The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2008 TV Movie) User Reviews

An overly familiar plot....presented in a fresh and delightful manner

[gee-15 · 7/10 · 28 December 2008]

Christmas-themed romantic comedies seem to be all the rage right now. You can watch about a hundred of these movies every December and the plots are generally the same: attractive single father (or mother) with steady, stable (boring) boyfriend (girlfriend) and cute kid(s) meets seemingly inappropriate man(woman) who works their way into their heart as well as instills the "true" meaning of Christmas. There are a few variations (sometimes Santa gets involved, sometimes there is some kind of magical element). The variation I like the least involves the children doing the matchmaking (Ugh! What child of any age has ANY interest in his or her parent's love life?) What does "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" offer? Nothing new EXCEPT sharp writing, actual comedy, and Henry Winkler.

Yes! Winkler really makes this movie with his funny, warm portrayal of our heroine's interfering uncle Ralph from Brooklyn. This is the first comedy I've seen him in in a long time, and he really does shine in these kinds of pictures.

However, Brooke Burns and Warren Christie are also very fun to watch as the mismatched couple. I liked that they didn't make Burns a Scrooge who hates Christmas. She is simply a busy woman who loves her son and wants Christmas to be special. And in her desire to do so, has lost sight of what Christmas should be. And kudos to Connor Christopher Levins who gives a boy with some mature habits (his penchant for organization) some very real childlike desires (his wish to believe in Santa even when logic dictates he shouldn't).

The plot moves along very briskly and the movie seems to end all too soon. Would that we could all be neighbors to such warm, funny and attractive people! There's even a good message about how we need to stopping stressing about Christmas.

My favorites quote (from Uncle Ralph): "When it comes to life, she's dumber than a bag of barber hair!"

Enjoyable

[deborah-kerr21 · 7/10 · 8 November 2014]

Watching movie Christmas 24 ..cosy, enjoyable movie. Just one quibble with continuity....when Jennifer takes Morgan to airport she is wearing loose dark purplish check jacket with grey scarf. When they return from airport (via toy shop) she is wearing fitted light grey jacket and royal blue scarf. Magical, eh? Apart from that, I really did enjoy the movie. Sometimes I almost felt as if Henry Winkler was ad-libbing, and if so, it worked. Whilst the plot is predictable I would not have had it any other way. A nice film in the run up to Christmas. Would recommend. Get out the popcorn and relax. It will help get everyone in the mood for the big day.

Henry Winkler for the win!

[ISmellSnow · 8/10 · 31 August 2020]

Hallmark, we need more comedy like we have in this movie!

Very cute movie.

[CranberriAppl · 16 November 2010]

I am a sucker for Christmas movies. A Christmas Story, Home Alone, all of the old classics, I just adore them. They just get me in the mood for family, relaxation, and of course, the TRUE meaning of Christmas. This movie was no exception. I caught it for the first time December 09 during our first of five blizzards last year. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was funny, charming, good leads, a cute kid, a decent story, and Henry Winkler. His Uncle Ralph was great. I was able to catch it from the beginning this time, so I enjoyed it even more. It aired on Hallmark on Sunday and I plan on keeping it on my DVR through the season.

....If You Like Season-Themed Romantic Comedies...

[boblipton · 7/10 · 13 December 2008]

...And, I must admit, I do. Of course, there are few surprises in the plot. You know, as you start the movie, that the happy couple at the start of the movie is not the happy couple at the end of the movie, that the course of true love never runs smooth and so forth. So how do we get from point A to point B and is the trip worth it?

For me, this little TV movie is worth it, partly for the scenes of Brooke Burns coping in a brittle fashion with holiday stress -- negotiating for the hot Christmas gift on behalf of her son. dealing with manic Christmas-light neighbors or trying to figure out how to cook a turkey -- but mostly for Henry Winkler playing her goofy cop uncle from New York. Goofy humor is, all too often, the province of young actors. Older actors are all too often worried about their serious career and too embarrassed to play intellectually sloppy characters. Henry Winkler is still willing to take that risk and I am grateful for the chuckles. Watch this and you will likely be too.

