Mrs. Miracle

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.

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!

This movie is one, a first for me, that I can truly say is BETTER than the book. (The book contains too many other subplots, especially the annoying, psychotic in-laws.) I can easily see why they were omitted to make the story fit into a two hour made-for-TV drama.....................

The movie followed the book closely, but did not give us enough Mrs. Merkle "Miracles". You were never quite sure what she was...Debbie Macomber should have taken a few more clues from the old Nanny and the Professor show and stolen a few more subtle hints as to Mrs. Merkle's powers...................

The book is the last by author Debbie Macomber I could tolerate reading....her writing has become trite and preachy instead of entertaining and interesting and are not worth the price charges for novels these days......................

If you did not like this movie, you will HATE Debbie Macomber's books written in the past 10 yrs (her earlier works were actually better)............................

Doris Roberts shows up to save the day when a widower whose rambunctious twins terrorize a parade of baby sitters. OK, we've seen a lot of this before. The bratty kids motif is a little old now, but other things going on in this Hallmark offering make for a pleasant diversion.

What Christmas movie would be complete without a romance? Erin Karpluk and James Van der Beek have some great chemistry, and each has a past hurt, setting up a mutual healing process that is the primary theme of the movie. Mrs. Merkle (Roberts), when she's not a super nanny, is a match maker, and it soon becomes obvious she has some miracle talents up her sleeve to help everybody out to a happy ending. Think a matronly version of Peter Falk's Angel Max character.

While the plot is familiar, the acting is impressive, given this was a made-for-TV movie. The cast make a fine ensemble; scenes such as the first accidental confrontation between the two estranged sisters is handled very well. Issues such as forgiveness and letting go of hurts are dealt with sincerely.

A feel-good story; entertaining enough for a stay-in evening.

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.