It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

I try to watch this movie once a year at Christmas since it aired on television back in 1990. Mickey Rooney gives a touching performance as Elmer, an elderly homeless man who is taken in by a family at Christmas to repay them by doing chores around their house for having broken into their car previously and having taken some items. The children of the family have no grandparents and grow fond of Elmer. The movie is slow-paced at times and there are a few predictable twists to the story along the way, but it is a well-meaning and good-spirited Christmas film. I enjoy Christmas movies like this, that are not about acquiring stuff, but about the pursuit of happiness and the bonding with one another at Christmas. If you haven't seen this film, take two hours out of your life at Christmas and give it a viewing for the sentimental feeling of the holidays.

This movie is one I really have enjoyed since i first saw it in 1990. Mickey Rooney did a great job as Elmer.. If you love movies that is a tear jerker and that is centered around the holiday season, you will love this movie. I would highly recommend this film...

Good performances and a touch of the supernatural help along a solid sentimental journey.McCubbin's directing is impressively understated, and we'd like to see a little more. Where is this guy?