A Hallmark Top 10 Best Ever Christmas Movie

[videonutz · 10/10 · 16 February 2020]

Definitely One of Hallmark's Top 10 Christmas Movies of All Time. The entire cast is Amazing and Henry Winkler is Magnificent. Don't Miss this Remarkable Hallmark Christmas Movie. Trust me ...... You will Definitely want to Add it to your Annual List of Holiday Favorites.

A lovely warm hearted film

[studioAT · 7/10 · 6 December 2017]

A delayed flight, a woman who's lost sight of what Christmas is all about, and a kindly Uncle all combine for this wonderful Christmas Hallmark film, that pulls you in and provides a lovely 80+ minutes of entertainment.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and thought the cast (including Henry Winkler no less) did a great job. The story line is sweet and funny, and actually has some important messages thrown in along the way.

There are lots of films that claim to be 'Christmas classics' that really aren't, but this is a worthy contender.

A new addition to my annual list of favorites!

[cam3150 · 9/10 · 16 December 2008]

This movie is for you if you like pure romantic fluff in a Christmas setting. I personally love these type of movies so I loved this one. It's complete escapism for me but I'm also a romantic at heart. This one will definitely go in to my annual rotation and, if it does come out on video, I'll be purchasing it.

With these type of movies, the romantic leads don't always have chemistry but Brooke Burns and Warren Christie have boatloads of it. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Warren is one of the best looking men I've seen in a while :) The story is cute and uncomplicated - The Uncle of an impossibly beautiful single mom (Jen) shares a flight with an impossibly beautiful guy (Morgan) in his 30's who can't seem to settle down in one place (read: very full Passport). Several snow storms and canceled flights later, the Uncle convinces his niece to allow the "stranger" to stay with them "for just one night" until the airport re-opens. One night turns in to 2, etc, due to some finagling by the uncle who is convinced that Morgan is good for his niece. He is considerate, kind, helpful with household chores, and is wonderful with her son. He really helps Jen to find the "Christmas Spirit" so to speak. Not helping matters is that Jen has a boyfriend who is a self-centered jerk complete with $800 shoes and completely stuck-up parents. He is awful with her son and is responsible for the plot point that eventually drives Morgan and Jen together.

Yes, it's predictable. Yes, it's "fluffy". But, in all reality, that's what makes it an enjoyable movie for me. I love romance movies anyway and I really love those that are set during Christmas. If you feel the same way, and aren't looking for anything more out of it, you will love this movie.

Full of the usual cliches but still very enjoyable.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 2 November 2021]

When you watch Christmas films these days, there's a certain sameness about many of them. This is NOT a criticism, as many folks KNOW what they're in for with these films and they love them...much like romance novels. So, when you see "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", you'll notice that there are a lot of familiar story elements AND you know exactly where all this is going...but you likely won't mind.

I should also point out that "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" has many similarities and shares many plot elements with my favorite Christmas film, 1949's "A Holiday Affair"....though there's enough new stuff in this one so that it's not really a remake...more a re-imagining.

Uncle Ralph (Henry Winkler) is a nice guy who, along with his deceased wife, raised Jennifer (Brooke Burns) . And, he's on the way to her house for the holidays when he meets up with Morgan (Warren Christie) at the airport. The two end up becoming friends and Ralph invites Morgan to accompany him to Jennifer's house for at least the next day or so, as Morgan's connecting flight has been canceled due to the weather. Ralph also has an ulterior motive....as he dislikes Jennifer's all-business fiance and hopes he can play matchmaker and get Jennifer and Morgan together. He also wants to do this because Jennifer has a son...and the fiance likely would make a cold and crappy step-dad.

As I said above, the story is pretty predictable and the story is familiar. But the acting and production are so well done, you won't likely mind. Enjoyable and sweet...and a nice Christmas film for the whole family...even curmudgeons.

The Fonz

[bl-63974 · 10/10 · 28 December 2020]

There is no question who the real star of this movie is. Every scene hes in Henry Winkler steals without even trying. The other actors compliment him, and he is a joy to watch

pleasant

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 1 December 2015]

Wow, major raves for this one. I must admit that for me, this was just another predictable Hallmark movie with a young, attractive cast.

The film from 2009 stars Brooke Burns, Henry Winkler, Warren Christie, and Woody Jeffries.

