Der Weihnachtsstreik

I can see why Daphne Zuniga, touted as the next big thing 30 years ago never made it big in the movies. She was never a good enough actress although she has always steadily worked.

Unfortunately this is really her level, a bland Christmas movie with no underlying meaning apart from appreciate the mother of the household. Although the script never makes clear what is bugging Joy Robertson (Zuniga.)

Is it because she feels taken for granted as the Christmas party season approaches or that her kids will soon fly the nest and she thinks she will lose her purpose?

She goes on strike by not intending to do anything for the festivities, other mothers join her and a television news show takes note of the developing human interest story.

A rather superficial and shallow movie with some actors looking too old to be playing teenagers.

I wouldn't vote 1 (awful) because it had SOME redeeming qualities. Those being that I DO enjoy the actors who were in it (Zuniga, Duffy and especially David Sutcliffe) but the story was so improbable as to verge on the unbelievable. I actually stopped watching 30 mins before the end.

Whoever cast it is not very good at their job. NO WAY would we buy Duffy being Zuniga's MOTHER! Her older sister, sure,,, but MOTHER? Come on! Audiences aren't that stupid.

And I agree with the other poster who said that the family is this story was ridiculous. Two of the most self-absorbed and spoiled teenagers with barely ANY manners. It's no wonder she felt the need to strike to begin with.

It was a good concept gone bad. Whoever was responsible for the production and execution of it is at fault.

More than a Christmas film, it is a very nice family film. Surprising in some measure because the roots of strike are so present in near reality life than the mix of irony and conflicts, hilarious situations and the attittude of ladies are more than realistic or familiar but just fair. It can be perceived as feminist manifesto with Hallmark end and the work of Julia Duffy is just precious. Short, family and the connections defining it so well.

I love Christmas movies, especially the ones made for TV. Most of them are cheesy and unrealistic, but thats what I love! They take you completely away from reality! They have to, most of them have Santa in them right? :)

The casting for this movie, yes, very questionable. Daphne looked much older than the gentleman playing her husband, but the worst casting of all time, in any movie I've ever seen, is the older basketball playing son. He does look like he's 30+, and his hairstyle, for a man who looks 30, makes me laugh every time I watch this movie. But its one of the reasons I keep watching it, lol! Every year I look for this movie, because that actor makes me cackle! :)

It's still a warm Christmasy movie, family, friends, gorgeous Christmas decor, beautiful home, everyone always looking so stylish and fancy (I wear my pajamas when i decorate my tree, hm, i wear my pajamas for a lot of things i think..) and the moral of the story is nice.

So if you're not hard pressed to work for the two hours that it airs, sit, relax, dial your brain down, and look for the older son's hairstyle! ha ha ha! :)

I gave this a 10 because it did what movies are supposed to do: make us feel good. Ignore the negative criticisms made by some reviewers and just enjoy. Even though the grandmother was obviously too young looking, it did not keep me from enjoying the movie. By the way, David Sutcliffe was about 41 when this was made, so he certainly was old enough to be the father of teen boys. I put this movie in the category of the Hallmark movies.

This is a wholesome movie and I had a big smile on my face the entire time. I love the more dramatic series such as Daredevil, but once in a while it is nice to take a break from murder and mayhem and watch a simple, clean movie. Teens would probably find this boring, but not this old lady and many others like me out there!