mattstorm-12206

I'm not a "pearl clutching" type but my oh my, the venom being hurled at this film as being "just a commercial", well, no it's not just a commercial it's a movie and yes it's also trying to raise funds for....sick kids and desperate parents, what's wrong with that?

Then there seems to be this bickering over the acting with some feeling they have to praise it and others ripping on it. Reality is, the acting was acceptable and got the job done, really not the point of the film.

So, how about I actually review the film itself eh? I don't want to spoil stuff but I'll just say I popped it in a few Christmases ago not super paying attention at 1st cuz figured it was gonna be another standard fare Candace/Hallmark film - which I enjoy them - but just saying I had no idea how serious this was going to get.

I do recommend this film and won't give away specific plot details but will "forewarn" parents, this does deal with the often harsh realities of children getting sick, there's no graphic surgeries shown or anything like that, but this is about a real childrens ward and not all the characters are going to have a happy ending.

Sure you may find the actual story in this episode as treading some familiar ground but it's the performances that really make this something that should be in your Christmas playlist.

The deputy was really good in all his scenes and played perfectly off the grumpy sherriff. I always love the scene when Santa turns and smiles at the boy whose home he was "robbing".

The icing on the cake is the ending, as said earlier you'll likely predict it but the look on the sherrifs face when he opens that present....you really do feel it.

Sadly, had to take a point off for tacking on the carolers right after, maybe the writers had runtime to fill but it was unnecessary and kinda kills the mood.