Family Christmas Movie Reviews

Welcome to the database of family Christmas movie reviews that I have compiled for both Peace Love Christmas and Jeff Marshall, Movie Blogger.

If you are looking for a family movie to enjoy over the holiday season, you’ve come to the right place. In this database, which will be updated often, you will find all of the romantic Christmas films I have reviewed along with the director, cast, plot and my detailed thoughts along with my rating from 0 to 5 stars.

Keep in mind that every family has their own standards as to what is and is not appropriate for their particular clan, so please take these choices with a grain of salt.

My suggestion in using the database is to take a look at the titles on the Table of Contents, click on a title that sounds intriguing, and it will take you directly to my review. 

As I mentioned above, this will be a consistent work in progress, so if you don’t find a title that grabs your attention, come back again and maybe your luck will change.

If you’d like to suggest a movie to add to the database, please do so in the comments at the bottom of the page.

My hope is that this will be a time-saving resource for you during the holidays when you are in the mood for a couple hours of relaxation in front of the television.

Over the course of the next few weeks and months, keep an eye out for other databases that will be added to the site – including comedies, dramas, romances, animated movies, holiday specials and documentaries.

CHRISTMAS BREAK-IN (2016)

Director: Michael Campa

Starring: Cameron Seely, Danny Glover and Denise Richards

PLOT: Izzy is left alone at school when a blizzard hits her town. When she discovers three bumbling crooks have taken shelter in the seemingly empty school and taken the school custodian hostage, she decides it’s up to her to save the day.

RATING: *1/2 out of *****

REVIEW: Imagine HOME ALONE in a public school rather than a $400,000 Chicago suburb dwelling, and that’s basically all you need to know. I’m not a HOME ALONE fan, but this sad knock-off makes me want to re-think my feelings. If someone told me this had been written by a 5th grader, I’d totally believe it.

It takes the most banal cliches from the most banal family movies we’ve seen a thousand times, and the result is one TOTALLY banal movie. Nothing works here. And lucky me, I was drifting asleep during the last half hour so had to re-watch a third of this thing again just to be fair. Glover lends an air of dignity to any movie in which he participates – that’s just his aura. And any fleeting moments that work belong to him. But it’s sad to see him reduced to sub-sitcom material like this.

In a way I resent movies like this, because the filmmakers feel they have to pander to children. I think today’s kids are a lot cleverer than we give them credit for, and they deserve more challenging material than this. Bah Humbug, indeed!

THE CHRISTMAS BUNNY (2010)

Director: Tom Seidman

Starring: Sophie Bolen, Florence Henderson and Colby French

PLOT: A lonely foster child finds an injured rabbit on Christmas Eve and brings it to the Bunny Lady to nurse it back to health.

RATING: **1/2 out of *****

REVIEW: While it’s hardly the next holiday classic, this is a pleasant enough little family film that brings in moments of Christianity and may even warm a few hearts and possibly bring a tear or two to those easily moved by somewhat manipulative movies about little girls and their pets. It also gives us a chance to see the late Florence Henderson in a role 180 degrees away from Mrs. Brady. Avoid at all costs if you are allergic to overly sentimental movies – this one is geared toward the Hallmark crowd.

THE CHIRSTMAS CHRONICLES (2018)

Director: Clay Kaytis

Starring: Kurt Russell, Darby Camp and Judah Lewis

PLOT: Siblings Kate and Teddy Pierce hatch a scheme to capture Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. When the plan goes awry, the kids join forces with a somewhat jolly Saint Nick and his loyal elves to save the holiday before it’s too late.

RATING: *** out of *****

REVIEW: This was an enjoyable albeit frustrating experience because with a couple little tweaks and some editing, this could have been at least a 4-star experience. Russell excels in his modern take on Santa, and I would rank his as one of my favorite St. Nick portrayals.

Camp and Lewis are likable protagonists for whom we have a rooting interest, and their rapport with Russell feels genuine. The scenes showing how Santa goes from house to house so quickly are very clever.

