User reviews

I liked Mimi playing a woman somewhat down on her luck. She wants very much to better herself, but things don't go her way....until she writes her Christmas list. Even then she still has problems: an overbearing boss, a fruitcake mother, a totally anal boyfriend, and a bitchy co-worker. Then she falls in love. One of the better holiday films.

It's rare that I like a TV movie this much, but I've been watching it every year since it first premiered. I used to watch it on the 25 Days of Christmas marathon, but after they started burying it in the wee hours just once a year (usually on Sundays) I taped it and still watch it that way each season (but if the higher ups are reading this I highly urge you to release it on digital download or streaming as I'd love higher rez version, even SD would be better than my warm out VHS). Anyway, what makes the film "perfect"... it's hard to explain without sitting down and showing it to you. Mimi Rodgers is a real person, not some prissy over the top caricature of a woman like most Hallmark or Netflix movies. She's beautiful, yes, but she is also is vulnerable, realistic looking, with reasonable reactions to her life passing her by. The rest of the cast are all over the top, but somehow it works perfectly... from the 1950'd thick framed boss, David, the boy that the story hinges on, the jealous soap opera style jealous other woman, the dippy former boyfriend... they are all able to get you into their vibe with very little on screen work. The concept is magical, but works in a very subtle cause and effect way that is just enough to give it the spark of Christmas spirit. It is FULL of moments that are special, sentimental, small touches; like, for example, the moment when David pulls her arm back to smell his mom's perfume that smells just like her. It takes the time to have moments instead of rushing to the next thing too quickly. Is it cheesy in parts, is it made on a tv studio budget, is some of the acting questionable... sure... but in all the right ways. It knows what it is and succeeds. Nice job! Thanks for adding to our 23 yr Christmas tradition.

To be honest, we thought we were scheduled to watch "Christmas List" with Alicia Witt, a movie we like enough to watch just about every year. But when we saw Mimi Rogers and Stella Stevens--two gorgeous ladies--I decided to give this a try.

Mimi's character is stuck in a sales floor job (though she's great at it). When a grateful customer (a young boy) puts her name in a drawing and her friend puts her Christmas wish list in Santa's Mailbox, the items start to come through in surprising and improbably little ways.

This movie isn't dynamite, but it's amusing and definitely worth a watch. I can recommend it.

Ever since we stumbled onto it in 1997 during FoxFamilyChannel's 25 Days of Christmas programming, my husband and I have made it a point to catch this one every year when it airs. It makes a nice break in the shopping/decorating/music rehearsal/baking/working routine that rolls around in December. David is played by the guy who had the lead role in "Sweating Bullets" from the old CBS Crime Time after Prime Time shows from the early 90s. He looks so completely different here--his ponytail and funky beach duds are nowhere to be found--but oh, my, he's still a hunk. Just a more respectable one:) Mimi Rogers (known to many as the first Mrs. Tom Cruise) does a great job as the 30-something perfume salesperson who wants a shop of her own, and to move ahead with her life. She has potential but a lot of trouble showing it. Mimi is one of the few Hollywood actresses who can actually look really mousy and drab or drop-dead glamorous with just a few touches here and there. Marla Maples has a supporting role here, too, as an obviously wealthy, high-maintenance woman who's set her sights on marrying a doctor. I'll be honest here--she IS a very pretty woman and actually has a voice that sounds like it was honed to perfectly modulated tones in one of those old Southern charm schools. The guy who plays George (he of the "5-year plan") has the most thankless of the lead roles, but he does a good enough job with it that I have to laugh when he keeps getting his come-uppance at Melody's hands.

Why do Melody's wishes come true? We don't know. What we DO know is that whether it's luck, Santa Claus, or the natural laws of the universe, she learns in the space of a few days to capitalize on opportunity--which is, after all, the place where preparation and luck meet.

The ending is sweet and sentimental--what Christmas should be for everyone!

We have this one on tape, but if it's ever released for sale, I would definitely buy it to put in the cabinet beside "Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Rudolf."

This is the story of a perfume counter saleswoman who puts a Christmas List in Santa's mailbox at the store she works in. Her wishes begin to come true, but they all have a slight twist to them when they do. This is a movie that manages to intertwine Christmas, fantasy, romance, and realism. Mimi Rogers does a superb job in the role she plays. This movie even throws in the "guy gets the girl and they live happily ever after" at the end for us hopeless romantics. Wish it was out on video or DVD, I would love to have a copy of it to keep with all the other Christmas Classics.

Since this movie came out in 1997, it has aired at least once a year, and I have yet to miss it. It's just that good! This is one of my favorite movies... Christmas or otherwise. Mimi Rogers gives an incredible performance. This is a feel-good movie. The writers of "The Christmas List" are incredibly creative. This movie just fits together wonderfully. I absolutely recommend this movie.

