Once Upon a Christmas (2000 TV Movie) User Reviews

A cheesy Christmas movie.

[OllieSuave-007 · 4/10 · 3 December 2014]

Model Kathy Ireland stars as Kristen Claus, the daughter of Santa Claus, out to prove to his father that there is still Christmas spirit out there in this troubled world. She also pays a visit to the Morgan Family and befriends them.

While Ireland might be a gorgeous and kind lady, she couldn't act much, as she hardly shows any serious emotion. John Dye, who plays Bill Morgan, also didn't have an acting performance that blew me away.

Much of the plot is dull and a drag - too much sappy and happy-go-lucky stuff, but nothing suspenseful or attention grabbing. There is also not much character chemistry and not very likable characters, especially the spoiled, cocky kid Kyle Morgan (James Morgan), whom you wish Ireland would just run over with with the reindeer.

Feel free to overlook this movie if you're looking for some good Christmas-themed entertainment.

Grade D

Good For The Young and the Young at Heart

[Christmas-Reviewer · 6/10 · 3 September 2016]

After Santa Claus has noticed how many children have become naughty, he decides that he will not deliver presents to any children this year. But his daughter, Kristin Claus, thinks there is one more chance for a Christmas. Kristin took on the challenge of trying to deliver all the presents (just as her dad, Santa, would) in the Mortal World. She made a deal with people in the North Pole that she would change a family on "Santa's Naughty List" to be on the "Nice List". She uses her magic to go to the Morgan house, a family of a single father and two spoiled children, and try to change them to nice. But the children are tricked by Rudolfa, Kristin's sister, who wants to turn Christmas into a joking holiday. Kristin was mistaken as a nanny for the children and played along with the role. The children begin to resent Kristin, and Kyle even told their dad that Kristin was dangerous. Kyle tries to engage Brittany into it. They treated Kristin badly and she left the Morgan house when no one was at home. Bill Morgan became work-obsessed since his wife died. On a work-trip he carried along the children and their uncle and took a rest stop at a diner. They met Kristin there (she used her magic to meet them there) and Bill convinced her to look after the children on the trip. The family (and Kristen) take an unexpected detour. Rudolfa uses her magic to make a fake detour sign and sends the family in the middle of nowhere. She also sent an elf dressed as a deer into the middle of the road, causing them to swerve into a ditch. They spend the night at a nearby old, abandoned house, where Kristin confronts Bill about his own selfish ways. The kids continue to act selfish and bratty, but Bill and Kristin don't put up with it. Brittany soon realizes that she is behaving bratty and makes the family breakfast-in-bed from some food supplies she found in the house. A fire breaks out, and Kyle, the family's son almost dies. Kristin gives her immortality to save him, but she now cannot remember her past.

The film is okay at best. Most adults might get a little bored however I loved the message this film sends. There is a little lesson in this film for not only kids but adults as well. If you see this being advertised watch it. Its cute for a one time showing.

Better for children

[Jackbv123 · 4/10 · 18 November 2017]

This movie involves Santa and his family, Santa magic, and Christmas spirit. It is a bit preachy, or at least Kristen Claus is, about faith and love and peace and trust, etc. There is a definite evil antagonist, Rudolpha, Kristen's sister. She isn't merely greedy, but mean.

Kristen, and this movie, are syrupy sweet, overly optimistic, and pathetically naïve. Since this is obviously a movie aimed at kids, these traits may be somewhat acceptable, but I found it overdone and annoying.

The acting is not good, except possibly for the kids. Again, some of the overdone acting may be for a kid audience. Special effects and production were also below par. Outdoor sets had absolutely no feel of being outdoors.

The story wasn't bad for Christmas fantasy, even if the Santa's child saves Christmas is not a new idea. Some of the other plot devices are equally unoriginal, but as a whole, the story works as long as you don't look too close at any specific detail or expect reality.

Charming & Sweet

[KatharineFanatic · 11 December 2000]

Christmas has been put on hold! Santa's decided that since the majority of the kids in the world are "Naughty" and not "Nice," he's quitting. Unfortunately, this will leave his nasty elder daughter, Rudolfa, in charge, something for which his sweet younger child, Kristin, dislikes. And so, she makes a deal with pop - if she can return one family's name to the "Nice" list, Christmas is on. Except, this family's not going to be a piece of cake. A workaholic father and two spoiled children who desperately miss their mother, as well as a lay about uncle, make up for a charming and sweet Christmas comedy. Be sure and catch it on TV whenever you can! It's worth it.

The acting's excellent (what else can you expect from Kathy Ireland & John Dye?), the plot's pretty good, and it has some comical moments. The special effects are kind of fake, but that's all right. It doesn't take away too much from the storyline, and will even give you a good chuckle over flying reindeer. Enjoy!

Very disappointing movie.