However, this is not going to be a popular opinion, but I was not overly fond of the elves in this movie. One particular scene in which an elf is charging between the legs of a male character while brandishing a chainsaw feels totally out of place and completely unnecessary. The family plot involving the deceased dad and overworked mom feels overly familiar, and 15 minutes off the running time would have helped with the flow of the movie overall.

A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS (2022)

Director: Clay Kaytis

Starring: Peter Billingsley, Erinn Hayes and Julie Hagerty

PLOT:  Ralphie returns to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had as a child.

RATING: **1/2 out of *****

REVIEW: I honestly didn’t have extremely high hopes for this long-awaited sequel to the 1983 holiday classic, and those expectations were pretty much met. Except for a strong last 20 minutes, this movie fails to come close to the magic and nostalgia of its predecessor. In fact, the frequent flashbacks and returning characters and references to the original only make us miss it that much more.

Bob Clark’s A CHRISTMAS STORY was anchored by strong actors such as Darren McGavin and the underrated Melinda Dillon as Ralphie’s parents. And forgive me for being blunt, but the kids from the 1983 movie didn’t grow up to be the strongest of thespians. I was particularly dismayed by the casting and performance of Hagerty. She will always have a free pass with me because of her involvement with AIRPLANE!, but nothing about her feels remotely close to the Mrs. Parker that Dillon originated. In fact, I kept waiting for the revelation that Ralphie’s mom had passed away, and Hagerty was playing his stepmom.

Except for the sake of nostalgia and perhaps a desire to try capturing lightning in a bottle again, this movie feels perfunctory and unnecessary. With the exception of a quite funny scene involving Christmas carolers, there isn’t a memorable character or situation to be found. It’s not bad on the level of something like JINGLE ALL THE WAY or CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS. So I’m not necessarily yelling Bah Humbug, but at the same time I’m not screaming Deck the Halls!

MICKEY’S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS: SNOWED IN AT THE HOUSE OF MOUSE (2001)

Directors: Roberts Gannaway, Tony Craig and Rick Calabash

Starring: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy

PLOT: When a snowstorm prevents Mickey’s guests from returning to their houses for Christmas, Mickey hosts a party for all of them. To entertain them, Mickey shows some spectacular Christmas-time cartoons.

RATING: ***1/2 out of *****

REVIEW: There’s something about seeing the whole arsenal of Walt Disney characters gathered together in a social setting, just like real actors at an awards show or celebrity gathering, that makes me somewhat giddy. The movie is basically just an excuse to show a bunch of the oldies but goodies, and while I don’t consider Mickey and Donald quite on the same level as Bugs and Elmer and the Warner Brothers gang, it nevertheless brings back wonderful memories for us older kids at heart and can hopefully convert newer fans who are only used to the meager offerings on The Cartoon Network.

And allow me just a moment to fanboy geek out. I am one of those weirdos who has always imagined real-life backstories for cartoon characters. For instance, I always imagined Bugs and Daffy were very close in real life, but Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble hated each other when not on TV together. (I know, I’m a total nerd.) So seeing the wicked stepmother from CINDERELLA and the evil queen from SNOW WHITE sharing a table next to the crocodile and elephant from FANTASIA while watching a Chip and Dale Christmas cartoon is the biggest embarrassment of riches one could ask for and a wonderful addition to the holiday season.

THE NIGHT THEY SAVED CHRISTMAS (1984)

Director: Jackie Cooper

Starring: Jaclyn Smith, Art Carney and Paul LeMat

PLOT: All is not well in the North Pole. An oil company risks ending Christmas forever by using dynamite in the Arctic to find drilling sites. Santa Claus marshals his elves in an effort to appeal to corporate executive Michael Baldwin, his environmentally attuned wife and their gift-loving children. A trip to Santa’s workshop, guided by the bearded one himself, just might be needed to save the day!

RATING: ***1/2 out of *****

REVIEW: Of all the holiday films and specials I’ve seen for the first time over the last few years, this TV movie is one of the rare examples I truly feel will become part of my annual viewing tradition – both because of what makes it GOOD and what makes it BAD. And the BAD is so deliciously fun that it almost becomes GOOD.

