Recensioni degli utenti

7.9 stars.

The most refreshing part of this film is the arguments between the lead male and his recent ex-girlfriend. What a breath of fresh air. I can't recall the last time Hallmark had actual scenes of conflict at this level of escalation, mainly the ex girlfriend is for real yelling at him, like you see in movies with genuine drama - movies other than the usual Hallmark, Family, UP. I am still surprised and it's what makes this film stand out amongst the rest, literally 600+ Hallmark films I've seen, this is a first.

The emphasis is also a bit above and beyond the norm. 'Miracle in Bethlehem, PA.' has a very inspirational and religious feeling to it. There is a focus on how most of the characters believe in the God of Christianity, and they pray for miracles and for good things, and of course, before meals.

A hot-shot single white female lawyer is finally able to adopt a baby. She's been waiting for over a year on a long list of recipients who are generally unable to have children of their own. She has had difficulty being selected due to her single status. Once she finally picks up the baby from a hospital four hours away from her home in the city, she is on her way back when a snow storm hits the east coast. She is now stuck in some podunk town called Bethlehem, PA (of all names) and can't stay at the inn (because there is literally no room anywhere), but she doesn't stay with the animals and her baby is not in a manger, but you get the point. This "loser" of a guy (really he's just mourning the loss of his dad who died fairly recently) takes her into his home until the storm passes and the roads are cleared. The two of them bond, but what's really nice is the narrative is unique and uplifting. We get a really good feeling from all the characters and the events and storyline flow. The lead male's sister has a son, about seven years old, and she's pregnant and very bossy. The rest of the characters are undeveloped. All ends well, as is the typical Hallmark "happily ever after" theme, but the road is bumpy due to the lead female's apparent lack of trust in anyone or anything (especially her family-her mother in particular). We don't really know why she's so cynical, but it's probably due to her ex-husband who left her because she was unable to have children.

P. S. The supporting female sister is a well known Hallmark regular who can't seem to land a leading role, and I suspect she never will. Also, there is a lot of discordant singing. The lead male's character is supposedly the lead singer of a band, but you can tell that he can't carry a tune. And the church choir was way off key. But maybe that's part of the charm, making this whole experience seem more legitimate.

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!

A touching and moving drama, with a bit of humor, this one may be the best of the Christmas 2023 movies. An inclusion of family, unafraid to represent religious beliefs along with a marvelous music score. Many of the beliefs that fans of Hallmark have watched dissipate over the years will be glad at the there's presented.

Bringing joy to parts of life that produced failure, the movie allows the audience to look up and forward, while the writers did not negate the struggles that people experience in life. The movie works and is likely to be a favorite for many years to come.

Great acting, writing and production.

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.

This was remarkable for a Hallmark movie! The characters were well-cast, and the acting and interaction between characters was truly believable. The story line was different enough from so many Hallmark movies so as to not be trite and formulaic. The sets were not over-decorated like so many Hallmark Christmas movies of late. And I believe, because this was a Dayspring movie (the Christian side of Hallmark cards), that the script writers were allowed to included some of the real meaning of Christmas. Those reviewers who rated this movie low because of its "Christian content" need to realize that this is a CHRISTmas movie. The celebration is about Christ and His coming to the earth as God the Son and Savior of the world. These characters depicted that they authentically believed and embraced this - the true meaning of Christmas. Other Hallmark movies depicting families fighting and quarreling over Christmas light displays on their homes don't have the intimacy, love, caring, trusting, and faith that this movie depicts. This was heartwarming. Keep your Christmas movies telling the real Christmas message, Hallmark. Get back the the Hall of Fame status that you were always known for in the past!

OK, OK, the storyline might be a bit hoaky: Mary, Gabriel, Natalie, Joe, Shepherd, Donkey...but it is an incredibly original/clever storyline. The acting/timing/cinemetography is Hallmark top-notch, despite this being a second-string Hallmark Movies/Mysteries production. My wife and I were saying this one should have been elevated to regular/premier Hallmark Channel status. Problem for Hallmark: this movie mentions prayer, faith, Christian religion with even the image of, gasp, a Cross! But it wasn't In-Your-Face stuff. It was CHRISTMAS themed. Imagine that. A Christian-themed Christmas movie. Apparently, Hallmark got the message when a number of its actors and a lot of its audience bolted for Great American Channel and its well-produced/directed movies.

The promo and the word "Miracle" in the title hinted at something a little more dramatic. The opening shot of the promo of the baby in a hospital ward hinted that there may be some medical issue that would come up requiring a literal miracle. Instead this was a formulaic movie of a person in a strange town stranded because of a combination of a snowstorm and car problems as Christmas approaches.

