The 12 Days of Christmas Eve movie review

MOVIE TITLE: The 12 Days of Christmas Eve

This family-friendly Christmas movie is now playing on the Lifetime channel, as well as Prime and Vudu.

RATING: TV-G

LENGTH: 1 hour 30 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B

IN A NUTSHELL:

When Brian Conway, a successful businessman whose family relationships have suffered, gets in a car accident on Christmas Eve, Santa gives him twelve chances to redo the day and repair the relationships in his life, including with his daughter Michelle.

The film was directed by Dustin Rikert, and written by Eirene Donohue.

THINGS I LIKED:

I adore Kelsey Grammer. He tends to play the same character in every movie, but it suits his personality. We even get to hear him sing a little bit. He sang the opening song in his popular TV show Frasier. I loved that show.
Spencer Grammar plays Kelsey Grammer’s daughter in the movie, and she really IS his daughter in real life!
I love movies that loop, giving the protagonist time to redo his/her choices to become a better person. One of the characters actually talks about that kind of movie and explains that the time loop stops “when they stop being selfish and start helping other people.” Kelsey Grammar played a Starship captain in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where his character had been stuck in a time loop for over 90 years.
There are plenty of positive messages about life and the true meaning of Christmas.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

It’s super cheesy and predictable.
There are quite a few bad green-screen moments.
The scenarios are ridiculous.
A surgeon who can’t figure out how to get a babysitter?
Spencer Grammer’s character is cranky, impossible to please, and demanding during most of the movie.
Some bad editing and transition moments.
Some bad acting moments.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Lots of alcohol
Talk of death
Adults will probably get more out of the lessons in the movie than their kids.

THEMES:

Hard work & sacrifice
Happiness
Second chances
Love yourself

FUNNY LINES:

“Mom and Jaylo say ‘love don’t cost a thing.’” – Harkin (Uschi Umscheid)

INTERESTING LINES:

“Christmas isn’t about gifting, but giving.” – Santa (Mitch Poulos)
“Life is too short to worry about people who don’t appreciate your big, beautiful heart.” – Brian Conway (Kelsey Grammer)
“I was so busy trying to give you a better tomorrow that I wasn’t in any of your todays.” – Brian Conway (Kelsey Grammer)
“Show me who you are.” – Brian Conway (Kelsey Grammer)
“The meaning of life is love.” – Brian Conway (Kelsey Grammer)
“When you realize that today is the only day you have, you have to make sure it’s the best possibly day it can be.” Brian Conway (Kelsey Grammer)
“The true meaning of Christmas: love! Love of family, love of friendship, love of humanity. After all, Christmas celebrates the birth of a love so great that just might save the world.” – Brian Conway (Kelsey Grammer)
“My Christmas wish is that you love yourself as much as I love you.” – Brian Conway (Kelsey Grammer)