Movie based on an old sitcom trope, as a partly-overheard, misunderstood conversation leads to hijinks, and hopefully, a happier, closer family if it all works out in the end. Unfortunately, it just isn't very funny overall, and the acting isn't the best, especially considering the presence of Marion Ross and Richard Karn. Karn was particularly underused. Not that the writing gave anyone much to work with. The few touching bits, an orphanage scene and a fun supermarket musical bit, are diluted by scenes where the cast just seems bored or uncomfortable. One bizarre scene in the middle of the film should have been cut entirely. The mother and grown daughter dress in black and commit felony theft of the top eight feet of a newly planted gigantic pine tree at a mall. It may have been intended to be funny, but it comes off as being so out of place as to be very jarring and even disturbing. The family acts like it is perfectly normal to commit felony theft and they never mention it again. It doesn't seem to fit in. Surely they could have padded the run time with something that didn't make the family seem like antisocial psychos. I docked this film about two stars for the scene, leaving it with just three. That's how badly the two minutes or so ruins the intended spirit of the movie. Blows it to smithereens. I was half expecting them to maybe kidnap or steal from some orphans, too. Take away that one scene, and it's a solid 5.
All in all, like many of the made for TV Christmas movies, it seems fine for having on in the background while baking cookies, wrapping presents, etc. It certainly doesn't deserve your undivided attention.