The gimmick here is that it's the city of Bethlehem, Northampton county, Pennsylvania (which is not far from where I used to have a vacation home decades ago, and not quite the small town with one hotel as the film implies). The stranded stranger is a divorced woman named Mary Ann who has adopted a newborn girl in Bethlehem whom she named Natalie and is about to drive home when the storm hits and closes all the roads. The one Inn in town has just reached maximum occupancy, and in this desperate situation for a mother with a newborn, the Innkeeper suggests that her brother, predictably named Joe and a mechanic and tow truck driver, put Mary Ann and Natalie in the guestroom at his home.

After that point, it's the same Hallmark Christmas movie we've seen many times. Mary Ann bonds with Joe and his family as they follow their family holiday traditions in the storm. Predictable ending. An average Hallmark movie for this particular plot, nothing that stands out.

I grew up in Bethlehem, PA and it's hilarious to me that they made the specific choice to put the state in the title and yet seemingly did no research whatsoever about the actual city. While that's not a huge deal at all, I think it would be funny if anyone who likes the movie went to visit Bethlehem expecting it to be anything like this movie.

Some big goofs I noticed just in the first half hour or so: During the snow storm, they mention Route 10 being closed, which is not a road in Bethlehem. He offers to drive her to Allentown, which is a larger city that would make sense, or Hanover, which is about 2+ hours away from Bethlehem. They were probably confusing it with Hanover Township, which is two residential neighborhoods north of the city. Easton, Nazareth or Northampton are actual towns near Bethlehem. The star that he gives her the first night is a biblical star of Bethlehem, but Bethlehem PA was founded by Moravians, so most people there hang Moravian stars around Christmas regardless of their Christian denomination. There is no Bethlehem Star Inn (that's in Israel), but there is the Sun Inn on Main Street that is a historical site. Seems like that could have been easily used as the setting - or the Hotel Bethlehem for that matter - instead of a fictitious Inn. I don't expect a Hallmark movie to aim for 100% cultural accuracy, but is 10 minutes of research too much to ask when they made the decision to set the movie in a specific town in Pennsylvania? How lazy can you be?

The movie itself was about what I expected - a cheesy, generic Hallmark storyline with not-so-subtle religious undertones. The script and dialogue are aggressively blah and there is no chemistry between the two leads at all. I didn't finish the movie. Honestly, the only reason I clicked on it was to see what parts of my hometown were included and as it turns out... Zero.

I really enjoyed this movie. It was produced well and it's nice to find a movie that gives such a great lesson in life about love, family and faith.

I wish there were more movies like this. I know it takes a talented producer, director, writer, actors, wardrobe lighting and on and on. What a great gift this movie was before Christmas... What a blessing.

If only more movies could be produced with such positive role models for our children, the world would be a better place. This is a movie the whole family can enjoy.

I don't know if the people who made this movie come her. All I can say is thank you.

A barren, single 40-something career woman drives to Bethlehem, PA (which miraculously looks exactly like West Bumblefuque, Canada) to adopt a child. To be fair there are some similarities between eastern Pennsylvania and western Canada, such as both of them are located in North America. There are also subtle differences, however, such as a majority of the people in Bethlehem, PA aren't obese toothless cannibals. Anyway, the adoptive mom is so strident and desperate that she unquestioningly accepts a kid rejected by more suitable adoptive parents and doesn't think to ask whether the kid was born addicted to meth or oxy. Probably both. Not that it matters since adoptive mom immediately proves herself more negligent and irresponsible than your average Canadian tweeker by attempting to drive home through a 100-year blizzard in a Kia, then by shacking up with a chronically-depressed, cross-eyed Fred Astaire cosplayer.

Other viewers have praised this is a departure from the standard Hallmark movie, and right on. But it turns out it's a lot more fun to watch Lacey Cabert win the big gingerbread contest and get the gayguy for the 50th time than suffer through this dross once.

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.

A /Miracle In Bethlehem/PA. (2023) -

I'm not one for God bothering, the closest I get is asking my Grandad in Heaven to find me a parking space. As such and based on the title I hadn't expected to necessarily make it to the end of this film which was clearly framed around the Nativity story and yes there were a lot of references to that including the leading characters named Mary Ann (Laura Vandervoort) and Joe (Benjamin Ayres).

However, despite the fact that there were a few times where it got a bit heavy for my tastes, talking about their wonderful Lord, for the most part it was fairly subtle, which I thought was a great idea to keep the standard, less church going viewer watching. I always find it hard to get excited about a relationship when they give all the credit to almighty upstairs. I don't mind it being a bit magic and fate taking a hand, but having Faith in anything has been hard for me for a long time and worshipping a God that sends so much pain has never really made sense to me either. So anyway I liked that about it.

