Search - A Different Kind of Christmas on DVD

Jamie L. (geegee) from TRIMBLE, MO
Reviewed on 12/4/2007...

This movie is actually titled A Different Kind Of Christmas. It is a very good show starring Shelly Long, Barry Bostwick, & Michael E Knight, who plays Tad on All My Children. What is it like to grow up the daughter of Santa Claus? For Elizabeth Gates, it was her worst nightmare. Now she is the city attorney running for mayor and her well-kept secret is out! Jolly Old St Nick has decided to set up his year-round "Dream World" full of Christmas cheer and the reporters are having a field day with the stories! How will Elizabeth react? Watch this heart-warming story inspired by true events to see if the daughter of Santa can find the magic of Christmas she's been running from all her life.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Enjoyable holiday film

M. K. Glenn | Black Mountain N.C., | 08/10/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Christmas really can be about hurt feelings and sacrifices, especially if your dad is Santa all year long. For Elizabeth, Santa was not a happy thing, as she longed for a normal dad instead of a Christmas icon. When her dad moves to her town to be near his only grandson, Liz is forced to deal with long ago hurt feelings, and to accept that Santa Claus is also a loving father and grandfather."

Terrific Christmas Drama

M. Hill | Colorado | 11/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A Different Kind of Christmas has a strong cast - most notably Shelly Long and Barry Bostwick. The story centers on City Attorney Elizabeth Gates (Long) and her father, a man who spent most of his life pretending to be Santa Claus. He played the part convincingly year round, bringing happiness to countless people, except his own family. His wife and daughter were relegated to the background, their needs often neglected. After her mother dies when she's only 15, Long's character is filled with resentment and when it comes to her father her heart is hardened. She has simply been hurt too much.

Now a successful adult with a young son, her father re-enters her life in an untimely manner causing anger and humiliation. It appears that "Santa", after ruining her childhood, is going to destroy the life she's worked so hard to build. All of the old pain returns as if no time has passed. She tries to shelter her son from the hurt and continual disappointments her father inflicted by keeping his identity as the child's grandfather a secret. Despite her efforts the secret is about to be revealed in a very public way by a reporter played by Barry Bostwick.

The story is about a harden daughter's forgiveness of old wounds, a father's attempt to make amends and revive his relationship with his child and form a brand new relationship with his grandchild. I am a bit puzzled by the negative reviews because there are plenty of Christmas movies that are dramas about bitter people and their redemption - in fact it is the basic theme found in the most beloved of all stories - A Christmas Carol (Scrooge) which certainly isn't light hearted fare. Perhaps since Shelly Long is frequently associated with comedies, this role was unexpected. She is definitely not reprising her constantly over-analyzing Diane Chambers character from Cheers TV series. With that character nothing was left unsaid. In this role Long is playing a woman emotionally stifled now forced to confront and work through issues from her childhood. I did not find the momentum to be slow - it moved right along and kept my attention. This movie is suitable for the entire family. And, I won't be donating my copy of the film to the library or charity. I'll be keeping mine.
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A different kind of christmas

Maryse Malka | 08/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just loved this movie, and knowing that it is a true story makes me love it even more, just to think that there are people like that still in the world, that care so much makes me feel safe and good.
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