Ed's Review Dot Com

Movie Rentals Releasing Tuesday November 23rd, 2010

• The Expendables
• Eat Pray Love
• Flipped
• I’m Still Here (The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix)
• Sex and the City 2 (Netflix)

Rosemont Productions International, Sunn Classic Pictures

John Denver, Jane Kaczmarek, Edward Winter, Gennie James, Pat Corley, Mary Wickes, James T. Callahan, Kurtwood Smith, Anne Haney, Harvey Vernon, Twirp Anderson

This movie is almost 25 years old, but it’s still on TV every Christmas.  George Billings (John Denver) is an overworked architect who is a widower and is raising his young daughter.  She’s looking forward to Christmas in Manhattan with her friends.  But Mr. Renfield, George’s boss, has other plans.  He’s planning on building a large ski resort in a remote small town in Colorado.  He wants George and his daughter to visit the town as tourists and spies to lay out the plans without anyone getting wise.  George and Alex (Gennie  James) go off on the vacation, but find the place is kind of strange.  From their first contact in town something strange is going on.  Everyone in the whole town is a believer in Santa Claus.  On Letter Day everyone in town, young and old, sends their letter with their special request for Christmas, with full expectation that they will get what they ask for.   As time passes, George has to think hard about what the changes will do this unique little town and whether some things ought to be preserved.

This is a really good Christmas story with very colorful characters.  Everyone is a character, for sure, and they’re all fun to watch.  Things happen fast, but when it’s over, you realize what a warm place you have in your heart for this little town.   Another fine Christmas story.

Dan Wigutow Productions

Brooke Burns, Henry Winkler, Warren Christie, Connor Levins, Woody Jeffreys, Serge Houde, Rebecca Toolan, Michael Roberds

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year starts out with the song.  That’s a plus right off the bat as this is one of the true signs that Christmas is upon is.   Henry Winker (Uncle Ralph) is at the airport and is trying to get help finding his flight.  No one wants to help, and he runs into a young man who offers to help.  Completely misunderstanding,  Uncle Ralph tells him to leave him alone and he’s not buying whatever he’s selling or whatever pamphlet he’s passing out.  After clearing that up, he finds that this very nice young man is a world traveler with tons of life experiences, but is ready to settle down and head  off to start a business with a friend.  He helps Uncle Ralph by getting them both bumped up to First Class which Ralph likes a lot.  Turns out the weather is bad in Denver, and Morgan (Warren Christie) is going to spend the night in the airport.   Ralph will not hear of it, and invites him as a surprise guest to his niece’s house for the night.   This is not a good idea, as Jennifer (Brooke Burns) fiance and his parents are due in town to spend the holidays.  Uncle Ralph takes a liking to Morgan though and schemes and connives to keep him in the house for another night, and another.

This is a well done story, and the characters are really well developed.  Though there’s only so much you can do with a Christmas Story, this is a pretty good one.   Seeing the Fonz as a aged and befuddled Uncle is a nice switch and he does it very well.  This film has a lot of heart and is touching.  A feel good Christmas story.

Dan Wigutow Productions, IAW

Doris Roberts, James Van Der Beek, Erin Karpluk, Chelah Horsdal

Sam Webster (James Van Der Beek) is another widower with two little boys. (Gee, has that ever been done before?  Tee-hee.)   He can’t manage them, and everyone is all over his case about how misbehaved the boys are, and how he’s more of a playmate than a father to them.  So he needs to find a nanny for these boys right away.   Mary Poppins shows up….oops, I mean Nanny McPhee shows up…oh no.  I better start over.  Mrs. Miracle shows up and the fun naturally starts.

Mrs. Merkle (whom the kids call Mrs Miracle) is a strange sort.  She shows up and starts interfering.   Not that these people don’t need some interference.  Dad is still grieving for the loss of his wife, and refused to talk about her.  The kids are in a school play for Christmas, but their teacher has her own hangups.  Mrs. Miracle wants to make sure the two bump into each other again and again.

Mrs Miracle gets what she wants, whether it’s the easy way or the hard way.   With this bunch it’s mostly the hard way.  It has a strong Christmas theme and is a nice little boy meets girl movie!  Just a note about the title.  This is based on a book by Debbie Macomber.  Many places you will find this movie listed under the book title Mrs. Miracle.  I think perhaps they added the author’s name, not so much for vanity, but to avoid confusion with another similar film.

Alpine Medien Productions, Brosier, Larry Levinson Productions

John Newton, Edward Asner, Alice Evans, Peter Jason, Lois Nettleton, Ben Weber, Andrew Sanford, Kate Hamon

Army Sergeant Cody Cullen is a soldier in Afghanistan.  His closest friend Jonesy is with him delivering medical supplies when he is killed. While he is suffering he receives a Christmas Card from a stranger.  Someone has to return to the states to bring the private possessions to Jonesy’s young wife.

Faith Spelman is a young single lady, and their church has a program to send Christmas Cards to random soldiers overseas.  She’s the one who sends the card to Cody.  So since Nevada City is nearby where Jonesy’s wife lives, and he has nowhere to go, he decides to find out who the person was who sent him the card, just to thank them for the kind thoughts.  But mostly he’s wondering what makes a person do something like that.

They meet in a rather funny way without knowing who the other one is, and then accidentally Cody saves Faith’s father from an accident, and after finding out that he has no family to spend the holidays with, they insist he stay with them for Christmas.

Faith’s dad owns a saw mill and a logging firm.  He helps out with the company business, and it’s obvious that they like each other.  But Faith is engaged to a world traveling wine broker.   Mom and Dad do some matchmaking which doesn’t work too well.

I love this movie.  I first rented the DVD from NetFlix and fell in love with it.  I’ve seen it on TV every year since.   Ed Asner is wonderful, and the beauty of Christmas in Nevada City is unbelievable.  The scenery is breathtaking all the way around.   Of course their are complications and twists, but it’s a wonderful Christmas story and one of my favorites.  I have recommended this film to everyone I see every Christmas.