The Spirit of Christmas

Let's get one thing straight. I am not a sentimental woman. I simply watch Hallmark movies to laugh at how bad they are. So can you imagine my surprise when this film presented itself as--not only a Christmas romance--but a MURDER MYSTERY? Granted, there are still the usual trademark Hallmark parts: cheesy dialogue, emotional piano playing, flubbed lines that somehow made the final cut, etc. But if you give this movie a chance, you will not be 100% disappointed.

If you look for a different Christmas theme film, by the mountains of Hallmark stories, this is an inspired choice. first - for the story who reminds old fashion mystery stories. second - for surprising performances. not the last - for the meaning of "spirit". sure, it is not original but the references to the known stories from a time when Christmas was not a piece from a brand represents one of magnificent virtues of this real special film who gives to classic ingredients of genre a delicate and powerfull ...flavour.

Loved this movie want to see a second part like so many Christmas Movies need to make second one.

This is actually the 2nd review I am doing for Christmas movie because I felt them both to be unique & not the typical cookie cutter movie you tend to see this time of year. During the holiday season tons of Christmas movies come out. They are purposely made to be feel good movies They are great to have on while you are putting decorations up - making cookies or anything to assist with that magical time of year. Which is a great thing especially that time of year. However you can only watch X amount of very expected guidelines with predictable repetitive story endings. Sometimes regardless of it being the holidays you want some substance. This offers just that. It is a great storyline that you really have to follow. Don't get me wrong it is still a feel good movie but part of that feel good you get is from when you walk away thinking WOW - that really was a great well thought nurtured storyline with an interesting story told!!! That is just my opinion - I say well worth watching & deciding yourself!!!

I really enjoyed this. It's well done as far as made-for-TV Christmas movies go, with a unique story and decent mystery attached.

It also wasn't as corny or cliché as most holiday themed movies tend to be and I wasn't ever sure how the story was going to play out especially in regards to the happily-ever-after. The acting and sets were very good too, including real snow, as I've seen some Xmas movies which were obviously filmed mid summer.

The story follows Kate, a lawyer who travels to Vermont to broker the sale of an inn and learns that the reason it won't sell is because it's haunted by a man who cannot move on until the mystery of his death (95 years ago) is solved.

I have to admit one of the reasons I enjoyed this as much as I did was down to Thomas Beaudoin who plays the ghost. I've never seen him in anything before but he was excellent. Decent acting and super good looking. He really pulled off a man from the turn of the century.

Daniel as our ghost only appears 12 days each year and then disappears back into his static between world again. He is grumpy and perpetually hungry for his 12 days at the inn, wanting just to be left alone. Despite Kate finds herself drawn to the ill-tempered spirit, determined to help him and they soon find themselves in an unlikely time crossed romance.