Burns is Jennifer Cullen, a single mom feeling overwhelmed by the holidays. She will be meeting her boyfriend's (Woody Jeffies) parents and serving them dinner, which she finds frightening.

When her uncle Ralph (Winkler), a former cop, arrives, he wants a young man, Morgan (Warren Christie) to stay at the house also. Jennifer flips out. This is all she needed.

Morgan proves plenty useful, hanging her Christmas lights, helping with the meal, and breaking into a store to retrieve her son's gift.

We all know what happens. Not exactly a spoiler.

Sweet movie, nice for the holidays. Warren Christie, who is actually Irish, is quite the hunk and has been a recurring actor on many TV series, and a regular on Alphas.

ONE OF THE BEST !

[linda-plant2 · 10/10 · 22 December 2019]

Just shows how a good a film is when the cast are mature and experienced actors, and this is one of the best Christmas movies from Hallmark. Henry Winkler has some of the best lines in humour, and Brooke's mutterings under her breath at her neighbour started the film off well. The main leads had chemistry and the storyline was excellent. It may be over 10 years old but this film will stand the test of time - play it again in 20 years time and we'll still laugh at it. More like this please Hallmark, and yes, why not ? a sequel.

More than your average Hallmark Channel movie

[millenniumf1138 · 7/10 · 29 November 2020]

Around this time of the year I roll my eyes at the movies playing on Hallmark Channel or Lifetime Movie Network... they are usually schlocky, have the exact same characters, and depend way too heavily on the "liar revealed" trope, and of course my parents love watching them all, to my chagrin.

I almost skipped out this one back when it aired, but I'm glad that I didn't. This one stands out to me because the writing is a bit unconventional for a Christmas schlock-movie. The main characters feel like real people, but with a bit of a flair to them that stand out. Henry Winkler in particular is a standout and his style makes this one a movie I look forward to watching. Brooke Burns is also very good at balancing the overstressed boss role with a loving mother role, and I find myself really appreciating her performance in this movie.

That being said, this is not a perfect film. It's got some flaws that keep it from a higher score for me, such as the cheap fake snow in some scenes, the standard camerawork, and average musical score. However, I don't think any of that means you should skip out on it. If you get a chance to watch this one on TV, give it a watch. You will probably be surprised!

Fonz plays match-maker

[MartianOctocretr5 · 5/10 · 22 November 2009]

It's another rom-com meets Christmas themed movie. If you wondered whatever happened to Fonz, he's a veteran New York cop or something. As late December approaches, he travels to visit his only living relatives, a niece and her son who live in Chicago. Now, hold your breath: through some incomprehensible turn of events starting with almost missing his flight to Chicago, his niece (a single mom of course) agrees to let this stranger (a square jawed guy with 3 days' stubble) stay at her house.

OK: Uncle Fonz. Single Mom. Square-jawed guy with 3 days' stubble. Kid. One more element needed: the obnoxious uppity business minded wrong-guy-for-her dude who's always talking on a cell phone. Antagonist cliché in place; here we go.

Give the cast credit: they take this jumbled premise and make a story out of it. Uncle Fonz and the beard stubble guy provide most of the jokes. Several gags do work: the sound effects for Kris Kringle's visit scene was actually pretty funny. The romantic tension between the triangle members has its moments. Since it's a rom-com, the public address system bit (like the whole movie) has to be taken with a grain of salt, or you'll roll your eyes so hard they'll hurt.

Will the guy she's known for two days win the girl over a jerk? Who can possibly guess?

Possibly my favorite Hallmark Christmas

[disneyed · 9 December 2018]

I really love this movie. There's humor, romance, conflict, warmth and sentimentality. What's not to love about Henry Winkler? And there is real chemistry between the lead characters. A movie that even your husband may enjoy!

One bad scene

[swarner-74260 · 7/10 · 17 December 2015]

What a shame. One bad scene puts a negative spin on an otherwise great Christmas flick. I really enjoy the characters, amusing one-liners, and predictable but fun plot. Henry Winkler is a bright spot as always. Unfortunately, the scene when the main characters assault a man behind his store and then leave him lying unconscious is just too foul to overlook. The characters behave as though beating a man with a metal trash can is a big joke, but there's really nothing funny about it.

