Miracle in Bethlehem, PA

There has been a lot of revisionist Hallmark history going on and this movie highlights it. This movie is basically an allegory about the traditional story of the birth of Jesus, complete with The Bethlehem Star Inn, Mary (Ann), Joe, Goldie, Frankie, and Grandma Myrtle, an old barn, and even a Wise Man, a guy named Shephard and a dog named Donkey. The story is about a new adoptive mother (told the good news that her baby is ready for pick-up by a woman named Gabriella) who is caught in a snowstorm and has to bunk in with Joe because all of the hotel rooms are filled. In short, it is a very Christian religion-centric movie where the leads actually talk about their faith and God, and quote the bible.

Some seem to think that Bill Abbott and his GAF network somehow scared Hallmark back to faith-based programming when actually the opposite is true. It was under Abbott's leadership that Hallmark got away from more faith-based programming. Here is a quote from him about Hallmark in 2019 in answering why Hallmark seems to snub other religions and traditions:

"...we don't look at Christmas from a religious point of view, it's more a seasonal celebration. Once you start to slice it more finely within individual religions it's a little bit tougher to necessarily tell that story in a way that doesn't involve religion and we always want to stay clear of religion or controversy."

It was under *his* guidance that Hallmark cut out Christianity from Christmas. To the point that there were no more Christmas Carols that sung about God or Jesus. What forced him out of Hallmark was the incorporation of gay and lesbian couples and more racial diversity, not that he wanted to put on "Family and Faith-based programming." At Hallmark, he was all about keeping movies secular with no God or Jesus involved in Christmas movies. Needless to say, he has now changed his tune.

Now that Abbott is gone, Hallmark is returning to its faith-based roots with some of its movies and outdoing GAF at its own game. This movie, and many other movies since he left exemplify that in large ways and small (religious Christmas Carols are finally back.) Hallmark is incorporating the traditions and beliefs of other cultures and groups Including but not limited to Christians, both conservative and liberal. You can pick and choose which movies appeal to you and watch just those, or embrace all of them. At least, with Hallmark, you have a choice.

Everyone needs help sometime... even a hugely successful single lawyer / new adoptive mother.

The story is not new and is in fact about as old as the christian bible.

This movie probably won't "change your life" but it did leave me with hope. I am not a particularly religious person but I find people with honest faith inspiring even if it is just acting.

This movie leans heavily on faith and the christian religion. But also on family, friends, community and traditions. They are simple themes perhaps lost to a "simplier" time but still resonated with me.

The story and the conflicts are your basic Hallmark. While the ex-girlfriend fights were fun to watch they were not needed for the story to progress. I think somewhere at Hallmark there is a requirement that every story must have conflict even if they don't need it.

Laura Vandervoort was surprisingly well cast here. I have always liked her work but she would not been my first choice to portray a woman of such faith. Strong, independent, I can do anything single mother absolutely. However, I found the moments where she expressed her faith to be portrayed quite honestly.

Benjamin Ayres had great chemistry with Mrs. Vandervoort but the whole "former rock star" angle seemed a stretch. Not clear why the story needed something that extreme when a more simple previous life would have worked just as well. Also who thought that hair was a good idea?

Amy Groening is a Hallmark regular and one of the many that you always wonder why they don't do more with. She is great as the sister that helps bind everyone together and keep them on task.

The religious aspects... if you are not into religion just do what I do and focus on the meaning of the words to you. "Every good and perfect gift is from above" James 1:17 is quoted in the movie. Or from my point of view all the things that really bring meaning to your life tend to not be large and expensive but the simple gifts that came from the heart.

I will definitely watch this one again.

This was a delightful story of healing and courage and faith. We truly enjoyed it.

A nice surprise from Hallmark. Reminiscent of early years HM movies when faith was part of the story.

Loved the family support, grace in healing of relationships, and the loving way the adoption process was handled.

If your Christmas includes Christ and His birth, you will enjoy this movie.

It also addresses single parenting challenges, and forgiving past hurts.

We highly recommend this movie. It was a nice change from the cookie cutter storylines; a sweet, tender love story.

Thank you, Hallmark, for airing this one!

I appreciated very much the attention for religious signification of Christmas . For me , always , it is important because, in time of secularism and consumerism, the spirit of Christmas sounds as empty formula.

I appreciated Benjamin Ayres and Laura Vandervoort work, the family spirit and, not last, the frequent references to Birth of Christ , including the little Natalie or the theme of single mother .

Sure, a Hallmark, with its obvious sins and exagerations or cheese parts .

Sure, the big problem remains the pink end , forced in good measure, but , I repeat the references, in some measure too obvious to Nativity remains a precious virtue in this case.

What a set up for a chance to leave all the viewers with a ton of war and fuzzies. But it was poorly done in a lot of the little things.

Several things were laid on too thick. Our introduction to Joe is overboard on making him out to be a juvenile slob. I don't know how old Joe is supposed to be, but Ben Ayers is 46 and Joe is still addicted to video games and not only doesn't clean his room but his entire house. Meanwhile we get the point about Mary Ann. She is having a hard time adopting. That also could have been dialed down a few notches. Then the storm. Roads closed in every direction and when they showed visuals it is a wonder Mary Ann was able to leave the hospital. So many things were laid on too thick. It happens again late with Brook and Joe's interaction. There was almost no subtlety in this movie and there was a lot of clumsiness in the presentation.

There were some clever aspects like the names, but then the attempts to draw similarities between Mary Ann and Natalie's situation against the original Christmas story was obvious and again not subtle. The conflict or obstacle didn't ring true at least not enough in my view to justify where it immediately led. Likewise the climax and conclusion. My criticisms are at times harsh, too harsh. I'm trying to say that the little things were just a bit off making what could have been a great story come out just ok. There were some definite warm and fuzzies, but not what I was hoping for and not what many other movies on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries have done, even this year.

I'm glad to see Hallmark show a movie that presents Christians in a good light and even mentions Jesus. There is prayer. There is talk about faith. There are some obscure references to the reason Jesus came, usually in Christmas songs. But what we see is simply what it is - an attempt to win points with a certain audience, the religious one. The message that did come out loudly is the same one that almost all the Christmas movies have - Yay family! But that is not the reason Jesus came. There is nothing wrong with this approach and the result, but there is also nothing special about it.