The 12 Days of Christmas Eve

So we've all become familiar with the standard Hallmark/Lifetime holiday movie season. Most of the movies follow very familiar formulas, and that can be great, but they do tend to run together after a while.

This one, though, stands out a bit. Part of that is Grammer's performance, he's a perfect moodern Scrooge analog. It's hard to imagine this working as well without him. Another thing that really works here is the somewhat darker take on Santa. Not too dark, don't worry, but I do think there's a bit of a mythic trickster quality to him here that I quite like.

There are a few things that still fall a bit flat. For example, some of the protaginist's arguments with his daughter seem rushed and out of nowhere, and their relationship particularly gets a tad repetitive. But overall this is one of the better tv holiday movies I've seen.

Mawkish Starts off ok but gets tedious in the middle.

Then just irritating.

After a while I just fast forwarded it.

Lacks any of the the Dickensian charm and lessons that are so wonderful in most of the Christmas Scrooge movies.

Not a good groundhog movie either.

Off putting with Kelsey Grammars feet too.

Supporting actors not great so must have been low budget.

How lunch more of a review do I need to write to submit this. Ridiculous that I have to have so many characters that I am just filling the space to get this submitted.

Halve the number please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IN A NUTSHELL: When Brian Conway, a successful businessman whose family relationships have suffered, gets in a car accident on Christmas Eve, Santa gives him twelve chances to redo the day and repair the relationships in his life, including with his daughter Michelle.

The film was directed by Dustin Rikert, and written by Eirene Donohue.

THINGS I LIKED: I adore Kelsey Grammer. He tends to play the same character in every movie, but it suits his personality. We even get to hear him sing a little bit. He sang the opening song in his popular TV show Frasier. I loved that show.

Spencer Grammar plays Kelsey Grammer's daughter in the movie, and she really IS his daughter in real life!

I love movies that loop, giving the protagonist time to redo his/her choices to become a better person. One of the characters actually talks about that kind of movie and explains that the time loop stops "when they stop being selfish and start helping other people." Kelsey Grammar played a Starship captain in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where his character had been stuck in a time loop for over 90 years.

There are plenty of positive messages about life and the true meaning of Christmas.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: It's super cheesy and predictable.

There are quite a few bad green-screen moments.

The scenarios are ridiculous.

A surgeon who can't figure out how to get a babysitter?

Spencer Grammer's character is cranky, impossible to please, and demanding during most of the movie.

Some bad editing and transition moments.

Some bad acting moments.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Lots of alcohol Talk of death Adults will probably get more out of the lessons in the movie than their kids.

!

Not sure what scrooges the people that have this 1 or 2 stars are but this is a beautifully executed holiday movie.

It's obviously not an original script but it's been written in a way that is highly relatable and connects with the audience.

I wouldn't call this a typical feel good movie but there are emotions throughout more like a holiday rollercoaster.

Acting is on point and I'd be happy to watch this again or possible every year.

Not sure what scrooges the people that have this 1 or 2 stars are but this is a beautifully executed holiday movie.

It's obviously not an original script but it's been written in a way that is highly relatable and connects with the audience.

I wouldn't call this a typical feel good movie but there are emotions throughout more like a holiday rollercoaster.

Acting is on point and I'd be happy to watch this again or possible every year.

I wasn't expecting much when my girlfriend and I start watching "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve", but the film has pleasantly surprised us both. This movie ignited the Christmas spark in me and I am really grateful for it. "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve" does have this something which movies rarely have. Well done to everyone involved in making this film: screenwriter, director, actresses, actors, technical staff. Love for ourselves and others, generosity, kindness and being always in present time with people you love, are messages of this movie we all should remember and always have in our minds.