I like everything else about this movie. What a shame that someone didn't see the implications of a violent scene and edit it before the film was released. I still watch the movie at holiday time, but that one scene spoils it for me every time.

Really Special

[brookenichole-98054 · 8/10 · 11 December 2020]

These are the types of Hallmark movies I miss. That budding romance, terrific acting, amazing chemistry, and cute storyline. Everything flows naturally and as the movie progresses it just keeps getting better and better! Overall, it's such a great movie that feels different from most.

Why Am I Writing This in 2018?

[statuskuo · 6/10 · 25 December 2018]

If you're a Christmas cornball like me, you search these Hallmark flicks out on the Eve of or...I dunno, you want to know how others view these things. Let's be real here...it's really schmaltzy and phony and REALLY suburban Caucasian. This is the movie Alfonso Ribeiro would be ashamed to watch. That said, boy is it the best time to watch these things. Single mom Jennifer (Brooke Burns) is a structured corporate analyst who is too ambitious to deal with Christmas. Seems to run in the family, since her mother also dodged the holiday. Enter Uncle Ralph (Henry Winkler) a retired Chicago policeman who travels to see his favorite niece and son. Solid set-up. Along the way he meets chiseled jaw uber-White Morgan (the Whitest name in Hallmark's database) who is a drifting artiste. He instantly takes a liking to him and spends the rest o the flick playing matchmaker. Morgan's only competition is the son of a jeweler who is constantly on his cell phone. The instrument of ubiquity in 2018, in 2008...only the biggest money-grubbing WASP used it like a lifeline. Jennifer is anti-Christmas, and battles with the spirit until Morgan the free spirit helps her remove the candy cane from her rear. Of course. The son is annoyingly cute but poorly casted. Yes, he's suppose to be precocious but he's also pretty easily fooled by Uncle Ralph's weak story about the reality of Santa. Only thing I can think of is that it supports another reason for Jennifer to seem human. The dialogue is awful. WAY too much exposition such as "I know I'm a corporate analyst" is impossible to act. But really typical of Hallmark (on a budget storytelling). Though, I have to say, Henry Winkler is the only guy who can play this type of corn convincingly. Super new respect for the way you balances the sentimental moments. If done poorly, he could be Tony Danza and no one wants that.

The love interest, Morgan is really still an enigma. And most likely a con man. He supposedly is meeting someone in Denver to start a restaurant business but isn't in that much of a hurry to get there. He speaks of travel, but doesn't seem all that sophisticated or worldly. He seems to lack no ability to earn a living, and seems more to be a grifter. There is a moment when he is going to get a girl at a toy store for Jennifer's son. The set up is clunky and the solution to fight the shop owner to get it seems more out of "Barfly" than this movie. It's ridiculous in that sense that this drifter would easily be in jail. There was a simpler solution...since he wasn't familiar with the shopkeep, he could have the alarm go off, casually pretend to be a parent and beg to buy the bike. Yeah, I get it, not as cinematic as cranking a greasy guy in the mug with a trashcan. By the way, man would be dead, at the angle he was hit. But it's player for laughs, and it fails miserably.

By the way, Morgan speaks nothing of his friends, family or nothing else other than his experience at how magical Christmas was to him. Yeah, that says nothing and really makes him more creepy than anything. When anyone attempts to ask him a question, it's a shrug and a change of topic. Though they want us to believe he is kind, since he is handsome, we STILL know nothing about him at the end. Which would make Uncle Ralph as a former cop, a complete idiot and give you an uneasy feeling he goes on a "Stepfather" murder spree post credits. Eesh.

You can fill in the rest. What I can say, as a holiday movie, it does the best with the blandest material possible. It is better than most of these and will fulfill your need of false expectations. That's essentially the core of Christmas as we celebrate it on every level. every time Jennifer says "Can you do me a favor?" take a hit of the egg nog. You'll be housed midway through. All in all, this is a buoyant film. Yes, we know the outcome and I feel like a complete fairy for sitting through it, as a guy. The Christmas music really sells it. Brooke is also too pretty to be in this flick.

Cozy little Christmas movie

[jedijaney · 10/10 · 14 December 2008]

While channel surfing last week I saw just a glimpse of a preview and although I had no idea what the plot would be about I thought I would give it a try to see what "The Fonz" would be like in a Holiday flick.