The only real bust are the scenes involving LeMat and his boss Mason Adams and the oil drilling stuff. They are boring and repetitive and cliched but thankfully don’t take up much of the film. Young R J Williams gives the most cloying child performance of the 80s – and I ate up every horrible second of it. Smith succeeds when she is asked not to talk and to just stand in awe with her eyes glistening as she takes in the wonders of Santa. When she talks, not so much. Carney makes a wonderfully inspired Kris Kringle, a more down to earth and practical guy rather than the cliched ho-ho-ho rosy-cheeked saint we’ve all grown to know and love.

And I smiled when the filmmakers threw in a quick scene of political correctness when it’s pointed out that Santa is a pacifist and doesn’t give guns for Christmas – only mom and dad do. Scenes at Santa’s North Pole village are beyond stagy, and the pre-CGI effects feel ancient, but in service to a holiday movie like this, it all seems to work. I didn’t get the lump in my throat I was hoping for at the end, but I legitimately felt a bit more holiday spirit than before. And for that, I am thankful.

And I can’t end this review without mentioning diminutive Paul Williams as Santa’s lead elf – a role he was born to play!

PETE’S CHRISTMAS (2013)

Director: Nisha Ganatra

Starring: Zachary Gordon, Bailee Madison and Molly Parker

PLOT: Fourteen-year-old Pete suffers through a thoroughly unenjoyable Christma. To his dismay, when he wakes up on what was supposed to be December 26th, he discovers it is Christmas all over again. As he repeats the same terrible day again and again, Pete slowly comes to realizes that family is the best holiday gift of all.

RATING: ***1/2 out of *****

REVIEW: This is a familiar but surprisingly enjoyable family film that I think will entertain pretty much any age group. Even though it’s PG, I found nothing offensive at all. Gordon makes for a very appealing protagonist – his middle child syndrome makes Jan Brady look well-balanced by comparison, and I think many kids will relate.

It’s derivative of GROUNDHOG DAY almost to a fault, but if you’re going to copy a movie, you might as well make it one of the great comedies of the 1990s! I was pleasantly surprised how charmed I was, and although it realistically probably deserves a *** rating, the game cast and holiday goodwill make me want to give it an extra boost. It’s rare to find a halfway decent family film that walks the fine line between pandering to the kids and going way over their heads.

THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Featuring the Voices of: Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara and Nona Gaye

PLOT: When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. 

RATING: **1/2 out of *****

REVIEW: Based on the beloved children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg and featuring award winning filmmakers at the helm, I would have imagined this to be a potential all-time classic. Instead I was bored throughout, unmoved and, for some reason, the animation came across kinda creepy to me.

I was trying to think of the words to use in this review, then a perfect analogy hit me. The Oscar-nominated theme song is sung by Josh Groban, and my feelings toward this movie are somewhat analogous of my feelings toward him. Technical precision and obvious talent but not a lot of heart.

Most Christmas movies, even the bad ones, get me at least somewhat emotional. This left me cold. The voice work is serviceable, although God bless Eddie Deezen, but his work as the Know-It-All Boy drove me to start drinking earlier than normal. And I don’t think it was necessary to use Hanks for multiple characters. The musical score is crazy monotonous and borderline intrusive. I’m afraid this won’t be one I’ll be revisiting on future holidays.

PRANCER (1989)

Director: John D. Hancock

Starring: Rebecca Harrell, Sam Elliott and Cloris Leachman

PLOT: Refusing to give up her belief in Santa Claus, Jessica Riggs discovers a hurt reindeer in the woods, which she believes to be Prancer. With the help of a sympathetic veterinarian, Jessica takes care of the wounded creature. It’s supposed to be a secret, but eventually a store Santa Claus, the girl’s dad and the entire town find out about Prancer, leading to big problems for Jessica and her family.

