The 12 Days of Christmas Eve (2022 TV Movie) User Reviews

This is what a Christmas movie should be like...

[paul_haakonsen · 7/10 · 29 November 2022]

Now, when I sat down to watch the 2022 Christmas movie "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve", I must admit that I was expecting something good, since the movie had Kelsey Grammer on the cast list, and he is usually quite good in movies such as this. I have not heard about "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve" prior to sitting down to watch it.

Writer Eirene Donohue managed to put together not only a very wholesome storyline here, but also a script that proved very entertaining and enjoyable. And the writer really made this feel like a proper Christmas movie, so thumbs up on that accomplishment. Eirene Donohue really gave director Dustin Rikert something grand to work with here.

The acting performances in "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve" were good, and just as I had assumed then Kelsey Grammer really made this an enjoyable movie with his performance. He is a great actor and really shines in a movie such as this. But I will say that they had a good cast ensemble in general, and the actors and actresses put on good performances on the screen.

If you enjoy Christmas movies then you definitely have to watch "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve". This does without a doubt have the potential to become a Christmas classic. I genuinely enjoyed watching this movie and was quite entertained. It is a wholesome Christmas movie that doesn't fall into that usual sappy romantic formula, you know where a man and a woman fall in love against all odds, that many Christmas movies unfortunately have a tendency of doing. This is a movie that really brings to the screen the purpose of Christmas and the holiday spirits.

My rating of "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve" lands on a well-deserved seven out of ten stars.

For a TV Movie...not bad at all!

[mclarhe · 6/10 · 22 December 2022]

So we've all become familiar with the standard Hallmark/Lifetime holiday movie season. Most of the movies follow very familiar formulas, and that can be great, but they do tend to run together after a while.

This one, though, stands out a bit. Part of that is Grammer's performance, he's a perfect moodern Scrooge analog. It's hard to imagine this working as well without him. Another thing that really works here is the somewhat darker take on Santa. Not too dark, don't worry, but I do think there's a bit of a mythic trickster quality to him here that I quite like.

There are a few things that still fall a bit flat. For example, some of the protaginist's arguments with his daughter seem rushed and out of nowhere, and their relationship particularly gets a tad repetitive. But overall this is one of the better tv holiday movies I've seen.

Adults will probably get more out of the lessons in the movie than their kids.

[trinaboice · 7/10 · 27 October 2023]

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.

!

Pushing the agenda of diversity in a Christmas movie with casting that was just not making the movie believable

[psipsina-77158 · 1/10 · 31 December 2023]

Absolutely don't waste your time..bad acting . Horrible script..did I say bad acting Move on to a classic movie that will with your time. Some of the characters were surely put there to include the Hollywood narrative of diversity..but it made the movie really twice as bad because luck of talent It is worth saying that sometimes we need to live classical movies with their classical meaning.. changing things that work to follow an agenta and a narrative that is not working is pretty forgettable.. pretty cheap.and really too bad that a such talented actor could not accomplish a memorable part because of luck of talent around him.

Blow Out Your Candle!

[FridayGal · 10/10 · 12 December 2022]

Everything said previously is true: it's not your typical Christmas movie romance, more like an updated Christmas Carol, it's got great chemistry between all the actors, it's a keeper - worthy of watching more than once. I need to record it again and NOT delete it. The storyline is the perfect reminder during the hustle and bustle of the season. I've always liked Kelsey Grammer and I was glad to see he was Executive Producer on this, plus acting with his daughter, Spencer, who've I've never seen. The production values were top notch. Christmas isn't about gifts, as Santa tells him; it's about giving. Great line coming from Santa.

Heavily spiked eggnog recommended.

[tophicles · 2/10 · 20 November 2023]

I needed to kick start my holiday spirit a bit so I decided to watch a movie last night. Under no circumstance, I repeat, only under the direct threat of bodily duress should you watch this dreck. It's a direct-to-tv remake of a 2004 film which is yet another addition to the tired team of lazy writers who continue to beat up poor, old tropes.

1/3 Scrooge, 1/3 Groundhog Day and 1/3 total shite, this movie could only be explained as a vehicle for Kelsey Grammar to showcase his daughter's acting - perhaps a "living audition". The sad takeaway is that no one viewing this catastrophe would ever permit her on film again.

Set aside the horrific green-screened scenes, the absolutely bottom-of-the-barrel "computer animation" and writing so tired it's wearing a kerchief and cap, there is nothing that could have saved this steaming cup of Christmas tripe.

I'll leave it with this, the main character uttering the lines "I want that report on my desk by end of day today and I don't care if you have to work all night". Let that math sink in.

If you're a fan of vapid holiday drivel - where the saccharine machine of the Hallmark Channel churn out the same dull, predictable holly-jolly pablum you MAY enjoy this "film".

I'm betting the Christmas Tree Farm against it ...

Santa's Bargain -- Even Better the Second Time Around

[Pete-Claus · 10/10 · 2 December 2022]

Despite being somewhat off-putting early on, because of some characters being over-drawn, this movie is well worth watching. But be sure to stick with it until the very end. After watching it for a second time I needed to come back and increase my rating from 8 to 10.

