Family for Christmas

Yes it was cheesy and the exact same story as Family Man but I enjoyed it. One of the better Hallmark films I've seen.

This Hallmark holiday romance downplays the romance and concentrates on the choices we make in life. Lacey Chabert does a good job of portraying Hanna Dunbar, a successful television newswoman who is single. A Christmas miracle allows her to see what her life would be like if she made other choices.

Or is it all a dream? Regardless, Hanna has an opportunity to compare two possible life tracks, and she is changed by that experience. What I like most about the story is that when she is placed in her alternate life, the shock of the experience is not glossed over for comedic effect; she actually does seem concerned and distraught. Hanna is a bright woman with agency who comes to understand that her choices have consequences, and that we sometimes make those choices because they seem to naturally follow from the life path we are on.

5.4 stars.

Barely enough to watch. Chabert is great in this, and while she can carry a movie all by herself, it's not advisable to do so. The male lead (Leitso) had as much personality as a rock. Chabert was funny at times, and the daughters were cute and funny too. The male reporter she was dating was actually more interesting than the male lead (not saying much).

It was a surreal sort of movie throughout, and while it's kinda the point, it's too much so. Problem is that it never became tangible or real, as if the whole story is a nightmare. Neither universe is preferable in my opinion. The female friend/neighbor was interesting, and animated. Santa Claus was lackluster and creepy.

Emphasizing again - Chabert literally carries 95% of this movie. Good thing she is talented.

I wouldn't watch this again. It's one of the least favorites.

A fairly entertaining, mindless movie. But I'm sorry - her husband and kids were horrible. The husband berated her constantly, had no patience or understanding for the fact that she was clearly going through something, and the kids whined and complained the whole time. They got mad at their mom because she didn't pick the fruit out of the cereal for them... really?? So I didn't buy the ending at all - she would never choose to go back there. She would run FAST back to her great single life and growing career!

This is simply a, practically scene by scene, copy of "The Family Man" from 2000. And in that version, it was a MAN that ended up seeing what his life would be like with a family instead of a powerful career. Hallmark has done this with other films and it's pretty standard to swap the genders with the movie they copy.