A Christmas... Present (2022 TV Movie) User Reviews

Not my cup of tea...

[DVK1234 · 5/10 · 11 December 2022]

Not my cup of tea...and I'm a Christian.

The premise of the film, for a Christmas movie, is solid. Sister and her family visits recently widowed brother and his daughter over Christmas holiday. The sister and her husband, and even their two children, are incredibly busy and over-programmed. There is definitely a problem in the couple's relationship, and even visiting the brother is a source of contention for the couple.

What they realize in being at her brother's home is that he and his daughter and doing pretty well considering they have suffered a major loss. It is, in fact, the sister who needs encouragement and wisdom to navigate through her marital and family woes.

Now, if the movie was presented in the way I just shared with you, it would have been a pretty decent movie with a good and hopeful message. Unfortunately the movie was peppered with forced Scripture verses that were randomly inserted where they really felt contrived and cringey. "Oh, my pastor isn't trying to make me feel better! Matter of fact, he just lost his brother a couple of weeks ago!" "Wow, imagine that. Everyone that comes to church is in a great mood! We should go back to church and get in on that too."

I felt that the story felt inauthentic and contrived. I would have liked it to be a little less preachy. If you want people to know the hope you have, show them. You don't need to preach. Just show them.

Worst Christmas movie of the season

[tinatalksavon · 5/10 · 10 January 2023]

Candace Cameron Bure should have stuck with her Aurora Teagarden Mysteries on Hallmark. She could be annoying in those, but at least there was usually a good storyline and some mystery.

In this movie she controlled everyone - her family, plus her brother and niece. Too many lists and plans, too rigid, too structured. She didn't listen to what anyone else wanted.

And then we have the religion. It was a little much for me, especially with all of the scriptures. But the funniest (and strangest) thing was that Candace Cameron Bure did NOT feel comfortable going to church. What a joke. Anyone who knows anything about her knows what a religious fanatic she is (which made this storyline even harder to believe).

Wish I had never watched this movie!!!

The true meaning of Christmas

[Jackbv123 · 7/10 · 29 November 2022]

The true meaning of Christmas is there, but don't turn away your attention because it's there quickly and then the story is back. I wonder if Candace purposely washed it so that the movie would be see by more people despite the message the world doesn't want to hear. That doesn't really make sense, but then burying the lead, so to speak, doesn't make sense either.

The theme of the movie appears to be how busyness obscures what's really important during the holidays. And a viewer could easily conclude that what is really important is family. Time with family. Really with them. "Present". And love. And this is a great message for a Christmas movie. It is certainly where most of the screen time and dialogue was spent. So why throw in the faith stuff which is also sprinkled in here and there?

I submit that the true message, whether intended or not, was in just a few minutes from when Candace/Maggie walked in the church door to when the pastor finished speaking. 2-1/2 minutes. First a verse of Silent Night that not everyone knows. "Son of God. Love's pure Light.... with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus Lord at Thy birth." Then the pastor answers the argument he and his brother had about who gave the best gift. "The one who gives the best gift of all every Christmas is God Himself. The gift of hope, joy, peace, forgiveness, eternal life, wrapped in swaddling clothes waiting to be opened by faith." There is forgiveness, redemption, in only one way through faith. Candace, whether this was your real message or not, thank you for giving us one of the tiniest few movies that tells us the real reason for the season.

The movie is well done with mostly good acting. The dialogue has funny moments and many more serious ones. The story is compelling.

Did I Just Watch an Episode of the 700 Club?

[larrybabbin · 1/10 · 1 December 2022]

Geesh. Candace Cameron Bure, upon leaving the Hallmark Channel said she wanted to put for God in Christmas but this was ridiculous. She should have stayed over at Hallmark. Did we really need another channel like this? I have watched every movie she's ever made at Hallmark. Most I enjoyed. I will miss the Aurora Teagarden series.

This movie was way too heavy handed on the religious angle and the characters were all very bland. I don't mind a feel good movie but this was way over the top and heavy handed. I also expect more from Marc Blucas. I'm sorry to see him leave Hallmark too. Unless you're an uber-religious Christian I'd stay away from this movie.

I want to be entertained, not preached to.

Not perfect, but I liked it!

[iamvirtue · 9/10 · 30 November 2022]

In many ways, this was not a typical Christmas movie. But that is probably one of the reasons I liked it.

While this movie was not perfect - some of the situations were kind of staged and forced, I liked what Ms. Bure was trying to do. I really liked the story she was trying to tell about a family. And not just a nuclear family, but the extended family, too. One family being there for another! This movie had a kind heart.

