Movie based on an old sitcom trope, as a partly-overheard, misunderstood conversation leads to hijinks, and hopefully, a happier, closer family if it all works out in the end. Unfortunately, it just isn't very funny overall, and the acting isn't the best, especially considering the presence of Marion Ross and Richard Karn. Karn was particularly underused. Not that the writing gave anyone much to work with. The few touching bits, an orphanage scene and a fun supermarket musical bit, are diluted by scenes where the cast just seems bored or uncomfortable. One bizarre scene in the middle of the film should have been cut entirely. The mother and grown daughter dress in black and commit felony theft of the top eight feet of a newly planted gigantic pine tree at a mall. It may have been intended to be funny, but it comes off as being so out of place as to be very jarring and even disturbing. The family acts like it is perfectly normal to commit felony theft and they never mention it again. It doesn't seem to fit in. Surely they could have padded the run time with something that didn't make the family seem like antisocial psychos. I docked this film about two stars for the scene, leaving it with just three. That's how badly the two minutes or so ruins the intended spirit of the movie. Blows it to smithereens. I was half expecting them to maybe kidnap or steal from some orphans, too. Take away that one scene, and it's a solid 5. All in all, like many of the made for TV Christmas movies, it seems fine for having on in the background while baking cookies, wrapping presents, etc. It certainly doesn't deserve your undivided attention.

Ellen Hollman has great stage presence but I don't think the character fit her well- especially with how she played her romantic interest. Liked her as the author and the daughter. Home Improvements "Al" played a nice dad but was not a major character. Marion Ross played the grand mother in a supporting role and it wasn't quite right. The mother's role was the most unusual and maybe the most memorable. The greatest take away from the movie was the friendship developing between mother and daughter.I might not mind watching the movie again and I did not fall asleep. The most memorable scene was mom and daughter in a musical dance scene dressed in mini skirt Santa outfits collecting money for the orphanage.

Sara is a successful children's author. Shortly before Christmas she is touring and reading her books about a mouse to children, and her new book is about to hit the shelves.But in her home town of Sunny Valley, California, Sara's grandmother Evie falls and is taken to the hospital. Sara's father Tim calls her and asks her to come home, which she is reluctant to do not only because she has her obligations related to her book series, but because she and her critical and perfectionist mother Michelle don't get along.As expected, the minute Sara arrives, the nasty comments from her mother start. But Evie is in good spirits as her daughter and son- in-law take her home to stay with them for Christmas. Evie may have problems other than her injury, and she must stay in bed except for using a walker to get to the bathroom.Michelle believes Evie needs to move out of her condo and in to a better place for someone in her situation, but Evie is so independent she doesn't believe Evie will listen.Amazingly, Evie's young good-looking doctor Brandon makes house calls. Sara meets the man and I think we all know where this is going.While Brandon is examining Evie, they talk about Evie's future plans. Evie actually agrees she needs to move into a better place. But Michelle only overhears part of the conversation and believes her mother has a week to live. Oh, no! Now she has to do everything Evie wants to make her last days happy. And she can't tell Sara.Sara visits with her grandmother and learns of her 'Perfect Christmas List". While Evie is not actually dying, she doesn't know how much time she has left and she wants to do everything on a very complicated list while she still can.Naturally, Michelle agrees to do whatever her mother wants, and she even seems to be getting along with her daughter, even as she continues to show perfectionist tendencies. Any comment that reminds her that her mother might be dying upsets her and makes it absolutely necessary that she put her mother's needs first. This is, of course, hilarious. Ironically, it is Sara who disagrees with the idea of eating processed foods and other junk. And Michelle is not the only one Sara has to convince: on a trip to the grocery, she meets the doctor (what were the chances?) who is buying numerous hot dogs, lots of lemonade, and bacon flavored butter. A doctor? Really?This is only the first opportunity that Evie's list gives Sara to meet up with the doctor, though that wasn't the intention. And yes, I believe we all know how this will end up.Who is that handsome soldier in the photograph? Evie's list gives Michelle and Sara several opportunities to make up for past wrongs and to enjoy the holidays even more. And the ending offers us an important message about the holiday's true meaning.This is a nice family movie with plenty of humor. It is mostly a formula movie, but I like the formula.Marion Ross is her usual self. Quite good, at least given this material.Beth Broderick has some really good scenes as her character must deal with some unpleasant realities, other than what she believes about her mother. Yanellie Ireland does a great job as a deaf child abandoned by her parents who lives in a children's home.Is this appropriate for family viewing? Pretty much. You just have to be prepared for some of what might be called "adult themes", but nothing that older children shouldn't see, and probably not a problem for most young children.The one thing I disliked: Christmas music should not be rock and roll from the 50s or even 70s soft rock performed by cutesy female vocalists. And I am not open to new songs about Christmas. A couple of the old favorites are here, with "Silent Night" as pleasant background music, and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" on a saxophone outside the grocery. The sax player is part of a memorable scene involving a concert everyone seems to enjoy, though some of the instruments are heard only by the movie audience. The real "performers" work at the grocery and are playing non-traditional "instruments".It's a nice experience for the holidays.

Right from the get go I had a warm fuzzy feeling about this movie because the cast was so familiar.You have Marion Ross - Mrs. Cunningham from Happy Days, Beth Broderick - Aunt Zelda from Sabrina The Teenage Witch, and Richard Karn - Al from Home Improvement. For me, this is a great cast and they do a good job, which isn't too surprising as the story is well written and directed.The only drawback of the movie is the "love story". Unfortunately, it doesn't work. The relationship between Sara and Dr. Reed is erratic, at best. There doesn't seem to be much chemistry in their relationship, however, it all works out by the end credits - it is Christmas after all. They'll probably be separated by New Years.Apart from that, it's an enjoyable movie, great to watch while it's cold and raining outside.