Miracle in Bethlehem, PA

This was remarkable for a Hallmark movie! The characters were well-cast, and the acting and interaction between characters was truly believable. The story line was different enough from so many Hallmark movies so as to not be trite and formulaic. The sets were not over-decorated like so many Hallmark Christmas movies of late. And I believe, because this was a Dayspring movie (the Christian side of Hallmark cards), that the script writers were allowed to included some of the real meaning of Christmas. Those reviewers who rated this movie low because of its "Christian content" need to realize that this is a CHRISTmas movie. The celebration is about Christ and His coming to the earth as God the Son and Savior of the world. These characters depicted that they authentically believed and embraced this - the true meaning of Christmas. Other Hallmark movies depicting families fighting and quarreling over Christmas light displays on their homes don't have the intimacy, love, caring, trusting, and faith that this movie depicts. This was heartwarming. Keep your Christmas movies telling the real Christmas message, Hallmark. Get back the the Hall of Fame status that you were always known for in the past!

There has been a lot of revisionist Hallmark history going on and this movie highlights it. This movie is basically an allegory about the traditional story of the birth of Jesus, complete with The Bethlehem Star Inn, Mary (Ann), Joe, Goldie, Frankie, and Grandma Myrtle, an old barn, and even a Wise Man, a guy named Shephard and a dog named Donkey. The story is about a new adoptive mother (told the good news that her baby is ready for pick-up by a woman named Gabriella) who is caught in a snowstorm and has to bunk in with Joe because all of the hotel rooms are filled. In short, it is a very Christian religion-centric movie where the leads actually talk about their faith and God, and quote the bible.

Some seem to think that Bill Abbott and his GAF network somehow scared Hallmark back to faith-based programming when actually the opposite is true. It was under Abbott's leadership that Hallmark got away from more faith-based programming. Here is a quote from him about Hallmark in 2019 in answering why Hallmark seems to snub other religions and traditions:

"...we don't look at Christmas from a religious point of view, it's more a seasonal celebration. Once you start to slice it more finely within individual religions it's a little bit tougher to necessarily tell that story in a way that doesn't involve religion and we always want to stay clear of religion or controversy."

It was under *his* guidance that Hallmark cut out Christianity from Christmas. To the point that there were no more Christmas Carols that sung about God or Jesus. What forced him out of Hallmark was the incorporation of gay and lesbian couples and more racial diversity, not that he wanted to put on "Family and Faith-based programming." At Hallmark, he was all about keeping movies secular with no God or Jesus involved in Christmas movies. Needless to say, he has now changed his tune.

Now that Abbott is gone, Hallmark is returning to its faith-based roots with some of its movies and outdoing GAF at its own game. This movie, and many other movies since he left exemplify that in large ways and small (religious Christmas Carols are finally back.) Hallmark is incorporating the traditions and beliefs of other cultures and groups Including but not limited to Christians, both conservative and liberal. You can pick and choose which movies appeal to you and watch just those, or embrace all of them. At least, with Hallmark, you have a choice.

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 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.

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.