While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Somewhat like "Mannequin", she comes to life after a lonely child wishes to have a mom just for Christmas, as her own mom passed-on eight years ago. So a department store mannequin comes to life and acts quite wooden-headed at first. She almost burns down the house with an old-fashioned candle-lit Christmas tree. Similar to "Toy Story", the dept. store mannequins all come to life at night, when no one is around. This is a live-action fantasy. Well-produced with many cute touches, as the Santa mannequin is put back together after getting hit by a car. Look for "Scott Farquis" ("A Christmas Story"), who teases the little girl. There are a few pleasant songs by Olivia, but it's really not a musical. A lot of fun, as the "mannequin" chauffeur at the store drives everyone around in his Rolls Royce limousine, and has great fun teasing the cynical store detective who thinks everyone is a shoplifter. It has a predictable "Pinocchio-like" fairy tale ending, which both my (then) young teen-aged daughters loved. Sometimes plays on the Disney Channels at Christmas. Olivia looked great in 1990. Also stars Doris Roberts as "Philomena" the magical "dresser" of the dept. store mannequins. Originally, a Wonderful World of Disney TV movie. Only available thru Disney's Movie Club and Disney Stores. It's Worth it! (Don't buy the "unofficial" version on-line. It's terrible quality.)

In a sea of family Christmas films I seem to be on a mission to watch them all each and every Christmas. Usually while doing Christmas baking I will try out a new one so I gave this a go on a total fluke. It didn't blow me away in the least. The production value seems like next to nothing and the performances are hokey but you know what...it has everything you want from a strictly family oriented Christmas film. There is a ton of magic, romance, fantasy and its just simple fun. The biggest problem with this film is that there is absolutely nothing that stands out about it. We've even seen the "mannequin" come to life story before more than once! The cast is stiff (no pun intended) and the story is rushed. But I also doubt that it was made for my demographic. I would guess that little girls and their Mom's could curl up on the couch and truly enjoy this little film. However, outside of that demographic there just simply isn't a lot to cheer for here.Legendary actress and singer Olivia Newton-John is best known for Grease and probably the only thing I've seen her in until this and perhaps it should stay that way. Its appropriate that she is very wooden and wide eyed and very childish because she is supposed to be a mannequin come to life but I sort of think she overplays the role...or underplays it..I'm not sure which. She clearly knows this role is for kids because she just doesn't try too hard. She just doesn't have any charisma in the role and her childlike voice is obnoxious. The entire concept of the movie is that this woman wins over a father and daughter with her brilliant concept of life and love but that doesn't show very well. Juliet Sorci is actually pretty good as the little girl who longs for a mother. Its too bad the script wasn't better written because I think Sorci is far more talented than what the character offers her. I would say the same about Doug Sheehan who plays her father. His character is very stereotypical of this type of film. He lost his wife and is trying to raise a little girl and have a career and he's a good guy but lost with everything. But they don't really let him capture any of that. I can't even say the role is typical because they miss the mark on all of the characters. It just seems like they slapped it together and rolled it out without trying very hard. The amazing Doris Roberts has an unfortunately very small role and she could have been used far more than what she is.I must admit I am very surprised that director George Miller helmed this picture. I mean he's had a long and varied career and he's had some genuinely great family films under his belt like Andre and Never Ending Story 2 (not as good as the first but still a decent family flick.) This just feels rushed and slapped together and it will certainly entertain little ones briefly but it isn't likely to become a Holiday staple anywhere and certainly not worth seeing more than once. I very half hearted attempt at a sweet Christmas movie. 5/10

The only reason I'm giving this movie a decent rating is because of its affect on childhood. I do not consider it a quality film...This is hands down the one film that has scarred me more than any other. And I'm a huge movie buff and watched countless movies as a child. The second film would be Ernest Scared Stupid. Followed by a few Tales from the Crypt episodes. The last one makes sense, but it was always the films that weren't even horror movies that really scared me in a deep way.I remember the first time I watched this so vividly. I was at my babysitter's apartment around the age of 4. It was storming outside, much like in the film when the mannequin first comes alive (at least from what I remember). That first transformation had me covering my eyes and my heart beating extremely fast in fear. My mother looked like Olivia Newton John at the time and I imagined her becoming a mannequin. The whole idea of the mom in the film being so perfect and fake really scared me psychologically, especially knowing she was actually a manufactured piece of plastic who somehow acquired a soul. After seeing this movie I couldn't go to clothing stores. I kept seeing the mannequins coming to life. In fact I still see this sometimes when I go to the store, for a split second I will think they are real people and get a shiver down my spine. I might have thought this before I saw the movie and it may have been one of the reasons I was so afraid originally.For years I couldn't remember the name of this movie. I searched for 'movie with a mannequin coming to life' and it kept giving me the 80s movie Mannequin. But I finally found this one and watched half of it on online in the middle of the night at my grandmother's. I was 23 this time and it still scared the sh*t out of me and I had to stop watching it. Its imprinted into my brain. It sparked a deep fear inside me that will never get out.I was a very anxious child and would have nightmares every night. But I loved it. It gave excitement to my imagination and as I grew older I became obsessed with horror and the darkness in life. Nothing scares me anymore like the few movies and countless nightmares of my childhood. So I just want to thank the creators of this film for affecting me in such a positive way. There is no sarcasm here. But it is ironic that the idea of a film that is supposed to be so uplifting to some, can be so grotesque to others. That I think has been what has always frightened me throughout my lifetime more than anything mystical and fantastic.

A very sorry tale--with a weird message and dismal "anwser" for kids grieving a parent. It doesn't work. This story doesn't resonate with even a fairytale depiction of hopes and dreams or recognizable human characteristics.The premise of "A Mom for Christmas" is that a little girl misses her dead mother and so she wishes a store mannequin will be her mom for the holiday. What?! What studio executive thought there was an audience of kids who want a mannequin for a parent? The script doesn't work, even though, in the fairy godmother role, Doris Roberts (as the magical mentor) does her best. She is the one bright spot in this movie.Unfortunately, the acting styles of the rest of the cast do nothing to redeem a poorly conceived story.Olivia Newton John doesn't aspire to portray any deeper emotions or intellect than a store mannequin--even though she was supposed to "come to life" and fulfill the little girl's wish for a real mom. Her idea of depicting emotions consist of a lot of exaggerated and laughable eye-popping.Instead of creating a mom character the little girl could bond with, Olivia plays the role like she herself were a five-year-old girl in a sitcom--constantly opening her eyes wide, like a surprised bat.WHY THE MOVIE DOESN'T WORK...Most fairy tales are based in tragedy--especially comedies. The well-made fairy tales can make us believe in even the most far-fetched premise because they infuse the fantasy with a subtext of human experience--our secret wishes, hopes, fears and dreams."A Mom For Christmas" aspires to be a Christmas fairytale--but lacks any compelling story elements.Compare other Christmas fairy tales: For example: "ELF" Will Ferrell is an orphaned human adopted by elves. although he loves his "elf family", deep-down, Will feels like an outsider. The movie uses humor to tell a simple tale but under the silly antics and fun, we appreciate his quest to find out about his mysterious past and recognize Will's longing to "belong." Even though it is a light and silly movie, we care about Will as the "Elf" and go along with the "Fairytale" elements because the underlying premise of the movie resonates with the human experience of hopes and dreams.Unfortuanately, this Christmas "fairytale" flops.