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This Christmas movie is only made palatable by its three stars who all give good performances despite what is basically an incoherent, mish-mash of a plot. Jaime Newman creates a very realistic portrayal of a caring woman dealing with the unexpected death of her husband. She isn't perfect but she still tries hard. Michael Shanks is also very appealing as the school counselor with his own tragic past. While he went far beyond what school counselors would normally do, it still seemed believable. Finally, young Burkley Duffield also did a good job in making his character real without being obnoxious. (Why do kids in these movies have such an interest in their parent's love life anyway?) However, they are saddled by a plot that really makes no sense. The ghost of the husband who hangs around seems to have little to do with the plot. The radio contest is a complete plot contrivance. Frankly both ghost and contest could easily have been jettisoned and the focus of the movie on Newman's and Shanks' characters. Why not focus on these two attractive people who have to get beyond their personal tragedies in order to actually see what it is they need? And put it in the Christmas context if you feel the need to. Now that would have been a movie worth watching.

A slushy romance full of saccharin, but it's still good.

When Jonathan's Dad dies in a car accident, nobody believes that he can still see and talk to his spirit, as he tries to get his Mother to move on in her life, so that his Dad can move on into the spirit world.

It's not the standard romance and there is something about Michael Shanks that is fanciable, together that helps to make this an enjoyable festive watch, even if the kid is somewhat annoying.

This made for TV-film needed some re-casting. THe actors in this film were good however they are in the wrong roles.

Devoted father and husband Tom Chandler dies in a car accident, but appears as a ghost to his 11 year old son Jonathan. Now a single mother, Susan Chandler tries to concentrate on her reporter job and dismisses the idea of a ghost, but allows the school counselor, Kevin Harrison, to work with Jonathan. Now Tom's Ghost and Jonathan arrange for Susan to enter a radio show's dating game, and conclude that only Kevin, a widower and coach in Jonathan's former favorite sport, ice-hockey, will do as his stepdad, while she leans towards lawyer Greg Roberts.

I truly think that the actors playing Tom and Jonathan should have been switched. The film would of been better served. Besides you can easily see why she was so deeply in love with her husband if he was played by Michael Shanks. If Conan Graham played a school coach you would see why Susan would never "Notice Him". Michael Shanks however stops traffic.

I watched this movie last night with my grandma and my mom. I had just stopped into their place to drop my mom off after Christmas shopping, and my grandma had already begun watching it. I saw a few minutes of it, found it to be so intriguing, that I stayed for the entire length of the movie. The actor who played Jonathan was a really great actor, especially for his age and experience. Very convincing. I hope to see him in more films in the future. The movie seemed really well made, and in my opinion directed really well. In most made-for-TV movies you find a lot of overacting and cheesy lines, I did not find that in this film. It's nice to see a quality Canadian made film, with mostly Canadian actors.

I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to sit down with family at Christmas time, and watch a good Christmas flick.

I'm writing this review while watching this movie. I missed the first 40 minutes. With that being said the mom is 28 years old (real life in 2006) and the son is 14 years old. Is it me, or is there something wrong with this?

This is one of those bad Lifetime Christmas movies that sums up all the others. A mother laments the loss of her husband in an auto accident and has a son to look after...what's more Christmassy to begin with than death? Well, the ghost of her dead husband appears and guides them through hard times and to another man, who of course has money and can take care of them both. Obviously made in Canada, for what film would have the climax of the movie end in a hockey game? Forget peace on earth and goodwill to men, the message of this movie is having money and scoring goals. It's the kind of Christmas movie that tries to pull sentiment and heart out of the viewer like an enema rather than through good writing and acting. Avoid this loser.

Firstly, many Canadian movies have nothing to do with hockey games - and American movies have been known to feature them as well. But what I found strange were the summer clothes and palm trees at Christmas time, when the movie was made in British Columbia. We've had some warm winters - but palm trees? It was obvious to me that the location was not somewhere in the southern US like Florida or California so shooting a Christmas movie in the middle of summer in Canada just doesn't cut it. This movie didn't fully engage me on other levels as well and it was at times difficult to stay focused on it. I agree that it does have the feel of a Hallmark.

