it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

This made for TV-film needed some re-casting. THe actors in this film were good however they are in the wrong roles. Devoted father and husband Tom Chandler dies in a car accident, but appears as a ghost to his 11 year old son Jonathan. Now a single mother, Susan Chandler tries to concentrate on her reporter job and dismisses the idea of a ghost, but allows the school counselor, Kevin Harrison, to work with Jonathan. Now Tom's Ghost and Jonathan arrange for Susan to enter a radio show's dating game, and conclude that only Kevin, a widower and coach in Jonathan's former favorite sport, ice-hockey, will do as his stepdad, while she leans towards lawyer Greg Roberts.I truly think that the actors playing Tom and Jonathan should have been switched. The film would of been better served. Besides you can easily see why she was so deeply in love with her husband if he was played by Michael Shanks. If Conan Graham played a school coach you would see why Susan would never "Notice Him". Michael Shanks however stops traffic.

This Christmas movie is only made palatable by its three stars who all give good performances despite what is basically an incoherent, mish-mash of a plot. Jaime Newman creates a very realistic portrayal of a caring woman dealing with the unexpected death of her husband. She isn't perfect but she still tries hard. Michael Shanks is also very appealing as the school counselor with his own tragic past. While he went far beyond what school counselors would normally do, it still seemed believable. Finally, young Burkley Duffield also did a good job in making his character real without being obnoxious. (Why do kids in these movies have such an interest in their parent's love life anyway?) However, they are saddled by a plot that really makes no sense. The ghost of the husband who hangs around seems to have little to do with the plot. The radio contest is a complete plot contrivance. Frankly both ghost and contest could easily have been jettisoned and the focus of the movie on Newman's and Shanks' characters. Why not focus on these two attractive people who have to get beyond their personal tragedies in order to actually see what it is they need? And put it in the Christmas context if you feel the need to. Now that would have been a movie worth watching.

While I was expecting a "not too bad" TV movie, I was thoroughly surprised at the quality of this film. I found it totally believable and especially likable. The principal characters were extremely engaging. The story was very touching and the filming beautifully done. I even found myself thinking of the characters throughout the rest of the day and even for a few days afterward, always with a warm thought.One of the main reasons this movie works so well is because of the son, Jonathon. Many movies with kids are irritating and hard to get through because of the precociousness of the kids. Jonathon on the other hand is a truly likable young man even though he is going through a lot of "stuff". You never catch this young man "acting" and his portrayal of this character is topnotch.I would like to say "Well Done" to everyone on this film and encourage all to watch. This is a keeper!

First of all, I just love Jaime Ray Newman and Michael Shanks. I'm a fan of both the Laura Cadman and Daniel Jackson characters.The thing I love the most about this movie is that the husband appears to Jonathan. While I don't believe it to be true, it's such a sweet thought, that your Daddy would come back to talk to you and give you guidance.It's rather ironic that Michael Shanks' character is the school guidance counselor. Shanks played a psychologist in the Stargate SG-1 episode "The Changeling." Also, I'm used to my OTP of McKay/Cadman, so seeing this made me think thoughts of Daniel/Laura.Damn. I think I might have found myself another AU OTP.