Sadly Over-hyped

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Mickey Rooney plays Mike Halligan, a retired cop from Manhattan living in California with his family who decides to show his grandson, who has never seen snow before, what a real white Christmas in New York is like. But he dies from a sudden heart attack in which Halligan makes a deal with the Archangel of Heaven to return to Earth for a week until Christmas and show his grandson the seasonal glories of New York City.The film is so well made that you can overlook the flaws. The casting is spot on. There is never a dull moment. The film works so well because it does make New York City a co-star. I also love the bound between Mickey and Scott. The film is not available on DVD. You can get used VHS copies. Originally running 96 minutes I am afraid that if the film is shown on commercial television that they will cut about 12 minutes out! If you see a VHS buy it.

There are many, many better Christmas movies out there to watch than this one. Mickey Rooney plays Mike Halligan, a retired New York City detective who dies before Christmas and is sent back to Earth to find an alcoholic angel and sober him up in time for Christmas to spread the Christmas cheer to the citizens of New York. Along the way, the retired detective kidnaps his grandson and is supposed to show him a real New York Christmas. The trouble is, there is nothing very Christmassy about death or New York City with no Christmas lights or decorations. Obviously filmed during the summer, this movie has no feeling for Christmas whatsoever. Scott Grimes, who plays the grandson, is a lousy actor for a kid, he can only portray a chipper, bright-eyed sparrow on the screen even when the scene calls for a deeper, emotional moment. Lots of sub-par acting and virtually no storyline make for a really bland Christmas movie that should be moving at times, but instead comes off as forced and weak. I don't understand all the high ratings for this film, it misses the mark so often and lacks any true depth of feeling in it's characters. Don't waste your time with this one, you will only be bored and disappointed I'm afraid.

This movie is a wonderful film that I have been trying to find on dvd for my children to watch as I did when I was young. Didn't know it was a TV movie which goes to show just how good of a movie this film was.Mickey roonie and his voice is part of my childhood..

This movie offers a humorous look at the meaning of life and the holiday season. Mickey Rooney plays a retired NY City police detective who dies and is sent back from heaven to find a missing Christmas angel. While he and his grandson search for the angel, who was on a mission to spread Christmas cheer, they find that Christmas, and life, is what you make of it. Excellent for all ages.