Quickie Movie Review: "One Magic Christmas"

Rated: G (US and Canada)
Starring: Mary Steenburgen and Harry Dean Stanton
Released: 1985

Synopsis: Harried mother Abbie Grainger (Mary Steenburgen) is just not feeling the Christmas season.  With a non-compassionate boss and her family's financial troubles, she sees no reason to be jolly.  When things spiral out of control, it'll take a Christmas miracle to bring her family back together.

My Review: I'm saying as little as possible about this film because it just wasn't memorable.  Disney may have some holiday hits, but The Santa Clause, this movie is not.  Though there were some positive themes--such as being willing to give of yourself--all of them were overpowered by the sheer dullness of the film.  Unless you're a Yuletide flick fanatic, I have to recommend you skip this one.

Content Concerns:

Sex: Kissing. 4.5/5
Nudity: A woman is seen in the shower from the shoulders up and the knees down, and later in a towel. 4/5
Language: The h-word is used once. 4.5/5
Violence: A man is fatally shot.  Three people get into a car accident that appears to be fatal.  (Spoiler: All of that is undone via a Christmas miracle.) 3.5/5
Drugs: None. 5/5
Frightening/Intense Scenes: Along with what was mentioned under "Violence," a bank robbery occurs, and there is a scene or two of emotional intensity. 3/5
Other: The theology of angels is quite skewed, and God is mentioned in a disparaging way. 3.5/5

Score: 1.5/5