...as well as a holiday tradition! Kudos to Merv Griffin Enterprises...

Who can not love Melody Parris, the main character? Yet, the main point of the story is how everything came together for her when she decided not to 'wait' for anything anymore. It was only when Melody stopped wishing and actually did something that all the pieces fell into place: like going to that swanky restaurant even though she had no escort, and joining in the fun with the other diners.

Favorite moment: Melody's honest, heartfelt plea to the cops who were about to tow her car away - 'if you take away that car, you will ruin whatever luck I have', or words to that effect. And you know...it worked! Second most favorite moment: Melody dumping dinner in George's lap.

I'll never get tired of watching this one. And, for the record, I still watch 'It's A Wonderful Life', though many have gotten sick of it, sad to say.

Having seen this film, I have to say, I look for it on TV... EVERY holiday season. It is an excellent story, about a woman, who has a life that is going nowhere fast, and has little prospect of so. She reminds me of myself a bit, and another family member. She lives for romance, yet picks the man who won't give it to her.

However, while there are fairy godmothers, she gets a series of "Christmas Elves" to help out... so to speak. Many magical things happen to her, that improve her life, these all come from a list she HERSELF has written. and One by one, she realizes they are happening, and being "Checked Off". Each time one is fulfilled, she sees the fulfiller as a "christmas elf".

It is child like enough to satisfy your child, AND the inner-child in grown ups.

She stands up to her Anal boyfriend... who tries to run her life... thinking he knows best, and she does it in a way that lets him know straight out she is fed up.

I would say, I will have to remember this for my anal boyfriends...LOL All in all... this one is a keeper...

There is a comment below from a "Karen" about the music... and she is right! I wish I could find the soundtrack, or at least the title song (and don't think I haven't looked!) Stella Stevens, is STELLA-R as the mother... and brings a homey, but quirky feel to the movie that WORKS! The son Danny (portrayed by Bill Switzer) is cool, and not "childlike". He is indicative of many "old souled" children we have known in our lives.

See this one... it is a classic watch every year in my house!

Definitely a great lighthearted, family film. Makes you feel warm and cozy. Perfect film for the holidays. It is right up there with all the classics, IMO!

I won't describe the plot since others did such a good job. I will say that Mimi does a wonderful job playing the pushover who hasn't come into her own yet. I think Mimi made the movie, I honestly can't think of anyone else in this role.

A must see!

A perfume saleswoman (Mimi Rogers) whose life isn't going so well makes a list of things she wants for Christmas and, one by one, gets everything on her list. In the process, she discovers the truth to that old saying, " Be careful what you wish for...".

This film will never win any Oscars or Emmys and it's pretty easy to spot some of its problems. However, it's a movie with a lot of heart and a good performance by Mimi Rogers as the dowdy protagonist.

My wife and I recorded the film when it first aired on the Family Channel and watch it periodically throughout the year. It really lifts your spirits!

I absolutely love this movie. I watch it several times a year during the Christmas season. It is such fun. If it were on DVD I would buy it in a heartbeat. It has been a favorite of mine since I first saw it on ABC Family Channel when it first come out. I would love to have it on DVD. I have it on tape from the airing on TV but it is getting so worn that its not very clear anymore. I would love to have it without the cuts for commercials. I would recommend this movie for anyone who is sentimental about Christmas and loves a good comedy and a little romance also. Of course it has a happy ending too! Mimi Rodgers and Rob Stewart have a charisma in the movie and Marla Maples plays just villain enough to keep you hoping that she gets the boot. Danny is really the perfect offset to all the adult issues going on and His friendship with Melanie is really a touching part to the movie. I also enjoy the ambitious manipulating that April does to get Melanies promotion and how that her boss sees the outward appearance and not the talent underneath.

This is one of my favorite holiday movies! As far as I know it isn't as well known as the other Christmas movies, but it is just as good! Mimi Rodgers does beautifully as the main character, Melody Parris. Danny, the boy she befriends while working at the department store is also perfect. I could tell from just watching this movie it looked like they had a lot of fun making it. April Mae was also good as the character you love to hate. A fun film, watch it with your best friend!

What a fun and delightful movie... Just wish it was available on DVD. Family Fun... Already a Christmas Classic. Mimi is once again at her best. There is great emotional displays from Happy, sad, love, concern, twists and turns. It is creative and a joy to watch over and over. The characters are normal, wacky and arrogant.... a wide variance.

The plot is smooth and fine for any age in my opinion.

Humor, drama and a love story. This Movie seems to have increased in showing frequency since it first aired. I continue to check DVD sources to see if it is released. Will buy when it is as I can't say enough about the film.

