Un angelo sotto l'albero

Jessalyn Gilsig has just broken up with her boyfriend and has lost the audition for the solo at the community center where she volunteers. Little does she know that her boss is in love with her -- neither does he -- but thanks to her guardian angel, things are going to turn out just fine for them. However, that doesn't matter.

Many of these Hallmark TV romantic comedies succeed, when they do, because of the major actors in minor supporting roles. In this one, however, it is Sergio de Zio as the on-assignment angel, Harold, who makes this movie. With his old-fashioned, formal clothes, direct gaze and emphatic, nasal voice, he owns every scene he's in and makes his absence in others telling. Of course everything is shot to emphasize him, but that's more than okay, since he makes it worthwhile.

The rest of the story is competent and workaday, although the other actors are fine in their scenes. There are the usual details that make me wonder if the movie-makers have ever been in New York City, where they set this movie: the store has a big second story sign announcing it has been in business for 25 years; no New Yorker looks at those signs and do they change it every year? Everyone lives in huge apartments. However, it's still a fine movie.