Noël au grand cœur

A lovelt film with the real spirit of Christmas feeling. It's nothing mind-blowing, just a warm, feel good easy to watch film for a cosy evening.

Was also good to see Garth again, she's actually looking more beautiful than her younger years and the rest of the cast are great.

However...Christmas crackers are to be pulled with someone else, it's part of the fun. And traditionally, whoever gets the large part keeps the gift inside..although usually you make it fair and give any extra you win to someone else.

So put your feet up, get a cup of your favourite hot beverage and enjoy. Merry Christmas to all a good night.

Such a sweet story. A Samaritan from little town Cooperville acts as a secret Santa to help the needy and put a huge smile on their faces. This inspires the town to give back to the community.

A great movie and Scott - the reporter was absolutely charming as the tv host, and the lonely traveller who runs away to wander the world during Christmas time.

Jamie is the reason this movie gets only 6 stars. Her dialogs are good, but her eyes and expressions are all wrong. She comes off as a stalker or psychopath with those expressions. I almost thought this was going to turn into a thriller who would torture Scott after kidnapping him.

A great movie let down due to weird expressions.

The widowed Jamie is inspired by her niece's comment about needing her late husband around town for Christmas. So she takes it upon herself to be a secret Santa and help those in need around her hometown coopersville. This attracts the attention of the morning news show and tv celebrity Scott, who goes from interviewing her randomly to dating her. While Scott is trying to solve the secret Santa mystery, Jamie as secret Santa is inspiring others to give to those less fortunate...helping out their neighbors.

This was a sweet story and I love Cameron Matthison, he and Jenny Garth looked great together...of course he compliments everyone he is with.

Not a lot of family in this offering, but it really plays up the gift of giving.

This movie is uplifting. So why is Jennie Garth so restrained? I would expect Jamie to be bursting with holiday cheer, positively bubbly. I think her restraint lessened the chemistry with Cameron Mathison. Mathison was fine.

The story was pretty much by formula for most of it. It picks up a bit of the pay-it-forward theme as it goes on and others join in. I will say the climax has a nice little twist. Then comes the conflict that you know is inevitable. I love the way the memory flashbacks resolve it.

Another reviewer commented the irony that Jennie Garth previously played a reporter in Holidaze sent to unmask a Secret Santa. That's not exactly how the synopsis reads on that movie, but notice that she costarred with Mathison in that movie. And Mathison was in Christmas Club which had a similar uplifting pay it forward theme even though it wasn't quite Secret Santa.

I do enjoy Christmas movies, the Hallmark variety that is. Sometimes when life gets tough, we just need to escape, to breathe in a bit of hope and positive outcomes, even some predictability. This movie delivers. The premise is wider than the typical romance that is found in most movies of this genre. While the 'secret santa' concept is also a popular one, this movie does play it well. I found the characters sufficiently three-dimensional. Their relationships are credible (well, within the realm of the genre). The plot is to be expected, but it is fun to see it develop. I would recommend the movie.