Too much of everything

That was an excellent one.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Love, life and family are the ingredients for this heart-wrenching and tender story. Based on a novel of the same title, "The Christmas Shoes" is about two families whose paths cross in a number of ways. Its setting is around Christmas time. It is a story of tragedy and loss; of greed, pride and ego; and of kindness, sacrifice and redemption. The plot, script, cinematography, direction and acting are all very good. Rob Lowe excels in his role as an uncaring, driven, self-centered jerk. As the story unfolds, suffering and loss of another family lead to a healing of the heel. I can identify with Lowe's character, Robert Layton, both in his years as a selfish driven man and in his later redemption. This is a good family story for older children. Even with care and explanation, it may not be suitable for younger children. It may also be difficult for people who have recently lost a loving parent or child, especially around the Christmas holidays. But, it is a movie that all adults should see. And, it might be helpful for couples who are having problems in their marriages.

This is an uplifting made-for-TV Christmas movie, a story about young Nathan Andrews (Max Morrow) who tries to raise money get a pair of dancing shoes for his dying mother, Maggie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley). In the meantime, lawyer Robert Layton (Rob Lowe) is dealing with marital issues and the course of events lead him to cross paths with Nathan.Many made-for-TV Christmas movies are sappy, happy-go-lucky and a little bit corny to say the least. This movie is a heartfelt and meaningful story that will bring tears to your eyes, especially seeing young Nathan's enduring mission to buy a pair of his mother's favorite dancing shoes for Christmas. It shows how strong of a love a child has for his mother, something we should feel inspired from.The parallel plot regarding Robert's life is intriguing and I thought it assimilated well with the Christmas shoes plot; it was interesting to see how the course of events from both stories relate towards each other, resulting in some emotional and uplifting results.The acting was good and the direction by Andy Wolk was solid. A highly recommended Christmas movie that is perfect for the entire family.Grade A

When i visited the site to put up my rating after watching the movie, i was surprised to see just 6.7 as the rating for the movie. It surely deserves much more than that... One of the best Christmas movies i have seen till date. Not a very popular star cast but backed by brilliant performances, specially by the little boy who is determined to buy her mom a Christmas present before she dies. Beautifully directed, great story, brilliant performances, complete entertainer. A must watch movie for all those who cherish relationships and specially for those who are running the race of life at the cost of not spending time with the ones who are close to them, hugging them, loving them and being there when they are needed the most. All in all, a must watch for all!

I just watched this tonight and I had tears in my eyes. Wow, how can you not see the real meaning of life after watching this. Life is to short and to spend it chasing the all mighty dollar is a shame especially when you realize it can not bring a loved one back, only memories can! One can not have memories of a loved one if they do not spend time with them.This movie is a great Christmas movie and makes one realize what Christmas is really about. Sometimes the little gifts in life are the most treasured. I hope to see this movie again.