Le Bonheur en cadeau

"Mrs. Miracle" is a pleasant mixed genre film for the Christmas holidays. It has comedy, drama, fantasy and family. The plot combines a number of elements that have been used in various films.

James Van Der Beek plays the male lead, Seth Webster. He is a widower of several years who has twin sons. He hasn't been able to get over the loss of his wife, but he loves and dotes on his boys. The sons are a handful and Seth can't keep a housekeeper for long because of them. He apparently is able to work at home a great deal as an architect.

Erin Karpluk plays the female lead, Reba Maxwell. She's not interested in men since leaving theater work and starting her own successful travel agency. She is estranged from her sister who ran off with Reba's fiancé just before she was to be married several years earlier.

The film has a good dose of comedy throughout, and also is a serious drama with each of the leads not being able to reconcile their lives. But they both can see the problem in the other person.

The third character is Mrs. Merkle. Her character, played by Doris Roberts, resembles "Mary Poppins" and "Nanny McPhee" from those films. The twins, Judd and Jason, call her Mrs. Miracle. And, before this film ends, Seth, Reba and others will come to see the housekeeper as a real miracle worker.

This is an entertaining and good film from the Hallmark channel and its annual Christmas holidays programs.

Here's a favorite exchange of Mrs. Merkle with the twins. Mrs. Merkle, "Well, sometimes grownups need to be alone to talk things over." A twin, "What kind of things?" Mrs. Merkle, "Well, scientists have been trying to figure that out for hundreds of years. I'm not sure they're ever going to figure it out. But I have my own theory." The boys listen with rapt attention. Mrs. Merkle, "I think they're talking about what they want for Christmas." The other twin, "Ohhhhh!" Both boys nod knowingly.

Saw 'Mrs Miracle' as a big fan of Christmas, one of the few times of the year always looked forward to and with some of my fondest memories being from this period. Christmas films have varied wildly over the years, but when they are good they are great. When they misfire, they are mediocre at best and at worst awful. Also saw it because Doris Roberts was always a very watchable actress and her comic timing was a joy in a lot of her work.

'Mrs Miracle' was pretty decent. It is not one of the best Christmas films ever made (am not going to name them as that would be unfair), then again that wasn't expected. It is also a long way from being one of the worst. It is somewhere in between overall, being a very pleasant effort with a lot that is good but also an unexceptional one where the criticisms are understandable. Having said that, as far as the recently seen Christmas films go, 'Mrs Miracle' is among the better faring ones.

Am going to begin with what doesn't come off so well. As to be expected the story is predictable, with a lot of easily telegraphed scenes and an outcome that is obvious from the outset. Some draggy pacing here and there too, especially a somewhat slow-going start.

Quite a fair bit of the dialogue does make one cringe and like some festive films it is not without its cheesy moments, some of it getting a bit much. Will agree too that while everything with the forgiveness is very sincere and well intended, considering the scenario that it centres around it didn't feel realistic. What happened is something that is pretty unforgivable in real life. Have seen a lot of too tidy and neatly resolved endings in Christmas films, Hallmark is pretty much a major serial offender of this, 'Mrs Miracle' is no exception.

However, Roberts radiates with charm and comic joy. James Van Der Beek is also charming and easy to like, in fact all the acting is well above average and they have characters that are worth caring for. The chemistry between them all is far from clinical and comes over as warm and genuine. The film looks decent, the locations are particularly striking. The music provides some affectionate nostalgia and is pleasant to listen to, while the direction avoids being too routine. The Christmas atmosphere is handled charmingly and affectionately and the romance is genuinely sweet and doesn't go overboard on the schmaltz.

Roberts' presence does lighten things up and avoids 'Mrs Miracle' from getting over-serious. Despite the predictability, it has its heart in the right place, a difficult to dislike atmosphere and while not all the messaging succeeds it is well intended and has an honesty about it, also found it relatable. There is definitely a festive spirit and there is plenty of warmth and charm here, with enough parts to warm and melt the heart. Never does it feel too juvenile or mean-spirited and the sentimentality generally doesn't become too much.

Concluding, while unexceptional it's a pleasant watch. 6/10.

And amazingly, his name is entirely missing from the IMDb credits for the movie! He's not the only focal point. But JAMES VAN DER BEEK has the principal role in this story about a widower who needs a housekeeper who can deal with his two rambunctious boys--and stumbles across romance with plucky ERIN KARPLUK.

Both are hurt from their previous romantic encounters and have to find true love through forgiveness and the machinations of a fairy-tale figure who becomes his housekeeper, nimbly played by DORIS ROBERTS.

The Christmas program part of the story is the weakest sequence in the whole made-for-TV movie. But because the cast is refreshingly natural (the two boys are excellent), and because James Van Der Beek is exceptionally sincere as the boy's young father (especially in his scenes with Erin), the predictable tale stays afloat because of the charming way it's told.

Recommended viewing around the holidays--even if there is an air of deja vu about the whole thing.

Reba (Erin Karpluk) has returned to her hometown, after a try at professional acting. Her new gig is being a preschool teacher and a director for the upcoming Christmas show for the school. But, she is still despondent that her lovelife has been so hurtful. It seems her sister ran off with her fiancé and they haven't spoken in years. Meanwhile, a gentleman (James Van Der Beek) has also come to town with his young twin boys. A widower, he, too, is down on love and having trouble with the kids. Into their lives comes Mrs. Merkle (Doris Roberts). She nabs the job of nanny-housekeeper for the twins, who immediately dub her "Mrs. Miracle". Indeed, Mrs. Miracle soon has the boys behaving nicely and in a happier state of mind. As the miracle lady proceeds to find a way for Reba and the handsome widower to meet, again and again, is she sowing the seeds of love for their futures? And, can she solve other problems for them, too? Is she human or could she be, gasp, a true angel from above? This was one lovely film, very sweet and suitable for all audiences. It has humor, drama, romance and nice performances. Make time to see it, do. It is a miracle a film as beautiful as this one is here to warm our hearts. Thanks, Hallmark. You stand alone in making high-quality films that absolutely everyone can love watch and love.

Mrs. Miracle is one of the better Hallmark Christmas movies. The story is great, the chemistry is on point, and the Christmas aspect adds a wonderful touch. I absolutely loved the whole concept with forgiveness and moving on. I thought it fit perfectly into the story and was handled well. Erin Karpluk and James Van Der Beek give terrific performances, along with Doris Roberts. Overall, this movie is worth the watch!