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

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

This review contains a major spoiler... to wit... It's a /terrible/ movie, MST3K fodder all the way.To call this exercise in "Christmas warmth" irritating is to horribly understate its appalling ickiness. Not surprisingly, it's from Robert Halmi, who's done for live-action TV films what Hanna-Barbera did for TV animation (ie, churned out a huge pile of crap).The script is dreadful ("You're just going to have to forge ahead at the other site!"), and Jackie Cooper's (!!!) direction is even worse. He evokes loud and/or unconvincing performances from just about everyone, especially Mason Adams. June Lockhart comes off as a chunk of animated cardboard. Art Carney seems annoyed beyond belief, anxious to collect his paycheck and getouttahere. When the badly-made-up-as-an-elf Paul Williams gazes at Jaclyn Smith and emits an intended-to-be-overwhelmingly-winsome grin, make sure you're not standing near the TV, or your last meal will land on it. Only Smith, who has little more to do than strike a pose of "I really don't believe this", more or less survives. A pall of "We're only doing this for the money" hangs over the proceedings.The "special effects" are miserable. Smith & her kids are taken to Santa's place in a sleigh decorated in such poor taste it's obvious none of Santa's elves is gay. Even a 3-year-old can see it's a badly made miniature being pulled through a thoroughly unconvincing model landscape. (The last American film with such awful miniatures was 1940's "Rebecca".) And the matte paintings are incredibly amateurish.Ick. Phooey. Patooey. The perfect film for Christmas Eve -- if you want to get your friends laughing. It's thoroughly deserving of a Golden Turkey. There's not one thing in the film -- not even Paul LeMat's beard (which ought to be thicker and fuzzier for someone working in the Arctic) -- to mitigate my 1-star "awful" rating."Santa's factory?! Are we going to see that, too?""Oh, yes. And as a special Christmas treat -- for us -- you'll all be gutted -- while alive -- then ground up and made into Soylent products."PS: Slowing time is /not/ "a scientific impossibility". The writers obviously know nothing about Special or General Relativity.

I recorded this movie off Television many years ago. My entire family watches it each year (several times). My kids are now 17 and 19 and still watch this MUST SEE movie. We all still believe, after watching this movie how can you not believe. We have watched it so very many times our copy is now dragging and the sound is just awful. I would very much like to surprise my family by ordering a copy either VHS or DVD, because I am afraid my copy will soon be useless. If any one knows of where I could buy a copy of this movie, please let me know. Jaclyn Smith is my favorite actress of all times and she continues to show her talent in "The Night They Saved Christmas".

this movie is really great! especially to a person who loves the holiday season.i am glad that i could catch it on cable.otherwise, i would have never heard about it.it gives me this great warm feeling and renews my love for the season.i only have one question.what's with the bearded lady elves and the main guy elf wearing eyeshadow?i thought he was angela lansbury at first but then i found out it was a man elf.the movie definitely gets a person to think about what humans are doing to nature as well. i could not go without this movie.I'm going to make it a personal tradition.

I love watching Christmas movies. This one is the first one I look for each holiday season. I have watched it each year since it first aired on TV. This is the kind of movie you watch to help get that holiday spirit inside you started. This and others like it, are movies you want to sit down and watch after you have had long day of shopping and want to relax with a cup of hot chocolate and poporn or even fresh baked cookies. The whole family can enjoy this together! Yes there is a lot of unrealistic things in it but then it is a movie and it is for entertainment. North Pole City is just breathtaking. The cast that was selected for this movie did a wonderful job! I too think that is probably the best part I have seen Jaclyn Smith play. Art Carney and June Lockhart were great as Santa and Mrs Clause. It is not a block buster of a movie but if you want to watch something that gives you a good feeling down inside and makes you come away feeling good this is the one for you. Please put it on DVD!