Otherwise the story of a snow storm trapping Mary Ann, with her new baby, in a small town where the inn was full and her only choice was to stay with the innkeeper's Brother Joe was quite sweet and I did like the leading actors.

Mr Ayres in his role of Joe was scruffy but handsome and roguishly charming. Although his breathy rasping was not what I would call proper singing. It was hard to believe that had been a previous career for him. It can't be that hard to find handsome actors that can sing please???

The singer in the church at the end was not the best choice either.

As for Laura, she was great at showing the feelings of her character Mary Ann, her torment from her last relationship and her warmth towards baby Natalie as well as her growing bond with Joe. I might have liked to have seen her with Natalie a bit more though. I supposed that was due to time constraints, which is where the rigid formulaic nature of these films lets them down. Another five or ten minutes to show her strength as a Mother would have been really beneficial to the story, because as it was it did make it look a bit like she needed a man to help her raise the baby which was sort of opposite to what her character was trying to say.

And personally I could never be away from my Mum at Christmas, so I will never understand that these people can do that? Again that is an element of these films that has always felt wrong to me, although it probably does make any reunions that they DO have sweeter?

In the end I felt that the religious bits had worked appropriately and that I'd watched something quite lovely.

7.63/10.

Interesting the way the writers engaged the Biblical account of the Birth of Christ into this film. Clean, free of smut. Not completely accurate. Good discussion movie for when chatting about the Biblical references. More shocked that this movie originally showed up on LGBTQ Hallmark! Hallmark is obviously trying to get their past viewers that prefer Bill Abbott being at the helm. Hallmark failed miserably when booting out Abbott and are likely frustrated that GA Family is doing far better in ratings than "inclusive" Hallmark. Like seeing Ben Ayers in a radically different role. He was funny and challenged me to observe his various talents. Support cast were funny and enjoable to watch. Sets were great as well.

I'm more the action or horror type but This was on at home & I watched along. I WiLL say though, as a voice major... whoever was singing 'O Holy Night' in the church was all sorts of off key. It sounded like a really warped record! Got a message my review is too short, but I don't know what else to say, so... I'm more the action or horror type but This was on at home & I watched along. I WiLL say though, as a voice major... whoever was singing 'O Holy Night' in the church was all sorts of off key. It sounded like a really warped record! Who knows, maybe I'll watch a couple more of these during the holidays.

I was really looking forward to see this movie. I do have a predilection for Laura Vandervoort and Benjamin Ayres always portrays roles of a solid, wholesome man. I cherished the story of a single woman adopting a newborn, Natalie, just before Christmas, who gets constrained by bad weather in a town named Bethlehem and is offered shelter by a wonderful family. That they own an old barn transformed into a permanent Nativity scene seemed like the cherry on the cake of what could be the epitome of of Holiday values. Surely a Grand Finale for this year Hallmark Christmas productions. Overall, the plot unravels along the expected lines. Mary Ann is a refined, independent lawyer who was abandoned by her former husband, because unable to bear a child. Her gentle soul seeks completion in creating a family of her own, by adopting a baby girl. Joe is a burned-out ex rock star musician, turned into a mechanic, who is convinced by his kind sister to guest the stranded lady and child, since he has a guest room. Predictably, romantic feelings develop between the two, while the entire Joe's family warmly embrace her. So, everything peachy?

Actually, quite a few details mar the execution of the sweet plot. The would-be-affectionate Joe is a juvenile slob, who lives in a pigsty and treats girlfriends like disposable objects. Does this smell of commitment phobia? His look, possibly thought to appear rugged, definitely uncouth in my opinion, could not be more polar to her graceful, neat persona. When he plays: "This little light of mine" for the infant, poorly fingering his guitar and singing like a drunken donkey, one could hardly believe he could have ever been a popular musician. When I heard her comment that it was beautiful, I felt the urge to scream; 'For crying out loud, we have ears!'. Despite his hidden good nature, how she could rapidly find in him her Knight-in shiny- armor, especially after watching him dismiss his girlfriend like a patronizing heel? Would this be expected from a sensitive, intelligent woman who has all reasons to protect herself from being hurt again in her life?

Then, there is the newborn, who cries almost relentlessly, keeping mother and host sleep deprived and exhausted, yet making no single peep for lengthy hours when the family is involved in events. Then, how about an exhausted young woman who miraculously manages to transform a pigsty into a spotless model home, while tending the baby, solving the family's legal issues, flirting with the man, and sharing in social activities? Not by chance Laura Vandervoort played Supergirl in a preceding TV series! Also, we have to swallow the notion that an old barn, adhibited as a Nativity for 15 years, would unquestionably qualify for Historical Landmark status, which, by the way, is quite a stale gimmick, overused in TV movies. Yes, the family offers a warm loving background, perhaps a bit too sugary and superficial. In my book, only Amy Groening, his sister Frankie, is convincing as a kind, sunny soul.

