A World Record Christmas

This isn't the typical Hallmark Christmas movie. Sure if you break it down it is the same formula, but it's more about the love of a family uniting over a child with autism than a boy meets girl from a different world fall in love in a week thing.

I honestly didn't think I would like this one. I really do like Nikki DeLoach a lot and she plays the mom in these movies very well. I am not very familiar with Lucas Bryant but he was perfectly cast in this.

There were a lot of story lines- the couples relationship, their individual relationships with the son, him trying to break a world record, the mom and work, the biological father, the son and his crush/best friend etc but it's more realistic I think with a lot going on.

It is well written, acted, directed. It was a surprising Yes for me this season.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Nikki Deloach may be the best of Hallmark's actors, at least for the more serious roles. And she has done so many of the more serious Christmas movies. This is another good performance, not only by her but by the entire cast.

This movie is full of emotions. Happy. Sad. Heartbroken. Joyous. Jealous. Serious. Disappointed. And I'm sure I left some out. It is easy to say a movie has all these, but in this movie you feel them all along with the story.

There are some other good reviews here. At least one talks about family dealing with various issues, so I won't expand on that except to agree that this is excellent in showing parents deal with a child's struggles even the difficult ones.

I like the way the story skirts the obvious and gives an outcome that is at least a little bit surprising.

7.5 stars.

If you've seen the trailer, this film is self-explanatory, so I will go into some of the fringe and less noticeable qualities. The acting is superb, one of the best of Hallmark. Every person is exemplary, especially the stepfather. Mom does a great job as a caring and concerned mother of a teenage boy with some disadvantages due to the autism spectrum, however, he seems to be a highly functioning kid overall. We don't fully understand the condition, but from what I understand, it's like any other mental, or psychological anomaly, they all seem to be centered in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. I suspect as soon as we find a way to truly regulate this part of the brain, most mental health professionals will be unemployed. Good movie btw. Uplifting, inspiring, motivational.

In this film, Charlie (played nicely by Aias Dalman) is an austitic young teen with emotional and social issues that his mother, Marissa, stepfather, Eric, and friend, Amy, are forced to deal with. But, they are issues that are common to any young teen, whether autistic or not. So, what the writers and director have created is a story with lessons about how parents and friends can help a floundering youth deal with problems that are pretty universal to any child who is growing up. This is how parents and friends should talk and act whenever they encounter a troubled youth. And that is what is remarkable about this film - autism may be the catalyst that causes Charlie's family and friends to treat him the way that they do, but it is how we should treat ANY young teen who suffers from the anxieties that Charlie does. It's a great life lesson for us all.

Nikki Deloach plays Marissa wonderfully, but it's Lucas Bryant who is really outstanding here as the stepfather.

The supporting cast is also very good, particularly Daphne Hoskins as Amy, April Telek as Marissa's friend, and Miranda Edwards as her boss. So, the acting here is very real and natural all around.

I really think this is worth your time. Interesting and heartwarming with some really special characters played by an excellent cast.

This one had such an emotional and heartwarming plot. A definite stand out in the hallmark movie world. The leads were perfectly cast. Nikki Deloach and Lucas Bryant are some of my favorites and their chemistry is particularly good. I'd love to see them in more movies together! Aias Dolman did such a fantastic job!

The original story line was a wonderful addition to this year's holiday lineup. Please make more of these unique stories, that are just waiting to be told! I don't always write reviews with my ratings, but I absolutely loved this one! I will definitely watch this one again and again!