And I loved that they included church. Millions of Americans go to church during the holiday season and so many Christmas movies leave that out! How can you be a real Christmas movie without church!?

This story grew on me during the telling. I'm looking forward to watching it again.

A different sort of movie for these networks

[VetteRanger · 7/10 · 2 December 2022]

Hallmark and GAF Christmas movies are almost exclusively romances, and mostly they try for Romcoms with varying degrees of success.

This is NOT a Romcom, and there is no romance. Make no mistake, this is a Christmas family drama.

Candace's character's brother lost his wife to an illness since the last Christmas. Candace wants her busy family to participate in lots of Christmasy events, despite their own busy schedules and conflicts.

After a phone talk with her brother, she decides the family needs to visit the brother and his tween daughter to help them over the Christmas blues, and takes her demanding Christmas schedule along with them.

This is going to remind you of every family--or extended family--gathering where some people are fixating on doing one thing and the rest on another. It can get uncomfortable, and it was depicted that way in this movie.

The movie winds up with a very religious theme and message, and my wife speculated that's one reason Candace Cameron Bure went with GAF. Even though we've seen more of the religious side of Christmas on Hallmark in 2022, I don't expect Hallmark to go quite this deep into the meaning of deeply personal religious convictions.

The movie is excellent for what it is. It won't be for everyone, and it will be very meaningful for others.

A real disappointment

[spikeluvr · 3/10 · 4 December 2022]

I've always loved Candace Cameron. Bure in any movies she appeared in. This movie was a real disservice to the persona she has built into all of her characters-optimism, consideration of others and attentiveness. Her character in this movie was oblivious to the needs of anyone but herself. Her family seemed like it was just an extension of her own need for control. She claimed she wanted to help her brother and niece through their grief yet she consistently ignored everything they wanted. It was painful watching how dysfunctional she made her entire family. I'm not sure what the writers were trying to achieve. She didn't seem to have a genuine epiphany and her family just grudgingly went along for the hellish ride she put them on. I finally turned it off three quarters of the way through. It felt like it took three hours just to get that far. I'm sure they finished the movie with some sort of personal revelation but it just wasn't worth it to me.

Beautiful!

[MNMCGNAGC · 10/10 · 28 November 2022]

I loved this movie! It's what Christmas is about, spending time with family. It's a beautiful Christian Christmas movie, and it's not traditional. There are a lot of Bible quotes and that's why our family really enjoyed it. I think we tend to forget what Christmas is all about, and this movie really shows the true meaning behind Christmas. It has a lot to do with church too. Her kids in the movie are respectful and kind to their parents, when we rarely see that in movies nowadays.

Candace is a beautiful actress, her movies are all wonderful. I love her! This movie is different from all her other movies, but it's more meaningful. I recommend this movie!

Just right.

[adamjohns-42575 · 7/10 · 20 November 2023]

A Christmas. . . Present (2022) -

I've been known to turn off a God-bothery film within minutes of watching it, so it was a testament to how well this seasonal effort handled that element of its story that I made it all the way through it without questioning whether I would turn it off or not.

It helped that it had the gorgeous Marc Blucas in the role of Eric being a very cheeky and cheesy Dad, with jokes to prove it. His hair did look like his barber had used a knife and fork instead of scissors though.

Personally I'm glad that I don't have anyone in my life like Eric's wife Maggie (Candace Cameron Bure), with her overzealous organising and lack of bending, but I did agree that families need to realise that a bit of sacrifice doesn't hurt anyone. You should cherish those that you love while you can, because you never know when they might be gone. I just felt that there was an extreme lack of balance, because it was all about Maggie's list of things to do and without consideration for the others involved, including Ashley (Keilah Davies), the youngest girl, who was really brash and annoying. Everyone else was fine though.

By the end of the film I will admit that it was on the borderline of being too churchy, but by the time the credits rolled I felt that it had got it just about right.

I did like the message it delivered, that grieving doesn't have to be so hard with the right people around you. It seemed to say that you need to find time for yourself, as well as making time for yourself to help others, whether they're related to you, a homeless person on the street or someone else entirely and that the efforts don't have to be connected to a church, but maybe a faith within yourself or in your loved ones. Do good in the name of someone that you've lost if you can't do it for yourself and you will feel better for it. After all "It's not the things we do at Christmas, but the Christmas things we do all year through!".* I often think about the chain that I may have forged in my life and desperately hope that it isn't anywhere near as long as Ebenezer Scrooge's?

