Wenn der Weihnachtsmann persönlich kommt

There were parts of the movie that were not that good, but what I found the most entertaining was Josh Zuckerman's acting. I am not sure if it is just me, but I thought he was GREAT in this movie. I have never seen him in any other movie before this, but he was excellent. His acting alone made it watcable (along with Bryan Cranston's, who was rather funny during some parts). I can't wait to see Josh as the Young Dr. Evil in the new Austin Powers movie, he is sure to be great. But until then I will just have to watch this. There were parts in this movie that made me cringe (such as the many computer references), but for the most part it is a pretty solid movie compared to other TV movies.

All of the Disney Channel original movies that are made are obviously not the best you have ever seen, mainly because they are fastly made and not in the theaters. The Disney Channel claims to have one out every month, but in the past year or so it has really bugged me because they have been skipping months (like every other month) and not having anything special in place (like a marathon or something). Everyone has mixed opinions on the movies, some of mine are high, some are extremely low, but for Twas the Night, I am sort of in between.

I disliked this movie for a number of flaws that I find obvious, but not everyone may. One of the flaws was not having the worthy camera angles that they were capable of. Some shots were of a character talking and they showed something in the way of the character witch confused the viewer and questions their judgement. There were also some unentertaining parts, some boring and simple parts, and some predictable ones too. The overall plot was okay, but Disney has done some better ones. Bryan Cranston did great in this, however, the majority did fair, not great. The pros were that at least it kept you watching the entire movie. For the reasons I gave, I will have to day that I give this movie a 7 out of 10. It is a nice Christmas flick some will enjoy.

Have always loved 'Twas the night it's so delightful and whacky! Haven't seen since I was a lot younger but happy to see again on Disney plus. Bryan Cranston is perfect as Nick before he became the infamous Walter White legendary character he was a naughty thief that delivers Christmas presents which is wonderful the way his personality is! 'Twas the night might not be known as most Christmas movies but it's one of my favorites.

A decent little story in which we learn how Santa is able to visit all the kids in the world in one night without being seen. Unfortunately, when he visits the Wrigley home waiting for him are chief scammer Uncle Nick and his protégée and nephew Danny. When Santa makes an error he is not only seen but ends up unconscious with Uncle Nick and Danny in his new hi-tech sleigh, but for different reasons. Danny wants to complete Santa?s mission while the larcenous Nick has altogether different plans. Good story to teach kids, and adults, the value of honesty and how cheating hurts those most important to us. 6 stars out of 10

Of course, another movie is given no credit whatsoever and passed over for the fact that Walt Disney Co. has attached itself to it.

Despite being in Florida(well, Disney World, ironically) and having access to the Disney Channel(which wasn't really used because of the unpredictable scheduling of their holiday marathons) in 2001, I only watched this on the Canadian Family Channel when I noticed that Josh Zuckerman, who played Young Dr. Evil in Austin Powers in Goldmember(and is a very good actor) was in it. I would have probably watched it in 2001 if I had known that the man who plays Hal on Malcolm in the Middle was involved, I think his name is Bryan Cranston, who has taken a sidestep from his familiar role as the panicky, bad father role model, to a cunning, bad uncle role model.

Danny Wrigley(Zuckerman) has a younger brother, the kind who's dumb yet smart a.k.a. he will buy junk from Danny while "Christmas shopping", yet knows some things about computers and the outside world. He also has a younger sister, so smart she doesn't believe in Santa or Christmas. Danny spends a lot of time scheming, e.g. the Christmas shopping incident. Their parents are either doctors or lawyers, I can't recall, who, guess what, are called in to work on Christmas Eve night. Luckily, Uncle Nick(Cranston, who believe it or not isn't Santa despite having the name Nick) has dropped by for no apparent reason. But when the kids go off to bed, we find Nick has been a little naughty. He has to place a virus on his computer, but it also effects every computer for another 50 miles. Santa then comes by, using technology to shrink and unshrink presents, and freeze time. But whilst leaving, he gets knocked out cold, and is found by Danny and Nick, who then take his sleigh to save Christmas.

But Danny isn't the only schemer. Soon enough, Uncle Nick has conned him, too. Meanwhile, incredibly annoying sequences of Santa and the two younger siblings trying to bring down the new high-tech sleigh driven by Danny & Nick interrupt the latter's events, yet are unfortunately necessary to stop the movie from really going slow with 30 minutes or so of Danny and Nick just doing the same things over and over again.

The acting is the best job here. Cranston is great, and Zuckerman is going to grow up to be great, but he needs to work on his sadder emotions. The story and writing has points taken off for not coming up with a more enjoyable sub-plot. Casting is strong, there couldn't really be anyone else fulfilling the characters in this movie, but if I had to choose one guy I didn't like, it was Santa himself. The effects, well, they probably meet the budget. Some great props and computer stuff was the detail in the shrunken and unshrunken objects. Just look at the car, or the piano.

It's definitely something to watch in the holidays, but not one to cash out $10 American for an official VHS copy from Disney, especially for the measly hour-and-a-half you can watch it for on commercial-free TV(which is probably the only stations it may show up on). And though it's easily passed over, I enjoyed it, and you probably will too.