Un Noël pas comme les autres

This is one of those "made for TV movies" that might show on Lifetime. Shelley Long is in it. That should warrant a minus one star at least. She's too unattractive to get the casting couch, so she must get gigs based on what stinky pieces of crap she takes- this is one.

This is a film you sit around with the family and laugh at, not with.

She's single, and being courted by a millionaire dude, who wants to gentrify/build up a crummy, disenfranchised part of town with a "new theater, shops, and restaurants- it will bring hundreds of jobs to the town!" he gushes, but Shelley Long's character opposes with "Well, what about the community center??" So, a dingy community center for poor kids (who's parents are probably out of work) in the crummy part of town is a BETTER and more ethical idea than bringing jobs to the city and sprucing up that part of town?! Good Gracious.

This stinker has "cancer girl" (in all of these A Very Special Episode type deals) with the dark circles under her eyes. I wonder what miracle Santa will bring her? It has the "evil rich developer against the kids community center" plot, it has the "Santa" character - is he, or ISN'T he..a real Santa? Ugh I won't go on. This is so awful, so corny, I can't bear to write more here.

Santa Claus is coming to town . . . and setting up shop.

Santa moves in. He decorates the house, and the yard (including 4-foot candy canes and a fake-snow maker). Kids come by, and are enchanted with the love Santa gives. Unfortunately, MANY kids come by to share time with Santa. This increased traffic and parking upsets some of the neighbors (who don't have that Christmas spirit). One of the kids is lonely because his mom is too focused on her career (city attorney), and has little time (or attention) to give him personally.

This part of the movie is so sweet. Imagine, a real nice guy giving warmth and love to kids, and allowing their parents to see how to be kind.

The city attorney is pushed into enforcing the nuisance statute (for the traffic and parking problems). Most of the rest of the movie is pretty stressful. Mom is adamant about her son staying away from Santa (his one fun thing in life). Then, the legal system grinds away at Santa.

I enjoy the Santa. I wish I was an attorney, so I could help him.

I really wanted to like this film. On the one hand it was refreshing to see a real Christmas movie instead of some formulaic rom-com from the H Factory. However, the movie did not maintiain the cuteness factor it started with and instead got into a lot of dark depressing drama that seemed to drag the film to almost a standstill, then boom everything is fine and it's over. Disappointing.

Not one of the best. A very 80's film made in 1996 and before they realised that the leads should be vaguely attractive and not just recycled C-Listers.

Although I say that, the story wasn't bad. It could have been delivered with a bit more drama, but I didn't turn it off at least.

When you're Dad is Father Christmas, you might get a bit overshadowed, but isn't the whole point of Christmas to learn how to love and forgive. That's what we find out here. A lot of stories intertwining and some silliness ensues with a really bratty kid, although she is a terrible mother too.

Even the fact that "The Rocky Horror Picture Show's" very own Brad appears, does not help it along and Diane from Cheers does nothing for me.

If you've seen the rest, then watch this one.

Shelley Long plays a single mom with an aspiring political career. Working as city attorney, she has a son, and is estranged from her father, who dresses and acts like Santa Claus (and plays the part), since Santa was not a supportive dad growing up. This is a made for t.v. movie (and I caught it on t.v. after it already started) and it is rather good. Ignore the poor ratings. Watch it with the family and enjoy.