L'Esprit de Noël

Had potential to be great but awful story lines and awful acting

Why is it that the makers of these movies seem dumb down good ideas? In this film a newly separated couple are trying to find a new normal now that their family unit is fractured by a pending divorce.

In the mean time up in the North-pole Mrs Claus is trying to get Santa Claus his Christmas Mojo back. Santa now thinks people no longer like Christmas and he isn't wanted or believed in. After sensing her husband is losing his Christmas spirit, Mrs. Claus travels to a place where she knows the spirit of Christmas still exists: New York City.

After her arrival in New York City she ends up becoming a nanny. Now what irks me is that this Hallmark film could of been much better. The screenplay to this is terrible. Hallmark should take a lesson from Disney-Pixar about how to produce a good family film. Pixar knows you can have a smart screenplay for a family film and make a movie that children and adults will enjoy. Hallmark however doesn't seem to notice that.

I do not fault the actors for this film. The screenplay lacks imagination. I also am tired of the cliché' of divorcing parents getting back together. This is something that never happens in real life. In 1993 the film "Mrs Doubtfire" showed you can have a happy ending to a film without having the parents getting back together.

I think if Hallmark invested in better screenplays that might have films that last. "Mistletoe Over Manhattan" is one those films that give Hallmark Movies a bad name...

I loved this movie and I recommend it for someone wanting to feel the Christmas spirit. We do live in a world these days where we need a little help remembering what is important in life and this movie does this in a fun way. I enjoyed the casting of actors in this movie. I thought Mr. and Mrs. Claus were a cute & believable match and so were all of the other main characters as well. Great for kids and anyone who will let themselves enjoy the magic of love.

A real 'Jekyll and Hyde' film, where there are some very emotional issues (family break up) mixed with pantomime-style humour. The latter mostly misses the mark, although the former shines, especially the great performance from Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica). If you can overlook the silly moments, you'll get to appreciate the moments of familial tension and tenderness.

Awful story awful acting .. 1 star only positive thing is saying 'a Christmas miracle'