In this sequel to 'Finding John Christmas', the angel Max walks into a struggling department store in a small Maine town. 24-year-old assistant manager Sally waits on him and, after Max leaves, she sees he has left behind one of his many bags. Sally wants to adopt her younger brother, who has been sent from one foster home to another and could be put in an orphanage. She needs a promotion for the income required to be considered for adoption to take place, but this appears unlikely.
Meanwhile, Karl must make changes at the Christmas ornament factory his father started after coming to this country from East Berlin (his escape is shown in black and white flashbacks). His father does not want to end the tradition of using glass blowers rather than automation, but tradition costs money.
Max has made yet another mistake, and this time Jo is sent down to take over for him. It turns out he was supposed to help Karl, not Sally. Interestingly, Karl and Sally met years earlier.
Peter Falk was good again as Max, even dressing as a woman named Maxine at one point. But once again, he didn't get much screen time. Katey Sagal showed a variety of skills as Jo, starting out very serious and committed to following rules, later getting silly after discovering human vices, and finally ending up warm and caring. You might say she went from Cate Hennessy to Peg Bundy and back to Cate Hennessy. Both Max and Jo dressed as street people at some point, and both played their roles quite well.
Tammy Blanchard made a charming Sally, though she could get riled when people stood in the way of what she wanted.
This was a real feel-good movie. Miracles did happen, but not everything was resolved neatly at the end. Just like in real life, though real solutions were likely within reach.
