Amour paternel

Alongside Christmas Note and 12 days of Xmas Eve ( the best fantasy film ) This is one of Hallmarks best films. A young father fights for the custody of his newborn son while his ex-girlfriend wants to just foster the baby out so she can go to college aided by her manipulative mother. Matt gets support from his granny and Bert a retired lawyer.

As with Christmas Note, this film deals with real issues unlike most of the cliched Hallmark Christmas movies.

A young man taking on the role as mother and father to his baby son is reminiscent of the film " 3 men and a baby. An exceedingly watchable film.

I caught this movie at around 8pm on the movies24 channel. I don't know what drew me in, but from the opening credits you somehow realise this is going to be a 'little gem' and it was. Basically its about finding out who you are and the consequences that has on the others around you; coming of age; rites of passage; etc, but this one is very good especially I suppose because we hear so much about fathers reneging on their responsibilities and the people who never knew who their father was etc etc, that a film like this, tries to show us another side of the whole 'unwanted pregnancy' conundrum.

I don't want to say too much else about the plot because you should all see this film if you get the chance.

Another point, if family rifts have touched your life, then this film will make you cry and cry....I think the greatest message communicated in this film is not in the dialogue, but in the Pinteresque loaded silences between the dialogue and all these actors are ideally suited to that kind of intelligent non-verbal communication.

I don't think I had ever seen this particular young Canadian actor before. Kristopher Turner is a face to watch and I hope he breaks onto the big screen soon. He may want to consider getting a new agent if this doesn't happen soon as he is a wasted asset. The guy has everything for crying out loud and he's 6'.....(move over Mr Cruise!!!)

This movie has had me in a chokehold since I was 9 when it came out in 2006. My sisters, mom and I would gather around the tv every year going through the tv guide to figure out when this movie was scheduled to play. We watched it nearly every year and a few years ago we purchased a digital copy on Amazon. Yes it's cheesy, yes it's fast paced. But it is a wonderful story of how much a young man works to step up in his role of fatherhood and make sure his son is cared for and loved. It's not a romance, but it is a love story. A love between a father and his son, and the family he's working to give his son. You don't see stories like this. I highly recommend.

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM HONEST

Matt, a 19-year-old student, goes to the hospital to see his newborn son. He learns his girlfriend plans to put the baby up for adoption without his consent, so he takes his son to his grandmother's house to fight for custody. Keep in mind this wasn't really a "Christmas Movie".

This film shows us "IT'S OKAY TO KIDNAP" a child. He did not have legal custody. The film is cast with capable actors but the actors are not given a screenplay worthy of their talents. If you looking to watch a Christmas theme film then this isn't the movie for you. In fact this film should be shown in film classes on why TV-movies are bad.

Like must TV-movies this one is terrible.

Unable to find a job, handsome young Kristopher Turner (as Matthew "Matt" Blessing) is nonetheless happily planning to be a father. However, blonde girlfriend Emma Taylor-Isherwood (as Megan Eubanks) declines his marriage proposals and intends to put their baby up for adoption. Faced with losing his child, Mr. Turner decides to take matters into his own hands. In real life, Turner's character would be swiftly hunted down and throw in prison for doing what he contemplates in this film. This story take a fantastical different track. It's more inspirational than accurate. Obviously, the world would be better if more prospective fathers were like the one covered here; this is the film's thesis, and it's a good one...

"A Dad for Christmas" is based on the young adult novel "Me and Luke" (1987), by Audrey O'Hearn. The adaptation, by Alan Hines, is very well done. He and director Eleanor Lindo take a distinct character and make him suitable for a TV Movie screen – and for the lead actor, who is believable despite being older and more instantly employable than the scruffy 17-year-old in the book. Lucky to have a good production team, Turner is consistently sincere. Led by a lovely late-career role for Louise Fletcher (as Glennie), the supporting cast does well. This may not be how events often happen in reality, but it's how they could. Babies should start lives with fathers who want them as much as we see here.

****** A Dad for Christmas (12/3/06) Eleanor Lindo ~ Kristopher Turner, Louise Fletcher, Jack Shepherd, Lindsay Ames