A Season for Miracles (1999)

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

While I admit to being a sucker for just about any corny Christmas movie, this one is far above the norm as one can tell just from the cast list. Laura Dern, Lynn Redgrave, Cathy Baker, and Carla Gugino are all well respected lead actresses for good reason, and here some of them play quite small roles, though it's the quality of the supporting cast that makes this film far better than most. Patty Dukes as the angel is probably the corniest element, but one has to accept a bit of corn in a holiday movie, and she handles the role as well as anyone could. As other reviewers here have said, the dialog is quite good, and the performances by the children, especially the always-strong Mae Whitman, are engaging without ever becoming too cute. Definitely worth a watch.

Yesterday, a relative of mine switched on the Hallmark Channel to watch this movie. While feel-good films are harmless, I find they're often too heavy-handed, predictable, and sappy. So I braced myself.There was no need to do so.Alright, the plot is predictable, but in a comfortingly familiar way. The enjoyment lies not in guessing how the movie will end, but how the characters will reach their destinations. This isn't the sort of film to watch if you want an edgy thriller, after all! There are some cheesy moments (as expected from Hallmark), but the seriousness of the family's situation kept the story from being overly sentimental.The characters are well played. They're likable and have a good sense of humor. The funny moments do much to keep the movie from taking itself too seriously. While the plot is not entirely believable, that does not stop the film from being enjoyable.This is a film worth adding to the Christmas season watch list; the classic message of hope in the face of hardship is always relevant and is delivered in a touching, charming manner.

I love this movie. It was very entertaining and heart-warming. It stars some of my favorite actors.The leads are Carla Gugino, who had done many wonderful things, and David Conrad of "Ghost Whisperer". They both do great jobs here. Conrad is gorgeous as well as a good actor who seems like such a nice guy.Besides the leads, many favorite stars play small parts, including Laura Dern, Lynn Redgrave, Faith Prince and Kathy Baker! What an amazing cast. And then to top it off, Patty Duke is the angel.Even if you don't believe in angels, which I don't, this is a nice Christmas movie with a few fantasy elements. It starts out a little slow and depressing, but like most Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel, it gets much better as it goes along.Of course, a small town like the one in this movie doesn't exist anywhere except in movies and TV shows...but it's part of the nice fantasy of this movie.I enjoyed the movie and these people so much, I wish it were a regular weekly show so I could see more of their adventures.Suzanne Lanouehttp://[email protected]

This movie to me is so special that I can view it over and over and never get tired of it. It has become something I enjoy watching not only at Christmas but many times a year when I need a 'feel good' kind of movie. The actors do an amazing job of drawing you in and making you feel as if you are a part of the storyline. It is certainly worth buying if you have not taped it since it is one of the sweetest holiday movies I've seen in recent years. It is a family film showing the harsh side of life while giving hope that goodness can come out of a difficult struggle if you have the support and strength to get through it. My family and I will enjoy this movie for many years to come.