LastingAware The greatest movie ever!

WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Greenes Please don't spend money on this.

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

karababe_64 After falling in love with Michael Shanks on Stargate, I've been trying to get my hands on some of his other work. This wasn't worth the effort I had to go through to find a copy. Shanks does what he can but even he can't make up for the cheesy lines and major plot holes.The aspect that bothered me most was the attitude of the mother. She acted more like a spoilt 16 year old than a professional women in her 30s with an 11 year old son. And I wasn't buying her grief either. For someone who apparently had the fairytale marriage, she was able to switch off her grief at the drop of a hat.Burkely Duffield does a pretty good job as Jonathan and has good potential for the future.The one highlight that made the 90mins bearable was Michael Shanks as Kevin Harrison. I totally bought him as a kind and caring teacher. I was hoping to see more of him skating though but that's just my wishful thinking ;-) For Shanks fans I recommend only watching the scenes he is in. For everyone else avoid it unless you like cheesy Christmas movies with cliché dialogue and no real plot.

rabodom I must admit that the main reason I was drawn to watch this film was it had my favorite actor, Michael Shanks, in it. I have never tired of his 10-year portrayal of Dr. Daniel Jackson (from the Stargate SG-1 series), because he makes every scene he is in memorable. In this film, as a school counselor, he showed convincing empathy for the family, and especially to the son, who was grieving for his father. As a counselor myself, I applaud how Shanks worked to draw Jonathan out using his interest in hockey, and by showing Jonathan that he cared by always being invitational. The direct eye contact Shanks used with every one, and his gentle, loving spirit made the ending no surprise. The only faults this movie had were writers who tried to tie everything up too nicely in the end. I would have also liked to have seen more interaction between Shanks and Jonathan's Mom, and less of the ghostly father. All in all, however, it was a good Christmas film that will not offend any one, and benefits by having good actors who care about their craft.

ovaga1 Christmas stories often have an ethereal spirit which leads the main character(s) to a new awareness or life. "The Christmas Story" is a prime example where the ghost of Robert Marley and the other "spirits" lead Scrooge to a new life of loving and giving. Much in the same vein, "Under The Mistletoe" engages the audience in the same manner, without seeming derivative. It is a wholesome, modern Christmas film, that should become a yearly favorite. Jaimie Ray Newman radiates on screen. She is totally believable as the mourning widow with a son who can not let go of his father, who has died, but remains visible to him. Burkley Duffiled as her son is a fine young actor, handsome, and natural as the loner who can only see into the other world. Michael Shanks, as the new father in his life, is refreshing in his departure from "Stargate". And Connan Graham fulfills his role as the "ghost", the departed father, admirably. The action hockey sequence is bound to engage the hockey fans and the kids as in the "Mighty Ducks". Well produced and put together film with a sure and steady hand in directing.

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.