User Reviews

"Holiday" theme films get a bad rap. That's too bad because I enjoy many of them and this one is near the top.

The description of this film on IMDb doesn't really isn't accurate. What I will say is that the film is self aware not to send the audience into a diabetic coma.

IN this film a reporter must do a Christmas story after her boss forces her into it. She all work but to call her hard nosed is 100% wrong. She is not hard at all. She is not mean to anybody at all. Even her jerk-off boss she is nice to. She is however disappointed that she always has to do this "Soft news" segments. Her contract however is up and if she doesn't deliver a good story she maybe out of a job. Cynthia Gibb plays the reporter.

Now I am a huge Cynthia Gibb fan. I loved her work in "Fame", "The Karen Carpenter Story" and she more than held her own in the film "Gypsy" playing opposite Bette Middler.

The story she must do is a story on a man who is a single dad at Christmas. Now you may think you know what is going to happen BUT there is some nice surprises in this film.

If you can't find this playing on television during the holidays then buy it. Its worth the $10. Buy it and share with friends.

This is another feel-good Christmas movie that is made for TV, where nine year old Felice (Jenna Boyd) writes a letter to Santa Claus asking for a mommy. Her father is widower Joel Wallace (John Schneider) who is a workaholic and lets reporter Mary Maloney (Cynthia Gibb) get the scoop of Felice's story inside their home. She soon learns that miracles can happen.

Schneider and Gibb make a great duo and had great on-screen chemistry. Much of the acting was spot-on and the story was mostly entertaining, if a bit too slow at times. But, there is a nice plot twist to the story.

It's another nice movie for Christmas time, providing you with some good, clean entertainment and with some heartfelt moments that will make you feel good.

Grade B

Wasn't expecting much, but this TV movie presses all the buttons for a great Christmas movie With a really good cast and a wonderful Dickensian plot this has that X factor that so many movies miss. Gives you a warm glow. Very soppy but very enjoyable from a 50 year old bloke.

This 2002 film by Heartland Entertainment was rebroadcast on PAX-TV ever the weekend of 19-21 Dec 2003, so I taped it then watched it just last night. I thoroughly enjoy movies with plot twists (which I also never spoil) and I didn't see this one coming. A very enjoyable film and an excellent vehicle for John Schnieder - who also directed. Also, the role of Guv'nor was very well filled by Tom Bosley (of Happy Days fame). All around good casting, acting and direction. If you didn't catch it this year, I highly recommend it for future Christmas viewings.

Is this the worst movie ever? Well... Probably.

An ugly kid with no acting skills whatsoever wants a new mother from Santa(Hell, the kid is like 11-12 years and still believes in Santa, wtf's up with that? Honestly).

All the actors are terrible and this is one of this movies you get angry from watching and that red button on the remote seems extremely inviting.

The plot sucks too, I don't know, but Americans seems to like making films about spoiled little brats. The thing is, the movie makers obviously wants you to feel sorry for the main character, but it's really hard. The kid is ugly, annoying and stupid. Not a good combination so to say.

I don't know anything good to say about this film. The director and the writers should be forbidden to make any more films for the rest of their pitiful lives.

I don't have time to write anything else... All I can say is: Don't watch this trash!

NOTE: I work with cameras and am continually analyzing what makes good (and bad) movies so this movie review is more than just a surface thing.

I didn't see this on TV but did recently on DVD. There are so many crummy movies being made lately that all I hoped for was something decent to watch with my family. Boy was I surprised! Not only was this movie very well produced and acted but it had an interesting and novel plot (I mean how many new ways can you do "Boy Meets Girl").

I can get very critical of bad acting where the actors don't really seem like they believe what they are doing. In "Mary Christmas" there was a real feeling portrayed between the various leads as well as those with lesser parts.

I would have only made two changes in the entire movie and they were only minor but would have given it an even better feel.

