A Karate Christmas Miracle (2019)

Rated: TV-14

Genres: Adventure, Family

Starring: Eric Roberts

Synopsis: A boy believes that if he earns a black belt by Christmas Day his father, who went missing one year earlier, will return.  

Review: This is one of the weirdest movies I’ve ever seen.  Bad acting, worse special effects, bad script, you name it.  There was nothing enjoyable about it.  It kept flipping back and forth between the boy, the mom, and the psychic in an attempt to create a mystery but it only succeeded in creating confusion.

Scoring: 1

Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle (2017)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Jill Wagner and Luke Macfarlane

Synopsis: Maggie, a single mom has to balance between her career and her son, Jordan. Jordan finds a tutor named Casey to help him at school, and Casey becomes like a father figure. Will the three of them find happiness and love once again?

Review:  I really liked the way the movie centered both around Jordan’s story as well as the love story. It unfolds naturally and with reasons to smile. I think most people will find something to relate to. 

Scoring: 3

Karroll’s Christmas (2004)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Family, Romance

Starring: Tom Everett Scott and Wallace Shawn

Synopsis: Allen Karroll hates Christmas since his ex-girlfriend humiliated him in front of thousands of people one Christmas. As a greeting cards writer, this proves to be a hinderance. He also hates the man who lives across the street, Zeb Rosecog. One day, Karroll is visited by the ghost Jacob Marley (related to Bob Marley), as well as the ghosts of Christmas present, past and future who all happen to have come to the wrong address, and had actually meant to visit Rosecog. During this experience, Karroll learns a lot about himself as well as Rosecog, and discovers that he and Rosecog have a lot in common, and decides to help Rosecog to see the light, and rediscover the joy of Christmas.

Review:  An interesting take on the Christmas Carol story. Scott does an excellent job of portraying a complicated man and making him likable. I enjoyed the twist with the neighbor. This is one I’ve watched many times.

Scoring: 3

Kelly Clarkson: When Christmas Comes Around (2021)

Rated: G

Genres: Musical

Starring: Kelly Clarkson, Melissa McCarthy, Brett Eldridge, Jay Leno, Amy Poehler, Leslie Odom, Jr., and Ariana Grande

Synopsis: Kelly Clarkson hosts this holiday spectacular filled with singing, dancing, and celebrity guests.

Review:  Unlike the typical upbeat musical special, Clarkson brings a sense of realism.  She talks about how people may be struggling at Christmas and shares a reassuring message.  The music is, as expected, phenomenal.

Scoring: 4

The Kid Who Loved Christmas (1990)

Rated: NR

Genres: Drama, Family

Starring: Sammy Davis, Jr., Della Reese, Esther Rolle, Cicely Tyson, and Vanessa Williams

Synopsis: A family is torn apart at Christmas when the wife of a couple, trying to adopt a son, is killed in a car accident and the husband, a musician, is deemed unfit to raise a child.

Review:  A bit heavy of a drama but there’s something so special about a non-biological father fighting so hard for the son he loves. Very emotional. 

Scoring: 3

A Kindhearted Christmas (2021)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Jennie Garth, Emily Tennant and Cameron Mathison

Synopsis: To capture the holiday spirit, Jaime anonymously gives gifts to those in need. Word spreads and people in town wonder who this "Secret Santa" is. She remains anonymous and meets Scott. Jamie tries to keep her secret and pursue a new romance.

Review: This movie embodies the spirit of Christmas. It has loving, giving, friendship, family, and community. It’s just one big warm fuzzy with an ending that will have you feeling sentimental. 

Scoring: 4

Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas (2021)

Rated: G

Genres: Musical, Religion, Romance

Starring: Demetria McKinney, Chaz Lamar Shepherd, Kirk Franklin, and Kendra C. Johnson

Synopsis: A new pastor finds romance during Christmastime while trying to get the church choir ready for the town’s annual Winter Jamboree.

Review: I found this to be a very entertaining movie.  There’s a perfect balance of drama, humor, music, religion, and romance.  The characters are interesting and I rooted for them.  The church secretary is so funny and so kind. 

Scoring: 3

Kirk Franklin’s The Night Before Christmas (2022)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Religion

Starring: Naturi Naughton, Loren, Lott, and Luke James

Synopsis: It follows an estranged mother and her daughter as they get caught in a snowstorm on Christmas Eve and are forced to take refuge inside a church. They meet a handsome pastor and a music teacher who motivate them to reconnect.

Review: This is a movie you feel as much as watch.  The religion is beautifully integrated through actions speaking louder than words.  Seeing them come together as a community and how the smallest acts can help people, shows the true spirit of Christmas.