I liked the soundtrack that went with this film too and because the actors all did what they needed to I was able to enjoy the story, which was actually very different to most of the others out there, even if some of the conversations and behaviour were a bit too perfect.

I could also tell that it wasn't a low budget example of a made for TV film and for me it was that bit of extra care that made the difference.

6.89/10.

*Thank you Julie Andrews.

Dull and missed the mark

[leefawn · 1/10 · 4 December 2022]

You can have a God feels film without having scripture, Jesus, and the word faith mentioned in almost every scene. Seriously, if the movie wasn't so painfully boring, you could make it a drinking game! Watching a mundane, privileged family solved their petty problems with the aid of church, is not my idea of a Christmas classic.

The characters had about as much chemistry as strangers in witness protection, pretending to be a family. I kept hoping the intended theme of actually being present with family in the moment, as opposed to just occupying the same space with no connection, would be more throughout this film. Instead we had to suffer through a Christmas story with the most anal and boring "family".

If you are a more churchy person, you might enjoy this film. Not me! It was falsely advertised as a drama/comedy... In reality it had zero comedy, I didn't even crack a smile watching this movie. It was also falsely advertised as the next "Christmas classic"... I won't ever watch this dud again!

Absolutely loved it!

[newfeet-49819 · 10/10 · 28 November 2022]

It was so nice to watch a quality family move that had a great message too! So much more depth than most Christmas movies! I loved that if felt real, Candace Cameron Bure's relationship with her husband and their issues were something that happens to real couples. The teenagers just pretending to like the activities. But mostly how her and her brother, were both trying to fix each other but realized how much they need each other. Love that the Christmas activities were a little different than the typical snowman building, cookie making, gingerbread house contest, etc. I really loved this movie. Heartfelt, real, emotional and just a great movie!

Not your typical Christmas movie, which is a good thing! :-)

[susanrosshill · 6/10 · 15 December 2022]

First half of the movie is a little irritating and frantic. Candace Cameron bure's character works so hard at making happiness that it does kind of grade on your nerves a little bit. The second half of the movie is thoughtful and has a very nice story. I think I like the movie because it wasn't your typical cookie cutter movie this is truly about an entire family. Not just two people falling in love at Christmas time. That was very refreshing and loved hearing about the true meaning of Christmas and how if you don't have God at your core then life's going to be a struggle. My husband enjoyed the movie also and he typically doesn't care for any of them because they're so cookie cutter.

Disappointing

[jpk-84641 · 4/10 · 2 December 2022]

The faith component in this film was lovely, but not enough to carry a repetitive, mediocre script with little else. For me, Candace's character was overacted and very one-note to the point of irritating. The entire film was the same thing, over and over: plan activities, go to activities, and no one really listening to each other's needs. Marc's talents were wasted in this film, and chemistry between the leads was non-existent. I did, however, enjoy the banter and interaction between the actors in the social media dance contest pieces before the film's release. Those showed more originality and chemistry than the entire movie. It was those promos that encouraged me to watch. Also, with Candace as the spokesperson for Great American Family, I thought for sure this would be a "10." It was not.

Really wanted to love this one

[moho-40260 · 3/10 · 13 February 2023]

I do not get the GAC Family Network as I refuse to pay any more $$ for additional TV channels, and I'm glad I kept my $$. I was able to watch this on youtube and was so excited to see it as I had only heard it was an absolutely wonderful and faith-filled movie. In my opinion, it was not. Let's start with CCB's character--a total control freak who got mad at her busy attorney husband and teenage children because they did not want to participate in her crazy calendar of Christmas activities. If the kids were under the age of 13, sure, but not at this stage of their lives. Then, she's not even in touch with her brother who just lost his wife? Then, she somehow corrals her family into spending 10 days, unannounced, at her brother's house? It was all too much, and I felt the faith part was very forced. God bless Marc Blucas (the reason for the three stars) for staring in his because he's wasted. There was no chemistry between him and CCB, and no chemistry with CCB and the actors who portrayed her kids. The brother character, in my opinion, was taking the loss of his wife a little to well (baking cookies, and the house is decorated to the hilt). I think it got such positive reviews because of it's "faith" but that doesn't come to the end, and it's very awkward. Hopefully, the content of GAC will improve, but I watched a couple of others and they were duds. Sorry CCB and GAC!

Thank-you.

[Pac_67 · 10/10 · 28 November 2022]

We just finished watching A Christmas... Present as a family. I cannot say enough praise for this movie.

