happy, with a crying eye and a moved heart ! The wardrobe and cinematography and the usual dynamism and smile of Alicia are worthy but sadly, this movie won't be a classic !
18 Reviews
The Snowglobe Alternative Universe Continues!
story_by_corey15 December 2013
Apparently, the snow globe-alternate-universe-Christmas movie genera is here to stay. Unfortunately, this one is not as good as the 2007, one-word Snowglobe version.
In this edition, Meg (Alicia Witt) thinks the shows she produces misleads people into thinking dreams really can come true. After bonking herself on the head with a snow globe, she ends up in it's perfect snow-covered town. She never quite fits into this universe though everyone in town tries to accept her. It all starts to unravel when her negative attitudes impacts the town folks. Just as she starts to realize she likes her snow globe universe better than her real one, she returns to reality with another bonk on the head.
While there is a nice, semi-predictable twist at the end of this movie, its your basic Lifetime Channel Christmas movie fare that you will forget minutes after the movie is over.
In this edition, Meg (Alicia Witt) thinks the shows she produces misleads people into thinking dreams really can come true. After bonking herself on the head with a snow globe, she ends up in it's perfect snow-covered town. She never quite fits into this universe though everyone in town tries to accept her. It all starts to unravel when her negative attitudes impacts the town folks. Just as she starts to realize she likes her snow globe universe better than her real one, she returns to reality with another bonk on the head.
While there is a nice, semi-predictable twist at the end of this movie, its your basic Lifetime Channel Christmas movie fare that you will forget minutes after the movie is over.
More like Comfort and Joy with Nancy McKeon
raybartlett17 December 2013
Though it rings of Family Man as many have pointed out, it bares a stronger resemblance to Nancy McKeon's Comfort and Joy. The film twists and turns in ways that are sometimes more frustrating than entertaining. However, the acting is good and the lighting is good and so is the sound. 2013 has not been a good year for sound and lighting in these types of holiday films. In particular kitchen scenes have been riddled with reverb, but not this film. They came through. The overlap with prior Snowglobe films is apparently coincidental more through casting than the story. There is no connection other than the name and a shared actress. It definitely tightens up at the end and makes for a good watch.
Trippy
geobear753 December 2016
This movie doesn't really have any flow and is hard to follow. Rather than feeling like its own show, it feels more like a bad editing job of splicing together every other Christmas movie you've ever seen. Considering that the main character is trying to make the perfect Christmas movie when she passes out, I'm sure this is probably on purpose, but unfortunately the end result isn't good. It feels more like we were dropped into a fun house than a snow globe. Also, the male and female leads didn't demonstrate any believable chemistry, or at least not for more than a second or two at a time. Both actors are terrific, and I've loved them in other shows, but it just didn't work here. It might not be their fault, though. It could be because the movie kept jumping around and never held still long enough to maintain emotion. In any case, your time would probably be better spent watching one or more of the other Christmas movies instead of this trippy imitation.
Likable
Christmas-Reviewer9 September 2016
A cynical TV exec looks at the perfect town inside a Christmas globe and rants about how the holiday movies she produces are as fake as the ornament. She throws it against the wall and it bounces back and knocks her out. But when she wakes up in a perfect snow-covered town, married to a local woodsman, she discovers it s not all just a fantasy.
The film is really a first class production. The story is a little bit of a retread of better films however its so well made you can't get mad. Alicia Witt seems to be in every other Christmas movie that gets made. It was also so sweet to see Donald Faison be romantic. This film is family safe. It so safe that if your single the film might even change your life. Watch and enjoy.
The film is really a first class production. The story is a little bit of a retread of better films however its so well made you can't get mad. Alicia Witt seems to be in every other Christmas movie that gets made. It was also so sweet to see Donald Faison be romantic. This film is family safe. It so safe that if your single the film might even change your life. Watch and enjoy.
Confused no real draw
hypzrkunt17 November 2021
The first half of the movie was almost unwatchable. Than there was 15 minutes were it looked like it might redeem itself than it collapsed. I'm an Alicia Witt somewhat fan but this was the worst thing I saw her in and I think she didn't care or something because she was part of the reason it was bad. Usually not the case.
Major casting error (heavy sigh)
A_Different_Drummer8 January 2017
Courtesy of the Great Canadian film factory (which, as explained in my other reviews often masquerades as production companies from other parts of the globe), we have this soppy entry, a strange take on the X-mas fantasy classics from the 1940s.