Scoring: 4

A Kismet Christmas (2022)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Sarah Ramos, Carlo Marks, and Marilu Henner

Synopsis: It tells the story of Sarah, a children's book author who returns to her hometown where she reconnects with her family and her teenage crush. She soon discovers that a family legend might actually be true.

Review: It was a really good movie. Serious enough to get me involved in the characters' lives, funny in enough places to keep it from being dark, and sweet enough to make me want to watch it again. The leads have amazing chemistry. 

Scoring: 3.5

A Kiss Before Christmas (2021)

Rated: G

Genres: Romance

Starring: Teri Hatcher and James Denton

Synopsis: Ethan is a married father with two teens.  He wakes up one morning and is shocked to find he isn’t married, he doesn’t have kids, and he’s CEO of his company.  His wife is the key to be able to reclaim his original life and family.

Review: I’ve seen a lot of movies where the main character gets to see what had happened if they made a different decision. This may be the first where the lead is a male. I just loved it. Denton and Hatcher still have amazing chemistry. I could feel his sadness, especially when he sees the kids. 

Scoring: 4

A Kiss On Candy Cane Lane (2019)

Rated: PG

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Jillian Murray and George Stults

Synopsis: Two people rekindle their love during the holiday season.

Review: It’s a cute story.  It just lacks the depth and drama the story deserves.  We have a mom who abandoned her baby and a death and yet it felt like they just barely scratched the surface.  The movie is basically superficial.  It’s still an easy watch and you may want to check it out.

Scoring: 2.5

Kiwi Christmas (2017)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Synopsis: Fed up with the materialism of Christmas, Santa runs away to New Zealand for a summer holiday. When two Kiwi kids figure out who he is, they have to find a way to get him back to the North Pole in time for Christmas.

Review: This movie would be nice for families to watch together.  It was a little too silly for my taste, but I think children would love the silliness.  I’d like to point out that they’re camping at the beach because it’s summer in December in New Zealand.  Children might like that.  The rangers are so over the top it’s just right for creating laughs from little ones.  They also address that Christmas should be about the act of giving not the cost of the gifts.

Scoring: 2.5

Klaus (2019)

Rated: PG

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Starring: Joan Cusack, Rashida Jones, J.K. Simmons, Will Sasso, and Norm McDonald

Synopsis: A simple act of kindness always sparks another, even in a frozen, faraway place. When Smeerensburg's new postman, Jesper, befriends toymaker Klaus, their gifts melt an age-old feud and deliver a sleigh full of holiday traditions.

Review: Before I review this, you should know I’m not sure I’d let young children watch it.  Notice it’s rated PG.  There will be lots of questions about Santa Claus as this story tells another version of how he came to be.  Besides that, I loved it.  It started out dark and I couldn’t figure out how Christmasy this would be.  About halfway through I got completely absorbed in it.  I really liked the theme of acts of kindness inspiring other acts of kindness.  It gave me Christmas spirit.

Scoring: 4

The Knight Before Christmas (2019)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Romance

Starring: Vanessa Hudgens and Josh Whitehouse

Synopsis: A medieval English knight is magically transported to the present day where he falls for a high school science teacher who is disillusioned by love.

Review: What a delightfully whimsical story.  It doesn’t take itself too seriously and allowed us to laugh and just enjoy the magic of the story.  I loved the knight adjusting to modern day.  His terms; like steel horse for a car, were quite amusing.

Scoring: 4

Krampus (2015)

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Comedy, Drama              

Starring: Emjay Anthony, Adam Scott, Toni Collette, Conchata Ferrell, Allison Tolman, and David Koechner

Synopsis: An ancient demon from European folklore terrorizes a dysfunctional family at Christmastime.

Review: I knew about the legend of Krampus before watching this movie.  I expected it to be scary and I was dreading it because I hate horror films.  This had a short time where I jumped a few times, but it seemed more silly than scary.  Instead of a horned beast a guy is being terrorized by gingerbread men?  If I can sit through it it’s not too scary but I wouldn’t have children watch it.

Scoring: 2

Kristin’s Christmas Past (2013)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Romance

Starring: Shirri Appleby

Synopsis: Given the opportunity to visit her estranged family on Christmas Eve 1996, Kristin Cartwright hopes to change her past in order to improve her current life in 2013.

Review:  I think it would have been so much better having Kristin wake up as her younger self rather than with her. It’s a little odd. The story is so-so and I’ve seen worse but I’d recommend skipping it. 

Scoring: 1.5