Thank you Candace Cameron Bure and Great American Family. The movie was amazing with a message that we have not seen in a Christmas movie in a very long time.

All the actors were wonderful. The leads had true chemistry and the kids were enjoyable to watch. The story was different since it didn't involve the usual girl meets or re-meets boy but instead focused on the challenges that can arise even in the healthiest of marriages. And the fact that this was truly a faith-based Christmas movie is just so much appreciated.

I can only hope this is just the beginning for Great American Family. This movie will most certainly be an annual tradition during the holiday seasons to come.

Thank-you again to all involved.

Disappointing and frustratingly preachy

[janfreeman-08726 · 1/10 · 22 July 2023]

I was not going to watch anything GAC put out due to the corporation's history of bigotry and narrow minded point of view. But I watched this movie because Candace specifically said that she was going to make a movie that spoke to everyone, not just her corner of Christianity. She said anyone of any religion, faith, race, creed, etc would relate to this family Christmas movie. She specifically said it wasn't about pushing Christianity on anyone. Absolute lie. This movie was one big Bible study. There was maybe one or two scenes that didn't have a Bible verse quoted. The characters were literally quoting Bible verses but somehow this was supposed to be relatable to anyone?? The whole movie is preaching conservative based Christian values that are in no way relatable to a broader audience as she claimed. To boot, her character is an awful person and not even believable. Her Hallmark movies are so much better on every level.

Lovely Christmas Movie

[hoddytoddy · 10/10 · 1 December 2022]

I loved this one. Some of the channels who are fighting for Christmas cred have been getting really stale in their storylines and were churning out the same old rehashed story. It was nice to have a new, refreshing story that wasn't centered around romance or a couple who didn't like each other at first and decided they were in love by the end of the movie. This one felt more real. I love the extended family theme. As a mom who always wants to make the holidays perfect and special, I related to the main character while also relating to the brother, who wanted to simplify things. I also love the imperfection of the relationships. It's real. It's hard. I love the religious aspects as well. I understand that's not for everyone, but there are literally 100+ other channels for Christmas movies that don't have that if you don't want it. I personally find it so rewarding and enriching. It's hard for me to comprehend someone not having a rich, spiritual life. Loved this one, and I hope to see more like it on GAC in the future.

Well. I was afraid this would happen.

[adamcmartin-42955 · 3/10 · 28 November 2022]

One of my secret pleasures the last several years has been Hallmark Christmas movies. They won't win any Academy Awards. Frankly most of them are pretty bad, but Candace Cameron Bure - The Queen of Christmas Movies - usually delivered. Sure, they all seem to follow a typical pattern, they really are built for drinking games, but her films were the top of the genre. Easy to watch and generally enjoyable. But, apparently Hallmark's willingness to embrace non-traditional couples was too much for Candace to bare and now she has left for a larger role, and likely paycheck, at the new Great American Family Network.

I won't spoil any of the plot, with one exception. The underlying plot of the movie is that the best place in the world to be is church. It will fix all of your problems. If that appeals to you, than this is the movie for you. If you would prefer not be preached at than avoid it. Sorry Candace. I won't be watching you any more.

Great casting

[whvgznhd · 8/10 · 30 November 2022]

The lead character bugged me as she had her idea of what Christmas should entail, and no one else was allowed to express their wishes. Candace certainly played her character well. It was a bit over-the-top in some scenes, but overall I enjoyed the movie. Millions of people express their faith by going to Church and find peace there, I loved that this movie did not make fun of those beliefs. We all need to take something from this film, be more present in the moment and not worry about the little details that distract us from family especially around Christmas. I will be tuning in to more GAC movies, especially if they continue to use some of my favorite Hallmark actors.

"They're heeeeeeere!"

[alechowe · 1/10 · 4 December 2022]

For a few years, there have been rumblings about GAC starting to go ultra-conservative on us. Then Candace Cameron Bure announced on social media that she hoped to "put the Christ back into Christmas" at her new home. Well, up till now, there has been little difference between GAC and Hallmark product (except Mike Lindell's My Pillow commercials, which run uncomfortably rampant on GAC), but this film will likely be remembered as the one that started the gears turning. Secular audiences will recognize an essentially Christian thread running through the plot, which is chiefly about a brother helping his sister return to God, and a discomfiting sense that everyone in the film's world shares the same faith. There are deep discussions of individuals' relationships with God, belief that we will all be reunited with our loved ones in the afterlife, dialogue like "It's not just sermons and bibles in there; we have fun!" and "Seeing God's light is one of God's greatest gifts." If this is merely one movie about devout Christians during the holiday season, that's valid enough; there's a place at the table for all faiths and belief systems. But if this is the shape of things to come at GAC, you can bet the channel will be as polarizing as the country it serves. The most telling shift is Bure herself. She was the good-time girl of Hallmark, but her singular glow is unmistakably dimmed here. Marc Blucas, another Hallmark mainstay, emerges charmingly unscathed, but Bure is definitely compromised. "Thank you for making Great American Family the fastest growing network," says the channel during its commercial breaks. "We love Christmas just like you, and our Christmas movies are made just for you." There was just enough inference in the voiceover artist that I instinctively understood that she was not talking about me.

