A Different Kind of Christmas

Not one of the best. A very 80's film made in 1996 and before they realised that the leads should be vaguely attractive and not just recycled C-Listers.

Although I say that, the story wasn't bad. It could have been delivered with a bit more drama, but I didn't turn it off at least.

When you're Dad is Father Christmas, you might get a bit overshadowed, but isn't the whole point of Christmas to learn how to love and forgive. That's what we find out here. A lot of stories intertwining and some silliness ensues with a really bratty kid, although she is a terrible mother too.

Even the fact that "The Rocky Horror Picture Show's" very own Brad appears, does not help it along and Diane from Cheers does nothing for me.

If you've seen the rest, then watch this one.

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE.

A family secret threatens to thwart the mayoral bid of a single mom (Shelley Long) whose father (Bruce Kirby) thinks he's Santa Claus.

This film is very good. It deserves a better rating than the 5.7 it has on IMDb. You have to take into account that the average IMDb user is not a fan of these types of films.

Shelly Long plays to type in this film however her character is suppose to be 35 and at the time of filming she around 47.

What works is the fact that "The Christmas Spirit" is in everybody and that spirit should be limited to just one day a year.

The film works and it is very entertaining. Family Safe. Give it a try!

This is one of those "made for TV movies" that might show on Lifetime. Shelley Long is in it. That should warrant a minus one star at least. She's too unattractive to get the casting couch, so she must get gigs based on what stinky pieces of crap she takes- this is one.

This is a film you sit around with the family and laugh at, not with.

She's single, and being courted by a millionaire dude, who wants to gentrify/build up a crummy, disenfranchised part of town with a "new theater, shops, and restaurants- it will bring hundreds of jobs to the town!" he gushes, but Shelley Long's character opposes with "Well, what about the community center??" So, a dingy community center for poor kids (who's parents are probably out of work) in the crummy part of town is a BETTER and more ethical idea than bringing jobs to the city and sprucing up that part of town?! Good Gracious.

This stinker has "cancer girl" (in all of these A Very Special Episode type deals) with the dark circles under her eyes. I wonder what miracle Santa will bring her? It has the "evil rich developer against the kids community center" plot, it has the "Santa" character - is he, or ISN'T he..a real Santa? Ugh I won't go on. This is so awful, so corny, I can't bear to write more here.

I had a delightful surprise when I watched Troop Beverley Hills and this film was a delightful surprise as well. This is not a film classic like Gone with the Wind but for me much more enjoyable to watch. As with many of Shelley Longs films it was full of heart and good intentions. It was nice to see the mayor from Spin City playing the romance interest and he was very good in that role though I would have loved to have seen more of him and Shelley Long on the screen, and Santa was good as well. If you like a film full of violence and sex this is not for you. There were moral issues raised in this film but not heavily and they were helpful and valid as well. I do recommend that you have a hanky with you in the last 10 minutes of the film because I found it a real tear jerker.

A man, claiming to be Santa, moves to a new town and instantly antagonizes his neighbors. Even though he is popular with the kids and does many good deeds, the complaints cause trouble for him with the police and a local politician, a woman who harbors a deep hostility for the old gent. "Santa's" true identity is eventually revealed and the lady must make a few important decisions. Good film for the holidays.