A Christmas Tree Miracle

OK, firstly, it's obvious I could be perceived as biased, considering I'm in the film. But I'm also one of those "film" people; I wouldn't b.s. a product just to push myself. That being said, this movie does have it's mild, rather unnoticeable to the untrained eye, low budget flaws, but it is EVERYTHING A HOLIDAY FILM SHOULD BE!

A Christmas Tree Miracle covers a lot of very real issues many of us face in the world today, that we may never really pay much attention to. From young love & ignorant apathy, to living beyond one's means, being ungrateful for your blessings, and true loss... It wraps it all up in a clear, simple, yet beautiful story that reminds viewers what the holiday season, and life in general, is truly about.

It's only downfalls are with overall production: the extensive post production voice-overs take a little away from the performances at times, otherwise the acting is quite strong throughout. And the lighting & editing seem to lack well versed finish. That is why I, someone who is in the film, deducted 2 stars from it's total: I give it an 8/10. Regardless, the story, the feeling, still shines through like the lights on our trees.

A Christmas Tree Miracle very well make any viewer tear up, at very least you will get some of those feel-good goosebumps while watching it. And I bet that if given the right push, watching it could become a holiday tradition for millions, year after miraculous year.

Really wanted to like 'A Christmas Tree Miracle' when seeing it as part of my extensive Christmas film quest, certainly so much more than how it turned out to be. The concept was interesting and sounded like it would be a heart-warming and charming festive film with content worth relating to. Christmas, as has been said quite a few times, is my favourite type of year, though occasionally you may not think so reading a small handful of past reviews of the films from this film quest (which did very much vary in quality).

While 'A Christmas Tree Miracle' is not unwatchable or awful by all means, it doesn't have enough of what makes Christmas so special to me and is somewhere around low middle as far as the films as part of my festive film quest go. Personally don't agree with the above average rating as of now here and agree more with the more indifferent/negative opinions of the, on here, mixed critical reaction. If asked whether 'A Christmas Tree Miracle' is worth the look, my answer would be see it as a one time watch for curiosity and completest value but no it is not something that is highly recommended.

'A Christmas Tree Miracle' has good things. It is very nicely filmed and the scenery is lovely on the eyes as well. Some parts on the soundtrack makes one smile and well up with nostalgia.

It was mostly very difficult to get behind the characters and didn't think very highly of the acting in general, but Nina is a very likeable and easy to identify with character and Siomha Kenney's acting as her shows a mature deeply felt performance. Terry Kiser also comes over well. The message is a good one and well intended, not falling into the trap as much as other festive films seen recently of being delivered with too much of a heavy hand.

However, most of the acting is at best one-dimensional, some even not looking as if they wanted to be there. A couple of exceptions aside, the biggest one being Nina, the characters are deeply unsympathetic and at worst obnoxious, especially the mother. Their decision making tends to be rushed and not make sense, and one really gets irritated by and starts to hate them. Other than the message, the story didn't connect with me. Too mawkish and contrived and hurt even further by slack pacing, being far too reliant on unrealistic coincidences (not much point naming worst offenders as there is far too much of this aspect and none ring true) and things happening out of nowhere for no real reason. Not unless they were explained in draft form or even filmed but left on the editing room floor.

From the very beginning the dialogue is really cheesy and trite, with no depth, lots of groaners and awkward lines that one doesn't thankfully hear a lot in everyday life. The music is far too constant and can be rather over-bearing. There is not an awful lot of heart or warmth here with so little to engage with or connect to. The direction never rises above routine and mostly doesn't even reach that.

Overall, not awful but mediocre. Needed more heart, realism and characters worth giving a toss, sorely lacking here. 4/10

David George (Kevin Sizemore) is a land developer with a successful career, a beautiful family, and could have everything material anyone could every wish for. This holiday season the George family can't wait for all the holiday surprises coming to them except the one they did not expect. The family is used to comfort and modern conveniences but that all changes in the blink of an eye when David loses his job. The family doesn't seem to take the situation seriously and continues to live the extravagant lifestyle they are used to.

This catches up to them and the family is forced to leave that lifestyle behind. With no where to go, the family is taken in by a local Christmas tree farmer who offers the family a fresh start and a new outlook on life.

The movie is heartwarming and the story is written very well. This is a movie that can be played throughout the year because of its heartwarming tale of family and hope. The lessons it teaches are not preachy but words of wisdom that we all can reflect on year round.

Kevin Sizemore was well cast as the lead in this family feature, playing the breadwinner of the George family. He plays the hard-working successful character as well as the hardened hero who learns a thing or two and rises from the ashes. The chemistry between Sizemore and Esposito as the husband and wife unit keeping their family together during the good and bad times was amazing and with the dialog can evoke an emotional response from the most hardened of hearts. The cinematography was done quite well capturing the vision of the writer. Each of the scenes depicted the success of the family, the fall from grace, the vastness of the family trying to find themselves in uncharted territory and the rise back from the ashes. This is a wonderfully shot independent piece.

I am advocate for the US 684,000 homeless human beings. This movie's plot was devastating because the husband had been fired for a year and the wife did absolutely nothing to support him or the family. We watch her husband falling apart while he is trying to cover all of the bills. The teenage kids are spoiled brats, who should have gotten jobs to pay for their free cars and free cell phones. The wife sat home, went to lunches with friends, signed up for expensive trips, sent the kids to private school, put one in cello classes. Then she tells her husband she loves her house too much. This isn't a Christmas movie.

Every year it seems like there are a ton of new holiday movies. I really just would like to keep tabs on the few that I watch every year and that be the end of it! Having said that, this movie was given to our family as a gift for Christmas and the family who gave it to us in town, they wanted to WATCH IT WITH US! WHAT? So, we planned a night and we started watching "another" Christmas movie, because that's what you do during the holidays. Withing about 15 min I noticed there wasn't any talking and everyone (all 15 of us from 8 years to 72) were silent and hanging on every word said. Very quickly I and my entire family realized, that this is a movie you HAVE TO SEE EVERY HOLIDAY SEASON! The message it gave to viewers was fantastic and will reminded you every year to start your new year off on a good foot! No....it's not your typical Christmas movie...it is so much more. Hope everyone else enjoys "A Christmas Tree Miracle" as much as my family did.