Amazon.com's favorite time of year is here....I mean Christmas is here. I say that kiddingly but in reality we as Americans have become a nation of consumers who need to constantly be buying stuff to make us happy. Think about it. Buying material things doesn't really make anyone happy for long term. Many people live far above their means. Many people work all the hours they can so that they can pay the never ending credit card bills for junk they can't even remember buying. OK, I'm off my soapbox."A Christmas Tree Miracle" is a heartwarming Christmas movie that touches on this very subject. It's a film about the George Family who live the "good life" as an upper class family in the suburbs. The husband, David, (Kevin Sizemore) has a great paying job but is preoccupied with work all the time. His wife Julie (Claudia Esposito) is stressed trying to constantly please everyone in the family and the two teenage kids Nick (Barrett Carnahan) and Natalie (Emily Capehart) are vile little creatures who want and expect to get whatever it is they think they need at any given moment with no thought as to how much things cost. There is also a very young daughter, Nina, (Siomha Kenney) who is the only one that has any appreciation for anything. A dysfunctional family for sure but probably more common than we would like to admit.The family is turned upside down when David loses his job. At first the entire family is in denial and continue to spend money at a ridiculous rate thinking a job is just around the corner. A year goes by and we see their savings and material things disappear until alas they become homeless. With nowhere to go a kindly Christmas tree farmer, Henry Banks, (played by Terry Kiser...best known for his portrayal as Bernie in the film Weekend at Bernie's) offers them shelter and jobs working on the farm. He decides to show them that it is the simple things in life that lead to true happiness. Will the family learn anything or will they just move on?I definitely liked "A Christmas Tree Miracle" a lot. It is a well written movie although I must say I got a bit confused as I watched the character arcs, particularly on the Dad and the two teenage kids go a bit crooked. What I mean by that is just when you think they have their change of heart they go and do another nasty deed. The film could have been shortened a bit by losing some of the repetition to reaffirm to the viewer how selfish the characters could be. Just a small thing but it did confuse me slightly. The only other small thing was the way the film was colored. It had a washed out look that I would expect to see in a crime drama and not the vibrant colors I would expect to see in a Christmas tale.With that said "A Christmas Tree Miracle" is a really festive and fun movie with a great lesson. The story was more involved than a standard Lifetime or Hallmark Channel movie, but it could certainly be run on either of those stations and fit right in. It is not a chick flick. Anyone could enjoy it. My wife loved it and she is a tough cookie when it comes to movies so bravo to the filmmakers on this one. Bottom line, anyone who enjoys heartwarming movies with substance in the storyline will love "A Christmas Tree Miracle".

This film is funny, heart warming, thought provoking, unique, family oriented and honest with a touch of seasonal magic. If you're looking for a film with a message of love, caring, fellowship and also for the entire family this film is it! From joyful, seasonal holiday themes to real life struggles, this film touches on many subjects and is sure to leave you crying AND smiling at the same time. The characters are all extremely believable with their own hardships, positive qualities, weaknesses and unique abilities. This film truly touches on the reason for the season!Unlike many other holiday themed films, this film does not focus on Santa, presents or reindeer but focuses on a real life struggle of a modern family who seems to have it all. The story accurately depicts the ability to get caught up in material gain, and sends out a clear message on how giving to those who need it most is the best gift of all. Giving to those in need can change everyone's life for the better, and this film follows a family as they battle and learn from the concept of living simply with the best intentions instead of living extravagantly with all of the wrong priorities.

Every year it seems like there are a ton of new holiday movies. I really just would like to keep tabs on the few that I watch every year and that be the end of it! Having said that, this movie was given to our family as a gift for Christmas and the family who gave it to us in town, they wanted to WATCH IT WITH US! WHAT? So, we planned a night and we started watching "another" Christmas movie, because that's what you do during the holidays. Withing about 15 min I noticed there wasn't any talking and everyone (all 15 of us from 8 years to 72) were silent and hanging on every word said. Very quickly I and my entire family realized, that this is a movie you HAVE TO SEE EVERY HOLIDAY SEASON! The message it gave to viewers was fantastic and will reminded you every year to start your new year off on a good foot! No....it's not your typical Christmas movie...it is so much more. Hope everyone else enjoys "A Christmas Tree Miracle" as much as my family did.

David George (Kevin Sizemore) is a land developer with a successful career, a beautiful family, and could have everything material anyone could every wish for. This holiday season the George family can't wait for all the holiday surprises coming to them except the one they did not expect. The family is used to comfort and modern conveniences but that all changes in the blink of an eye when David loses his job. The family doesn't seem to take the situation seriously and continues to live the extravagant lifestyle they are used to.This catches up to them and the family is forced to leave that lifestyle behind. With no where to go, the family is taken in by a local Christmas tree farmer who offers the family a fresh start and a new outlook on life.The movie is heartwarming and the story is written very well. This is a movie that can be played throughout the year because of its heartwarming tale of family and hope. The lessons it teaches are not preachy but words of wisdom that we all can reflect on year round.Kevin Sizemore was well cast as the lead in this family feature, playing the breadwinner of the George family. He plays the hard-working successful character as well as the hardened hero who learns a thing or two and rises from the ashes. The chemistry between Sizemore and Esposito as the husband and wife unit keeping their family together during the good and bad times was amazing and with the dialog can evoke an emotional response from the most hardened of hearts. The cinematography was done quite well capturing the vision of the writer. Each of the scenes depicted the success of the family, the fall from grace, the vastness of the family trying to find themselves in uncharted territory and the rise back from the ashes. This is a wonderfully shot independent piece.