I love this movie. It is so cute and heartwarming. Mimi Rodgers's character is sort your everyday average person, as they always are in movies like these. She is also a little aged and has sort-of given up on ever having the life she always wanted or dreamed of. That's what makes it so Christmasy. You get happy and excited for her when her life finally starts unfolding. Of course this movie is cheesy but you can pretty much watch it no matter what mood you're in . When I first recorded it off of ABC or Fox family, something like that; I watched it at least 2 times in a row.I'd love to own it on DVD but they don't even have it @ Best Buy and they have EVERYTHING there!

"The Christmas List" with Mimi Rogers is a wonderful Christmas movie for adults and even school age children. This is a hopeful, funny, moralistic and rather off beat movie. It should be available with other favorite Christmas Classics. It has a good cast, and does not drag like some Christmas movies that tried to capitalize on big star power. Actions that seem like pure fantasy are explained with possible reality and give us a glimmer of hope for a fairy tale adventure in real life. Many viewers are able to relate to Mimi Rogers, young Bill Switzer or Rob Stewart; I do not understand why this movie has not been released on DVD. Every year I check, with no avail, to see if The Christmas List has been released.

This is such a wonderful Christmas movie. I would love to have it on DVD. Mimi Rogers is wonderful in it, Stella Stevens is her funny mom, Bill is such a cute and touching boy and Rob is a hottie. The story is giving, touching and just so great to watch it... Bill plays a boy named Danny who visits the perfume counter at the local department store. He wants to buy a bottle of his mothers favorite perfume, his mother past away and he wants to remember what she smelled like. Mimi who plays Meloday is the perfume lady and she helps Danny pick out the perfume, Danny doesn't know the name of the perfume. They develop this friendship, Meloday meets Danny's father David and it just gets better from there. I make sure every time it's played on Fox Family during the 25 Days Of Christmas, I am glued to the t.v. It's a great show to snuggle up with a hot cup of coco, fire blazing in the fire place and The Christmas List. It's a must see movie....

This is one of my favorite (non-animated) Christmas movies. It is just so sweet, pure sugar. It will make you happy and put you in the Christmas spirit. This is such a departure from some of Mimi Rogers other work and Marla Maples gives this movie lots of camp. It always makes me want to get a seasonal job at a department store when I watch this movie. The little boy whose mother died reminds me of a young Joey Lawrence. I try to catch it each year but I always have trouble finding it. I wish it was played more often. I do not believe it is available on DVD/tape. If you get the rare opportunity to catch this movie, make sure you do.

This is one of my favorite Christmas movies!!! Where can I buy it?

I absolutely love this movie. It's such a feel good movie, fun and stress free!! I got my own copy from eBay and watch it every now and then throughout the year 😂😂😂

I LOVED this movie! It's a very enjoyable, feel-good movie, and it lifts my spirits every time I watch it! It has become one of my "Christmas classics", like the original "Miracle on 34th Street". Mimi Rogers was *excellent*. Enuka Okuma as her friend, Stella Stevens as her mother, Rob Stewart as her romantic interest, and Marla Maples as her (sort-of) competition, were all very enjoyable to watch. I hope more people get to see it and enjoy it as I have.

One of our family's favorites, that unfortunately hasn't gotten love on tv in a long time, and not available for sale (officially) anywhere. Good acting, fresh story, highly quotable. Give it a try!

I absolutely love this film. In general I'm more of an action film then a romance girlie film but this is christmas so it has to be watched. Its must watch every year for me. I know its Christmas when I've watched the lovely Melody at her perfume counter. It's got the nasty, pushy girlfriend and a handsome man that needs to find the real love of his life and Melody is that. Mimi Rogers plays the part perfectly. Is it cheesy? Yes. But it's a Christmas film so its supposed to be. The whole storyline is a winner for me. I'd advise anyone to add it to their Christmas movie list for the season ever year!

Fell in love with this movie, back in the late 90's. Fortunately, in 2006, taped it onto VHS and converted it to a DVD...so glad I did! Don't understand why this classic has not resurfaced because it's a lot of fun. Mimi Rogers is casted perfectly in the lead role as Melodie, who has "the nose" for identifying every fragrance she sells in a department store. However, her talent is ignored by her boss, but not to a boy who is shopping for the right fragrance for his mother. Melodie has a boyfriend of 4 years, a relationship that is pointless. But, there is true romance out there for Melodie. One person who helps her see the light is her coworker and best friend is played by Enuka Okinawa, who delivers the best lines in this movie. Stella Stevens, who plays Melodie's, mother, is an asset to the character...a mother we would want...dedicated and loyal! I pray the networks will retrieve this gem!