En attendant l'âme soeur

While I was expecting a "not too bad" TV movie, I was thoroughly surprised at the quality of this film. I found it totally believable and especially likable. The principal characters were extremely engaging. The story was very touching and the filming beautifully done. I even found myself thinking of the characters throughout the rest of the day and even for a few days afterward, always with a warm thought.

One of the main reasons this movie works so well is because of the son, Jonathon. Many movies with kids are irritating and hard to get through because of the precociousness of the kids. Jonathon on the other hand is a truly likable young man even though he is going through a lot of "stuff". You never catch this young man "acting" and his portrayal of this character is topnotch.

I would like to say "Well Done" to everyone on this film and encourage all to watch. This is a keeper!

Christmas stories often have an ethereal spirit which leads the main character(s) to a new awareness or life. "The Christmas Story" is a prime example where the ghost of Robert Marley and the other "spirits" lead Scrooge to a new life of loving and giving. Much in the same vein, "Under The Mistletoe" engages the audience in the same manner, without seeming derivative. It is a wholesome, modern Christmas film, that should become a yearly favorite. Jaimie Ray Newman radiates on screen. She is totally believable as the mourning widow with a son who can not let go of his father, who has died, but remains visible to him. Burkley Duffiled as her son is a fine young actor, handsome, and natural as the loner who can only see into the other world. Michael Shanks, as the new father in his life, is refreshing in his departure from "Stargate". And Connan Graham fulfills his role as the "ghost", the departed father, admirably. The action hockey sequence is bound to engage the hockey fans and the kids as in the "Mighty Ducks". Well produced and put together film with a sure and steady hand in directing.

Firstly, many Canadian movies have nothing to do with hockey games - and American movies have been known to feature them as well. But what I found strange were the summer clothes and palm trees at Christmas time, when the movie was made in British Columbia. We've had some warm winters - but palm trees? It was obvious to me that the location was not somewhere in the southern US like Florida or California so shooting a Christmas movie in the middle of summer in Canada just doesn't cut it. This movie didn't fully engage me on other levels as well and it was at times difficult to stay focused on it. I agree that it does have the feel of a Hallmark.

A slushy romance full of saccharin, but it's still good.

When Jonathan's Dad dies in a car accident, nobody believes that he can still see and talk to his spirit, as he tries to get his Mother to move on in her life, so that his Dad can move on into the spirit world.

It's not the standard romance and there is something about Michael Shanks that is fanciable, together that helps to make this an enjoyable festive watch, even if the kid is somewhat annoying.

This brand new Christmas movie (Lifetime - made in Canada - where most new Lifetime flicks seem to originate) is an excellent one. It has the ethereal aspects many such pictures have, reminiscent of "Ghost," sans a murderer. It's not a spoiler to indicate Jaime Newman's character (Susan) and her son (Burkely Duffield as Jonathan) lose husband/father early-on in an auto accident. He remains pleasantly "around" in somewhat the same vane as Patrick Swayze in "Ghost," although more positively so, and thankfully bereft of Swayze's wooden, often annoyingly-lethargic demeanor.

There is a villain of sorts, but not with any real menace, with whom Susan becomes involved. Her son is drawn to his school's hockey coach and counselor, played by Michael Shanks (as Kevin).

The story has its plot lines, of course, but its crux is the three leads "finding" one another, in a fulfilling way for all, but without shedding the memories of the losses they've incurred.

All of these actors/characters are thoroughly engaging, and Ms. Newman, whom I had never seen, is both beautiful and likable. The film's supporting cast is also well-presented.

The youngsters in films can often be annoying with a capital "A." It is always great to find ones who are the opposite (such as Michael Douglas' daughter in "The American President," or Tom Hanks' son in "Sleepless in Seattle"). Young Duffield is every bit as pleasant, believable and most of all, likable.

This is one of the positive type of holiday films which should become one to be seen in many seasons to come.