The Spirit of Christmas (2015)

Redundant and unnecessary.

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Review Date 6/26/2018 I Have Reviewed OVER 500 Christmas MOVIES. On all Christmas movies BEWARE OF FAKE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. Many reviewers have only have ONE REVIEW. When it's a POSITIVE REVIEW chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. If its a negative review then they may have a huge grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films. I review them is to keep track of what "I have seen".The story is A young lawyer finds romance with a spirit (Thomas Beaudoin) that takes the form of a human 12 days before Christmas. This was a inept idea. The plot holes in this are very numerous. The logic is also gone You can also figure out things long before they are revealed. The acting is fine. With a story telegraphed way in advance it makes 90 minutes feel like 4 hours

If you look for a different Christmas theme film, by the mountains of Hallmark stories, this is an inspired choice. first - for the story who reminds old fashion mystery stories. second - for surprising performances. not the last - for the meaning of "spirit". sure, it is not original but the references to the known stories from a time when Christmas was not a piece from a brand represents one of magnificent virtues of this real special film who gives to classic ingredients of genre a delicate and powerfull ...flavour.

This Lifetime Christmas 2015 movie has everything, perhaps too much of everything: an attractive cast, love, romance, nostalgia, mystery, beautiful winter settings and a splendid, Victorian haunted house "Hollygrove Inn". It's the former home of the Forsythes,(not the same as in the "Forsythe Saga"), who have died without heirs. Ambitious,single and thoroughly modern attorney Kate (Jen Lilley)is sent from Boston to Vermont 12 days before Christmas to broker the sale of the inconveniently haunted mansion. She's promised a promotion if she can deal with the ghosts and the real estate before the year's end. Problems start to mount as soon as Kate gets there. The appraiser leaves in panic, his job undone, after having encountered a ghost. Plus, the innkeeper Warren (excellent actor Robert Walsh)is closing the Inn for the holidays.But spunky Kate tells him she will stay in spite of Warren's objections. Kate stays, meets the resident hunky ghost,impressive Daniel Forsythe (Thomas Beaudoin), who died by an unknown killer on Christmas Eve 95 years ago, as he approached "Hollygrove". The supernatural walks into our story right then in the unusual form of Daniel The Ghost, who likes to eat pancakes, imbibe drinks, and of course, likes women like Kate, in more than a spiritual way. At first, Kate and Daniel quarrel, but soon she succumbs to his manly ghost charms.Kate's love is also fueled by her empathy with Daniel's very sad, errant ghost story. Daniel is doomed to return to the house every Christmas and not to resolve his other-worldly status until he can solve the mysteries of his life, love and his death. Eventually, Kate will help him to solve the puzzle of his inconclusive ghost existence. This TV movie looks expensive, its production values are high, as we travel back to Hollygrove 1919,in stylish flashbacks. We learn Daniel thinks his wife Lilly (Katy Salowsky) was unfaithful with his brother, whom she married and had a daughter with, after Daniel died. We also find out, with curious Kate's help,that not one, but two ghosts inhabit Hollygrove, and the other one is Daniel's mysterious killer. Is it his bro, his wife, or someone else? Stay tuned to the end and find out. Another suspense element in this very complicated story, is his wife Lilly's love for Daniel. Did she or did she not betray him with his bro? Another subplot to solve is the future of Hollygrove. How can Kate sell the property and have her favorite ghost be homeless? Who will buy Haunted Hollygrove with the murder curse and the unwelcome ghosts? Finally and most importantly, will Kate and Daniel find a way to join flesh and spirit,to bridge the chasm between life and death, and fulfill their love? In many ways the unusual human-loves-ghost story gives origin to interesting, suspenseful and cute humorous situations. The lovely Hollygrove mansion and setting, plus the period flashbacks gives it romance and nostalgic texture. There's also several charming subplots like the romance between Molly(Joanna Herrington) a local pub owner, and Innkeeper Warren, who is also the ghost's best friend."The Spirit of Christmas" requires that we forsake our logic and stretch our imagination into the realm of the supernatural. But think of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol"or of some Nicholas Spark's romantic stories,like "Safe Haven". Think of so many Christmas films in which Santa, elves, or angels do magical mysterious favors for humans. Christmas is that time when we are most willing to suspend logic and believe in spirits, the promise of an afterlife, and all things magical. The problem with "The Spirit of Christmas" is not that we can't accept its supernatural premises. It's that the crafted storyline doesn't work logically. At the end, the puzzle pieces don't fall neatly into place.Thus, it doesn't produce a fully pleasing feeling, a sense of artful satisfaction. It has too many loose ends and unexplained issues. I'll mention just one, not to produce important spoilers. How can Daniel be allowed to choose between staying on Earth or move to another life, once his curse is lifted? Analyze what the script says happened in 1919t; it's full of holes. The plot is too complicated and ambitious. Especially when it flashes back,the treatment of past events is shoddy, perfunctory and unreal. The film does much better when it covers the present, with more reality, wit, and humor. The cinematography is beautiful, with great winter landscapes and interiors. The acting is competent, especially by Ms. Lilley(Kate), Ms. Herrington (Molly), and Mr. Walsh (Warren). I also liked Mr. Beaudoin as Daniel whose impressive presence and light humorous touch seems just right for Daniel. That said, his lines fall flat in dialogue requiring more depth. "Spirit of Christmas"has many interesting parts, but the whole doesn't quite come together. Still,it's a film worth watching; but don't expect full satisfaction.

My recording of this movie shows "Spirit of Christmas" as the title. I looked and looked but could find no 2015 movie entitled Spirit of Christmas. Finally, I just looked up the lead character and thus came to unravel this little mystery. So, we have an aka, but I'm surprised that is not mentioned here. I have only just begun to watch this, but this gal is the broker sent to check out the property. The original owner has been missing and presumed deceased. Her first night in the inn,just after midnight, she hears some noised in the place.....falls on stairs, and awakens to find the "spirit" of the owner still living in the house and literally tosses her out... Here the story begins. I'm not much for super-natural, but it looks to be slightly entertaining and the actors are credible. Maybe an administrator can add an aka to the title for others benefit. My rating is to not disturb the existing one for those who have seen its entirety.