Family for Christmas

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You will see so many comments that are negatively attacking this as pandering to stay at home moms and antiquated in it's approach to family. I would say this is a message we could use some more of in this world. This movie follows a woman who thinks she is happy with a career but through a chain of events that allow her to see a glimpse into an alternate reality of what her life would have looked like had she chosen a different path, she realizes what true happiness is. The message is pure and wholesome and teaches us that family is so important. It teaches that there is a dynamic each person is to play in the family and that each role is important. Our families nowadays are inundated with modern progression that teaches selfishness as opposed to true values in family and this movie will send a clear message of what matters. I am proud of Hallmark for creating this movie and enthusiastically give this my 100% support. Great job Hallmark!!!

Change the names and a few other details and basically what you have here is a remake of The Family Man with Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni. "A fast-lane investment broker, offered the opportunity to see how the other half lives, wakes up to find that his sports car and girlfriend have become a mini-van and wife." I wish I had more to say as part of a meaningful review, but I don't. And per IMDb's requirements, I need to have a solid 10 lines of text, before they will accept my review. Which, I think is a bit ridiculous considering they only offer a "one-liner" for the movies they hold in their database. Ahh. life in the good ol' USA.

In the beginning of the film, it didn't not immediately pull me in. It seemed like the film felt cold despite the fact that this is a Christmas movie. I didn't pay full attention to the characters or the world they were in. The film's main protagonist, Hannah, meets Santa, although he looks like one of those hired Santa's you see out on the street. Following that day, she wakes up to find that she's living in a completely different house, with kids and a husband that she never had. This is where the film gets interesting. Normally what you would expect is a hilarious realization that something is not quite right. However that's not how it came across for me. Hannah seemed initially frightened and overwhelmed by the whole experience. Gradually, Hannah becomes accustomed to this life as she plays it out. You definitely realize the difference where other movies would give you a light, zany, and fun vibe at such a crazy scenario (such as Hallmark's own Just In Time For Christmas released this year), but this film actually makes it scary, which is odd, but refreshing. Of course, this wouldn't be a Hallmark Christmas movie without the recognition of what's most important about Christmas. The movie transitions into a more positive note as Hannah enjoys her alternate life and lives it as if she's always had it. The film then does a complete 180 and takes it all away. The magic Christmas feeling and atmosphere disappears and the tension and apprehension sets in, bringing us back to the state before Hannah started living the alternate life. Instead of being frightened because she suddenly had this family and different life, she's frightened because she doesn't have it. In traditional Christmas movie fashion, she gets the opportunity to change her life for the better. Part of the reason I think this film is so good is that it depicts a woman who is so obsessed with her career that literally it is all she has. The magic about movies is that we can explore the 'what if's'. In the alternate reality, Hannah is surrounded by people who love her. Her life is fulfilling and satisfying. She is happy. In her real world, she has no one but her job. She is alone and later realizes she is miserable. Her job is no comparison to the family that she got a brief glimpse of. I think that it speaks to today's audience quite well. It gives us a glimpse into what people enjoyed in the 1950's, and all that we've lost along the way to our present day. Kudos to the writers, to Hallmark, the cast, crew and Amanda Tapping for a great job as director (I'm a huge fan of SG!)

Lacey Chabert, Hallmark's second darling of Christmas, stars in the fun, well-acted film Family for Christmas. The beginning will probably make the romantics in the audience reach for their hankies: Lacey and her boyfriend Tyron Leitso are parting ways at the airport because she has a six-month internship in San Francisco. They vow to wait for each other, but then a title card displays the dreaded words "ten years later" and Lacey's a famous news anchor with no romantic attachments. So sad! Then again, the movie's just started, so dry those tears and get ready for some holiday magic. She starts thinking of her old flame, wondering what would have happened if they'd held on a little tighter all those years ago. The next morning, she wakes up married to him, in a suburban house with two children and a dog! Lacey is so funny in this film, letting audiences know she's out of her element without being annoying or unlikable. She tries to cope with her new life as a housewife, and along the way she starts to fall in love with Tyron all over again. He's a particularly likable love interest, a perfect blend of a romantic lead and a dad and husband. Together, Lacey and Tyron have a comfortable yet exciting chemistry together. Family for Christmas is one of the better films to come out of the Hallmark channel, because not only is the story accessible rather than silly, but the acting is very good. The characters aren't one-dimensional, so the audience can really get invested in the movie, rather than just concentrate on their popcorn. While the ending is bittersweet, the overall film is very enjoyable. Add it to your yearly line-up of Christmas movies; I did!

I thought this was a very entertaining and enjoyable movie. Despite the fact that it is July, I love Hallmark Christmas movies. Lacey Chabert plays a young woman who is faced with the question of what if. Santa gives her a chance to see what her life would be like if she hadn't got on the plane and left her college sweetheart ten years ago. She wakes up with two kids and married to him. At first it is awkward and she acts strangely. But she quickly grows to love them and just as she is settling in, boom! Santa brings her back to reality. Anyone that has watched a Hallmark film can see where the ending is headed. Yes, Lacey's character realizes her mistakes and gets her happy ending with her love. No, this is not an award-winning film, but it ISN'T supposed to be. Lacey Chabert, for my money, is the best actress in these TV films. She is not only gorgeous and talented, but she has a sweet disposition that makes any movie she is in instantly enjoyable. Check this out when the Countdown to Christmas starts later this year, you won't regret it.

The worst Hallmark movie I have ever seen. So women are not meant to have careers or have a passion, they need to be in the kitchen as a stay at home mom to be happy. How about show a supportive husband when she comes home with a job offer rather than tell her she is a horrible mom for considering it.