I wasn't expecting much....and I LOVED every minute. The plot in a nutshell is a single mom and her young son are looking forward to spend the Holidays with "Crazy Uncle Ralph" and her boyfriend's family. While at the airport Ralph meets a wandering dashing stranger and because his flight is cancelled he spends the Christmas season with them.

Romantic and Christmasy, cute and cozy...this is a perfect movie to cuddle up under a blanket with a hot cup of cocoa next to a fireplace with the special someone. I thought the acting was great considering it is a made for TV movie and Morgan, the stranger, is HOT with a capital H.

Check it out to get in a cheerful mood for the Holiday season!

Adequate

[SanteeFats · 6/10 · 3 December 2014]

Another Christmas movie. It is not a comedy but it is interesting enough. Henry Winkler is a retired cop who comes to his daughter's and her son for the Christmas season. Henry brings along a man he found at the airport who had no place to stay. This guy turns out to be a lot better than the guy the daughter is dating. He has flair, unlike the boyfriend, who is a real tool. He proposes in front of a bunch of people, what is she to do? Of course she feels compelled to accept. She then finds out what a tool her fiancée, no longer that is. She dashes to the airport to look for the guy and after her plea is broadcast over the PA they meet and obviously get together. A decent enough movie for he season but not great.

Henry Winkler 1 of the all time greats

[jdrmusicgod · 10/10 · 10 November 2018]

Henry Winkler is one of the all-time greats. My family watches this Christmas movie several times every year. I still laugh at Henry's sense of humor in this film. This is a feel-good family Christmas movie. I also enjoy the chemistry between Morgan Durbin and Jennifer Cullen. This is an all-around great movie!

Modern Christmas story has humor, charm and warmth

[SimonJack · 8/10 · 11 January 2016]

"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is one of the better modern Christmas stories put on film. My eight stars may be pushing it a bit because at times the acting seems wooden or hesitant by the two young leads. At other times, especially early on, Brooke Burns as Jennifer Cullen seems to over act, or over react. Maybe it's that so many films focus on the busy-ness of people around the Christmas season that this seems to be wearing thin in the modern run of films.

The engagement between Jennifer and Richard, played by Woody Jeffreys, isn't believable. The guy is so intense as a businessman that he doesn't show any affection toward her at all. He doesn't smile one time in this film. Yet she insists several times that "Richard is a good man," etc. It's a real stretch for viewers to think or believe that she could be in love with that guy. The screenplay comes up short in these areas; and the directing should have put some life into Richard.

While it may seem a little hokey that Uncle Ralph (played by Henry Winkler) would invite a stranded airline passenger, Morgan Derby (played by Warren Christie) to spend Christmas with his family, it hearkens to a similar situation in the highly popular movie of 1987, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." Morgan seems a little awkward at first, then uncertain of himself, then a little forward toward Jennifer.

Still, this is a good story - and a refreshingly fun film. It owes most of its appeal to Winkler. He is a retired police officer from Brooklyn who is making his annual flight across country to spend the Christmas holidays with his niece and nephew. He meets Morgan in the airport, and Morgan pulls a little caper with Ralph's help to get them checked in at the head of the line, and moved up to first class. On the plane flight out, he tells Morgan that Jennifer is more like a daughter than a niece. And his nephew, Brian, is played beautifully by young Connor Levins. It seems to be a formula for all films in which a single parent child appears, that the child intuits who the right mate should be for his or her mom or dad. Well, it's that way here with Brian taking to Mogan right away and not caring for Richard. But of course, we viewers can see the same thing just in how the characters are presented.

The film has some nice touches of humor throughout, especially with a busybody neighbor. Uncle Ralph takes every opportunity to push Morgan toward Jennifer, and to ease her out of her engagement to Richard. Jennifer knows what he's doing, and part of the humor, and warmth, is their interaction. The relationship between Ralph and Jennifer shows a very believable and lovable chemistry between an uncle and a niece. That's one of the strengths of this move. I agree with the reviewer who noted the fight scene with Morgan and the store owner. Playing that for humor detracts from the value of this as a family film. Hallmark tried to make it seem innocuous, but that's sending a message to a child that white lies are OK.

