"One Magic Christmas" is definitely a movie you will either like or hate. I was fortunate enough to watch this when it was first released. I will have to admit - the depressing tone set in the beginning almost chased me out of the theater. Unlike many of the recent film-failures I have successfully abandoned - I stuck this one out to the bitter end, and I am so glad I remained seated. I really enjoyed this movie. In fact, I honestly believe this is one of the last productions worthy of the "Disney" logo (I kid). Granted, the majority of the films plot was appropriated from Capra's, "It's a Wonderful Life," and reformatted it into the 1980's style. Normally, this kind of heavily borrowing would be enough to earn a major thumbs-down. But I let it go. To begin with, I think this is one of the only Mary Steenburgen movies I actually enjoyed. I felt this woman was excellent in her role as "Ginny." Even though she was not the nicest character, you could appreciate what she was going through and the people she was dealing with. The fellow playing her husband, Gary Basarba, delivered a performance I felt was spot-on as well. Now I do remember reading reviews just after the movie hit the screens. Some reviewers busied themselves harping about 'Gideon' possessing some nefarious visual attributes. Sorry, I didn't see it. Harry Dean Stanton performed perfectly. Honestly, the entire cast conveyed an outstanding Christmas story worthy of remembering. All this talent was skillfully orchestrated by a Phillip Bosros who sadly passed away ten years later. I feel his directing skills were very admirable. As far as recommending this movie goes…I do…with a couple of caveats. Before I let a young child see this, I would watch it first. There may be items a child too young may miss. Also, this might not meet the Christmas-movie needs of everyone and I completely understand that. Like I said in the beginning, you will either hate it…or you will thoroughly enjoy it. For me – I could watch this every year.

i'd never heard of this movie until this Christmas (2015). I decided to sit and watch it when I came across it in the TV schedules and it was a pleasant surprise to find a pretty good Christmas movie with a real heart.I've been a Harry Dean Stanton fan for many years and he turns in a great performance as the angel Gideon in this movie. Far from the conventional angel, he looks almost creepy, in his black hat and long back coat. But when he smiles, he lights up the screen.The rest of the cast do a very good job, too. Jan Rubes play an great Santa Claus and the kids play their parts very well.It's well worth a watch if you see it on the TV schedule!

Let me begin by saying I love Mary Steenbergen. That being said, when I saw that she was in this, I thought "how bad could it be?"Um, BAD. This is the darkest, weirdest, most uncomfortable movie I've seen in a while and calling it a Christmas movie only works in terms of the fact that it is set during Christmas. There is no joy, magic, or cheer to be found in this...ahem...holiday classic.Three quarters of the way in, we were all baffled and uncomfortable but were too invested to turn it off. I seriously cannot comprehend that there are people who like this movie.Even knowing that this movie was made in 1985, I can't find a logical excuse for any of what I'm watching right now. Yes, I'm currently still watching it, but it is SO BAD that I pulled up IMDb in the midst of viewing to write this warning to others. SKIP IT. OR watch it as a drinking game. But don't think you're getting a joyful Christmas Classic here. You aren't. Noooooo you are not.

There is something about One Magic Christmas that endears itself to many. Certainly in my area where I am from, this one is a stone cold classic having been filmed in large part in our very small town where nothing like that ever happens. So perhaps I might be a little biased in my opinions but I just really enjoy this movie for its characters and that it isn't afraid to be dark before the light. It is reminiscent in some ways of A Christmas Carol which can also be a bit of a dark and disturbing movie before the happily ever after. I'm not sure I would let youngsters watch One Magic Christmas because of its significant undertones about death. I mean if you dissect it, you have to find it almost disturbing that Santa's helpers are made up of dead people that helped others in life. Putting all that aside, the characters are very well created and acted. The film covers everything from angels to Santa Claus to a father at his rope's end and a mother who is a bit of a scrooge. There are so many layers to the story and it is just really well crafted. Many people are turned off by the darkness of it but it really has some heart and a lot of magic.Mary Steenburgen is just excellent as Scrooge. Essentially that is exactly who her character is. She hates Christmas, she thinks she has nothing in her life worth talking about, and she feels like everyone around her should keep Christmas to themselves. She leads the cast well. Gary Basaraba is also good as her husband who is much more sweet and enjoys Christmas. Despite everything going wrong he is holding it all together much to his wife's chagrin. His character isn't as strong as Steenburgen's and he doesn't give the same level of performance but he fits the role well. I didn't necessarily feel like their chemistry was fantastic but it was good. Harry Dean Stanton feels odd in his role as the Christmas angel Gideon but maybe that's what makes it so interesting. He is sort of a dark almost foreboding character but he somehow fits the story. When he tells the little girl of his past and how he became an angel it instantly gives him this back story that makes you understand him better. Wayne Robson is very good as the father who is at his wit's end and trying to provide for his family and thus makes a horrible decision. I almost wish we had seen more from his character because it really is a good character and he does it very well. Elisabeth Harnois and Robbie Magwood do a solid job as the Grainger children. They are sort of the focus of the story and yet it happens all around them. They fit their roles fine. Jan Rubes, in a small yet important role, is terrific as Santa.Director Phillip Borsos captures the perfect amount of melancholy and sadness to the film as there is magic and hope and light. The scenes in the North Pole are beautiful and for a film like this to cover so much story without feeling cumbersome or boring is quite a feat I think. I know people that complain about Christmas movies being too sweet and sappy and if for no other reason than I recommend One Magic Christmas because it isn't afraid to go into the dark realm where someone is actually murdered to show the main character find her Christmas magic. You could argue the film shows too much darkness for a Christmas movie but its always touched me and I enjoy it every year and for that reason I recommend it highly! 8.5/10