RATING: ** out of *****

REVIEW: I freely admit that reviewing a bad movie is usually a lot more fun than reviewing a good one, but I honestly don’t want to trash a movie about a little girl and an injured reindeer one week before Christmas. But I’m afraid it’s part of the job.

Boy, this is a rough one! It features one of the more irritating child performances I’ve seen in awhile. It features the always reliable Sam Elliott, whose performance is fine but whose character is so insufferably grumpy that by the inevitable about face at the end, it’s too little too late. And it features Cloris Leachman who apparently thought she was appearing in HOCUS POCUS.

I usually get the warm fuzzies at the end of a movie like this, even if it’s less than stellar, but this one left me as cold as Jack Nicholson at the end of THE SHINING. Kids may enjoy the reindeer, but I encourage adults to sneak in their iPhone and catch up on Instagram.

A VERY BRADY CHRISTMAS (1988)

Director: Peter Baldwin

Starring: Robert Reed, Florence Henderson and Ann B. Davis

PLOT: Mike and Carol Brady are looking forward to spending the Christmas holiday with their six adult children and their former housekeeper Alice, but various issues may keep them apart. Every Brady sibling has a set of problems, marital or otherwise. However, their own difficulties are eclipsed when their father is trapped in a collapsed building. For the Bradys to have a happy holiday, it’s going to take a Christmas miracle.

RATING: *** out of *****

REVIEW: After hours of intense thought and deliberation, I have decided to let nostalgia outweigh common sense and give this a slightly passing grade.

I know most of the performances are on the level of what you would find in an Eggo Waffles commercial, including some of the most annoying child acting in history. I know the plot and writing are below the standards of your average sitcom, including a dramatic twist at the end that feels totally out of place when compared with the rest of the shenanigans. But how can I give a negative review to a Brady Bunch movie on Christmas Eve? Even my three-sizes-too-small heart couldn’t fathom the thought.

I do wish the filmmakers had used a bit more imagination – perhaps do something satirical along the lines of the theatrical movies that came along a few years later. But in the end, I suppose it accomplishes what it sets out to do, and those who grew up with the sitcom will appreciate seeing most of the original cast reunite. And I’d be lying if I said I will never watch this again.

YOGI’S FIRST CHRISTMAS (1980)

Director: Ray Patterson

Starring: Yogi Bear, Boo Boo and Ranger Smith

PLOT: With the help of a curmudgeonly hermit, a bratty young boy named Snively schemes to scare away guests and undermine the annual Christmas carnival at his aunt’s resort in scenic Jellystone National Park. Roused from peaceful hibernation by noisy revelers, a frazzled Yogi Bear and his trusty sidekick Boo Boo investigate and eventually join in the festivities, much to the chagrin of Yogi’s erstwhile arch rival Ranger Smith.

RATING: ****1/2 out of *****

REVIEW: With the exception of my beloved Emmet Otter, I don’t think any other Christmas movie or special has quite the nostalgic impact as this does for me. I recall watching it every Christmas at my grandparents’ house. This was in the days before VCRs and DVD players, so I had to basically plan my life during Christmas vacation around whenever this would air on WGN.

I love the late 70s/early 80s animation, I love the characters that I grew up with on Saturday mornings, I love the whimsical songs, I love the Laff-a-Lympic winter battles in which the characters compete… I could be wrong, but I don’t think you can quite appreciate it unless you grew up in this era. It fills me with so many feelings of reminiscence from my childhood that I almost become nauseous. But in a good way, of course.

In essence, it takes me back to a time when all my parents and grandparents were still alive and life just seemed a bit more innocent and special. It’s one of those occasions when I can’t be unbiased because of the special place it has in my heart. But nostalgia aside, I find it a heckuva lot of fun and my Christmas just isn’t the same without it.

More Christmas Movie Reviews For You:

Top 10 Popular Christian Christmas Movies and Specials

Angel in the House Movie Review

Free Hallmark and Hallmark-like Christmas Movies on YouTube

35 Free Romantic Christmas Movies on Tubi