The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000)

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Spencer Breslin and Halle Hirsh

Synopsis: A girl steals a weather machine from Santa Claus to make a snow day. The machine breaks, and causes an out-of-control snowstorm.

Review:  This is a good family film but children will probably enjoy it more. There are funny moments but I liked the theme of family togetherness. 

Scoring: 3

The Ultimate Gift (2006)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Family, Religion, Romance

Starring: Drew Fuller, James Garner, Abigail Breslin, and Bill Cobbs

Synopsis: A deceased billionaire leaves his spoiled adult grandson a series of odd tasks to perform in order to receive "the ultimate gift," with the resentful grandson having no idea what that might be.

Review:  I don’t consider this to be a Christmas movie as Christmas is a small part of it but I know many do so I’m including this review. As a movie, it’s got a great message. Jason learns the value of people rather than the price of things. Seeing his journey is special.  

Scoring: 3

Unaccompanied Minors (2006)

Rated: PG

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Family

Starring: Wilmer Valderrama, Rob Corddry, and Jessica Walter

Synopsis: A group of unaccompanied minors bond while snowed in at the midwestern Hoover International Airport during the holiday season and ultimately create a makeshift holiday themselves.

Review:  Yet another movie filled with rebellious children and their entertaining antics. I think it will be liked better by children than adults. I found it to be a little too silly for me. 

Scoring: 2

Uncle Nick (2015)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy

Starring: Brian Posehn, Missi Pyle, and Paget Brewster

Synopsis: At his brother's traditional Christmas Eve party, lecherous, drunken slacker Nick works hard to make the celebration a raucous disaster.

Review:  This may not be rated but it is explicit and should not be watched by anyone but adults.  I found this movie to not only be distasteful but boring and just plain gross.  I felt it was not only a waste of time but I wish I could go back and not watch it.  If you like gross, in your face, depravity, this may be for you.  Everyone else, save your time.

Scoring: 1

Undercover Christmas (2003)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family

Starring: Jami Gertz, Shawn Christian, and Tyne Daly

Synopsis: An FBI agent is assigned as the protective custodian of a straight-talking cocktail waitress after she agrees to testify against her tax cheat boyfriend.

Review:  This is one I really enjoy. It’s campy and fun but also deep and meaningful. I really cared about the characters and wanted them to all be happy. 

Scoring: 4

Unlikely Angel (1996)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Religion

Starring: Dolly Parton and Roddy McDowell

Synopsis: Dolly Parton portrays a country music performer who meets an untimely demise.  She cannot enter heaven until she performs a good deed back on Earth, to get a workaholic widower and his children back together again for Christmas.

Review:  Parton portrays a colorful character in this charming and moving story. The message of love and loss is relatable to many. It is a predictable story but enjoyable nonetheless. 

Scoring: 3

A Very Brady Christmas (1988)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Family

Starring: Florence Henderson, Robert Reed, and Ann B. Davis

Synopsis: The entire Brady family manages to overcome personal obstacles to spend a happy holiday together.

Review:  A typical Brady story. It’s about dealing with struggles but in a very G-rated way. It’s also about family and togetherness. If you like The Brady Bunch you’ll probably like this. 

Scoring: 3

A Very British Christmas (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Rachel Shenton and Mark Killeen

Synopsis: Opera singer Jessica's flight to her concert in Vienna gets delayed and she is stuck in a remote area of England. The only place to stay is a bed-and-breakfast in an enchanting village run by a handsome widower named Andrew.

Review: What an enchanting romance.  The characters are magical yet relatable.  The scenery is beautiful.  The little girl is so adorable and quite funny.  It’s more about relationships and the town than Christmas but there’s enough Christmas to give the feeling.

Scoring: 3 

A Very Country Christmas (2017)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Greyston Holt, Bea Santos, Greg Vaughn, and Deana Carter

Synopsis: Jeanette is a busy single parent, trying to make the best life for her and her daughter. With no time to follow current celebrity gossip, Jeanette is unaware of when a Country superstar returns to their small town to escape the intrusive paparazzi and the chaos of fame. A chance meeting between the two have them both letting their guards down and opening their hearts to the possibility of romance.

Review:  A sweet and lovely story. The daughter is so adorable and adds to the emotions of the scenes. You get your happy ending but it’s a beautiful story. There’s some good country music as well. 

Scoring: 3

A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)

Rated: R

Genres: Adventure, Comedy

Starring: Kal Penn and John Cho

Synopsis: Six years after their Guantanamo Bay adventure, stoner buds Harold Lee and Kumar Patel cause a holiday fracas by inadvertently burning down Harold's father-in-law's prize Christmas tree.

Review:  I haven’t seen their other movies but it’s pretty easy to figure out they are just as crazy. Their antics and adventures have a  Griswold feel but upped to add everything inappropriate you could think of. It’s funny but definitely only for adults. 

Scoring: 2

A Very Murray Christmas (2015)

Rated: TV-14

Genres: Comedy, Musical

Starring: Michael Cera, George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, David Johansen, Rashida Jones, Bill Murray, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock, Maya Rudolph, Jason Schwartzman, and Paul Shaffer

Synopsis: When a blizzard shuts down the production of Bill Murray’s live holiday broadcast, he makes the best of the situation by singing and celebrating with friends.

Review: This would have been even better as a variety special.  It’s mostly singing and dancing.  Very entertaining and festive singing and dancing by very talented people.  The attempt to add a plot to it is just strange.  Ignore that part and just celebrate the music and the talent.

Scoring: 3

A Very Nutty Christmas (2018)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Starring: Melissa Joan Hart, Barry Watson, and Melissa Jaret Winokur

Synopsis: Kate, a workaholic baker, has given up on Christmas, especially this year, when her boyfriend dumps her and she's got to fill an order of 12,000 cookies before Christmas. However, the gift of a magic nutcracker who turns into a real man makes the once cynical Kate understand the magic and beauty of Christmas--and of love.

Review:  A nutcracker coming to life sounds weird but somehow it worked. The whole movie I was waiting for the end expecting sadness but I loved it. I’ll definitely watch again. 

Scoring: 3

A Very Vintage Christmas (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Jesse Hutch, and Patricia Richardson

Synopsis: An antique shop owner finds a hidden box containing an eclectic collection of mementos. She decides to make it her mission to deliver it to her rightful owner. 

Review: If I had to describe this movie in one word, I’d say sentimental. It’s not just the romance of the vintage store. It’s the two love stories, the mission to find the couple, and all the feelings it all evokes. It’s a new plot I haven’t seen before which is refreshing. A lovely tale. 

Scoring: 3

A Veteran’s Christmas (2018)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Family, Romance

Starring: Eloise Mumford and Sean Faris

Synopsis: Captain Grace Garland, a decorated US veteran, returns home after two tours of Search and Rescue in Afghanistan. After being separated from her beloved K9 partner, Grace must rediscover the magic of Christmas. When Grace finds herself stranded in the town of River's Crossing a couple weeks before Christmas, the local judge Joe Peterson, offers her a place to stay on his property and takes it upon himself to show Grace everything she has been missing; Christmas, family, community, and love.

Review:  A sweet story about coming home from war when you have no one to come home to. Charming characters with a beautiful setting and lovely Christmas traditions. 

Scoring: 3