Un Noël pour l'éternité

Take the plot of GROUNDHOG DAY, in which Bill Murray has to do the same day over and over again until he finally gets it right, remaking himself, in the process, from a surly lout into a genuinely caring individual. Change the setting from a real Punxatawney, Pennsylvania to a stand-in-for-everywhere, ill-defined location. Replace brilliant comic lead Bill Murray will talented Jay Mohr and some good supporting actors like Daphne Zuniga and Ruta Lee. Sprinkle liberally with many of the identical incidents from the original movie, changed slightly to fit the different holiday and avoid lawsuits and replace top comedy director Harold Ramis with someone I've never heard of before and you get a dull TV movie. Don't bother with this one, folks.

An obvious "homage" to Groundhog's Day with not so obvious results. This movie takes chances and succeeds. Jay Mohr ("Action" and "Jerry McQuire") is great as the down-on-his-luck Dad who gets many "Do-Overs" until he wins his wife and family back. Not only does he see the error in his ways, he becomes a better a person. Isn't that what the holiday season all about - a time to reflect upon past, both good and bad!? Daphne Zuniga ("Melrose Place," "Sure Thing") is sensitive and funny. Grandma, Adrienne Barbeau ("Escape from New York"...need I say more) and Grandpa, Tim Thomerson ("Volunteers"), are wonderfully comedic sidekicks playing it very dry.

All in all, this movie may not be for everyone (there is belching and fighting), but the heart is in the right place. Similar to Groundhog's Day, Family Man, etc., the chance for a self-centered man to see his life inside-out to gain a greater perspective is always entertaining and sentimental this time of year.

Kevin (Jay Mohr) is visiting his ex-wife, Jill (Daphne Zuniga) and their young son at her parents' house on Christmas Day. He arrives late and he shopped at the last minute for his son, too. To add insult to injury, he is rude and catty with his ex-in-laws and the new cardiologist boyfriend of Jill. Nevertheless, his young son, Ben, is so happy to see him that he proudly announces at dinnertime that he, Ben, wishes every day was Christmas. A soft breeze seems to blow through the dining room, but, it doesn't change Kevin's attitude. He continues to be rude through the caroling and the street fair. Nevertheless, when Kevin wakes up the next day, he is there at the doorstep of his in-laws, present in hand and having to live the day over again. Will Kevin learn something the second, third, or fourth (and more) time around? This is a fun family movie, with plenty of laughs and good performances. Mohr and Zuniga are experts as the quarreling ex-mates who still might harbor feelings for each other. How nice to see Adrienne Barbeau again, too, as she gives a nice turn as Jill's mother. The production values, the costumes, and the scenery are all top notch, too. One little caution: there is an unusual scene involving a live nativity scene, where Kevin has a run-in with Joseph. BUT, the most important part of this film is its theme. Most of us do not get a chance to relive Christmas Day or any other day and learn from our mistakes. The best thing we can do is to try and live every day as if it were our last chance to do good for those around us and for ourselves. With that in mind, Christmas Do-Over should be a new classic for the season that deserves a re-run at holiday time and a DVD release. Families everywhere will laugh at the antics but will also recognize the important realities of decision making that is the heart of the film.

This is a remake of Christmas Every Day (Which I have only saw for the first time this year), I have seen the Do over a few times now.

Both are really different in their own way, the is the same, their a lot, as changed and I found this bit more of Comedy then Christmas Every Day, which more of a Drama.

However this , as some really good funny moments , that make you laugh out loud, there were moment's were the jokes don't work and falls flat, before they are even over.

This is a decent Christmas movie, not the best, Kids might enjoy more then adults, who can not wait for it to end.

5 out of 10

Sure, we've seen Ground Hog's Day before, but isn't it always a case of the "Emperor's New Clothing." The casting is great. Jay Mohr is acerbic, endearing and flat out funny! Daphne Zuniga is always a treat. And great to see supporting cast with Tim Thomerson and Adrienne Barbeau. Again, you've seen it before, this time more funny! The blend between humor and drama (there are moments between Jay and Daphne that have you in tears laughing, then crying). Kudos to ABC Family for not giving us the same, saccharine sweet, dramatic Christmas movie we see every year. Definitely better than everything I have seen this year (did you see "Deck the Halls" which requires paid admission). Save your money and tune in. This one has attitude. All and All a 9/10. Well done!