Andy Williams: Best of Christmas (2007)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Musical

Starring: Andy Williams

Synopsis: Enjoy the best of Andy Williams Christmas Shows.

Review: I love the music.  It’s a compilation of some of the merriest and most memorable Christmas songs.  I like looking at the old episodes.  It’s like a Christmas time capsule.  If you want to enjoy some wonderful songs, this is the show for you.

Scoring: 3

Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Fantasy, Religion, Romance

Starring: Jen Lilley, Carlo Marks, and Eric Close

Synopsis: Book editor Hannah must work with her formal rival Ryan to help a potential writer find her way.

Review: This movie has nothing to do with Christmas in Angel Falls other than there being angels.  This movie stands alone rather than being a sequel.  It’s a very sweet story of love, loss, community, and finding your Christmas spirit.  I almost felt the angels were just there to make it a sequel and the story would’ve worked without them.  The relationships alone make this worth watching.

Scoring: 4.5

Angel Falls Christmas (2021)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Jessica Lowndes and Chad Michael Murray

Synopsis: A devoted doctor with little time for the Christmas spirit is in desperate need of an intervention from the unlikeliest of places.

Review: I really loved this. Two people who have issues and their two angels make for an interesting combination. The addition of what happens when angels break rules what new. It’s just a feel-good magical movie. The ending hints at another movie. 

Scoring: 3.5

Angel In The Family (2004)

Rated: G

Genre: Drama

Starring: Meredith Baxter, Ronny Cox, Natasha Greyson Wagner, and Tess Harper

Synopsis: An ailing widowed father and his two estranged daughters experience a miracle when their late matriarch returns to spend Christmas with them.

Review:  This movie could’ve been done better as it needs more light moments, but it’s a fantasy many people have. What if I could have my loved one back long enough to resolve issues and say things left unsaid. It’s done delicately as the family back story slowly reveals itself. 

Scoring: 3

The Angel Of Pennsylvania Avenue (1996)

Rated: PG

Genre: Drama

Starring: Diana Scarwid and Robert Urich  

Synopsis: When an unemployed Detroit man is arrested for a crime he didn't commit, his three children are determined to get him out of jail in time for Christmas and they decide to enlist the help of "the most powerful man in the world" - President Hoover. En route to the White House, they meet an array of colorful characters.

Review:  I liked the historical aspects of the movie but it had too many points where it was very slow. The kids have some interesting adventures on their way to the White House that may appeal to younger viewers. For me it was just okay.

Scoring: 2.5

The Angel Tree (2020)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Jill Wagner and Lucas Bryant

Synopsis: A writer seeks the identity of the person who helps grant wishes that are placed upon an angel tree, and in the process, reconnects with her childhood friend.

Review: This movie has all the magic of the angel tree. It has well rounded characters and a compelling story. There’s tons of Christmas but even more of the true Christmas spirit. It shows how important people are and the magic that the smallest kind act can do.

Scoring: 3.5

Angela’s Christmas (2017)

Rated: TV-G

Genres: Animation, Family, Religion

Starring: Anya O’Connor

Synopsis: Set in Ireland in the 1910s, 'Angela's Christmas' is a funny, heart-warming and poignant story about the power of family and the innocent desire of a child to ensure everyone is safe, warm and loved at Christmas time. A trip to church with her family on Christmas Eve gives young Angela an extraordinary idea.

Review: What a sweet story.  I won’t give any spoilers so it makes being specific difficult. Just know I felt the magic and beauty of the story.

Scoring: 4.5

Angela's Christmas Wish (2020)

Rated: TV-Y

Genres: Animation, Family

Starring: Ruth Negga and Anya O'Connor

Synopsis: A sequel to the much-loved Angela's Christmas, Angela's Christmas Wish is a heart-warming tale of a determined little girl who sets out to reunite her family in time for Christmas.

Review: This is a sequel to Angela’s Christmas. It’s as precious as the first. Angela’s father has lost his job and has gone to Australia for work. Angela and her brother, selflessly, are trying to earn money to go there to bring him home for their mother while also worrying about a friend’s cow. There’s so much Christmas spirit of giving and love. 

