MOVIE REVIEW
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Network: Hallmark Channel
Premiere Date: December 13, 2008
Hallmark Holiday Movie starring Henry Winkler (“Happy Days”),
Brooke Burns (“Miss Guided”) and Warren Christie (“October Road”)
CAST:
Brooke Burns ... Jennifer Cullen
Henry Winkler ... Uncle Ralph
Warren Christie ... Morgan Derby
Woody Jeffreys ... Richard Windom
Connor Levins ... Brian Cullen
PLOT:
from Hallmark-
They aren’t exactly the three wise men, but a snowbound stranger, a crafty uncle and a precocious boy may just have what it takes to remind one crazed woman what the holiday season is all about in "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"... a family film, which reminds viewers that you’re never too old to act like a kid again.
Jennifer Cullen (Burns) is a single, working mom who has become somewhat of a Scrooge when it comes to the Holiday season. Even her six-year-old son Brian (Connor Levins, “Eight Below”) is having trouble believing in Santa Claus. When Jen’s Uncle Ralph (Winkler), a retired police officer, comes to visit for Christmas, he brings along a new friend, a nomad and Jack-of-all-trades named Morgan Derby (Christie).
The two met on a flight, and Morgan’s plans to continue on to Denver are cancelled when he finds out the city is completely snowed in. Jen is wary of the stranger, but at Ralph’s request, agrees to let him stay the night.
She warms up to Morgan, especially when she sees how he interacts with Brian. Uncle Ralph approves of Morgan, too, but Jen’s boyfriend Richard (Woody Jeffreys, “Graffiti Flowers”) isn’t nearly as receptive. Meanwhile, Morgan has started to really like Jen, but if she can’t manage to make Christmas about anything more than business, Morgan will be on his way to Denver, and she’ll have missed the opportunity that was right in front of her.
Uncle Ralph has done what he can to keep Morgan around, but it’s going to take something more than that to get him penciled into Jen’s long-term plans. Jen just needs to learn “how to do Christmas,” and it turns out Morgan is the perfect one to teach her.
Movie Review:
This was one of my favorite Movies from the 2008 Christmas Season. It was delightful and fun from beginning to end! The young boy, Brian, was absolutely priceless. He spoke one of his lines so profoundly that it is now a favorite around our home, and repeated often.... "Organization saves time." It's a rather short and simple line, however it was said with a lot of feeling and it holds a great deal of meaning.
Brooke Burns character, Jennifer Cullen, is focused and driven... a list maker.... and it was so interesting to see how the freethinking drifter, Morgan, whom her Uncle brought home at Christmas -- completely unnerved her.
There were a lot of fun antics thrown in - such as... Morgan putting up Jennifer's Christmas Lights outside- and nearly falling off the ladder, the Christmas Wreath continually fell off the front door, Morgan later falls off the roof, and all in all... it's a very interesting, comedically fun Christmas! Very Entertaining! Lighthearted, Romantic, and Sweet! One I look forward to seeing repeat next year on the Hallmark Channel.
Small Caution: There may be a bit of Santa issues with this movie. However, since Young Brian doesn't know if he believes.... Uncle Ralph and Morgan go out of their way to try and convince him.
See or Skip:
See, it's such a cute Christmas Movie!
Hallmark Channel Movies: 
Holiday Road Trip