Overall, though, this is a Christmas film for adults that one might add to his or her holiday film collection. Here some favorite lines in this film.

Richard Windom, after they watch his jewelry commercial on TV, "So, what'd ya think? They start running tomorrow." Jennifer Cullen, "Um, I, I have to be honest. You really shouldn't be doing your own commercials." Richard, "I know I'm awful. But sales are up 32 percent. Everybody wants to see the terrible guy in the ad."

Uncle Ralph, stopping an airport employee, "Excuse me, miss, I don't see Chicago. Can you help me?" Airport Employee, "No, I can't." Uncle Ralph, "And they pay you?"

Stephen Windom, "What about the turkey? It's Christmas. I don't want to eat Chinese."

Morgan Derby, entering young Brian's room, "You keep a very neat room, Brian." Brian Cullen, in the trait of his mother, "Organization saves time."

Rita, the nosey neighbor, "So, uh, who's your friend?" Jennifer, "Oh, I don't know. My uncle found him on the airport floor."

Henry was the star

[LtlHippo · 5/10 · 18 December 2021]

First, let's talk about that assault with the garbage can. Horrible, could have killed the man and they ran away laughing. Worst part of the movie. Who let that one through? Second, did she ever say YES to his proposal? I mean, read the body language everyone in that room. LOL Just an ok movie, but I sure wouldn't let a stranger stay in my house.

I'm going to have to start flying home for Christmas!

[adamjohns-42575 · 8/10 · 25 November 2020]

The film starts with Andy Williams singing the song that gave this film its title. That in itself is a good start. If the budget stretches to popular music, they generally don't skimp on anything else too much.

The Fonz is a retired Police Officer on his way to see his niece when he meets a gorgeous guy, Warren Christie, that he thinks would be perfect for her, despite the fact she already has a man.

Shenanigans ensue as the build up to Christmas Eve and the big day that follows is prepared for. Can she get the turkey right and impress the boyfriends parents? Will she get to the shops on time to get that all important present? Or will she need a little help along the way?

* At this point I have to ask why Americans leave their seasonal prep so late? They were only putting the tree up on Christmas Eve and the night before that, she was just starting to write cards, that I'm pretty sure never got sent, let alone arrived in time for the big day. I know it's 2020 so it's a bit different this year, but I already have two trees up, two bags of presents wrapped and the cards are ready to go and it's only November 22nd! Leaving it until the last minute doesn't make sense to me and it means you don't get to spread out the joy for very long at all.

It all comes together in the end for Jenna and the romance in the film is cute, you can actually see the flirtation and the interest building between the two leads, which I've found to be lacking in some of the others I've seen lately.

Hey!! You can't go wrong if the Fonz is in it, I mean look at the success of "Scream".

To be watched multiple times with loved ones

[snowyfminor · 10/10 · 21 July 2020]

The first time I saw this film I was a cynical 32-year old man who prided himself on ridiculing crappy entertainment, especially TV movies. Yet somehow I remember quietly enjoying this formulaic effort from Hallmark.

Nothing more or less, frankly.

As such, I quickly forgot about it as the movie became yet another stone in the vast graveyard of Hallmark's countless Christmas offerings.

The very next Christmas I caught it again and found myself rather impressed by Henry Winkler's portrayal of Uncle Ralph: so warm, so funny and charismatic, so thoroughly goodhearted. His presence in the film is as every bit as magical as Harry Dean Stanton's in "One Magic Christmas."

The main male protagonist, Morgan, seemed to be especially easy to root for. The kid actor was not obnoxious, and the matter-of-fact, oft cold-hearted Jen seemed vulnerable as well. The film's villains, however, are wooden and one-sided, but that was part of the fun.

With every subsequent Christmas (I'm now 39) I'm always a little shocked at how invested I become in this movie and the emerging romance of our leads. Believe it or not, but you will find yourself caring for these people, whether you want to or not.

Of course, what we're really seeing in this film is the mirror of our own lives, the projection of our regrets and fantasies alike. And what we need now more than ever are good-natured fantasies that point us to be a better place. The pictureseque Chicago suburb that is portrayed in the film could never really exist in our ever-divided and disturbed culture and society, but isn't it pretty to think it could?