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One Magic Christmas (1985)

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48 comments in total

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9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
This movie is very special to me. It's a part of my childhood. I love it so much., 5 April 2005

Author: Amy2081 from United States

When One Magic Christmas came out in 1985 on TV, my mom recorded it on to a VHS tape. We had this beat up, bad copy of the movie. You had to turn the volume up all the way in order to hear anything, still this movie was amazing to me. Mary Steenbergen doesn't believe in Christmas or Santa. She is such a scrooge about the season, that not even her kids' excitement could change the way she feels. With an angels' help, her daughter Abby, tries to get her into the spirit. It's full of magic, adventure, enchantment, and many lessons learned. One Magic Christmas is funny, dramatic, and wholesome. It's one of those movies that you truly can watch with your whole family, and everyone will like it. My sister and I loved it so much when we were kids that we used to watch it year round. I love this movie very much. They just recently re-released it on DVD, so now I have a good copy of the movie that has meant so much to me growing up. I still say that it's one of my all time favorite movies!!!!

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9 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Best contemporary Christmas movie!, 18 December 2004

Author: Morgan Jones from London, Canada

I've been watching this movie every Christmas since it first appeared on CBC in the '80s, and I have to say, I spend most of the movie misty-eyed. In this familiar story of a woman who has lost the Christmas spirit and rediscovers it through being shown how fortunate she is, there are several excellent performances

and a strong feeling of magic throughout.

Mary Steenburgen, who plays Ginnie Grainger, the woman who has lost the

Christmas spirit, undergoes an amazing transformation and some of the most

heart-wrenching moments I've seen on film. Harry Dean Stanton, as the angel

Gideon, plays his part with sensitivity, and Gary Basaraba is excellent as Jack, Ginnie's husband. Abbie, the six-year old daughter of the main character, steals the show, however. She never seems to be acting, and carries the innocence of childhood and the magic of Christmas with her. Keep an eye out for a very

young Sarah Polley as Molly Monaghan, and veteran Canadian actor Jan

Rubes as the best Santa Claus on film to date, if only for his amazing costume.

Keep a box of tissues on hand when you watch this movie! It demonstrates that a movie can be magical without overwhelming special effects, and that a

Christmas movie can be sentimental without being schmaltzy.

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8 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Bittersweet holiday fantasy. Not for tots., 13 November 2001

Author: jckruize from North Hemis

Exquisitely made holiday fable with a decidedly dark edge, not unlike "It's a Wonderful Life" in tone. Mary Steenburgen is very convincing as a woman whose heart has been hardened by life's harsh realities. Christmas has become an empty ritual to her and it takes a highly unusual angel named Gideon (played by a softspoken Harry Dean Stanton in a long cattleman's duster) to make her see the light. Her conversion requires some grim but realistic machinations by Gideon, as well as the simple and unquestioning faith of her optimistic husband and children. But the result is an emotionally powerful finale that is honestly earned, not the easy tearjerking of lesser films.

Special mention should be made of the two terrific child actors who play Steenburgen's kids, especially Elizabeth Harnois as the youngest, Abbie, whose unsticky line readings are a treat. Character actor Jan Rubes makes a wonderful, matter-of-fact Santa Claus. The production is further enhanced by Frank Tidy's meticulous cinematography, some imaginative art direction, particularly in Santa's toy shop, and a lovely score by Michael Conway Baker. Thomas Meehan's scenario delves into some dark territory for a genre that is all too often treacly instead of real, but its clear antecedents are treasures such as "A Christmas Carol" and the aforementioned Capra classic. A word of caution, however: this is not recommended for very young children. But for 8 and above, and adults, it's a Christmas tale that may well become a perennial in your house, as it is in mine.

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the best (and most underrated) Christmas movies ever!, 25 December 2005

Author: Christina Warren (filmmakker) from Atlanta, Ga

One Magic Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time. While I don't remember seeing it in the theater (apparantly I did, but I had just turned 3 years old), I watched our videotaped copy (recorded off of the Disney Channel circa 1986) so many times as a little girl(regardless of the season), the first few minutes of the tape literally wore out, filling with snow and static. This, and the fact that I had every line memorized, has become something of Christmas Lore in my family. Tonight (Christmas 2005), I watched the film again with my parents and sister for the first time in many years, and was stuck by several things: first, how well the film has held up over the last twenty-years; second, how special and unique the message is from "traditional" family holiday movies that were made in the 80s and 90s; and third, how I still remember many of the lines of dialog -- they are indelibly etched into my brain after literally hundreds of viewings.

