the audience applauded

So much average

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

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Middle-aged housewife Linda Hamilton (as Julie) is left by her husband for a much younger blonde. A series of unfortunate events leads the divorced and deserted Ms. Hamilton to become homeless. She meets similarly down-on-her-luck, but still beautiful-looking Brenda M. Crichlow (as Selma James) and they become friends. Living in her car agrees with Hamilton as she begins to get her act together. She dates exceptionally good-looking doctor Rob Stewart (as Michael Stern), after becoming acquainted with his lovable father Campbell Lane (as Max). The older man's characterization lifts this implausible TV Movie up a notch. Hamilton, who looks better homeless than she does in the early scenes, is unable to pull her part off; for one thing, she is made to play a seemingly intelligent woman who handles circumstances like she has no life experiences. Of course, there may be some divine intervention at work – like the Spirit of Christmas...**** Home by Christmas (12/25/06) Gail Harvey ~ Linda Hamilton, Rob Stewart, Brenda M. Crichlow, Campbell Lane

If you start to watch this movie and think about axing it within the first 15 minutes (like I did)... please give this movie a chance to redeem itself. Trust me, it does. By the last quarter of the movie, I was loving it. The first third of the movie is almost unbearable, acting mostly but even script writing is almost absurd... but if you bear through it to get to the the second-act, you start to really relate to the heroine of the movie and feel her pain. Even what's happened to her up to that point seem almost believable, despite the first act. Even in desperate times during life, wonderful people seem to appear out of the woodwork, as in this movie and it really makes you believe in something wonderful, especially at Christmas time. I really ended up enjoying this movie, even though I almost gave-up on it early on. In the end I loved it.

As much as the main lead was Linda Hamilton who I enjoyed watching the main reason for me watching the movie was to see Rob Stewart.He is a great actor who at times gets a bad rap,give the guy a break he was in two TV Series and had a number of films and TV Movies.I hope he comes back in another TV Series in a lead role, he will do great.I found who has a DVD on this movie and can't wait to get it so I can watch it again.Also right now Rob is doing a TV mini series for CBC Canada I hope they release it here in the United States.

Home by Christmas has the feel of a real life story. Linda Hamilton stars as a woman, Julie, who's husband leaves her for a younger woman. Devastated, Julie ends up moving out of her house and into an apartment in a rough neighborhood. This is only the beginning for her.Hamilton is a jewel here--this is one of the best performances from her I have seen. Brenda Crichlow was incredible in the role of Julie's friend, Selma, and Rob Stewart also turned in a good performance. This is one of my favorite Christmas movies on the Lifetime channel. Home by Christmas is a tale of survival and hope in the face of terrible, terrible hardships.