Terrible waste of Marc Blucas' talent

[lynnzogas · 1/10 · 25 July 2023]

Movie was awful. Pushy Mom trying to organize everything but too busy to take time away from work. Too much schmaltz and Bible verses. I war hVhristmas movies to enjoy myself not to be converted to someone else's view of religion Love Marc Blucas and he was good but not used enough in this movie. Don't bother wasting your time.

This movie failed from the first scene. The characters were shallow or always trying to convert ye viewer. The is nothing wrong in having faith or believing in god but this movie smacks you over with it. Too much trying to convert and not enough enjoyment. Story writing was flat and shallow. Only redeeming character was Marc Blucas as the dad but his wife overshadowed everyone . Not worth the time.

LOVE this movie!

[donnadlongino · 10/10 · 2 December 2022]

This was a quality movie. It really had a great Christian and Christmas message all around the greatest gift ever given, which is Jesus; and the greatest gift we can give each other, being present. I was impressed with the story, the non-sappy writing, the beautiful location and sets, but most of all the performances were excellent. The music was awesome as well. This was the first movie I have seen from Candace since her departure from Hallmark. CONGRATULATIONS on breaking out of the Hallmark formula. It's great to know that someone actually trusts themselves and the rest of us enough to go out on a limb to create a family and faith friendly movie of such quality.

Too Christian

[ladycatherine-04337 · 3/10 · 19 December 2022]

I think this movie went too far mentioning all the Christian things. I don't mind Christmas movies that briefly mention or have a slightly religious theme, but this one went too far quoting scripture and things like that. Also, the main character played by Candace Cameron Bure Seemed very unchristian in the way that she treated her family. She forced them to go do things they didn't want to and continually interfered with her brother and his daughter grieving their loss.

If this is what GAC is it going to put out for movies. I'll stick to Hallmark. I understand that they want to be different. But they are taking things too far. (At least in my humble opinion.)

A Christmas...Perfect!

[BuffyGroupie · 10/10 · 4 December 2022]

Really great, just what a Christmas movie should be. A lovely, heartwarming family story, that accents the deeper meaning of the holiday. Sweet and refreshing, well worth watching. It has many of the usual tropes, but goes way beyond what we've been seeing from newer movies in the last few years. Loved the leads, even the kids were great, not at all annoying as so many Christmas movie children tend to be. Parts of it actually brought tears to my eyes. The music was great as well, beautiful songs you don't generally hear in other modern Christmas movies. We'll watch it again next year and beyond. You should watch it too!

Her worst!!

[Marynewcomb2013 · 2/10 · 30 November 2022]

This is the only real review for this movie!! It's flat out Candace's worst!! Don't get me wrong, I have been a huge fan of Candace's for a long time!! Loved all her Hallmark movies & have seen all the Teagarden films & own the first six, but in this she was over acted!! She came across like a beginner trying to act!! Reminds me of Erin K. In her last Christmas movie in 2019 for Hallmark!!

Next is the writing!! This writer wrote some great Christmas movies when he was at Hallmark, but seems to have forgotten what he's doing on this script!! Let's not leave out how GAF pushed this film as being filmed completely on a reservation in Oklahoma!! They even said the cast was people on the reservation but you do not se a single Indian in this film!!

The real plot that the Christmas storyline was covering was just crap!! Don't get me wrong, I am a faith following person, but I am not a church/religious believer!! To push that church is the cool place to be when in all honesty it's full of the biggest hypocrites & backstabbers there is!! Even in the film they mention Candace's character played hide & seek all the time in the church growing up!! Church is supposed to be where you worship god, not do all that other stuff or play hide & seek!!

Honestly a skip like the Christmas Sweethearts one GAF claims is a new movie but Is just a different name for 2019's My Best Friend's Christmas!! These are by far the worst two on GAF!!