[hackensack9 · 3/10 · 1 August 2001]

With all the great Christmas movies out there's no need to suffer through this one. This movie has cheap production values / special effects. The formula script show what a severe lack of good writers there are in this industry. Winter storm on que, deserted house, gimmie a break! The John Dye character was married , blessed with two children and yet gets a second chance at happiness. His brother-in-law Uncle Johnny is a bum. We know this because the writers have made him chubby and he wears glasses. WHAT STEREOTYPING. He's not worthy of having Kathy Ireland's character fall for him. The script would have been much better if Kristin and Uncle Johnny are the couple. Finally the happy ending managed by Kristin is ripped off from an old Xena episode. Go rent Miracle on 34th St.

For Kathy Ireland devotees, Christmas freaks, and royalists.

[Victor Field · 3/10 · 14 December 2002]

You've heard of "King Midas In Reverse"? Kathy Ireland is Orson Welles in reverse - meaning to say the swimsuit model-cum-actress-cum-designer-cum-Christian's never done a movie as BAD as her debut ("Alien From L.A."). "Once Upon A Christmas" continues this tradition, though not alas for lack of trying.

This TV movie is based on the premise that Santa Claus has become disillusioned with his day job, what with so many naughty people in the world and anti-Kringle websites ("Jingle bells, Santa smells..."); but his good-hearted daughter Kristin (Kathy, but who else?) still feels there's a chance for December 25, so she agrees to try and change the mind of the Morgans, with the future of Yuletide at stake. But the father (John Dye) is business-minded, his children are avaricious and intent on getting rid of every potential substitute mum, and their uncle (Wayne Thomas Yorke, in the movie's best performance) is hardly the ideal guardian. Plus our heroine's sister is little more than the Grinch in human form...

All of which could, in better hands, have proven to be a decent little seasonal movie; it certainly has good intentions on its side, and isn't too shameless in its pitch for the "Touched By An Angel" audience (I knew John Dye had been on it, and I bet myself that Kathy had also been alongside Roma Downey at one point. I was right). But better writing and directing (Steven H. Berman and Tibor Takacs respectively) would have helped, with the amusing earlier scenes at the North Pole wiped out by the poorly handled climax; decent special effects - Kathy's sleigh ride makes "Superboy" look good - and child actors who can actually act wouldn't have gone amiss either. For a movie that's supposed to be about restoring the Christmas spirit, this is fairly low on spirit itself; it's never really as heartwarming as it should be, and depressingly short on humour as well (the villain gets surprisingly little time, with the emphasis on the family).

Kathy Ireland is, however, endearing (as well as looking a treat throughout - as the credits point out, "Special Thanks to The Kathy Ireland Signature Collection"), and the movie is more bearable than "Ernest Saves Christmas" or the "Miracle on 34th Street" remake. It would be nice to think that the sequel ("Twice Upon A Christmas") is an improvement, but I'm not holding my breath. (For those wondering why this is good for royalists, a certain Edward Wessex is one of the executive producers. Well, he has to do something...)

One holiday-humdinger best left untouched

[caliente04 · 2/10 · 29 November 2009]

This one's good for young, unsuspecting children at best.

But any other age group would find this movie poorly made and actually pretty atrocious. It's so bad, that it's laughable. Everything from the acting to the special effects to even some of the scenery is quite sub-par. I'll admit, the plot had some degree of potential, but all of the aforementioned qualities made this movie one for the birds.

Though some may be able to, it would still be beyond me if you can somehow see through these disastrous details into its "warm-hearted cuteness." Call me a "Grinch", but I still stand by the fact that this is definitely one holiday movie you could go without.

Contrived and bland

[Wes54 · 3/10 · 13 November 2018]

Santa is upset that there are so many naughty people in the world. He has two daughters (Kristin = Good, Rudolfa = Evil). The good girl makes a deal with her dad: if she can get one family back on the Nice List, Santa won't throw Christmas out the window.

Problem: The only way Kristin can save them is to give up being Santa's daughter. This leaves Santa alone with the evil Rudolfa.

Oops.

A Sweet Holiday Treat

[funky_cherry86 · 8/10 · 26 November 2006]

I've been a fan of John Dye, since his performance in Touched By An Angel on TV and when Once Upon A Christmas first premiered on family channel it looked like a charming Christmas movie. Kathy Ireland's role as the younger daughter of Santa Claus was touching and sweet. What can one expect from two talented stars this movie is about the power of having faith again in the Christmas spirit and at an hour and 30 minutes it's enjoyable without being overdone.

Christmas is about to be canceled because there's a majority of children out there who have been more naughty then nice and Santa Claus (Campbell) is deciding to go away on vacation putting his oldest daughter Rudolfa (Haskell) in charge. However his younger daughter Kristen (Ireland) doesn't like that plan one bit, she makes a deal with dad that if one family's name is returned to the "nice list" then Christmas will go on as planned.

