Miracle in Bethlehem, PA

I grew up in Bethlehem, PA and it's hilarious to me that they made the specific choice to put the state in the title and yet seemingly did no research whatsoever about the actual city. While that's not a huge deal at all, I think it would be funny if anyone who likes the movie went to visit Bethlehem expecting it to be anything like this movie.

Some big goofs I noticed just in the first half hour or so: During the snow storm, they mention Route 10 being closed, which is not a road in Bethlehem. He offers to drive her to Allentown, which is a larger city that would make sense, or Hanover, which is about 2+ hours away from Bethlehem. They were probably confusing it with Hanover Township, which is two residential neighborhoods north of the city. Easton, Nazareth or Northampton are actual towns near Bethlehem. The star that he gives her the first night is a biblical star of Bethlehem, but Bethlehem PA was founded by Moravians, so most people there hang Moravian stars around Christmas regardless of their Christian denomination. There is no Bethlehem Star Inn (that's in Israel), but there is the Sun Inn on Main Street that is a historical site. Seems like that could have been easily used as the setting - or the Hotel Bethlehem for that matter - instead of a fictitious Inn. I don't expect a Hallmark movie to aim for 100% cultural accuracy, but is 10 minutes of research too much to ask when they made the decision to set the movie in a specific town in Pennsylvania? How lazy can you be?

The movie itself was about what I expected - a cheesy, generic Hallmark storyline with not-so-subtle religious undertones. The script and dialogue are aggressively blah and there is no chemistry between the two leads at all. I didn't finish the movie. Honestly, the only reason I clicked on it was to see what parts of my hometown were included and as it turns out... Zero.

This was a delightful story of healing and courage and faith. We truly enjoyed it.

A nice surprise from Hallmark. Reminiscent of early years HM movies when faith was part of the story.

Loved the family support, grace in healing of relationships, and the loving way the adoption process was handled.

If your Christmas includes Christ and His birth, you will enjoy this movie.

It also addresses single parenting challenges, and forgiving past hurts.

We highly recommend this movie. It was a nice change from the cookie cutter storylines; a sweet, tender love story.

Thank you, Hallmark, for airing this one!

I appreciated very much the attention for religious signification of Christmas . For me , always , it is important because, in time of secularism and consumerism, the spirit of Christmas sounds as empty formula.

I appreciated Benjamin Ayres and Laura Vandervoort work, the family spirit and, not last, the frequent references to Birth of Christ , including the little Natalie or the theme of single mother .

Sure, a Hallmark, with its obvious sins and exagerations or cheese parts .

Sure, the big problem remains the pink end , forced in good measure, but , I repeat the references, in some measure too obvious to Nativity remains a precious virtue in this case.

A touching and moving drama, with a bit of humor, this one may be the best of the Christmas 2023 movies. An inclusion of family, unafraid to represent religious beliefs along with a marvelous music score. Many of the beliefs that fans of Hallmark have watched dissipate over the years will be glad at the there's presented.

Bringing joy to parts of life that produced failure, the movie allows the audience to look up and forward, while the writers did not negate the struggles that people experience in life. The movie works and is likely to be a favorite for many years to come.

Great acting, writing and production.

Everyone needs help sometime... even a hugely successful single lawyer / new adoptive mother.

The story is not new and is in fact about as old as the christian bible.

This movie probably won't "change your life" but it did leave me with hope. I am not a particularly religious person but I find people with honest faith inspiring even if it is just acting.

This movie leans heavily on faith and the christian religion. But also on family, friends, community and traditions. They are simple themes perhaps lost to a "simplier" time but still resonated with me.

The story and the conflicts are your basic Hallmark. While the ex-girlfriend fights were fun to watch they were not needed for the story to progress. I think somewhere at Hallmark there is a requirement that every story must have conflict even if they don't need it.

Laura Vandervoort was surprisingly well cast here. I have always liked her work but she would not been my first choice to portray a woman of such faith. Strong, independent, I can do anything single mother absolutely. However, I found the moments where she expressed her faith to be portrayed quite honestly.

Benjamin Ayres had great chemistry with Mrs. Vandervoort but the whole "former rock star" angle seemed a stretch. Not clear why the story needed something that extreme when a more simple previous life would have worked just as well. Also who thought that hair was a good idea?

Amy Groening is a Hallmark regular and one of the many that you always wonder why they don't do more with. She is great as the sister that helps bind everyone together and keep them on task.

The religious aspects... if you are not into religion just do what I do and focus on the meaning of the words to you. "Every good and perfect gift is from above" James 1:17 is quoted in the movie. Or from my point of view all the things that really bring meaning to your life tend to not be large and expensive but the simple gifts that came from the heart.

I will definitely watch this one again.