While I was expecting a "not too bad" TV movie, I was thoroughly surprised at the quality of this film. I found it totally believable and especially likable. The principal characters were extremely engaging. The story was very touching and the filming beautifully done. I even found myself thinking of the characters throughout the rest of the day and even for a few days afterward, always with a warm thought.

One of the main reasons this movie works so well is because of the son, Jonathon. Many movies with kids are irritating and hard to get through because of the precociousness of the kids. Jonathon on the other hand is a truly likable young man even though he is going through a lot of "stuff". You never catch this young man "acting" and his portrayal of this character is topnotch.

I would like to say "Well Done" to everyone on this film and encourage all to watch. This is a keeper!

This brand new Christmas movie (Lifetime - made in Canada - where most new Lifetime flicks seem to originate) is an excellent one. It has the ethereal aspects many such pictures have, reminiscent of "Ghost," sans a murderer. It's not a spoiler to indicate Jaime Newman's character (Susan) and her son (Burkely Duffield as Jonathan) lose husband/father early-on in an auto accident. He remains pleasantly "around" in somewhat the same vane as Patrick Swayze in "Ghost," although more positively so, and thankfully bereft of Swayze's wooden, often annoyingly-lethargic demeanor.

There is a villain of sorts, but not with any real menace, with whom Susan becomes involved. Her son is drawn to his school's hockey coach and counselor, played by Michael Shanks (as Kevin).

The story has its plot lines, of course, but its crux is the three leads "finding" one another, in a fulfilling way for all, but without shedding the memories of the losses they've incurred.

All of these actors/characters are thoroughly engaging, and Ms. Newman, whom I had never seen, is both beautiful and likable. The film's supporting cast is also well-presented.

The youngsters in films can often be annoying with a capital "A." It is always great to find ones who are the opposite (such as Michael Douglas' daughter in "The American President," or Tom Hanks' son in "Sleepless in Seattle"). Young Duffield is every bit as pleasant, believable and most of all, likable.

This is one of the positive type of holiday films which should become one to be seen in many seasons to come.

I must admit that the main reason I was drawn to watch this film was it had my favorite actor, Michael Shanks, in it. I have never tired of his 10-year portrayal of Dr. Daniel Jackson (from the Stargate SG-1 series), because he makes every scene he is in memorable. In this film, as a school counselor, he showed convincing empathy for the family, and especially to the son, who was grieving for his father. As a counselor myself, I applaud how Shanks worked to draw Jonathan out using his interest in hockey, and by showing Jonathan that he cared by always being invitational. The direct eye contact Shanks used with every one, and his gentle, loving spirit made the ending no surprise. The only faults this movie had were writers who tried to tie everything up too nicely in the end. I would have also liked to have seen more interaction between Shanks and Jonathan's Mom, and less of the ghostly father. All in all, however, it was a good Christmas film that will not offend any one, and benefits by having good actors who care about their craft.

Christmas stories often have an ethereal spirit which leads the main character(s) to a new awareness or life. "The Christmas Story" is a prime example where the ghost of Robert Marley and the other "spirits" lead Scrooge to a new life of loving and giving. Much in the same vein, "Under The Mistletoe" engages the audience in the same manner, without seeming derivative. It is a wholesome, modern Christmas film, that should become a yearly favorite. Jaimie Ray Newman radiates on screen. She is totally believable as the mourning widow with a son who can not let go of his father, who has died, but remains visible to him. Burkley Duffiled as her son is a fine young actor, handsome, and natural as the loner who can only see into the other world. Michael Shanks, as the new father in his life, is refreshing in his departure from "Stargate". And Connan Graham fulfills his role as the "ghost", the departed father, admirably. The action hockey sequence is bound to engage the hockey fans and the kids as in the "Mighty Ducks". Well produced and put together film with a sure and steady hand in directing.

I've watched this movie several times over the last few years and enjoyed it each time. I do suspect that the version I saw this year has been edited for time. If I can find it, I plan to add it to my DVD collection so that I don't have to worry about more editing in future years. I love Christmas movies of all kinds and "Under the Mistletoe" will be added to the list of those that I look forward to every year. Thanks to all involved in it's production - particularly Michael Shanks, Jamie Ray Newman, Burkely Duffield, George Mendeluk, Lindsey MacAdam and Jason Rilie. British Columbia is a beautiful place and movies made there reflect the natural beauty of the Province and the people who live there.