Heartland Entertainment can be very pleased with all who had a part in this film from the casting, directing, and acting to the camera crew. I would love to see them make another movie of this quality. I'm going to buy a bunch of DVDs and give them away as Christmas presents.

Thanks to all for having a Hollywood look without all the Hollywood garbage. You forced me to give this movie a very high rating.

The Generic Critic

This movie is simply wonderful! Cynthia Gibb and John Schneider work well together. Jenna Boyd is a terrific actress, and I have a feeling that her career is just going to take off! This film is a great, feel-good Christmas flick. It's not one of those ordinary, could-never-happen-in-a-million-years stories, because stranger things have happened. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone who's in a Christmas-ey mood.

Excellent acting by John Schneider (Dukes of Hazard County & Smallville), Cynthia Gibb, and nine year old Jenna Boyd, who played Schneider's nine year old daughter, Felice Wallace, who wrote a letter to Santa Claus asking for a mommy. The letter ended up on the desk of Gibb's Mary Maloney, a TV reporter who was goaded into filming Felice and her family's Christmas. Tom Bosley did an excellent portrayal of a mysterious temporary governor, i.e., a male nanny, for Felice. Renee Ridgeley of "The Young And The Restless," portrayed the woman in Schneider's life whom Felice felt was intrusive in their relationship. My wife and I were spellbound watching this movie with a heart. This movie crosses age groups and I would recommend it to anyone wanting good clean entertainment. This review was of the November 26, 2005 showing recorded from PAX television and viewed several days later.

While it may seem that this film is just another version of Miracle on 39th St, it adds so much more. The writer drops hints that you probably wont pick up on until the very last.I enjoyed the somewhat suspenseful story line. I thought I had it all figured out until the last scene. And it was definitely worth waiting for the final scene. All of the actors do a splendid job. I was impressed at the natural air of the production. By that I mean all of the actors, even those not in the forefront of a particular scene gave the impression that this was a real story happening right then. John Schneider and Cynthia Gibb do a superb job in portraying their characters. And Tom Bosley carries his character's suspense right to the very end.

It is just a great film. I may wear my copy out and have to buy a new one. I believe this will be a modern classic, with the likes of "A Wonderful Life" and Miracle on 39th Street. I have shown the film to several people because I want to hear and see their reaction at the end. So far reactions have been fairly consistent with a surprised "Oh!" For anyone who wants to see something great happen to someone else they can experience just that with "Mary Christmas".

Mary Christmas is the best Christmas movie made in years. It contains all the elements of an excellent Christmas movie. The outstanding writing of Betty G. Birney and story by Stanley M. Brooks come together with quality acting and production.

The simple writing of a letter to Santa by a lonely little girl joins the letter of a TV personality on a news show to form the basis of the magic of all great Christmas stories. The magic starts early and increases throughout the story. Believable, wonderful, hope and despair combine to keep us engrossed in the story

If you want the warmth and joy that great Christmas movies bring be sure to see Mary Christmas.

This is the best Christmas movie I've seen for many years; Best since "The Christmas List".

I thought all four of the principal actors demonstrated great personalities consistent with their characters and the storyline. Situational dialog between all character was great; and included many enjoyable scenes of Christmas spirit, sentiment, and humor.

I'd strongly recommend viewing of "Mary Christmas" to become an annual holiday season tradition for everyone; especially busy and lonely people, plus families large, small, or fragmented. It will remind them of hopes (past and present), and brighten their spirits (present and future).

Toastmaster Joe

I am not a Christmas fanatic and one thing I do not do during the holidays is sit in front of the TV and watch all the hype. One thing's for sure, I actually liked this movie. John Schneider's spectacular performance in Smallville has prompted me to watch this and other movies he has starred in. He's great in this movie. I couldn't possibly give this movie anything less than a 10. This movie even made a cold person like me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The story was well written and when the surprise came at the end I felt good about the characters' outcome. I was happy that the end turned out the way it did. Trust me, this was no cliché. I'm happy to discover that Schneieder, starring and directing this movie, has another jewel in his resume!