"One Magic Christmas" is sort of an alternate take on "It's a Wonderful Life" -- centering around a family who has fallen on hard times with a mother who never says "Merry Christmas" and is generally devoid of any holiday sentiment altogether. Her daughter Abbie, together with the Christmas Angel Gideon, embark on a plan to help her re-find the Christmas spirit.

Mary Steenburgen is fantastic as the loving, but icy mother. Her performance is very real -- she is both funny and dramatic, and her character is developed in a way that most family films omit. Harry Dean Stanton is perfect as Gideon, the angel - calming and knowing. You believe he is who he says he is. The child actors in the film are equally fantastic. In a family film, the kids can either make it or break it. These children act like real kids -- they aren't trying to be cute for the camera (although they really are adorable -- and this is coming from someone who dislikes most children on TV/movies) and they hold their own with their adult counterparts with ease. The little girl that plays Abbie is effortless in her portrayal of a girl with an non-wavering belief in Santa Clause.

Honestly, one of the things I think that I like best about this film is how real it seems. Considering magic and faith are primary elements of the story - this really says something. The acting is so good, the dialog believable, that the more mystical situations do not seem out of bounds. The film also delves into darker, more realistic themes than you get in most family fare. This is really exceptional, especially considering this was a Disney picture. The ultimate message of the film is heartening and poignant - even for those of us who are grown and long-since stopped believing in Santa and magic.

This is one of those movies that just feels good to watch. I can honestly say, even if this film didn't have the sentimental value it does for me, I would still recommend it as an excellent Christmas movie.

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Hands down best Christmas movie of all time, 12 December 2005

Author: MovieBuff25 from Canada

I first saw this movie shortly after it came out. It was back in the mid 80's. I remember watching it and loving it and telling my Mom about it. We've watched it almost every year since. Its kind of a sad story in a way but its so good. I can't explain why i like it so much. It just warms your heart. Harry Dean Stanton does a great job as Gideon, the Christmas Angel and Mary Steenburgen as the Mom who doesn't believe in Christmas is great. The best performance is Jan Rubes as Santa Claus. He is in my opinion the best interpretation of Santa Claus I've ever seen. I recommend that everyone watch this movie, its been 20 years and I'm still enjoying watching it every year. It isn't Christmas for me until I've watched this movie.

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Great riff on It's a Wonderful Life., 15 December 2004
Author: Lazlo (doom_conquers_all) from toronto

This is indeed an underrated Christmas classic! I saw this movie as a kid in the theater and my mom was a bit turned off by the disturbing nature of some scenes, but now that I've watched it as an adult, I love all the references to It's a Wonderful Life, and all the dark elements in the film. It's nice to see a holiday film that cuts through the schmaltz. People often label It's a Wonderful Life as being too sentimental and sappy, but seem to overlook the themes of suicide, child abuse, poverty and death that run throughout the film. Things have to hit rock bottom for George Bailey to see the value of his life, as is the case in this film. The sheer darkness of what could be, as shown by the angel Gideon, make Ginny's embracing the Christmas spirit all the more resonant.

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6 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
One Magic Christmas very magical, perfect for the Christmas season!, 8 December 1999
Author: Tony Soprano from Canada

One Magic Christmas seems to fall under the category of fantasy films that are suitable for the whole family, but especially relevant to adults. Like E.T. the movie is designed to tug at the heartstrings, and in the beginning it will initially strike viewers as somewhat heavy-handed and sad. But this film is worth sticking with, and it lives up to its title.

I went into this movie expecting a somewhat conventional Hollywood fable...complete with gooey sentiment and multiple climaxes. What I got instead was a thoroughly engaging, sensitively directed film that left me with a genuinely warm feeling in my heart, following in the tradition of It's A Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Carol. One Magic Christmas is a touching story with an ending that pays off. It should be a must see on everybody's list during the holiday season!!