The good news? Alicia Witt. Witt is not only a singer but a comedian and actress of special merit. This reviewer first noticed her in a season of Justified where she stole the spotlight from several dramatic actors more seasoned.
And speaking of "seasoned," this Xmas effort even with its many flaws could have been a lot better than it was were it not for the criminally inept casting of Donald Faison as the fantasy husband.
Folks I understand the benefits of political correctness in the modern age (even though as a youngster I did not go to a "snowflake" university) but there are some things more important than political correctness, such as writing, casting, directing and acting. For starters.
Witt is not only competent, she delivers some very awkward dialog like she means it. Not so with Donald Faison. He seems to think he is in a slapstick comedy instead of a romcom and keeps mugging for a laugh. It would help if there was even a smidgen of chemistry between the two. THERE IS NOT. Worse, the writer/director makes a major faux pas and actually takes this lack of chemistry and tries to turn it into a plot arc.
Ugh! Other than for Witt fans, not recommended.
The good news? Alicia Witt. Witt is not only a singer but a comedian and actress of special merit. This reviewer first noticed her in a season of Justified where she stole the spotlight from several dramatic actors more seasoned.
And speaking of "seasoned," this Xmas effort even with its many flaws could have been a lot better than it was were it not for the criminally inept casting of Donald Faison as the fantasy husband.
Folks I understand the benefits of political correctness in the modern age (even though as a youngster I did not go to a "snowflake" university) but there are some things more important than political correctness, such as writing, casting, directing and acting. For starters.
Witt is not only competent, she delivers some very awkward dialog like she means it. Not so with Donald Faison. He seems to think he is in a slapstick comedy instead of a romcom and keeps mugging for a laugh. It would help if there was even a smidgen of chemistry between the two. THERE IS NOT. Worse, the writer/director makes a major faux pas and actually takes this lack of chemistry and tries to turn it into a plot arc.
Ugh! Other than for Witt fans, not recommended.
Simply awful.
tles715 December 2021
Pity the poor actors
jewhitmer2510 July 2021
I saw and disliked the first snow globe movie with Christina Milian but hoped that the presence of Alicia Witt , Trevor Donavan and Donald Faison in the cast would make this an enjoyable movie. But alas , the snow globe failed me again.
I watched the whole movie and kept hoping that it would get better, after all it had Alicia, Trevor and Donald in it. They deserved better than this. But it was just so disjointed, badly written and badly edited that it made it difficult to watch. The actors tried their best but the writers gave them very little to work with. I am not real sure what the plot of this movie was supposed to be, but the entire movie felt like a collection of unrelated scenes, strung together at random, in hopes of making a christmas movie.
This is not a Hallmark movie and doesn't attempt to be. However, if you have enjoyed Hallmark movies with Alicia Witt , Trevor Donavan and Donald Faison in them, avoid this movie.
This was a boring movie, who knew 90 minutes could be so-o-o long. It is right up there as one the worst movies I have ever seen.
I gave it no stars, and that was being generous.
I watched the whole movie and kept hoping that it would get better, after all it had Alicia, Trevor and Donald in it. They deserved better than this. But it was just so disjointed, badly written and badly edited that it made it difficult to watch. The actors tried their best but the writers gave them very little to work with. I am not real sure what the plot of this movie was supposed to be, but the entire movie felt like a collection of unrelated scenes, strung together at random, in hopes of making a christmas movie.
This is not a Hallmark movie and doesn't attempt to be. However, if you have enjoyed Hallmark movies with Alicia Witt , Trevor Donavan and Donald Faison in them, avoid this movie.
This was a boring movie, who knew 90 minutes could be so-o-o long. It is right up there as one the worst movies I have ever seen.
I gave it no stars, and that was being generous.
Pretty good
SanteeFats3 December 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Alicia Witt is a producer who goes to dream land. There she is married to Donald Faison and she learns they have two kids, a boy and a girl. It is a fantasy but hey it is a Christmas film. Putting on a Christmas play for the town she tries to get the cast together but there is some division among the kids. The mayor, who is a physical copy of her old fiancée, comes on to her even though he is married. Christina Milian plays a spirit who is trying to set Alicia on the right path. As the Christmas play goes on in rehearsal egos come out and some of the kids kind of blow up. Then the mayor serves a notice of eviction on the family home. Seems he has bought the woods from a local man that includes the house. The man has sold because no one seems to be into preserving the past. Alicia now tries to raise the equivalent sum so the woods will stay as they are. Then there is the Christmas play by the kids. The man who sold the woods if also the guy that played Santa. Thinking he is out of the play he shows up as Santa and donates enough money to save the woods. So Witt comes too on the set and having learned the true meaning of giving goes to her boyfriends house. Here she discovers that Faison is not married and has no kids. Chistina Milian turns out to be Faison's passed mother. At the end she is very happy when Alicia and Earl Faison finally hook up.
