Un drôle de Noël

"One Magic Christmas" is one of my all-time favorite movies. Not just favorite Christmas movies but favorite movies. I remember seeing this movie for the first time in the theater (MovieWorld, Douglaston, NY). I almost needed help walking out of the theater because I was emotionally draining by the end of the movie. Every time I finish watching this movie I'm a mess. "One Magic Christmas" touches me in a way few movies ever have. "One Magic Christmas" is in my Top 20 All-Time movies list. It's a classic.

Exquisitely made holiday fable with a decidedly dark edge, not unlike "It's a Wonderful Life" in tone. Mary Steenburgen is very convincing as a woman whose heart has been hardened by life's harsh realities. Christmas has become an empty ritual to her and it takes a highly unusual angel named Gideon (played by a softspoken Harry Dean Stanton in a long cattleman's duster) to make her see the light. Her conversion requires some grim but realistic machinations by Gideon, as well as the simple and unquestioning faith of her optimistic husband and children. But the result is an emotionally powerful finale that is honestly earned, not the easy tearjerking of lesser films.

Special mention should be made of the two terrific child actors who play Steenburgen's kids, especially Elizabeth Harnois as the youngest, Abbie, whose unsticky line readings are a treat. Character actor Jan Rubes makes a wonderful, matter-of-fact Santa Claus. The production is further enhanced by Frank Tidy's meticulous cinematography, some imaginative art direction, particularly in Santa's toy shop, and a lovely score by Michael Conway Baker. Thomas Meehan's scenario delves into some dark territory for a genre that is all too often treacly instead of real, but its clear antecedents are treasures such as "A Christmas Carol" and the aforementioned Capra classic. A word of caution, however: this is not recommended for very young children. But for 8 and above, and adults, it's a Christmas tale that may well become a perennial in your house, as it is in mine.

An angel (Harry Dean Stanton) must show a mother (Mary Steenburgen) the true meaning of Christmas. It is not just presents and materialistic things, but the people she cares about.

What I enjoyed most about this film is how dark it is. Others have called it bittersweet, which may be fair, but it just has so much negativity in it. A mother who hates Christmas, a bank robber, three people who die...

Of course, the mother has some right to be upset. Her husband, as nice of a guy as he is, is something of a deadbeat. There is nothing wrong with wanting to open a bicycle shop... but, you know, it would not hurt to have a job in the meantime, even if it was just part-time. You have to have a home before you can do much else.

Gideon is a most unusual angel, and we could question the theology behind it. Angels are not generally dead humans, but a different creature entirely... and then, how does a Christmas angel differ from a standard angel? Apparently just being killed on Christmas? And it seems like others who die are sent to work for eternity in Santa's workshop. That is not my idea of heaven. But, oh well...

As a bonus, this film is the big screen debut of Elisabeth Harnois, Sarah Polley and Elias Koteas. That is quite a landmark all by itself.

One Magic Christmas seems to fall under the category of fantasy films that are suitable for the whole family, but especially relevant to adults. Like E.T. the movie is designed to tug at the heartstrings, and in the beginning it will initially strike viewers as somewhat heavy-handed and sad. But this film is worth sticking with, and it lives up to its title.

I went into this movie expecting a somewhat conventional Hollywood fable...complete with gooey sentiment and multiple climaxes. What I got instead was a thoroughly engaging, sensitively directed film that left me with a genuinely warm feeling in my heart, following in the tradition of It's A Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Carol. One Magic Christmas is a touching story with an ending that pays off. It should be a must see on everybody's list during the holiday season!!

When One Magic Christmas came out in 1985 on TV, my mom recorded it on to a VHS tape. We had this beat up, bad copy of the movie. You had to turn the volume up all the way in order to hear anything, still this movie was amazing to me. Mary Steenbergen doesn't believe in Christmas or Santa. She is such a scrooge about the season, that not even her kids' excitement could change the way she feels. With an angels' help, her daughter Abby, tries to get her into the spirit. It's full of magic, adventure, enchantment, and many lessons learned. One Magic Christmas is funny, dramatic, and wholesome. It's one of those movies that you truly can watch with your whole family, and everyone will like it. My sister and I loved it so much when we were kids that we used to watch it year round. I love this movie very much. They just recently re-released it on DVD, so now I have a good copy of the movie that has meant so much to me growing up. I still say that it's one of my all time favorite movies!!!!