Nice effects though.

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

The acting in this movie is really good.

You needn't view this fine family film at Christmas time to enjoy it. Its message transcends the seasons and speaks to the goodness people demonstrate, and the gift of the family arrangement God gave to us.Set in the late Depression Era, the moral of the story is timeless and is clearly pertinent to our time.Merely for its costuming, settings, and appointments this upbuilding film deserves an award. If you grew up during the Fifties, you surely will recall many homes which looked as do the lovely homes in this film.Home decor is straight from the late thirties/forties and every bit of it is lovely. The 'floor mode' radio is quite authentic as are all the tobacco cannisters, green desk lamps, and the railway - everything.Saw this film a couple years ago on THIS TV, and thought well enough of it to purchase it for the collection.The father's devotion is demonstrated in the little things, making a sleigh for his kids, spending time with them.If you've a heart you'll surely find it warmed by this fine story.Paul Vincent Zecchino Manasota Key, Florida 26 December, 2012

I wanted to like this movie. I really did. After watching it and reading some of the reviews on here, I can only assume they were written by individuals who had some sort of hand in the making of this film, or know someone who did.I'm trying to find something likable about this movie, but I can't think of anything. The characters aren't fully developed, so you don't really care what happens to them.When the annoying Carol Lee says she wants a bike for Christmas, you don't really care if she gets it or not. There's no indication she has done anything to deserve such a gift during a time when her parent's income is struggling.We're supposed to feel sorry for her, and for her father, Joel, who just can't afford the bike. Instead of him doing odd jobs or other measures to come up with the $, he storms out of the house on Christmas Eve to buy a bike with 1/8th of what it costs in his pocket.The sad part is, you don't give a crap when he shows up back at home without the bike. He spends money that was to go towards an electric bill on Coke's for his buddies at work, and now we are supposed to be sad when he is going to disappoint his child because of his bad decisions? I sure didn't.The acting is horrible, the camera shots remind this viewer of a college film class, and the story is severely lacking any emotion.Moreover, the 1940s element adds NOTHING to the movie. If anything, it served as a distraction due to the lack of historical details and accuracy. I can forgive Christmas movies that have a certain degree of cheese, but this one is just plain awful.The Simpsons were able to pull off a better Christmas tale that involved the family getting a dog in 22 minutes, than this one did in 54 minutes. It's sad when a cartoon that features yellow characters can capture the holiday better than this turd of a movie.

This was by far the very worst movie I have ever seen. Terrible acting, terrible dialog, terrible camera-work, terrible soundtrack. That being said, it was also highly enjoyable BECAUSE of how terrible it was. My brother-in-law made a comment that this seemed like an amateur acting class's video documentation of a rehearsal. Overacting children, broody father, simply laughable "southern" accents, TONS of anachronisms - divine! By far the best part was the end, when the stray dog appears, is pulled around/clasped by the children, and is obviously struggling to flee. I recommend this movie after a few glasses of wine. Don't forget to pay attention to the scene in the beginning, when the mother is dressing her daughters for bed, and seems to be stuffing them into sacks. Ah, PBS.

Wonderful little film with likable characters, especially the two little girls. Sure to be a Christmas favorite for children and adults alike. Set in rural America at the beginning of WWII, it paints a vivid picture of how small-town American families were having to struggle to make ends meet while the country was gearing up for war. A touching story with an delightful and unexpected ending! For film enthusiasts everywhere, this is a rare example of how quality films are now being made in rural America worthy of mainstream distribution. Lensed entirely in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, authentic locales like this are gold mines for filmmakers searching for unique period settings. This should encourage more production to rural areas all across the country.