It's a not so wonderful life
TheLittleSongbird25 February 2020
The idea was sort of interesting, though it wasn't anything innovative. 'A Snow Globe Christmas' could have been either sweet and entertaining or contrived and bland, like a lot of Christmas films on both extremes and in between. Alicia Witt has always been mixed for me. When she has the right material, she can be good. There have even been times where she's been great. When she has characters that are annoying and not very interesting, she struggles to make it work.
'A Snow Globe Christmas' is not a terrible film and has its moments. It is sadly also not particularly good either and is very lacking in most areas. It could have done so much more with its concept, which turned out to be rather ordinary and muddled. It fits in the extreme of contrived and bland, though not one of the worst examples when it comes to Christmas films. It is yet another festive film where it was a struggle to like Witt or her character, though she is not completely to blame here.
Will start with the good things, as they are there. The scenery is lovely and quite idyllic and the photography is neither drab or garish, looking slick while not doing anything elaborate or too static. There is at times a nice festive feel to the music.
Christina Milian does a good job with what she was given, giving some spark. There are moments of charm and heart.
Neither Witt or Donald Faison come off particularly well, though she comes off better. It is a case of her trying too hard (though she does a nice smile), so everything feels too exaggerated, and he not enough. There is absolutely no spark or warmth to their chemistry and the rest of the cast are forgettable. Only Milian comes off unscathed. The direction mostly is functional but not much more than that. Other parts of the music felt intrusive.
Moreover, a lot of the dialogue is very stilted and corny, with too much cheese and schmaltz. And the execution of the film' concept is very predictable, very strained, completely lacking in energy and the lack of sense spoils it too. None of the characters are particularly interesting or likeable, and the main character's Scrooge-like transformation/character development feels too rushed to be believable.
In summation, has its moments but lacking. 4/10
'A Snow Globe Christmas' is not a terrible film and has its moments. It is sadly also not particularly good either and is very lacking in most areas. It could have done so much more with its concept, which turned out to be rather ordinary and muddled. It fits in the extreme of contrived and bland, though not one of the worst examples when it comes to Christmas films. It is yet another festive film where it was a struggle to like Witt or her character, though she is not completely to blame here.
Will start with the good things, as they are there. The scenery is lovely and quite idyllic and the photography is neither drab or garish, looking slick while not doing anything elaborate or too static. There is at times a nice festive feel to the music.
Christina Milian does a good job with what she was given, giving some spark. There are moments of charm and heart.
Neither Witt or Donald Faison come off particularly well, though she comes off better. It is a case of her trying too hard (though she does a nice smile), so everything feels too exaggerated, and he not enough. There is absolutely no spark or warmth to their chemistry and the rest of the cast are forgettable. Only Milian comes off unscathed. The direction mostly is functional but not much more than that. Other parts of the music felt intrusive.
Moreover, a lot of the dialogue is very stilted and corny, with too much cheese and schmaltz. And the execution of the film' concept is very predictable, very strained, completely lacking in energy and the lack of sense spoils it too. None of the characters are particularly interesting or likeable, and the main character's Scrooge-like transformation/character development feels too rushed to be believable.
In summation, has its moments but lacking. 4/10
Apex of the genre
wdqpswvxz8 November 2021
There are magical Christmas movies and there is this seminal masterpiece, the apex of the genre.
Busy career lady in a big city? Yup Magical occurance? Yup New life as a housewife? Doi
A film that works as a satire and an homage to the greatest genre of all time? Absolutely.
Busy career lady in a big city? Yup Magical occurance? Yup New life as a housewife? Doi
A film that works as a satire and an homage to the greatest genre of all time? Absolutely.
An unexpected Christmas blessing.
doctorsmoothlove18 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
"A Snow Globe Christmas" uses an interesting plot gimmick to overcome the lack of budget that many made-for-tv Christmas films have. In this film, a TV movie director is hit on the head and envisions her life inside of her favorite snowglobe. In Snow globe town she is married to her high school boyfriend with whom she did a radio show in college and has children. People from the film crew inhabit the village which is never fully described or seen. That's ok. This is a snow globe after all. It isn't expected to look realistic.
