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"Silver Bells" is a superb Christmas film that has many variations from the common formulaic holiday romance movies. Those who particularly like that sort of film may not enjoy this film as much - unless they happen also to appreciate films that go a bit deeper with family and marriage.

One very different aspect of this plot is that the two people who eventually come together - or really, literally "find" another person, have both lost their spouses to death three and four years earlier. Their love, or romance is a slow "discovery" of one another that happens in the context of the main plot of the film. That is the separation of a father and his son, the son running away as a young teenager, and the dad searching for him for a year. Yes, there are divorces and single moms or dads with children. And, yes there are young women who are dating or engaged to men who may not be "Mr. Right," where the right guy comes along. But those aspects have plots that have been used so often that they are hardly interesting plots for stories anymore.

"Silver Bells" also goes further in other directions. There are more aspects- differences in interests of the dad and son, a young daughter and sibling of the son; the family's annual month-long trip from their tree farm home in Nova Scotia to New York City and a regular place where they set up to sell their Christmas trees and board with a woman who is a friend. And, much more to the meat of this story and film. The young son's interest in photography and the subsequent artistic views the audience get - seeing nature and architecture through the eyes of an artist. The dad's friendship with a local police officer who has helped look for his son; and a budding other romance - the policeman and a young woman friend of the female lead.

There's no doubt that patience is required because this film is much more slowly developed, but as such it is more down to earth and gives a real feel for the story and the lives of the people. It's not a quick run around and holidays romance. The film is based on a 2004 novel of the same title by Luanne Rice. All of the cast are very good in their roles. Three whose performances stand out are Anne Heche as Catherine O'Mara, Michael Mitchell as Danny Byrne, and Courtney Jines as Bridget Byrne.

Some aspects of the production are familiar - so many of these films that air on the Hallmark TV channel are made in Canada. One can understand when part of the plot or story is imparting the traditional aspects of a white Christmas, and the beauty of the countryside, forests, and hills raped in snow. But this one was made in the U. S., so the Christmas tree harvesting might have been filmed in any of several states where such farms exist - from New England to the West Coast. This one has both the pastoral scenery and some fairly nice scenic shots of the Big Apple.

And, one other aspect that is shown more in this than in most films, is signs of Christian faith. Some films will have scenes or dialog about children in a school play of the Christmas story, or a Christmas pageant that includes religion. But this one shows churches and some of the cast going to church. In that sense, also, it is more realistic - in showing true customs and practices of the vast majority of the population of the time.

This is a very good film for the Christmas holidays about family, love, healing from the loss of loved ones, and finding new love. It's a good story of hope and about second chances in life and how healing is hastened with care about and for others.

My favorite line in the film is when Christy Byrne (played by Tate Donovan) meets Sylvester Rheinback (played by John Cunningham). Christy, "Oh, you're Catherine's boss." Sylvester, "Well, I try not to boss her around too much."

I just finished reading the novel "Silver Bells," by LuAnne Rice this last Friday while on vacation in the woods of Tennessee (and by a roaring fire in the fireplace!). I really liked the book, and was anticipating the TV movie. Normally, the Hallmark Hall of Fame productions are enjoyable; and, and I knew they probably would digress from the book a bit to get it into the television time frame. However, as I sit watching this (as I type, in fact!), I find myself very disappointed in how much the movie digresses from the novel. And, while I have nothing against the acting skills of Anne Heche or Tate Donovan, I wouldn't have pictured either of them for the roles they were given. If I had not read the book, I probably would have rated this movie higher; the movie itself is okay, but if it had stuck closer to the original story, it would have been much better.

My suggestion? Skip the movie and read the book--it's magical!

Danny and Bridget Byrne, who lost their mother several years ago, are being raised by their father Christy, who runs a Christmas tree farm in Nova Scotia. Danny takes pictures for his high school yearbook and he has a deadline, but his father thinks the farm is more important because, after all, it pays the bills, and Danny is to take over someday.

After the harvest, the family delivers trees to New York City and sets up a stand to sell them. As usual, they stay with nice old Mrs. Quinn. As usual, widowed 'museum lady' Catherine O'Meara won't buy a tree. Danny visits her workplace with samples of his photography, and Catherine is impressed.

When the time comes for the family to return home, Danny is missing. A year later, he has been replaced on the farm, and Bridget and Christy return once again to New York City to sell more trees. Rip, one of New York's finest, still does not have good news for Christy, who has returned to the city several times hoping to find his son.

The 'silver bells' of the movie's title refer to a photograph that is part of the museum's 'look up' promotion. The Post is asking people to guess the location of the bells, and if no one does by Christmas, the paper will print the answer. Catherine's boss, a real estate developer, likes the idea, but his son thinks it's a waste of time.

You don't have to be Allison Dubois to figure out the rest. Though there is one unexpected development that could complicate things.

This is a pleasant family movie overall, but nothing really outstanding. It's at least as good as other Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations. I would say it is well-acted with the usual formula feel-good writing, though I like the formula. The only thing that might be considered offensive: a dispute between Danny and his father gets physical, which I found unnecessary.

Anne Heche is pleasant enough and attractive with long hair, though I might have been happier with a different actress.

It's a good film if you like this sort of thing. Which I do.

I really didn't like this production. The title sets up a metaphor which signals the "big message". There are two problems with the "big message". First, it's delivered with hammer-like subtlety -- okay, Hallmark is not particularly good with subtlety, but still, why use a metaphor if you're going to hit us over the head with its meaning? The metaphor itself becomes little more than a scavenger hunt to find the (literal) silver bells. Second, the metaphor really doesn't match the plot. The central conflict between father and son is not well developed and doesn't make sense. The inevitable explosion seems completely out of character. I get it, son rebels against Dad's career choice for him, an age-old dilemma. But what happens here is out of character and overwrought. And what does any of this have to do with "silver bells"? The message of the metaphor would not solve the father/son conflict. Add to these issues the fact that there is absolutely no chemistry between Anne Heche and Tate Donovan. Chemistry is critical to the Hallmark formula! In fact, the relationship here is not even at the center of the story, which is a mistake, because Hallmark is all about that relationship. I would just as soon have skipped this one -- and it has to be pretty bad for me to say that!

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM VERY FARE ABOUT THESE FILMS.

This is a nice little Christmas film that was part of the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" production banner. In this film a single father runs a Christmas Tree Farm with his 2 teenage children. Once a year they go to New York City and sell the trees.

Upon the latest Christmas the man gets into a physical fight with his son. The son who is only 16 years old but he is a gifted photographer. After runs away he become homeless but is surviving by getting work at a newspaper. He is the unknown photographer taking pictures in the "LOOK UP CAMPAIGN".

The picture works well. The film has a message that was well worth exploring.

This film however is not for people with no attention span. Men under 40 will hate this. Children will be bored.