If I could, I'd give this movie a 10-plus vote! In a word, it's *MAGICAL*.I bought the DVD and I watch it from time to time *throughout the year*! (most frequently during the winter holiday season).This is a truly uplifting, *feel good* movie.I loved and understood how Holly bonded with her Uncle Alex. Growing up, Alex had apparently been picked on and made fun of (presumably because he was an extremely bright science nerd), which made him feel like an outsider. Holly was only 6 when she lost her mother, stopped talking, and in her grief withdrew from those around her and became an outsider.So, it's not surprising that when Holly begins to speak again and she's asked which of the three Nagel brothers is her "favorite uncle", she looks at each of them carefully, then breaks out into a smile and declares "Uncle Alex" !! I also liked how the initially cantankerous relationships among the three Nagel brothers gradually evolved into kindness, understanding and respect.Scott, who owns his own construction company and is juggling his job with remodeling his own house, starts out as grouchy and gruff. Alex seems to be a perpetual student, working on a Dissertation in marine biology, funded by academic grants. Mark, the youngest of the three, co-owns the local coffee house in Friday Harbor and is Holly's legal guardian -- but as Cara, Mark's business partner, points out -- Mark is "more than that".There are so many heart-warming scenes throughout this movie, but one of my favorite moments is a funny one -- it's the scene on the staircase in Scott's house when Alex and Holly are sitting next to each and he turns to Holly and says "don't go in my room" !! The look on Holly's face is priceless!

The opening scene with the bride left at the altar was unnecessary and appeared to be way out of place; it gives you a false impression of what the movie's plot will be. Fortunately, the direction the movie takes is much better than what you'd expect from the awkward opening.The back story of the young mother who recently passed away, on the other hand, would have been useful but that's the omitted story you only learn bits of from dialog. Her daughter Holly in the grief of her loss, shut down and became non-verbal. Custody of the child was given to the youngest of her three uncles as per her mother's will.The highlight is the acting of the twin sisters who play Holly; very sweet and the character is very sympathetic. The struggles her guardian uncle is facing in learning "on the job" to raise her work well in the story. The constant arguing of the uncles was somewhat annoying, but those issues are resolved and the story ends up being stronger for it. Finally, there is a romance that develops involving the shop owner (the abandoned bride) and the couple interact well together.The fact it's set at Christmas time is a superfluous throw-away. This story could have been set with any backdrop. The interaction of the characters works well, and although the plot doesn't have much dramatic conflict, there are some scenes that are very heartwarming to see, mostly those that feature Holly.

I enjoyed the movie. Though the cynical might call it "cheesy," and all-too-predictable in its plot line, it's a heartwarming holiday story and a lesson in what it means to be a truly good, caring person, even during hurtful times, and when being good and caring means shouldering a heavy responsibility. I have a MAJOR BEEF with the listing of the actors in the movie's credits, however! The actors who played Mark, Maggie, and EVEN Holly (the TITLE CHARACTER, remember?) are listed at almost the bottom of the credits, while actors who played supporting - and even bit - parts are given TOP billing, or are, at least, ahead of the three main characters! What's up with that, dummies?

At the start of the movie, Tim and Maggie are getting married. Only Tim never shows up, though Maggie's dress is gorgeous.In Seattle, three months after her mother Victoria died, first-grader Holly hasn't talked yet and she is having trouble in school. Victoria wanted her brother Mark to take Holly if anything happened to her (she didn't tell Mark who the father was), and so far Uncle Mark is doing a good job, but he doesn't want Holly to be held back because of her problems. Shelby is his girlfriend, and while she is nice enough, she won't put Holly's needs above her own.The solution is to move to the charming little island town where he and Cara run T.A.N. Coffee. There is a good school there which should help Holly.The island is reached only by ferry. And it just so happens that on the ferry, Mark and Holly meet Maggie, Maggie's logical sister Kate, and Olive, the dog Kate got stuck with when her roommate moved out. Maggie thinks Holly is just adorable, though Kate thinks she likes Mark too.Mark and Holly move in with Mark's macho construction worker brother Scott. Their science nerd brother Alex, who works when he gets grants and may move to Maine, also lives there, and he can cook. But the house is big and while the older brothers are both macho jerks who still treat Mark like a kid, Holly could be a good influence. With little work to do, Scott is in the process of renovating, and a pretty pink room for Holly becomes part of that process.Former toy company employee Maggie has dreamed of opening a toy store of her own. She has bought Magic Mirror Toys on the island, though she gets in a disagreement with the longtime manager and sends the older woman packing. This means Kate is stuck working for her instead of going back to college, but Maggie needs her intelligence.Thanksgiving is a disaster, but the brothers have not been together since they lost their father and their mother didn't want to celebrate.The day after is the big grand opening for the toy store. Holly and Mark happen to visit and Maggie and Holly have one of several really special moments.Soon, Holly is in school, and starting to improve. She hasn't talked but she really likes that toy store.You don't have to be Alex to know where this is going.Holly is adorable even when she doesn't speak or even smile. There's just something about her.The main characters are appealing enough. Sean Faris and Eloise Mumford (who looks like Katherine Heigl to me) do a good enough job for Lifetime. This is a Hallmark Hall of Fame production, though, but they're okay. Catherine Berube as the voice of reason probably does the best job of anyone.The town is one of those pleasant small towns, but with a little more culture than Mayberry. The people there are nice for the most part.The best moments involve Maggie and Holly and that tiny house where the fairy lives.And Maggie can Riverdance!It's a nice Christmas story, even of it doesn't quite reach the level of a Hallmark production.