The snow in this town alternates between realistic looking snow and obviously fake snow. In the DVD special features snow machines were used for some scenes and not for others. The effect is trippy. You never get the feeling that snow globe town is real. It is either a vision of Meg's, the main character's, dreams or an alternate reality entirely.
The script is self-aware of the world in which the main character is inhabiting. She is cynical at first and unlike most genre films like this, pollutes the character of snow globe town. It becomes as bleak as the film thinks Meg is. Eventually, she begins to accept this new reality and becomes the Hallmark channel heroine you thought she would be from the beginning.
A Snow Globe Christmas is an effective parody of the standard Christmas rom-com formula. I can't say it achieves subversion. The film ends up as dull (from a storytelling perspective) as the films it is inspired by. For me, this is the appeal of films by The Asylum. As a film company, they give writers and directors more opportunity for creativity you wouldn't see on Network-commissioned works. I've yet to see an excellent film by them but they are more interesting to cinephiles than most of the competition.
The snow in this town alternates between realistic looking snow and obviously fake snow. In the DVD special features snow machines were used for some scenes and not for others. The effect is trippy. You never get the feeling that snow globe town is real. It is either a vision of Meg's, the main character's, dreams or an alternate reality entirely.
The script is self-aware of the world in which the main character is inhabiting. She is cynical at first and unlike most genre films like this, pollutes the character of snow globe town. It becomes as bleak as the film thinks Meg is. Eventually, she begins to accept this new reality and becomes the Hallmark channel heroine you thought she would be from the beginning.
A Snow Globe Christmas is an effective parody of the standard Christmas rom-com formula. I can't say it achieves subversion. The film ends up as dull (from a storytelling perspective) as the films it is inspired by. For me, this is the appeal of films by The Asylum. As a film company, they give writers and directors more opportunity for creativity you wouldn't see on Network-commissioned works. I've yet to see an excellent film by them but they are more interesting to cinephiles than most of the competition.
Kidnapping
boslooper23 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
You start the movie with a woman continuously being criticized for being a heavy business woman, which usually men would not have gotten as much grief about. She gets knocked out by an "angel" who is stalking her the entire first part of the film. And they proceed to kidnap her into the supposedly wonderful land where she is in a forced marriage with two kids. While seeing her actual real life boyfriend married to another woman. Over the next few weeks they convince her that this is what she really wants. (Stockholm syndrome). By the end of the movie they do convince her in succeeding in brainwashing. They have a happy ending.
Terrible movie
clexline20 May 2022
Do yourself a favor and pick something else
kaitlynrenee-7716220 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The lead character is unbelievable, the plot is almost non existent. It is not worth a watch. Almost any Christmas movie would be better. As another reviewer put it, Alicia witts character makes scrooge look like the good guy. I found the whole movie lacking. Movies and TV used to be about escaping, now they are more driven by their attempts to tell people how society should be rather than just giving us a story. Honestly, if this movie was your only option for what to watch, the better choice would most definitely be to turn off your TV and enjoy the real world. That being said, there are plenty of options for things too watch that are good. Seriously, find something else, you'll be happy you did.
Ugh! What a disappointment!
kathytexan-1258512 November 2018
I think Lifetime Channel needs to take a page from the Hallmark Channel when it comes to Christmas Movie Quality Standards: always begin production with a good story from the heart.
This movie was a mess - faulty direction, flawed script, cardboard characters and poor performances - I didn't believe any of them.
I love Christmas movies with Alicia Witt, but here she was manic and over-the-top. I fault the director and script because she's a terrific actress when working with good material and direction, even when it's not about Christmas. Check her out as Wendy Crowe in "Justified." Awesome performance!
I wanted to enjoy this movie and was looking forward to it. Now all I want are my 2 hours back!
This movie was a mess - faulty direction, flawed script, cardboard characters and poor performances - I didn't believe any of them.
I love Christmas movies with Alicia Witt, but here she was manic and over-the-top. I fault the director and script because she's a terrific actress when working with good material and direction, even when it's not about Christmas. Check her out as Wendy Crowe in "Justified." Awesome performance!
I wanted to enjoy this movie and was looking forward to it. Now all I want are my 2 hours back!
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