Matchmaker Santa

I love this movie but it's so hard to find. Wish I could find this movie in other places so I can watch it.

This was the 1st Lacey Chabert Christmas Movie (she has made 6 now). I was hoping she would be really great in it- but she was not. She always plays a very nice character- but they all seem to be alike and the emotion falls short. I have seen Tree that Saved Christmas- Yuck, Royal Christmas- good but a bit dull, Family for Christmas- so so.

I was surprised by the Fantasy aspect of this one that was not apparent in the description. The leading actor playing Dean did a great job and the supporting actor playing Chris was good. That nose thing that was supposed to be "Santa magic" was a bit weird. I loved the little girl at the beginning making her wish to Santa. Florence Henderson's character, the mayor and the mother added little to the movie. We all stayed awake. It was pleasant. We would not watch it again.

I suppose I should confess I am a true hopeless romantic. I love most all Hallmark Christmas movies, but even with that said I still have my favorites. I will also add that I don't always feel the chemistry is there between the actors. When it is, when that magic is there, it makes them so much more enjoyable. I loved this one for that reason. I thought the actors all interacted well. This movie has my favorite Santa (he's played Santa in a few Hallmark movies)so I am sure that helped. Lacey Chabert does tend to be one of my favorites. She is such a believable character and everything I see her in. This is my current favorite Hallmark movie, and quite honestly in a world where things are a bit chaotic and full of bad news, movies like this are exactly what I need to restore my faith. I love the old fashioned traditions of making cookies, going to a tree lighting, and just overall feeling like love still exist. The world just needs more of it.

There are no huge surprises in this film. Santa performs actual magic. Many of the situations are silly.

Yet this movie is surprisingly entertaining. The humor is light and sprinkled around while the romance is sweet. The story flows together well.

Lacey Chabert and Adam Mayfield fit well together as the leads. Meanwhile so do Thad Luckinbil and Elizabeth Ann Bennett as Melanie's original boyfriend and his high school sweetheart. Florence Henderson is a crazy hotel owner. John Ratzenberger has the same characteristics as the part he played on Cheers.

Lacey Chabert is getting serious with Thad Luckinbill -- he's just invited her to his hometown for Christmas to meet his mother -- but it soon becomes clear to the audience that she should be with Adam Mayfield. Good thing that Santa Claus is on hand in the person of Donovan Scott -- he's played the role almost every year on TV since 2000. The result is a low-key and very pleasant Christmas fantasy movie.

As with the best of the Hallmark TV movies, the real pleasure for me is not the pretty people and the inevitable working of their romcom plots (although Ms. Chabert is particularly winsome in her role) but the presence of some fine players in key but minor roles. John Ratzenberger is on hand to play an almost incoherent auto mechanic and Florence Henderson is a mildly ditzy hotel clerk. The entire production is shot handsomely with lots of earth colors to produce a nostalgic sepia tint to the proceedings. The movie won't win any awards, but it should certainly please anyone who decides to tune in.