But the task is more challenging than ever because the family chosen is the Morgan clan Kyle (Kirk) & his sister Brittany (Prout) are two spoiled brats because their father widower & workaholic Bill (Dye) is always too busy. Then there's Uncle Johnny (Yorke) who is goodhearted but not the ideal guardian. Once she becomes the nanny the two siblings try everything in their power to get rid of her. During a vacation mostly to do with work the car breaks down and they're stranded at an old house in the middle of nowhere. They try to make the most out of this holiday soon everything begins to change not just in the kids but in Bill whose fallen in love Kristen.

When Rudolfa's plans to stop Christmas goes out of control Kristen will make the ultimate decision for the family she loves.

filled with heartwarming moments and romance Once Upon A Christmas is the ideal holiday movie.

The meaning of faith, love and trust are lessons to be learned.

[cerradwynscauldron · 24 March 2002]

A sweet and entertaining film of faith and love. Faith that there is good in people's hearts that sometimes gets lost on the road that we call life. Santa's youngest daughter won't let Christmas be canceled and turned over to her jaded older sister. Peace and love will prevail and kids will learn the meaning of trust--real trust. An excellent film for the whole family to watch. Kathy Ireland is very sincere in her portrayal of Kristin Klaus. John Dye is both vulnerable and hard to reach as Bill Morgan. Mary Donnelley Haskell is incorrigible as Rudolpha and a delight to watch in her wicked machinations. Once again we are reminded of the healing power of love.

Perfect movie for the holidays.

[zactac · 10/10 · 7 February 2010]

In this movie we meet Kristen (Kathy Ireland) who is the daughter of Santa Claus. And when Kristen, her father, and other magical creatures begin the Christmas season with the reading of the naughty and nice list things don't go well. After seeing that there are more people on the naughty list than on the nice list Santa loses hope in mankind, so he decides to quit. Kristen makes a deal that if she can get one of the families back on the nice list then it will prove that there is hope for mankind and Santa won't quit, but she has to do this before midnight on Christmas Eve so she has to work fast. She soon comes into the lives of the Morgans. As the father is a workaholic, his son is always in trouble, his passed-wife's brother has no job so hes staying with them, while his daughter is more like an adult than a kid. So now Kristen's got her work cut out for her. As she starts getting closer to success her older sister Rudolfa (Mary Donnelly-Haskell) is trying to stop her so she can take control of Christmas and ruin it forever. Soon Kristen starts to realize that everything isn't as easy as she thought it was in the beginning and will soon learn the one part of the Christmas Spirit that she never knew.

This is a fun movie to watch with your family especially on Christmas. It can truly get you into the Christmas Spirit.

Cute Family film

[honeybear24115 · 10/10 · 11 November 2013]

This is one movie that, honestly, i cant go a Christmas without! I have read other reviews, and i do agree that some of the effects are very cheesy(im looking at you, sleigh ride ;) ) And Kristen Prout's acting, especially during the suspension scene, is not the best, but all in all it was a very cute movie with great acting, and a different story line than most Christmas movies! It shows something that can/and really does happen(a widower hiding in their work). John Dye and Kathy Ireland looked so good together on the screen. As a mother of twin boys this is a movie i love to watch, one that the whole family can watch,and you don't have to worry about anything inappropriate popping up!

Great movie!!

[rkikat · 10/10 · 5 April 2013]

This is one of my favorite movies of all time!! It is family-friendly and the characters are magical and fun. I wish Kathy Ireland was in more movies. I also liked John Dye and Mary Haskel Donnelly. It is hard to find a movie that is clean-cut these days. I like the special effects because they are not overdone, just enough to suspend disbelief. I watch this movie and the sequel even when it's not Christmas--it perks me up.

Movies about Santa and his family are many, but this one stands out. Santa's village and castle look fun, magical, and not too much like a set. Rudolfa is so funny and evil at the same time! I recommend this film to all true Christmas-lovers!

Great family Christmas movie!

[meggs-70116 · 10/10 · 15 November 2018]

Such an amazing Christmas movie that my family and I look forward to watching every year!

Best Holiday Tradition Movie

[brittanyduncan · 10/10 · 14 November 2018]

This Movie is one to watch every season. My family and I gather around every Christmas to watch Once Upon a Christmas and Twice Upon A Christmas. True to the holidays, great casting, beautiful sets and all around great time. Well done.

Family Fun Holiday Movie

[bnguyen-96200 · 10/10 · 14 November 2018]

This movie is perfect for the family on holidays. It's a must see that is on yearly and we have the DVD in our home and is playing every holiday.

Acting is great and fun. The whole series is worth watching for the holidays. Great casting and beautifully done.