A Christmas... Present

The true meaning of Christmas is there, but don't turn away your attention because it's there quickly and then the story is back. I wonder if Candace purposely washed it so that the movie would be see by more people despite the message the world doesn't want to hear. That doesn't really make sense, but then burying the lead, so to speak, doesn't make sense either.

The theme of the movie appears to be how busyness obscures what's really important during the holidays. And a viewer could easily conclude that what is really important is family. Time with family. Really with them. "Present". And love. And this is a great message for a Christmas movie. It is certainly where most of the screen time and dialogue was spent. So why throw in the faith stuff which is also sprinkled in here and there?

I submit that the true message, whether intended or not, was in just a few minutes from when Candace/Maggie walked in the church door to when the pastor finished speaking. 2-1/2 minutes. First a verse of Silent Night that not everyone knows. "Son of God. Love's pure Light.... with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus Lord at Thy birth." Then the pastor answers the argument he and his brother had about who gave the best gift. "The one who gives the best gift of all every Christmas is God Himself. The gift of hope, joy, peace, forgiveness, eternal life, wrapped in swaddling clothes waiting to be opened by faith." There is forgiveness, redemption, in only one way through faith. Candace, whether this was your real message or not, thank you for giving us one of the tiniest few movies that tells us the real reason for the season.

The movie is well done with mostly good acting. The dialogue has funny moments and many more serious ones. The story is compelling.

I loved this movie! It's what Christmas is about, spending time with family. It's a beautiful Christian Christmas movie, and it's not traditional. There are a lot of Bible quotes and that's why our family really enjoyed it. I think we tend to forget what Christmas is all about, and this movie really shows the true meaning behind Christmas. It has a lot to do with church too. Her kids in the movie are respectful and kind to their parents, when we rarely see that in movies nowadays.

Candace is a beautiful actress, her movies are all wonderful. I love her! This movie is different from all her other movies, but it's more meaningful. I recommend this movie!

I do not get the GAC Family Network as I refuse to pay any more $$ for additional TV channels, and I'm glad I kept my $$. I was able to watch this on youtube and was so excited to see it as I had only heard it was an absolutely wonderful and faith-filled movie. In my opinion, it was not. Let's start with CCB's character--a total control freak who got mad at her busy attorney husband and teenage children because they did not want to participate in her crazy calendar of Christmas activities. If the kids were under the age of 13, sure, but not at this stage of their lives. Then, she's not even in touch with her brother who just lost his wife? Then, she somehow corrals her family into spending 10 days, unannounced, at her brother's house? It was all too much, and I felt the faith part was very forced. God bless Marc Blucas (the reason for the three stars) for staring in his because he's wasted. There was no chemistry between him and CCB, and no chemistry with CCB and the actors who portrayed her kids. The brother character, in my opinion, was taking the loss of his wife a little to well (baking cookies, and the house is decorated to the hilt). I think it got such positive reviews because of it's "faith" but that doesn't come to the end, and it's very awkward. Hopefully, the content of GAC will improve, but I watched a couple of others and they were duds. Sorry CCB and GAC!

In many ways, this was not a typical Christmas movie. But that is probably one of the reasons I liked it.

While this movie was not perfect - some of the situations were kind of staged and forced, I liked what Ms. Bure was trying to do. I really liked the story she was trying to tell about a family. And not just a nuclear family, but the extended family, too. One family being there for another! This movie had a kind heart.

And I loved that they included church. Millions of Americans go to church during the holiday season and so many Christmas movies leave that out! How can you be a real Christmas movie without church!?

This story grew on me during the telling. I'm looking forward to watching it again.

The faith component in this film was lovely, but not enough to carry a repetitive, mediocre script with little else. For me, Candace's character was overacted and very one-note to the point of irritating. The entire film was the same thing, over and over: plan activities, go to activities, and no one really listening to each other's needs. Marc's talents were wasted in this film, and chemistry between the leads was non-existent. I did, however, enjoy the banter and interaction between the actors in the social media dance contest pieces before the film's release. Those showed more originality and chemistry than the entire movie. It was those promos that encouraged me to watch. Also, with Candace as the spokesperson for Great American Family, I thought for sure this would be a "10." It was not.