A Grandpa for Christmas

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE FILM. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM HONEST!

Bert (Ernest Borgnine) is a retired Hollywood actor who has been estranged from his only daughter Marie (Tracy Nelson) for many years. When she ends up in the hospital following a car accident, Social Services places her 10-year-old daughter, Becca (Juliette Goglia), with the grandfather she has never met. The generation gap is apparent as Bert and Becca try to adjust to their new lives together.

The film feel very authentic. I love how Ernest house looks on the inside and out. It looks like a home you would see in the San Fernando Valley. The cast of supporting players is 1st rate.

Now this film is ABOVE THE AVERAGE HALLMARK FILM. When this comes on watch it. You won't be disappointed. Ernest Borgnine is terrific. He plays against his persona. He plays someone very vulnerable who you just can't help loving.

Saccharine TV movie has a bristly old coot (Borgnine) taking in his young granddaughter whom he never knew existed. Her mother -- his estranged daughter -- has had a car accident and been hospitalized. Tracy Nelsomn has the thankless role of the daughter, who spends most of the movie laid up in a hospital bed. The granddaughter quickly grows on the old man. There's more to the plot, which centers on the granddaughter singing in her school's holiday pageant, but it's not the plot that counts here. It's Borgnine's bravura performance, ably aided by a supporting cast of veterans including Jamie Farr, Richard Libertini and Katherine Helmond. Juliette Goglia is the winsome granddaughter who belts out several tunes like she's doing a road show tour of ANNIE. A little of this goes a long way, if you get my drift.

This is one of the best Christmas movies I have ever seen. Of course, Earnest Borgnine and Jamie Farr are two of my very favorite actors. I can hardly wait until this comes out on DVD for home purchase!!! The story line of this movie is excellent. A man who "lost" his daughter to very difficult circumstances and was made to look as a "bad" person by his x-wife who actually ran away from him but who took care of his daughter without any credit all her life. Thankfully a friend told her and they were able to make up their differences and become a family. Borgnine may be 90 years old but it doesn't show one bit. He is excellent in every scene and carries a wonderful story to an excellent conclusion.

I was very impressed with the overall quality of the acting and plot lines. I found Ernest Borgnine to be quite a lovable character. I believe that Juliette has a tremendous future in not only acting but especially as a singer. I look forward to her debut album. I had a fun time recognizing many of the players in this drams without looking at their names first. The plot line is very well done and believable. I look forward to seeing this show as a holiday tradition. It leaves room for a sequel as well to show how things progress. I am 58 years old but this movie had me crying and teary eyed at the ending. I also enjoyed Katherine Helmond in her role of Roxie. She played it as if it was her own persona. Thanks for a great production. The plot revolves around a retired thespian who has lost touch with his daughter until an untimely accident causes him to find out he has a granddaughter he never knew about. He ends up having to take care of this granddaughter since he is the only living relative. The changing of this relationship from a have to situation to a very loving one makes for a great story. Ron Tuell Sr

This Christmas time movie is one of the BEST! Out of the over 80 holiday movies I've seen, this is in my top 4. I am so glad to see other viewer's comments on this 2007 released movie. Kudos to this entire cast. I've now seen it twice and each time I like it even more and shed a few more tears. Ernest Borgnine, I didn't know how old he was. It doesn't matter. You are just in love with his character and the beauty and warmth of such an individual. What a beautiful spirit and a life lesson. Even though he didn't have his daughter or granddaughter in his life, he was still a joyous, positive, loving person. He did the best he could with his life and his friends speak volumes for his character. And in the end it pays off. But I love the theme of "no regrets". He lives beyond the hurt, beyond the loss. This is probably my favorite Christmas time movie. And, again, the casting was PERFECT!!!