Family for Christmas

I think people have been overly harsh to this film, missing the message completely.

I thought this was a different sort of Hallmark film, and all the better for it.

It helps that it boasts Lacey Chabert in the lead, who can make even the sappiest of material palatable.

With some nice messages and moments this kept us entertained.

Lighten up people!

5.4 stars.

Barely enough to watch. Chabert is great in this, and while she can carry a movie all by herself, it's not advisable to do so. The male lead (Leitso) had as much personality as a rock. Chabert was funny at times, and the daughters were cute and funny too. The male reporter she was dating was actually more interesting than the male lead (not saying much).

It was a surreal sort of movie throughout, and while it's kinda the point, it's too much so. Problem is that it never became tangible or real, as if the whole story is a nightmare. Neither universe is preferable in my opinion. The female friend/neighbor was interesting, and animated. Santa Claus was lackluster and creepy.

Emphasizing again - Chabert literally carries 95% of this movie. Good thing she is talented.

I wouldn't watch this again. It's one of the least favorites.

It's probably the best Hallmark film that Lacey Chabert has done. It was obviously cheesy, but it did lack that typical Hallmark feel at parts. I will agree, the chemistry between the leads is lacking, but there's nothing misogynistic about this movie. He was hesitant, but agreed that he would support her and move to the city if that's what she really wanted. She made her own choice to pursue family over a career. It's not a generalization.

The movie begins with Hannah Dunbar (Lacey Chabert) faced with a decision between her career or her sweetheart Ben Matthews (Tyron Leitso). The movie fast forwards 10 years and she is an award winning news reporter. Out of the blue she gets a friend request through social media from Ben. With a chance encounter with Santa he asks her to wish for something that she wants, and then she wakes up she is married to Ben, with two children, a dog and living in the suburbs. It is a delightful movie that has Hannah trying to figure out which life is most important.

Victor J

Lacey Chabert, Hallmark's second darling of Christmas, stars in the fun, well-acted film Family for Christmas. The beginning will probably make the romantics in the audience reach for their hankies: Lacey and her boyfriend Tyron Leitso are parting ways at the airport because she has a six-month internship in San Francisco. They vow to wait for each other, but then a title card displays the dreaded words "ten years later" and Lacey's a famous news anchor with no romantic attachments. So sad!

Then again, the movie's just started, so dry those tears and get ready for some holiday magic. She starts thinking of her old flame, wondering what would have happened if they'd held on a little tighter all those years ago. The next morning, she wakes up married to him, in a suburban house with two children and a dog! Lacey is so funny in this film, letting audiences know she's out of her element without being annoying or unlikable. She tries to cope with her new life as a housewife, and along the way she starts to fall in love with Tyron all over again. He's a particularly likable love interest, a perfect blend of a romantic lead and a dad and husband. Together, Lacey and Tyron have a comfortable yet exciting chemistry together.

Family for Christmas is one of the better films to come out of the Hallmark channel, because not only is the story accessible rather than silly, but the acting is very good. The characters aren't one-dimensional, so the audience can really get invested in the movie, rather than just concentrate on their popcorn. While the ending is bittersweet, the overall film is very enjoyable. Add it to your yearly line-up of Christmas movies; I did!