Weihnachtsmann aus Leidenschaft

Shelley Long plays a single mom with an aspiring political career. Working as city attorney, she has a son, and is estranged from her father, who dresses and acts like Santa Claus (and plays the part), since Santa was not a supportive dad growing up. This is a made for t.v. movie (and I caught it on t.v. after it already started) and it is rather good. Ignore the poor ratings. Watch it with the family and enjoy.

I really wanted to like this film. On the one hand it was refreshing to see a real Christmas movie instead of some formulaic rom-com from the H Factory. However, the movie did not maintiain the cuteness factor it started with and instead got into a lot of dark depressing drama that seemed to drag the film to almost a standstill, then boom everything is fine and it's over. Disappointing.

Not one of the best. A very 80's film made in 1996 and before they realised that the leads should be vaguely attractive and not just recycled C-Listers.

Although I say that, the story wasn't bad. It could have been delivered with a bit more drama, but I didn't turn it off at least.

When you're Dad is Father Christmas, you might get a bit overshadowed, but isn't the whole point of Christmas to learn how to love and forgive. That's what we find out here. A lot of stories intertwining and some silliness ensues with a really bratty kid, although she is a terrible mother too.

Even the fact that "The Rocky Horror Picture Show's" very own Brad appears, does not help it along and Diane from Cheers does nothing for me.

If you've seen the rest, then watch this one.

This is one of those "made for TV movies" that might show on Lifetime. Shelley Long is in it. That should warrant a minus one star at least. She's too unattractive to get the casting couch, so she must get gigs based on what stinky pieces of crap she takes- this is one.

This is a film you sit around with the family and laugh at, not with.

She's single, and being courted by a millionaire dude, who wants to gentrify/build up a crummy, disenfranchised part of town with a "new theater, shops, and restaurants- it will bring hundreds of jobs to the town!" he gushes, but Shelley Long's character opposes with "Well, what about the community center??" So, a dingy community center for poor kids (who's parents are probably out of work) in the crummy part of town is a BETTER and more ethical idea than bringing jobs to the city and sprucing up that part of town?! Good Gracious.

This stinker has "cancer girl" (in all of these A Very Special Episode type deals) with the dark circles under her eyes. I wonder what miracle Santa will bring her? It has the "evil rich developer against the kids community center" plot, it has the "Santa" character - is he, or ISN'T he..a real Santa? Ugh I won't go on. This is so awful, so corny, I can't bear to write more here.

A man, claiming to be Santa, moves to a new town and instantly antagonizes his neighbors. Even though he is popular with the kids and does many good deeds, the complaints cause trouble for him with the police and a local politician, a woman who harbors a deep hostility for the old gent. "Santa's" true identity is eventually revealed and the lady must make a few important decisions. Good film for the holidays.