After the opening sequences that establish the characters and the situations they face, and after the essential nature of the movie has been revealed, the plot really finds its footing and gets rolling. It begins pulling together different plot elements from earlier in the movie into a well-orchestrated, meaningful, engaging, and highly satisfying closing sequence of scenes. The acting was simultaneously both quirky *and* good.

There is a lot of subtle humor, and you'll want to pay close attention to pick up some of it. I missed a number of little throwaways the first time through. On the second time through I laughed when I realized how well they set up, in advance, some little bit of humor that I had not quite "gotten" on my first viewing. Without giving away anything about the actual plot, when you watch the movie, be sure to take a close look at the candle at the end of the opening scene, and also take note of the news story about the escaped reindeer not long thereafter.

There were also some good, solid comedic lines and events that were anything but subtle! My second viewing was even more entertaining than my first viewing had been, which is a rare thing for a movie to be able to pull off. Someone who had not previously seen the movie was watching it with me -- they had quite a number of break-out-laughing moments.

But this movie is more than just its humor. It also contains a number of deeper insights, and it presents some life lessons that we could all take to heart.

Overall, this is a well-crafted movie. As of Dec 4th, 2022, as I write this, "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve" is my favorite 2022 Christmas movie to date.

You can see all of my other favorite 2022 Christmas movies by clicking on my profile link above; then look for "2022 FAVORITE CHRISTMAS ROM-COMs" under "Lists".

Among the worst holiday movies

[lsterk · 1/10 · 2 December 2022]

We should have stopped when the main character exclaims, "I want the plan on my desk by the end of the day" and adds shortly after that, "I don't care if you have to work all night. " The line was not delivered in a sarcastic or ironic tone. Poorly written and plotted with threats of unavoidable death on Christmas (Oh, joy!). Any connection to the 12 days of Christmas song is fumbled early on and then omitted for remainder of movie.

Only redeeming virtue to the movie is that someone had the good sense to omit the extremely obnoxious alarm clock from the start of subsequent days after a few occurrences.

Why? oh why?

[annemurphy-87392 · 1/10 · 21 November 2023]

Gave it a chance Why? Total load of rubbish! I'll stick with the classics Its a Wonderful Life A Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street, etc. Not this drivel. Its 1 and a half hours I will never get back in my life! Kelsey Grammers acting was as wooden as a wooden thing! I watched it to the end to see if it would get any better ha! Was I mistaken! I has already been said that is was a mix up of A Christmas Carol & Groundhog Day, but a very poor version of the two The little girl,who,played his Granddaughter Harkin was one of the best actors in the film but the brown noser who ran around Kelsey was shameful.

The best Christmas movie so far this year!

[TravelLarge · 10/10 · 30 November 2022]

Kelsey & Spencer have wonderful chemistry acting together. Kelsey Grammer can stand alone, but his daughter working with him made this film so heartwarming. I love the story of this show. Everything about it is what Christmas should be about. Everyone enjoys nice gifts, but love and time are what matters. I loved the entire cast, and I hope more are to follow. My very favorite part was them singing The Irish lullaby from one of my favorite Bing Crosby movies, Going my way with Barry Fitzgerald. Maybe you guys can do a remake of that together? I think Kelsey sings nice and could definitely pull off remaking any Big Crosby movie from the Golden Age.

Stick to the classics

[rhinehart-72230 · 1/10 · 26 December 2023]

It's really badly written, full of secondary characters who are awful and leads who seem to be phoning in their performances, The bad kid is out of his depth and just a stereotype. This fails in humour or warmth that is part of what we love in our Christmas viewing. I so wanted Nesbitt to be engaging, but he's swamped by a script that has plot points you can spot a mile off. The two police people really scrape barrels lower than a dachshund's stomach and it all feels like a production meeting on Friday afternoon after a liquid lunch where the crew were killing themselves laughing. This is why people stick to the Christmas stuff they love.

Yet another take on Scrooge

[Jackbv123 · 8/10 · 28 November 2022]

There is the obvious comparison to Scrooge and A Christmas Carol but there are obvious differences as well. One is the Ground Hog Day angle of repeating Christmas Eve over 12 times.

There is some deliberate exaggeration and some crude physical humor gags earlier in the movie, but by the 5th or 6th repeat, Brian is starting to become human even though his narcissism hangs on a while longer.

The acting is very good. I didn't realize until later that Michelle, Brian's daughter, is played by Spencer Grammer, Kelsey's daughter. The dialogue is good, often funny. I can't say anything surprised me.

I hate including spoilers, but I have to say that when Brian kissed his daughter good night, it occurred to me that his death would punish her and the granddaughter more than any justice to Brian. Not that "Santa's" threat would come true.

Thought provoking with A class Actors

[utmost_fraysy · 10/10 · 15 December 2023]

Not sure what scrooges the people that have this 1 or 2 stars are but this is a beautifully executed holiday movie.

It's obviously not an original script but it's been written in a way that is highly relatable and connects with the audience.

I wouldn't call this a typical feel good movie but there are emotions throughout more like a holiday rollercoaster.

Acting is on point and I'd be happy to watch this again or possible every year.

Not sure what scrooges the people that have this 1 or 2 stars are but this is a beautifully executed holiday movie.

It's obviously not an original script but it's been written in a way that is highly relatable and connects with the audience.

I wouldn't call this a typical feel good movie but there are emotions throughout more like a holiday rollercoaster.

Acting is on point and I'd be happy to watch this again or possible every year.