Le Père Noël d'à côté

The story is rather nice and the movie could have scored higher, if it weren't for the male lead character. Davison was pretty good and Hawker did an OK job, but Clyde would better have been replaced by the dog as the male lead. It's performance was, at least, above average. Can one speak of a one dimensional character? Well, it's not even that. Both the actor and the character were virtually non-existent, noise at best. For that reason alone this movie hardly qualifies as a romance. Nice, but don't stay home for it. After this dismal performance I will probably never again take the risk to watch a movie with Clyde in it. And like Forrest Gump said: "That is all I have to say about that"

Am not somebody who hates Christmas or has a bias against made for television Christmas films. The complete opposite on both counts and have made that clear more than once and will continue to do so if necessary. Evident from a number of positive reviews for the Christmas output of Hallmark and Lifetime. The premise for 'Christmas Angel' did sound quite interesting and seemed at times like it was trying to do something a little different.

Over the past two years or so, my Christmas film completest quest (made up for primarily those from Hallmark and Lifetime) has been very interesting but also hit and miss. Some were very charming, easy to digest and lovely watches with good casts. Others were very dull, cheesy, too sentimental and badly written and acted. 'Christmas Angel' is mostly in the former category, though it is far from perfect or quite my definition of a great film.

The not so good things are going to be started off with. Some of the music could have been toned down and been used more sparingly.

My biggest issue is KC Clyde, who comes over as too oily to be a romantic lover and has no real charm, also found the character too over the top in the negative characteristics and bland. It does affect his chemistry with Kari Hawker, which has little spark in a relationship that is very underdeveloped despite having moments where it is realistic.

Which is unfortunate as Hawker herself is actually very appealing in her role, which is much more interesting and easy to like. The acting in general in 'Christmas Angel' is above average. The dog is adorable. The best thing about it is Bruce Davison, who is wonderful and movingly understated as a character that resonates. Really liked his sincere chemistry with the other cast members.

'Christmas Angel' furthermore looks good. The scenery is truly attractive and photographed with a lot of love. The script is cohesive and doesn't come over as awkward, it also takes itself seriously without being dreary and the sentimentality doesn't become too much. The story is pretty conventional, but its endless charm, its good nature and warm heart more than more up for that. Same with the very honest and never preachy messaging, messaging that is also relevant and important.

Summing up, good if not great. 7/10.

With so many Christmas movies on television at the moment sometimes a gem can be found among the dross. This film is one of the best seasonal movies of the past 10 years. It must be good because I can watch it again and again. It is perfectly cast with Kari Hawker and KC Clyde finding love in an unexpected way and Bruce Davison brilliant as the very wealthy cancer-ridden former property developer who regrets aspects of his past life and seeks to help those in real need at Christmas. The film lacks sentimentality which adds to its attraction.

I have quite often taken the pee out of Bruce Davison for all of the crappy roles he has taken on, most of which I have felt are a bit typecast, but looking back at his career, I have to say that he is a work horse, never out of work since the 70's and in this film he gives a really good performance worthy of note.

It's another charming Christmas story about how doing good things can make you feel good, as well as making the world a better place. I have said before, having watched "A Christmas Carol" that I'm slightly concerned about the length of the chains I have forged in life and films like this one show that it doesn't have to be a big gesture for it to be worthwhile.

Intertwined with a budding romance, this film shows the true meaning of the season and there's a dog in it too!

One of the best Christmas movie. Beautiful story about love and message about life, inside. I am not a fan of Christmas' movies, but i enjoyed in every second.