3 Holiday Tails

I just watched this film for the fourth or fifth time and was reminded why I like to revisit it each Christmas season. It first caught my eye as a movie that my girlfriend's young daughter would enjoy and that might have something for her mom and me as well. But it turned out that this movie isn't about puppies, and I wonder if it might have found a larger audience if it had not been presented as a "family" film. It's more like a Hallmark romantic comedy, but with much better acting. In that regard, Julie Gonzalo is luminous, but she's not just a pretty face. I was impressed with her acting and prompted to check out her other credits. The other acting highlights for me were Alley Mills and Alexandra Peters, the latter being a rarity: a child actor who could really act. These three ladies all made me feel like I was eavesdropping on real people having real conversations. There are a couple of morals to this story, but the one I like best comes from Aunt Pearl, whom we never meet: A gift without a big price tag can be priceless, and rich are the ones who realize it.

I put this movie on one day just to get a Christmas atmosphere in the house while doing other things. I had no real plan to pay much attention to it. But I wound up getting a lot more involved in it than I expected. It's funny and touching in parts and the characters are interesting with pretty good acting. It has some really beautiful and well-written scenes especially when the older neighbors try to help the young friends sort out their feelings. The movie even has some good life lessons. Having said that, I have to say this is not really a Christmas movie but a romance that happens to take place in December. Still, I highly suggest it to everyone even when it's not December.

Julie Gonzalo's excellent acting skills are put to good use in this pretty amusing Hallmark type offering. She was very funny indeed. The young actress, Alexandra Peters playing Myra was phenomenal. She put to shame most of the kid actors that frequent these type of movies. Eleven years old when she made this, she is now grown up to a very pretty woman. I wish her all the success she deserves. The likable Ally Mills as the older neighbor looks great: She hasn't changed a bit and her chemistry with her husband, played by the Oscar nominated Bruce Davison was every thing one would hope for. I really enjoyed this, and may seek out the 3rd movie in the series as it appears to have some talent, including Miss Peters attached to it. They all looked like they were having a great time.

It is Christmas time, in sunny Florida, the movie takes place on coast of Florida. The movie would be considered a holiday, comedy, and romantic movie.

When Lisa moves to Florida with her three puppies, she becomes instant friends with her upstairs neighbor who also has a golden retriever. While the husband of the upstairs neighbor becomes friends with David. When Lisa sees David, she ends up telling Katherine about her past relationship with David. When Lisa runs into David on the street, he is proposing to his girlfriend, but Lisa's dogs get loose and David looses his great aunts wedding ring. Every time that Lisa sees David things do not go so well for David. The girlfriend absolutely hates Lisa, and blames her for everything. Lisa must figure out if she loves David.

The acting in this is very good. the main girl is now one of the main actors in the new television show Dallas. while the little girl is also really good. she does not over act, nor does she underact. although the script is not perfect the actors and actresses are what make the movie perfect.

This movie is one of my favorite Christmas movies, I make sure I watch it every year. it is not like the other Christmas movies, although it is based on the same things that most Christmas movies have. absolutely love it!!!!

I did not realize this was a sequel of sorts to a Golden Christmas. I have not watched that one yet. The cast is good, the story is sweet. A few things bugged me, like no single women would get three golden retriever puppies and what landlord would allow her that many dogs? That felt like a plot gimmick to me. But really who cares? Cute girl, cute puppies, cute kids, who were pretty good actors too. I used to live in LA, so while I watching it, I thought what beach did they film this on, kinda low rent. Then it said Long Beach in the credits. That explained that. The setting is not lush in any part of the movie. The story is sweet, the acting is good and it is enjoyable. I am not giving a plot synopsis, because other people did that and I avoid spoilers. Holiday movies are their own genre, when I read reviews on those, I just want to know if they are any good, not the plot really. Since there are only about 4 plots that keep getting recycled for Holiday movies! Happy Holidays.