The Christmas Box

The Christmas Box, is my favorite holiday movie. I have enjoyed The Christmas Box each year (since i first saw it) and believe it's a one of the those holiday movies you have to see each holiday season. Has a great cast with Maureen O'Hara and Richard Thomas leading the way. I highly recommend this movie, the best Hallmark movie i have ever seen. Don't miss it!

I didn't plan to see this. Instead I just sat down while my wife was watching it and ended up seeing it all the way through. It was difficult not to get emotionally involved, mostly because of the acting of Maureen O'Hara. Yes, some of the plot mechanisms are clichés. Yes, the overall message of knowing what to truly value most has been done many times by Hollywood. But the understated performances from O'Hara and Richard Thomas along with a good story really make this movie well worth watching. I ended up being so affected that it drove me to write this review in the hope that it might influence someone else to see it. And perhaps enjoy it as much as I did. Merry Christmas everyone...

This is a handsomely produced tear-jerker, nicely played by MAUREEN O'HARA, RICHARD THOMAS and ANNETTE O'TOOLE and obviously aimed toward the Christmas market with a sweet tale about a mysterious Christmas BOX residing in the attic of an old lady's mansion.

Maureen O'Hara is still a pleasure to look at and listen to in the role of a rather crotchety, firm-minded elderly lady who is in need of household help and accepts Thomas and O'Toole, along with their young daughter, when they apply for the job. Thomas needs the extra money to run a ski shop but is not exactly fond of O'Hara and her ways. It's his daughter, Jenna, who eventually does establish a bond with the woman and more revelations soon come about with respect to the mysterious Christmas box in the attic and O'Hara's past.

It's strictly sentimental stuff, so be advised that the pace is on the slow side as the character revelations are gradually made clear. But if you like warm-hearted tales of Christmas (or any of the holidays for that matter), you can't go wrong with this one.

Summing up: Handsomely produced with fine performances, well worth viewing.

This movie was very enjoyable. It was a sweet story with great actors & a very good script. Richard Thomas & Maureen O'Hara always do a wonderful job, as did Annette O'Toole. The script & dialog were not predictable or boring & the ending was not disappointing & had an excellent message. It is a story of love and lesson, without being overdone or boring. At times, it was very funny, also. One of our favorite holiday movies is "One Special Night" with Julie Andrews & James Garner. We will add this movie to our list, as well. We would recommend seeing this movie for a wonderful, heartwarming Christmas story.

This is a made-for-TV Christmas movie starring Hollywood legend Maureen O'Hara as Mary Parkin, a widow who is being cared for by ski-shop owner Richard Evans (Richard Thomas) and his wife, Keri (Annette O'Toole). They moved into Mary's estate after Richard struggles to balance his family and career life.

As with many families, there is a husband or wife who seem to put work over family. This movie beautifully depicts Mary giving the career-oriented Richard several lectures in having a healthy family life and has him guessing what the greatest gift one could have is - as it is revealed by the end of the film.

There are quite a few sappy moments, but the characters were well-acted for the most part and the plot was quite solid, giving us a pretty captivating film with many heartfelt dramatic moments. In addition to the drama, there is also a touch of fantasy elements that give the film a bit of suspense and intrigue.

Overall, a good one to watch during Christmas time.

Grade B