A Mrs. Miracle Christmas

I Thought it to be a very entertaining movie and even though Carolina Rhea does a outstanding job I really missed seeing Doris Roberts from the series, Yes I will recommend it. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 11/10/2021.

Was it really necessary for Hallmark to bring back the character of Mrs. Miracle who was memorably played by the much loved Doris Roberts ?

After you see this movie, you will probably say yes, it was worth it.

So many things are done right here. First, the writers took Mrs. Miracle and made her younger, snappier, and more charismatic. Second, the story they wrote grabs your attention from the get go and doesn't let up until the end. Plus, the dialogue is, at times, very funny and, at others, very intelligent. People really do talk and act this way in real life. Third, the entire cast is excellent. Caroline Rhea plays Mrs. Miracle with a little humor and a lot of sincerity that is very enjoyable throughout. A few years ago, Hallmark discovered Paula Shaw and she always adds flair and charm to any movie that she is in. Here, as the Grandma in need of a temporary caregiver, she is given a lot to do and, once again, she is a joy to watch. In particular, the banter between her and Mrs. Miracle at the beginning of the movie is sharp, clever, and the actresses are fun to watch. Kaitlin Doubleday and Steve Lund, as the granddaughter and her husband, are excellent as they struggle with Grandma's care and the other issues that life has dealt them. Some of their scenes are so natural and well-played that they are quite moving. Lastly, the direction by Janet Munro is crafty and professional, with production values that are quite attractive. All in all, this is a fun, but engrossing, story that is extremely well written, acted, and produced, some of the best that Hallmark has to offer. A memorable Christmas movie, with really fine performances, that I could watch again.

'A Mrs Miracle Christmas' was watched with mixed expectations. Really liked the idea of the story and Hallmark have done a lot of films with serious themes and mostly very well (the best of them being among their best work). Have liked the cast in other things and the themes were relatable. With a few exceptions, sequels don't have the best of reputations and Hallmark's follow ups are variable. Was not sure as to whether a Mrs Miracle film would work without Doris Roberts and the 2021 Hallmark Christmas output up to this point was very up and down.

Luckily, 'A Mrs Miracle Christmas' is very much one of the ups. It's not perfect, but as far as Hallmark follow ups go it's in the better half, and of the 2021 Hallmark Christmas films of the ones that had aired up to this point it to me is one of the stronger faring ones. Perhaps second best after 'Christmas in My Heart', another film to tackle a serious subject. Ranking it with the other Mrs Miracle films, they are actually quite close together in quality, with such a major casting change part of me of dreading it would be vastly inferior as is too often the case with films etc that have drastic cast changes (especially with Roberts being so good).

Is 'A Mrs Miracle Christmas' perfect? No. It is not hard to figure out how it is all going to map out, with what is covered being familiar ground.

Did think too that it was a little bit of a slow starter in terms of pace and that Kaitlin Doubleday's character was not easy to warm to straightaway.

However, a lot is great. The acting is very good, with Caroline Rhea being a more than worthy successor to Roberts, bringing the same amount of sincerity and fun and making it her own without straying too far. The other standout is Paula Shaw, who has great comic timing (which never jarred) and warmth. Doubleday and Stve Lund give moving performances and Doubleday's character did become a lot more relatable as the film went on. The chemistry is never awkward or disconnected and it was hard to not connect with the characters in such a difficult scenario that will resonate with anybody who's been through it.

Furthermore, it is an attractive looking film, nothing rushed or static looking whatsoever about it. The music is pleasant and appropriately festive and the direction accomodates while never stalling. The script is well meaning and avoids over-heavy melodrama, sugar overload and being juvenile. The story may be predictable and could have been tighter, but it is also very poignant and honest and that it tackled a topic like this while still making it accessible and heart-warming is laudable.

Overall, didn't amaze me but on the whole it left me very pleasantly surprised and impressed. 7/10.

The Mrs. Miracle Christmas movies, based on books by mainstream novelist Debbie Macomber, were a cut above typical Hallmark Christmas fare. I was very happy to see a new one in the series with Caroline Rhea taking over the eponymous character. I was not at all surprised that she brought her own comedic talents, warmth and energy to the role. I am certain that this will be a yearly event now that they have their new Mrs. Miracle. And we got an extra bonus with the appearance of her daughter, "Mercy," charmingly played by Jordan Ashley Olsen.

In this one, Mrs. Miracle, comes to the rescue of a school teacher and her husband and the young woman's "Nana" who are all finding it difficult to move forward from grief. Lauren and Will from the loss of their foster child, and Nana from the death of her husband. Lauren also harbors hurt and abandonment issues because of a dead mother and an absent father. Although certain aspects are as predictable as usual, it does avoid some usual Hallmark conventions. For one thing, money is an issue. Lauren and Will started living with Nana because of financial problems. Loss of religious faith is touched on. The big 20-minutes-to-go-in-the-movie conflict over a new foster child is in no danger of escalating because the couple are married and love each other. So they communicate.

Once she settled into the roll, Lauren is ably played by Kaitlin Doubleday who is a dead ringer for a young Kelly Ripa. Steve Lund who is usually in lighter fare, is effective as her husband who is trying to get his wife to look forward and try again. It was not surprising that he was great in this more dramatic roll and they couldn't have cast anyone better than Paula Shaw as the funny, feisty Nana. All three are caught up in the force of nature that is Mrs. Miracle who is a firm believer that "Sometimes we don't know what we need until it is placed right in front of us." It is all capped off with a very satisfying "3 years later" epilogue.

This Mrs. Miracle episode is just the right mix of Christmas, optimism, and the bittersweet of life. A great treat for this season... for that matter, any season. Caroline Rhea is excellent as the "new Mrs. Merkle" as is all of the rest of the cast.

Miracles don't happen in a flash. They work their way into lives.