ChanBot i must have seen a different film!!

Btexxamar I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

Connianatu How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

Megamind To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

karenizcool I am a big Jaime Ray Newman fan. So when I saw this was on I was beyond happy and excited. Now every fan knows that it takes a lot of bad plot to make you not like a movie your favorite actor is in. Now because this is a TV made Christmas movie, I shouldn't expect a whole lot.. But the story is just bad. I've seen a lot of ghost-type romantic movies, but this is just the worst portrayal of a ghost.**Spoilers**The Dad hangs around as a ghost, there's a bad suitor, and there's the counselor. Now I think there is just too much going on in this movie which takes it away from the actual budding romance. In the end in left me wondering, I don't really understand when they fall in love. Plus if you ask me, the Dad as a ghost is more of a bad influence for his son, and a year to get over the death of a husband?? It seems too soon for me. But hey I <3 Jaime Ray, that's why I gave it three stars. all for her.

Marla Reed Aside from a few sentiments that bothered my slightly feminist nature this is a charming and gentle movie.Both George Mendeluk and Michael Shanks describe Jamie Ray Newman as being very 'present' in her role of Susan Chandler and after seeing the movie I understand more clearly what they are saying. Susan Chandler just fills the screen with chemistry and energy.The only problem I had with Susan Chandler is that she seems a bit too self absorbed. Even with thinking that Kevin Harrison has a wife at home, she constantly imposes on him to look after her son while she pursues her 'love life'. I mean I would think it was very strange for someone's wife to allow him to just go baby-sit my kid on a moment's notice.After seeing this movie and even with knowing why Michael Shanks chose the role he did in it, part of me kinda wishes we could have seen what he would have done with the role of the ghostly father, Tom Chandler.In my interview with George Mendeluk, he says that Michael Shanks has a wholesome quality about him that makes Kevin Harrison so believable. Boy is this ever true. You just can't help but want to take this man home with you. He is gentle, caring, intuitive, intelligent and dedicated to helping Jonathan deal with losing his dad. Yet there is an air of sadness about him that tugs at your heart. When he finally reveals the reason for that sadness, you just want to hug Kevin and never let him go.It's easy to see why Michael Shanks was drawn to this role considering how devoted to his own family he is. If you haven't seen the movie yet, keep your eyes open for the bracelet he is wearing which is clearly visible in one particular scene. It is the one that his oldest daughter made for him and Michael Shanks told me it was part of what he was using to remind him of his own family life and using it to create part of Kevin Harrison's character.Burkely Duffield is really amazing in this movie and George Mendeluk is right, he is the one who brings it all together. Under The Mistletoe fore goes the stereotypical 'wisecracking' preteen who is smarter than the adults. Instead, Jonathan Chandler is filled with a childlike faith and sense of wonder that so often children lose as the head towards their teens. Burkely Duffield makes Jonathan come across as sweet and sincere.In many aspects, Under the Mistletoe is a 'by the numbers' storyline, yet it manages to rise about that and stand out because of the extraordinary cast of characters and the actors playing them, especially Michael Shanks and Burkely Duffield.Jonathan Chandler is very worried about his mother and he finds a safe harbor in Kevin Harrison who, instead of treating him dismissively for claiming to be able to speak to his deceased father, opens his mind and heart to the troubled young boy to really listen to him. The movie treats both Jonathan and Susan's issues of grief over the loss of Tom Chandler with respect, not as comedic fodder.The one thing I did come away with is that the movie to me is really more about Jonathan Chandler and Kevin Harrison's interactions, than it was about Susan and Kevin's. Susan Chandler in many ways seems almost secondary to this part of the story line as she blithely turns her son's emotional issues and problems over to a man she hardly knows, but immediately trusts to help him.On the totally shallow side, Michael Shanks is absolutely stunning to look at in this movie. His close ups highlight his eyes and his smile. The camera angles and blocking for this movie are definitely used to his best advantage, as it is with all the actors involved. This movie was clearly made by someone who wanted it to be focused on the characters, not on the scenery around them.Marla

caa821 This brand new Christmas movie (Lifetime - made in Canada - where most new Lifetime flicks seem to originate) is an excellent one. It has the ethereal aspects many such pictures have, reminiscent of "Ghost," sans a murderer. It's not a spoiler to indicate Jaime Newman's character (Susan) and her son (Burkely Duffield as Jonathan) lose husband/father early-on in an auto accident. He remains pleasantly "around" in somewhat the same vane as Patrick Swayze in "Ghost," although more positively so, and thankfully bereft of Swayze's wooden, often annoyingly-lethargic demeanor.There is a villain of sorts, but not with any real menace, with whom Susan becomes involved. Her son is drawn to his school's hockey coach and counselor, played by Michael Shanks (as Kevin).The story has its plot lines, of course, but its crux is the three leads "finding" one another, in a fulfilling way for all, but without shedding the memories of the losses they've incurred.All of these actors/characters are thoroughly engaging, and Ms. Newman, whom I had never seen, is both beautiful and likable. The film's supporting cast is also well-presented.The youngsters in films can often be annoying with a capital "A." It is always great to find ones who are the opposite (such as Michael Douglas' daughter in "The American President," or Tom Hanks' son in "Sleepless in Seattle"). Young Duffield is every bit as pleasant, believable and most of all, likable.This is one of the positive type of holiday films which should become one to be seen in many seasons to come.

alterangirl First of all, I just love Jaime Ray Newman and Michael Shanks. I'm a fan of both the Laura Cadman and Daniel Jackson characters.The thing I love the most about this movie is that the husband appears to Jonathan. While I don't believe it to be true, it's such a sweet thought, that your Daddy would come back to talk to you and give you guidance.It's rather ironic that Michael Shanks' character is the school guidance counselor. Shanks played a psychologist in the Stargate SG-1 episode "The Changeling." Also, I'm used to my OTP of McKay/Cadman, so seeing this made me think thoughts of Daniel/Laura.Damn. I think I might have found myself another AU OTP.