Review Date 1/31/0218A self-absorbed 13-year-old (Erik von Detten) reliving Christmas, day after day, until he appreciates its meaning. He pouts about gifts he doesn't want. Realities he doesn't want to see and little sister that is just a pain in the butt to him.This is OKAY at best. However what it does show the viewer is the fact we will keep repeating mistakes if we don't learn from them. Those mistakes might not exactly repeat themselves in the same way but if you don't learn from them they will manifest somewhere. What I like best about this film was that Christmas is more "Than gifts and giving gifts". "Its the giving of your time" how we "Treat One Another". Family Safe.

Every year we get another schmaltzy Christmas flick or two. This one fits squarely in that category but is easy to watch and has some redeeming moments. --Caution -- the rest of this review contains some spoilers.Billy Jackson is a 13 year old who's not fond of Christmas and has a typical 13 year-old's problems, He's not great at basketball, his dad runs a not very successful store in a boring small town, the girl he's attracted to has a jock boyfriend that is ready willing and able to deck him if he makes his feelings known. After a particularly bad Christmas, his sister makes a wish that it would be Christmas every day and a time loop is formed. Billy gets to relive the day over and over. We watch as Billy tries a number of strategies. First is Outrage since he can't really believe that its happening he protests throughout the day but of course nothing really different happens. Second Selfish/Revenge/Romance. Since his first strategy doesn't work, Billy decides to take advantage of what he knows. He plans it so that everything goes his way. But of course that doesn't work.Third, solve the worlds problems. Since being selfish doesn't cut it he tries being selfless and discovers that no one can solve all the world's problems. Finally, concentrate on family, make the best of what you can do. Of course this strategy works and Billy is finally able to enjoy Christmas and the loop is broken. The one thing that didn't quite ring true was at the end, when his mother wishes that every day could be Christmas, Billy screams. If he really has learned his lesson, then he should not have any worries that the day would repeat.

This show was never meant to be original. The producers decided to take the "Groundhog Day" formula and use it for the Christmas season. I thought this Christmas special was very good, even better than "Groundhog Day". The relationship Between Billy and Diane was more believable than the one in "Groundhog Day". In this Movie, Billy doesn't "step on the gas" so quickly. he just tries to get her to notice him, and they start a friendship. It is far less contrived then the Romance in "Groundhog Day" where the two Characters fall in love in ONE DAY. I also like the Christmas Pagent scenes, and I also like it when Billy always wakes up to "Jingle Bells" and the various expressions on his face. They should put this one out on video.

This movie has been played on the same station, same time, every Christmas Day since 1997. Since this year is no exception, it has become almost family tradition for it to be watched. Over all I like the movie based on a Ground-hog day genre. The characters are funny and Erik VD, is a joy to watch.