Save your money for something good and enjoyable

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

This was a film that I discovered by accident. I caught the first hour and fell asleep. Then I forgot the name of it. Then a friend of mine told me the name of the film. I had to order it from Amazon so I could watch it. I was glad I bought it. This is a wonderful film. A Single Mother (Who isn't looking for love but not ruling it out) ends up driving a "Crazy Old Man" around town on Christmas Eve Day. Much to her dismay because she feels she is neglecting her child. In the course of the day she finds out that "Life is Great" "Happiness and the Truth are not always hand and hand" and a few more things! Most of all she learns that "Forgiveness is the key to life" This film is a Christmas Treasure. Look For It.

This Yuletide comedy drama isn't drastically different from the multitudes of other Christmas TV movies out there, but this one is just a little different and special somewhere to me. It's grown on me over the years and I've strangely found myself watching it every year around December, it gives me the kind of strong, wholesome old-fashioned warm genuine Christmas feeling that really seems to be one of the things that are harder to grasp the older one gets, it certainly isn't something I get very often from movies like this. When I was a little boy, I used to think that Christmas was so super-magical, the tree, putting up the tinsel, participating in the school festivities and making silly colourful cards, the snow when there used to actually be real snow in England, and hoping for certain gifts when the big day came... It all made me feel so happy and just seemed like proof that the world could be a bright happy place, when I'd feel sad as a kid I could just talk about what Christmas to cheer myself up! So, this film isn't what I'd call overly sappy and it doesn't have the kind of TV drama that's eye-rollingly melodramatic, and while it's nothing amazing, it just didn't feel so formulaic and worked for me and I loved it, it was heartwarming. I liked the woman and her kid and their relationship together, they seemed like a real mother and little son. I also liked how effectively it establishes how they're going to have to make do with a threadbare Christmas because they didn't have much, it made them more relatable. I thought Howard Hesseman was brilliant and a real hoot as the eccentric rich old man with the answer to her prayers as he hires her as a chauffeur to drive him around New York on Christmas Eve while causing a media sensation with the random drive by acts of wild generosity by throwing wads of money to all around him for no other reason than sheer manic kindness and to spread the joy! All of the scenes where he does that really tickled me and made me smile because if there was ever one thing to really get any ground going anywhere, ever, it would be the prospect of free money! He is for all intents and purposes this movie's Santa Claus, and while he does have an ulterior motive in helping her it's nothing sinister or too heavy.. The story does indeed get kind of crazy a bit at the end and I don't care for the trite romance subplot that's thrown in, but it's all harmless sweet fun and it projects a good image and theme of Christmas joy and family togetherness and of things turning out all right in the end, and it has an endearing tone that I can only describe as cosy, it's just a very nice uplifting picture to lighten the mood around the icy year's end. Thanks everyone, happy happy holidays! X

I'm a sucker for sentiment. And this is a throwback to those sensibilities that are devoid of today's cynicism. This is post-9/11 and astonish that they would even make this type of movie. For that...they deserve high praise for sure.Andrea Roth plays a single mother working as a limo driver who is struggling to make due with a young child after the father had run off with another woman. She keeps upbeat, despite the financial struggle she faces. Especially trying her hardest not to disappoint her son on Xmas. I buy it. The kid isn't one of those types who say "it's okay Mom, I know we have no money". NO. The child is honest. Painfully disappointed about the have-not. And to me, that is honest. That should ground you to the rest of the movie, since...it is about doing good deeds. Howard Hessmann is that guy. An eccentric gazillionaire that, with a snap of his fingers, could put you in the lap of luxury. But that isn't enough. He has secrets. And it includes Andrea's character. What could be a stupid syrupy tale, turns to some poignant moments of family interaction during the warmest of holidays. We're not suckers. We believe the people would react the way they do.What I notice a lot about Xmas movies is that they want it to be a classic. Totally. These sentiments should be year in and year out. But it works best, because it is Xmas. In "It's A Wonderful Life" you think George Bailey really lives happily ever after? Maybe. But he's still got an uphill battle in a dying town. For Andrea and her child, she is thrusted into a new world that she isn't accustomed to. Who cares? We know she's a good person...if only for a moment.

The reason this "Type A" male watched a movie on 'gasp' Lifetime was because of the two leads. I loved WKRP and it was nice to see Howard Hesseman again. I also love "Rescue Me" and wanted to see how Andrea Roth did in a very different role.The story itself was no classic, and you could see the ending coming a mile away, but the characters were all nice people and the movie zipped along at a pleasant clip. How nice to have a movie where there is no villains or terrible crisis. Howard Hesseman played his character like a lovable kook... picture Dr. Johnny Fever as a millionaire with no hangover. It was interesting to see Andrea Roth as a loving mother figure and not the oversexed shrew that she is on "Rescue Me" (She is very good in both roles). She handled the role of a struggling single mom dealing skeptically with sudden good fortune very well. Yannick Bisson played his role as the reporter just right. While hoping to make it to the "big time", he comes to realize that everything he needs is where he is at.The theme of forgiveness in the holiday season was nice but not too heavy handed. I liked the "34th Street" reference in the last shot (a miracle... get it!? :) ) I taped the movie so my wife and son can enjoy it. While I can't say that it's a Christmas movie that I will watch again and again I will say it was a nice way to spend a couple of hours.