A Mrs. Miracle Christmas

Hallmark fans will not be disappointed with this new installment of Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle Christmas movie series. It is a warm and heartfelt story that touches upon heavier issues, for example, shining a light on adoption and the need for good homes for all children. The film too addresses the heartbreak of loss, and how this impacts relationships/marriage. The story also has a light-hearted side to it with some fun dialogue and scenes, which I enjoyed; I even had a few chuckles here and there. The story revolves around Laurel (played by Kaitlin Doubleday), a teacher who volunteered to bring back this year the school's Christmas pageant, and her family. After taking a financial hit a few years back, Laurel and her husband, Will (played by Steven Lund), moved into Nana and Pap's place (Laurel's grandparents). After the passing of her Pap a few months back, they stayed on to help take care of Nana (Helen, played by Paula Shaw) this holiday season. As Laurel and Will increasingly become concerned with Helen's well-being, Laurel decides to hire a caregiver for her Nana to keep her company during the day. And thus, the adventure begins with the arrival of Mrs. Miracle (Gloria, played by Caroline Rhea), Helen's new caregiver (and friend). As we soon find out, Gloria has everything the family needs this Christmas. By the way, you got to love her bottomless tote. The story is engaging from the start; it pulled me in. The script is well-written. The writers do a wonderful job of synthesizing the heavier drama elements of the story with the more light-hearted and witty ones. The writers also do a very good job of capturing a sense of loss in both Laurel and Helen's characters. These scenes are supplemented by entertaining, even funny at times, dialogue and one-liners, especially between Helen and Gloria. What made all of this work on screen, of course, was the acting. It was excellent, I thought. Doubleday and Lund both had convincing performances, especially, in portraying a family working through loss and emotional turmoil. Rhea, as the new Mrs. Miracle, had some big shoes to fill, taking the role over from the loveable Doris Roberts. With a cheerful, fun, and sort of quirky vibe to her performance, she will no doubt become a fan favorite as Mrs. Miracle. And finally, we can't forget Shaw's performance as Helen. She was brilliant again this year (last year it was Five Star Christmas), fun to watch on screen, especially her back and forth with Gloria. All in all, it is a wonderful new edition to Hallmark's Christmas movie line-up this holiday season.

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.

Caroline Rhea plays Gloria Merkle aka Mrs. Miracle, who drops into the lives of a family grieving over two losses. It's the holiday season, but no one is feeling festive, but Mrs. Miracle may have the remedy for their malaise.

The cast does a nice job of portraying a family transitioning through turbulent emotions. Caroline Rhea likewise portrays a benevolent transformational force, holding the story together and keeping things light. The plot is somewhat predictable, but that's fine. This is a Hallmark dramedy with a story arc that satisfies. The film addresses the heartbreak of loss, and has some words of wisdom for anyone looking for relief.

No one can really replace Doris Roberts, but Caroline Rhea brings her own warmth and humor to the character. This was not the typical Hallmark love story. A family is in crisis and is need of a miracle. Mrs. Miracle! I enjoyed the movie.

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.