In summary, a beautiful idea turned into an uneven show that fails to convince, let alone charm. A totally missed attempt to soar.

I actually enjoyed this one. The female lead did not talk a mile a minute and casting was pretty good.

I enjoyed the storyline and felt it was not too sweet. The interaction between the male and female leads was very natural seeming.

I usually have issues with the casting and how fast the plot moves to true love. This one is a nice measured pace.

The Christmas theme was charming and the romance evolved naturally .. I really enjoyed it.

Not sure a woman would walk around in her pajamas in front of a man she just met but i over looked that part. I would think she would use a bathrobe. Good otherwise.

This Hallmark holiday film started a little rough for me. Laura Vander Voort plays a family law lawyer named Mary Ann, who desperately wants to be a mother herself. She has been approved and yet has had some last minute let downs. When she is called at night to pick up a new born she doesn't hesitate...which is how she ends up stranded with a newborn in a Pennsylvania town named Bethlehem thanks to a storm and road closures. In Bethlehem, the inn is full and she ends up staying in the in owner's brother's house...which is how she meets Benjamin Ayres' character Joe. As it turns out Joe was also adopted and since the loss of his father he has lost his purpose.

These two are almost instantly perfect for one another and his family is fantastically helpful to the new mom, Mary Ann. His family is rounded out by Amy Groening, who plays his sister Frankie and the lovely Tery Rothery, who plays his sweet mother Goldie.

The one storyline that I had an issue with was the relationship that Mary Ann has with her mother. It made sense why she would hold her at bay when she was eager to be a part of her life.

A little different and more religious than most of Hallmark's holiday offerings, but still a decent film. I would recommend it to those who appreciate the biblical story of Joseph and Mary.

I have never watched a Hallmark Christmas movie but I was born and raised in Bethlehem, PA so I watched this with my BFF (also from Bethlehem). This movie is garbage. The plot is absurd. It's entirely filmed on a soundstage with some overview shots of Pittsburgh and then a few shots of the Moravian Church in Downtown Bethlehem. There is no realistic rendition or portrayal of Bethlehem, PA (and no one in PA constantly refers to it as Pennsylvania). It's not a farming community and there isn't an Inn. Yes I got the Mary, Jesus and Joseph references, I'm not thick, I was raised where Jesus was born for Pete's sake (wink). Don't lure me in with nostalgia from my hometown (WHICH IS CHRISTMAS CITY USA LITERALLY, WHAT A LOST OPPORTUNITY) and then give me this Christian Hallmark Propaganda. What a waste of time.

This movie is so fake. They don't even use the hotel Bethlehem. They use some fictitious Inn and people do not act like this in Bethlehem Pennsylvania. Why didn't they do any research about the area Highway 10 is in Texas not Pennsylvania. They make Bethlehem seem like a small mountain town and it is definitely not. The hospital St. Luke's is on the southside in the ghetto. The predictability of this is obvious, and it is typical that they would never portray a single woman raising a child all by herself of course she has to have a male figure that's evident in the scene when she gets into the so-called town of Bethlehem Pennsylvania. I would like to know what town they actually did use for the exterior shots because it definitely wasn't in Pennsylvania. I've lived in the Lehigh Valley pretty much all my life and there is never a blizzard on Christmas plus I would never let a stranger in my house even if she did have a baby. There is no way anybody who is taking care of a newborn infant is feeling romantic even on Christmas as the baby disappears and they're not crying anymore and in reality, they're crying all the time. The baby only poops like one time in the first two days. The fact that this lady's makeup and hair is always perfect is another example of how fake this movie is. Bethlehem has a thriving Spanish community yet I see no Spanish people in this movie at all in fact, I see no people of color in this movie again fake. There is no mountain pass to get to the airport in Bethlehem and if she was going to New York City, she just be driving up 95 not taking an airplane. The people who did this movie did no research again fake. Again they're trying to make this seem like a small town that doesn't have foreign auto parts at any auto shops in town and again that's not true in Bethlehem. You're only about two hours from New York City and an hour and a half from Philadelphia. I will say at least they knew Bethlehem was in Northampton County but I think that's where the research ended. Newsflash there are many churches in Bethlehem and not everyone goes to one church because it's actually a city, not a small mountain town.

It was surprising how inauthentic and stiff the religious references in this movie were. Christmas mythology is so symbolic and beautiful, so to make it feel so artificial and unappealing was really disappointing. Especially the 'prayer' at the end...

They had all the good ingredients but still made it look like the person who wrote this had no idea about Christianity and what the appeal was in it.

Too much ideological icing made this cake unbearably sweet.

There were some interesting moments, some usual and unusual tropes that made it look familiar but still interesting; it could have been really nice.