Cher père Noël...

The story revolves around a girl of 8 who has lost her father, so writes to Santa about her concerns and the wish for her mother to smile again. Having handed the letter to the postman it finds its way to Santa Inc., run by two charming but eccentric older ladies. It just so happens that a young, successful writer is assisting Santa Inc. responding to children's wishes in an effort to rekindle his enthusiasm for writing after a bitter divorce. Being flooded with material wishes, he is touched by the letter expressing matters of the heart, so responds equally in a way to give hope. From here it opens the possibility to deal with loss and relationships in a lighthearted but sensitive way that engages the viewer in a clever little story.

You have to listen very carefully to what is being said. The writer has captured important emotions and spun them into interesting messages. Even those characters who may seem boorish, surprise you with simple home spun wisdom's. Having watched the film more than once, you can't help developing a warmth for all the characters, from young to old. The story is simple and straightforward, therefore method acting is not called for and all those appearing seem to be in the right place.

I think that when the 'end of shooting' party occurred they hadn't quite finished. After the effort of constructing a thoughtful story they rolled out of the party and scripted a slightly bizarre conclusion. The actors took it in good spirit, so it doesn't detract too much from your enjoyment.

Conclusion: 8.0 Xmas points, for a warm and enjoyable film with a small deduction for the lost opportunity at the end.

With the glut of Hallmark Christmas cookie cutter plots, this one is a refreshing change of pace.

A writer becomes pen pals with a widowed mother, and they develop a connection. Of course, when he goes to her town without letting her know who he is, complications arise. I'm not a fan of the specific ending they chose, but it's bearable considering the great story preceding it.

The characters are warm, and there are plenty of chuckles. This isn't one we'd watch every year, but it certainly bears repeated viewings. :-)

OK, I'm an old guy who loves Christmas movies I admit it. When I saw this was coming on I expected the usual formula of a kid helping Santa Clause out of a fix but to my surprise although frequently mentioned the old guy didn't appear in it, basically it was a love story, with likable characters. I thought it was well acted and was particularly impressed with the acting talents of little Isadora Swann, this appears to be her only acting role to date but hopefully not her last. If you see it coming on watch it, I'm sure you'll enjoy.

I am not admirer of Hallmark Christmas films. Sure, each is a hot chocolate, some cookies and a slice of cake -like. Or warm milk in frozen morning. In this case, the things are different. Sure, romance, the widow and her child, the charming stranger and the expected end. >But the humor, the performances, the idea itself are more than seductive, working in nice manner. A film about hope and letters and Santa in a manner special for the nuances. Isadora Swann and Marguerite Moreau chemistry, a Prince Charming who gives new sense to his status by Mike Faiola and, sure, literature as perfect cover. Short - a special film. Or a smart one.

From the beginning of this movie I knew it was different than the usual Hallmark movie. The story line lends itself to Hallmark but there is just something about the way it was written and directed that draws you in. I'm not an expert on movie making but it is so well made and acted it stands apart from the others. It was a wonderful story and the connection between Jake and Celia was immediate. Lilly was precocious and delightful and so enjoyable to watch. Jake's agent was hysterical and poor Randy was clueless. This is easily one of my favorites. We need to see this cast again on Hallmark.