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Excellent balance of darkness and redemption, 18 December 2006

Author: SteveFranklin from St. Louis, MO

Like "It's a Wonderful Life", this is a movie that avoids being overly sentimental by exposing real darkness in the protagonist before she gets the opportunity to miraculously gain a new perspective on herself and the people important in her life. Harry Dean Stanton is heartbreakingly genuine as the Gideon, the Cowboy Angel. As an old fan of John Byner as a comedian/impressionist, I was impressed that I didn't even recognize him in a dramatic character role until I saw the credits. The children's responses as tragedy unfolds are remarkable, simple, direct and real. As a fan of Mary Steenburgen, with a bit of a crush on her when I saw the movie, it was difficult to see her be so convincing as an initially unsympathetic character. This is a film with an edge, perhaps not for the faint of heart or skittish children, but it's the kind of movie I look forward to seeing again and love to introduce to friends.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
A fantastic Christmas movie, 30 November 2004

Author: aurora1066

This has been one of my favorite Christmas movies since I was seven. (Has it really been almost twenty years?) Warm without being sappy, it takes a different spin on the "person must be taught the true meaning Christmas" theme that has become something of a cliché. The magic feels organic instead of flashy, and events progress with out feeling contrived or strained. Like the best stories, (It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol) things get a little grim before the warm and happy ending, but it's never too dark or scary for kids. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for an interesting story that will leave them warm and satisfied at the end.

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5 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Not much Christmas cheer in this Holiday offering as Steenburgen plays the Grinch, 6 December 2003

Author: Joseph Riesenbeck (eazyguy62) from United States

The Grainger Family is not having a good Christmas. The father, Jack (Gary Basaraba)has been laid off. His wife Ginny (Mary Steenburgen)is working long hours at the local supermarket as a cashier for low pay to help make ends meet. The children, Abbie and Cal (Elisabeth Harnois & Robbie Magwood) often overhear their parents arguments about money. To make matters worse the Graingers are being evicted from their house, owned by the company Jack was laid off from. Despite all these problems Jack and the children manage to keep a certain amount of Christmas spirit. Ginny, however, is in a mood so foul you might even think her body has been inhabited by the spirit of the Grinch, twice over. Therein lies the crux of this holiday entertainment. The question is whether or not Ginny can once gain find the spirit of Christmas and realize that the most important thing in life is still the love of your family. It's your basic Christmas movie plot which means of course you need an angel. In this case it comes in the form of Gideon (Harry Dean Stanton), who makes contact with Abbie and tells her he'll help Ginny find her Christmas Spirit.

You have to hand it to the writer (Thomas Meehan)for coming up with what happens next. I understand there must be a little tragedy in life for someone to find redemption but Meehan gives us enough tragedy to fill three or four Christmas movies. In short order we get: a bank robbery, a shooting, a kidnapping, and a car crashing off a bridge and into a river. How's that for Christmas cheer folks? It does tend to make your worries about your Christmas credit card bills seem kind of insignificant by comparison.

Despite all that, the movie isn't quite terrible. Most of the actors do OK including a wonderful bit by Arthur Hill as the Grandfather. There are some nice whimsical scenes with Gideon especially one that takes place at Santa's workshop. The story may be your run of the mill Christmas plot, but it is as well put together as any others along this line. Unfortunately, there is one great big major distraction this movie just can't overcome. Mary Steenburgen's performance in this movie is absolutely the worst I think she could have given. After enjoying her so much in Melvin and Howard and in Time After Time, this was a major disappointment for me. If one of the actors who played one of the lesser characters had turned in a performance like this One Magic Christmas might have been able to overcome it. Since the story is about Ginny's finding what is important to her and most of what happens in this film revolves around her, the film is never able to overcome Steenburgen's performance. It is one note. She is cold and uncaring at the beginning of the film. Despite all their problems you would still expect her to show some warmth toward her husband and children but she doesn't. Later when she is faced with certain tragic events, it's as if she's trying to shake off her early performance in the film to find some emotional range but is unable to do so. Still later, when she should be experiencing the ultimate redemption, her emotions again fall remarkably flat and obviously superficial. Knowing Steenburgen's reputation, and my admiration for many of her other films, I think I'm going to take the easy way out and just blame it on the director.

Still, it's not completely awful for your average Christmas movie. Easily watchable, better than some of this genre but not as good as others. Parents: Be forewarned. If you have never seen this film it is my suggestion you view it first so you can explain certain events to your younger children before they happen on screen. Otherwise, your One Magic Christmas might turn into One Christmas Nightmare.

My Grade: C

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