the audience applauded

Thanks for the memories!

As Good As It Gets

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 300 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA.Emilie Thompson (Carla Gugino) is forced to take charge of her nephew J.T. (Evan Sabara) and niece Alanna (Mae Whitman) when their drug- addicted mother (Laura Dern) overdoses and the children are threatened with foster care. Fleeing the authorities, the trio come across the sleepy town of Bethlehem just before Christmas. Even though the authorities have been temporarily left behind, Emilie will need a miracle to keep her family together. A versatile guardian angel (Patty Duke), who assumes a variety of earthly guises, helps, along with the small town-folk who are surprisingly friendly. One coincidence after another gives the struggling family a chance at happiness.IF you need to lift your spirits then watch this. SHown during the holidays on Hallmark Channel. However it is for sale on Amazon and it is well worth buying! I am glad that this film did not go with the ending I thought it was heading tords. Yes it is a happy ending that I expected however I thought that this film was going to end (Spoilers) with Emile actually being the real person she was pretending to be!

A Season For Miracles finds Carla Gugino badly in need of one. She's the aunt of Mae Whitman and Evan Sabara and their mother Laura Dern is her usual mess. In jail once again for some substance abuse misdemeanor and now the state is ready to take the kids from her. Carla would like to have them, but as she's unemployed ain't no way she'll be granted custody. Most likely the kids will be split up in the foster care system.That's not good enough for Gugino. She takes the kids out of state and flees. Arriving at a version of Bedford Falls, a kindly waitress played by Patty Duke has a way of insisting that the whole family stop and see this very well kept up, but abandoned home in her town of Bethlehem. They stop and they squat.It's only supposed to be for a night, but things just somehow keep them there especially all the good folks in the town. The house was a legacy that was never claimed by its inheritor for one reason or another. But with the state breathing down her neck and the fact she's a fugitive wanted on kidnapping, Carla's got to make tracks.But as things turn out in this Christmas time special, it turns out to be a real Season For Miracles. Carla even gets herself some romance in the form of deputy sheriff David Conrad.A Season For Miracles is sentimental without being terribly maudlin which is easy to do with these kind of films. Is someone from a higher plain of existence keeping some track of our situations and ready to step in with a miracle, if not one that's as spectacular as parting an ocean? This film offers the proposition that such is the case and it does so in a pleasant and entertaining manner.

Emily's sister is out of control. A drug abuser and a resulting neglectful mother at times, she almost overdoses and ends up in the slammer. Emily has a good relationship with her sister's two children and is there to take care of them. However, she is between jobs and has no place to stay in Providence. The child welfare case worker wants, therefore, to take the children away from Emily. Alanna and J.T., the kids, are already traumatized by the whole situation to the point where J.T. will not utter a word. Emily makes a decision to escape with the children to another venue. On the way to nowhere, her car breaks down in the small city of Bethlehem. There, she and the children are treated with uncommon kindness, partly because of a case of mistaken identity. However, the city truly is capable of performing miracles. Will Emily and the children finally have a rewarding life all around? This wonderful film is a must for the holiday or any season. The actors are appealing, the script is beautiful, and all of the extras that make for superior film-making are present. A romance is always welcome and this one is, but the movie's attractions go far beyond that. If only Hollywood would make this kind of film at times! However, Hallmark is dedicated to giving us these incredible cinematic gifts and this one is one of the loveliest. Seek this one out without delay. As a companion to Miracle on 34th Street, this "Miracle" movie is topnotch.

This is a wonderful film that, while taking place during the hoildays, is one that can be viewed at any time of the year and be thoroughly enjoyed. I have watched it many times since getting it last December. As with any Hallmark show, the production values are outstanding. Although based on a book by Marilyn Pappano, the teleplay far surpasses the original. All the changes simply made for a better story.What a great cast of veteran performers - Patty Duke, Laura Dern, Faith Prince, Kathy Baker and Lynn Redgrave in a film stealing role as a judge. Each of the supporting roles are equally effective.This is a film that could rival "It's A Wonderful Life" as a great holiday (or any time) entertainment.