Hallmark fans will not be disappointed with this new installment of Debbie Macomber's Mrs. Miracle Christmas movie series. It is a warm and heartfelt story that touches upon heavier issues, for example, shining a light on adoption and the need for good homes for all children. The film too addresses the heartbreak of loss, and how this impacts relationships/marriage. The story also has a light-hearted side to it with some fun dialogue and scenes, which I enjoyed; I even had a few chuckles here and there. The story revolves around Laurel (played by Kaitlin Doubleday), a teacher who volunteered to bring back this year the school's Christmas pageant, and her family. After taking a financial hit a few years back, Laurel and her husband, Will (played by Steven Lund), moved into Nana and Pap's place (Laurel's grandparents). After the passing of her Pap a few months back, they stayed on to help take care of Nana (Helen, played by Paula Shaw) this holiday season. As Laurel and Will increasingly become concerned with Helen's well-being, Laurel decides to hire a caregiver for her Nana to keep her company during the day. And thus, the adventure begins with the arrival of Mrs. Miracle (Gloria, played by Caroline Rhea), Helen's new caregiver (and friend). As we soon find out, Gloria has everything the family needs this Christmas. By the way, you got to love her bottomless tote. The story is engaging from the start; it pulled me in. The script is well-written. The writers do a wonderful job of synthesizing the heavier drama elements of the story with the more light-hearted and witty ones. The writers also do a very good job of capturing a sense of loss in both Laurel and Helen's characters. These scenes are supplemented by entertaining, even funny at times, dialogue and one-liners, especially between Helen and Gloria. What made all of this work on screen, of course, was the acting. It was excellent, I thought. Doubleday and Lund both had convincing performances, especially, in portraying a family working through loss and emotional turmoil. Rhea, as the new Mrs. Miracle, had some big shoes to fill, taking the role over from the loveable Doris Roberts. With a cheerful, fun, and sort of quirky vibe to her performance, she will no doubt become a fan favorite as Mrs. Miracle. And finally, we can't forget Shaw's performance as Helen. She was brilliant again this year (last year it was Five Star Christmas), fun to watch on screen, especially her back and forth with Gloria. All in all, it is a wonderful new edition to Hallmark's Christmas movie line-up this holiday season.
