Mrs Miracle

Doris Roberts shows up to save the day when a widower whose rambunctious twins terrorize a parade of baby sitters. OK, we've seen a lot of this before. The bratty kids motif is a little old now, but other things going on in this Hallmark offering make for a pleasant diversion.

What Christmas movie would be complete without a romance? Erin Karpluk and James Van der Beek have some great chemistry, and each has a past hurt, setting up a mutual healing process that is the primary theme of the movie. Mrs. Merkle (Roberts), when she's not a super nanny, is a match maker, and it soon becomes obvious she has some miracle talents up her sleeve to help everybody out to a happy ending. Think a matronly version of Peter Falk's Angel Max character.

While the plot is familiar, the acting is impressive, given this was a made-for-TV movie. The cast make a fine ensemble; scenes such as the first accidental confrontation between the two estranged sisters is handled very well. Issues such as forgiveness and letting go of hurts are dealt with sincerely.

A feel-good story; entertaining enough for a stay-in evening.

Doris Roberts gives a wonderful performance as a Mary Poppins like nanny who comes into the life of grieving widower James Van Der Beek and his two twin sons. Her name is Mrs. Merkel but the kids start calling her Mrs. Miracle. And soon a few miracle like events start happening.

Van Der Beek is an incomplete person, he tries to play both roles with a series of housekeepers who quit on him. He won't let go of his late wife and refuses to talk to the kids about the mother they don't remember. Through the good offices of his Miracle worker he meets Erin Karpluk who is nursing a broken heart and a grudge against a sister who stole the man she wanted away. You just know that these two people are meant for each other, you just have to provide the right circumstances.

Shot in Canada this film was done for the Hallmark Channel and it's one of their better original films. Although you might think at times you're watching a feature film length episode of Highway To Heaven or Touched By An Angel, Mrs. Miracle can stand proudly on its own merits.

Definitely for fans of Doris Roberts.

Warm, witty and charming. I liked that the movie showed the difficulty of facing your past, despite how painful it might be.

Reba (Erin Karpluk) has returned to her hometown, after a try at professional acting. Her new gig is being a preschool teacher and a director for the upcoming Christmas show for the school. But, she is still despondent that her lovelife has been so hurtful. It seems her sister ran off with her fiancé and they haven't spoken in years. Meanwhile, a gentleman (James Van Der Beek) has also come to town with his young twin boys. A widower, he, too, is down on love and having trouble with the kids. Into their lives comes Mrs. Merkle (Doris Roberts). She nabs the job of nanny-housekeeper for the twins, who immediately dub her "Mrs. Miracle". Indeed, Mrs. Miracle soon has the boys behaving nicely and in a happier state of mind. As the miracle lady proceeds to find a way for Reba and the handsome widower to meet, again and again, is she sowing the seeds of love for their futures? And, can she solve other problems for them, too? Is she human or could she be, gasp, a true angel from above? This was one lovely film, very sweet and suitable for all audiences. It has humor, drama, romance and nice performances. Make time to see it, do. It is a miracle a film as beautiful as this one is here to warm our hearts. Thanks, Hallmark. You stand alone in making high-quality films that absolutely everyone can love watch and love.

And amazingly, his name is entirely missing from the IMDb credits for the movie! He's not the only focal point. But JAMES VAN DER BEEK has the principal role in this story about a widower who needs a housekeeper who can deal with his two rambunctious boys--and stumbles across romance with plucky ERIN KARPLUK.

Both are hurt from their previous romantic encounters and have to find true love through forgiveness and the machinations of a fairy-tale figure who becomes his housekeeper, nimbly played by DORIS ROBERTS.

The Christmas program part of the story is the weakest sequence in the whole made-for-TV movie. But because the cast is refreshingly natural (the two boys are excellent), and because James Van Der Beek is exceptionally sincere as the boy's young father (especially in his scenes with Erin), the predictable tale stays afloat because of the charming way it's told.

Recommended viewing around the holidays--even if there is an air of deja vu about the whole thing.