Masterful Movie

A Disappointing Continuation

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Most Christmas stories tend to focus on the holiday aspect and minimize religious/doctrinal overtones. This film, on the other hand, is overtly religious, complete with quotations from the New Testament, such as "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" (John 3:16), and exhortations such as "Faith, is believing in something that you can't really see", as if that's a good thing. The overt religious plug in this film can be quite off-putting for the non-religious.In contrast, 'Miracle on 34th Street' (1947), also starring Maureen O'Hara, succeeds in telling a warm and sweet Christmas story without plugging religion.By the way, you will notice that the little girl in 'The Christmas Box' is a dead ringer for Natalie Wood in 'Miracle on 34th Street'. I don't think that's accidental.

"The Christmas Box" tries to mix together several elements--corny melodrama, supernatural thriller, redemptive tale--but to my mind succeeds best at showing what good actors can do with fairly mediocre material. In the opening shot I thought, "Wow, got to be a Hallmark TV Movie"--which it is, I learned from the closing credits. That should tell you about all you need to know. Richard Thomas is quite good as the husband/father who needs to learn a lesson, and of course Maureen O'Hara would be great reading the weekly supermarket ad, so she makes this movie was very watchable. The movie has a "secret" that the plot hinges on, but if you haven't guessed it by the first ten minutes, you're not paying attention. That removed a lot of the thrust of the story for me, but it was still enjoyable going along for the ride. It's got a lot of sentimentality, but if a movie can't be sentimental at Christmas, when can it?

Before I watched this movie, or read the book, I didn't think it would be very good. Look at what I would have missed if I hadn't done either. It was truly a wonderful, charming movie, as a small family moves in with an older lady. If you would like to know what happens, I advise you to watch the movie. I really enjoyed both the book and the movie, and you will too. I give it a 9 out of 10.

I cannot understand the low rating of this movie. I have truly enjoyed The Christmas Box and believe it's a marvelous holiday movie. The acting was excellent and, once again, Maureen O'Hara proves that she is a true star. The Christmas Box is a film that could rival A Season for Miracles and It's a Wonderful Life. I highly recommend this movie, one of Hallmark's best films. Don't miss it!