Mrs Miracle

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.

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.

This movie is one, a first for me, that I can truly say is BETTER than the book. (The book contains too many other subplots, especially the annoying, psychotic in-laws.) I can easily see why they were omitted to make the story fit into a two hour made-for-TV drama.....................

The movie followed the book closely, but did not give us enough Mrs. Merkle "Miracles". You were never quite sure what she was...Debbie Macomber should have taken a few more clues from the old Nanny and the Professor show and stolen a few more subtle hints as to Mrs. Merkle's powers...................

The book is the last by author Debbie Macomber I could tolerate reading....her writing has become trite and preachy instead of entertaining and interesting and are not worth the price charges for novels these days......................

If you did not like this movie, you will HATE Debbie Macomber's books written in the past 10 yrs (her earlier works were actually better)............................

"Mrs. Miracle" is a pleasant mixed genre film for the Christmas holidays. It has comedy, drama, fantasy and family. The plot combines a number of elements that have been used in various films.

James Van Der Beek plays the male lead, Seth Webster. He is a widower of several years who has twin sons. He hasn't been able to get over the loss of his wife, but he loves and dotes on his boys. The sons are a handful and Seth can't keep a housekeeper for long because of them. He apparently is able to work at home a great deal as an architect.

Erin Karpluk plays the female lead, Reba Maxwell. She's not interested in men since leaving theater work and starting her own successful travel agency. She is estranged from her sister who ran off with Reba's fiancé just before she was to be married several years earlier.

The film has a good dose of comedy throughout, and also is a serious drama with each of the leads not being able to reconcile their lives. But they both can see the problem in the other person.

The third character is Mrs. Merkle. Her character, played by Doris Roberts, resembles "Mary Poppins" and "Nanny McPhee" from those films. The twins, Judd and Jason, call her Mrs. Miracle. And, before this film ends, Seth, Reba and others will come to see the housekeeper as a real miracle worker.

This is an entertaining and good film from the Hallmark channel and its annual Christmas holidays programs.

Here's a favorite exchange of Mrs. Merkle with the twins. Mrs. Merkle, "Well, sometimes grownups need to be alone to talk things over." A twin, "What kind of things?" Mrs. Merkle, "Well, scientists have been trying to figure that out for hundreds of years. I'm not sure they're ever going to figure it out. But I have my own theory." The boys listen with rapt attention. Mrs. Merkle, "I think they're talking about what they want for Christmas." The other twin, "Ohhhhh!" Both boys nod knowingly.

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.