Scoring: 4.5

Genres: Family, Fantasy, Romance

Scoring: 3.5

Scoring: 4.5

Angels Sing (2013)

Rated: PG

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family

Starring: Harry Connick, Jr., Connie Britton, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, and Fionnula Flanagan

Synopsis: As a child, Michael Walker wished every day could be Christmas. That is, until a tragic accident crushed his holiday spirit. Thirty years later, Michael still can't muster any joy for the holidays, despite encouragement from his playful wife and well-intentioned parents. But when his young son faces a tragedy, Michael needs to make amends with his past. A mysterious man named Nick gives Michael a gift and instills in him the courage to find the joy that he lost.

Review:  There are times where the movie drags and Michael’s anti-Christmas stance starts to get old but as the movie goes and you learn more of the story you begin to feel the heart of it and the spirit of Christmas.

 Scoring: 3.5

Review: I really didn’t like this movie. There wasn’t any part of it I enjoyed. Allison doesn’t seem to have a single redeeming quality. Teens and young adults may like it. I think it’s geared towards them.

Scoring: 1

Anna And The Apocalypse (2018)

Rated: R

Genres: Drama, Musical

Starring: Ella Hunt

Synopsis: A girl and her friends must fight, sing and dance their way through a zombie invasion.

Review: At first, I thought it was an amazing movie.  I loved the songs.  They were so well done.  Then came the zombies.  It’s a lot of gore and goo and the feeling of the beginning is lost.  It’s as if someone accidentally edited two films together.  If you don’t like horror and gore, avoid it.  Other than that, I say give it a shot.  It’s pretty decent and the music makes it all worthwhile.

Scoring: 2

Review: Annie’s optimistic attitude is as contagious as is her love of Christmas. There are little Christmas touches everywhere you turn. The movie moves at a gentle but constant pace. It’s endearing.

Scoring: 3.5

The App That Stole Christmas (2020)

Rated: PG

Genre: Comedy

Starring: Jackie Long

Synopsis: A tech entrepreneur’s Christmas shopping app is a smashing success, but he starts to realize his invention might be ruining the Christmas spirit.

Review: While clearly low budget, seriously, they couldn’t get a better Santa beard, the story is pretty good.  The acting is subpar but if you stick with it you’ll get to the message that time with family is more important than money and success.  The elves were amusing.

Scoring: 2

The Art of Christmas (2022)

Rated: G

Genre: Romance

Starring: Brigitte Kingsley, Joe Towne, and Frank Chiessurin

Synopsis: After her latest gallery exhibition literally goes up in flames, struggling artist Liv James accepts a teaching job at a local elementary school to make ends meet.

Review: The movie is a bit sappy and cheesy.  It moves at a slow pace but that helps draw out the romance.  I particularly liked the school children and education aspect.  It’s sweet but if you don’t like syrupy and romance, it’s not for you.

Scoring: 3

Arthur Christmas (2011)

Rated: PG

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Hugh Laurie, Laura Lainey, Eva Longoria, Mark Wooten, and Joan Cusack

Synopsis: Santa's clumsy son Arthur sets out on a mission with St. Nick's father to give out a present they misplaced to a young girl in less than 2 hours.

Review:  This delightful comedy shows us a behind the scenes look at how Santa and the North Pole work. It also shows us a dysfunctional family with relatable characters. Lots of fun. 

Scoring: 4

Aunts (2014) aka The Aunties

Rated: NR

Genres: Family, Fantasy

Synopsis: A young medical student receives and unexpected visit from three women claiming to be her Aunties. (In Russian with English subtitles)

Review: This movie had a Nanny McPhee feel to it with the silliness and whimsy.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the same emotional depth.  The story starts very slowly as we meet the characters and it has a lot of bumps in the road, places where it jumps about or seems to miss the full story, but overall, I enjoyed it. 

Scoring: 2