A Mom for Christmas
A Mom for Christmas
| 17 December 1990 (USA)
A Mom for Christmas Trailers

A department store mannequin comes to life during the holiday season for a motherless little girl who wishes she had a mom for Christmas, and proceeds to charm her hard-working dad, too.

Reviews
CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Motompa Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.
BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
Edwin The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
Christmas-Reviewer I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 400 (C H R I S T M A S ) MOVIES AND SPECIALS.BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I AM HONEST! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN!"A Mom For Christmas" is a 1990 television film produced by Disney. In this film a motherless girl is granted a "Christmas Wish". Her wish comes true when she gets a "Mom" for Christmas who in reality is a department store mannequin come to life.The story revolves around 11-year-old Jessica (Juliet Sorcey), whose mother died when she was three years old. Her father, Jim (Doug Sheehan), is a workaholic with little time for his daughter and hasn't been able to spend time with her since her mother's death 8 years prior and still seems to be mourning her.The film is well worth watching. If you have never seen it you should. It is very charming. Doris Robert co-stars! This film is a winner. If you love Christmas movies this is a must.
Robert W. In a sea of family Christmas films I seem to be on a mission to watch them all each and every Christmas. Usually while doing Christmas baking I will try out a new one so I gave this a go on a total fluke. It didn't blow me away in the least. The production value seems like next to nothing and the performances are hokey but you know what...it has everything you want from a strictly family oriented Christmas film. There is a ton of magic, romance, fantasy and its just simple fun. The biggest problem with this film is that there is absolutely nothing that stands out about it. We've even seen the "mannequin" come to life story before more than once! The cast is stiff (no pun intended) and the story is rushed. But I also doubt that it was made for my demographic. I would guess that little girls and their Mom's could curl up on the couch and truly enjoy this little film. However, outside of that demographic there just simply isn't a lot to cheer for here.Legendary actress and singer Olivia Newton-John is best known for Grease and probably the only thing I've seen her in until this and perhaps it should stay that way. Its appropriate that she is very wooden and wide eyed and very childish because she is supposed to be a mannequin come to life but I sort of think she overplays the role...or underplays it..I'm not sure which. She clearly knows this role is for kids because she just doesn't try too hard. She just doesn't have any charisma in the role and her childlike voice is obnoxious. The entire concept of the movie is that this woman wins over a father and daughter with her brilliant concept of life and love but that doesn't show very well. Juliet Sorci is actually pretty good as the little girl who longs for a mother. Its too bad the script wasn't better written because I think Sorci is far more talented than what the character offers her. I would say the same about Doug Sheehan who plays her father. His character is very stereotypical of this type of film. He lost his wife and is trying to raise a little girl and have a career and he's a good guy but lost with everything. But they don't really let him capture any of that. I can't even say the role is typical because they miss the mark on all of the characters. It just seems like they slapped it together and rolled it out without trying very hard. The amazing Doris Roberts has an unfortunately very small role and she could have been used far more than what she is.I must admit I am very surprised that director George Miller helmed this picture. I mean he's had a long and varied career and he's had some genuinely great family films under his belt like Andre and Never Ending Story 2 (not as good as the first but still a decent family flick.) This just feels rushed and slapped together and it will certainly entertain little ones briefly but it isn't likely to become a Holiday staple anywhere and certainly not worth seeing more than once. I very half hearted attempt at a sweet Christmas movie. 5/10
nicole_ward Such and unrealistic story however, at the same time it is so true to reality. The base of the story is the little girl Jessica who does not have a mother and wishes for one at Christmas. This is what so many children have to go through each year, and this makes the film so touching as it shows how Christmas is for many children. However, the other part (the mannequins coming to life) is obviously unrealistic.This film is a really beautiful Christmas story, and will touch the hearts of many. It's not about Santa, reindeers and presents as many Christmas films tend to be. It's about so much more - the wish of a mother, and this is really beautiful! The acting is wonderful, especially that of the little girl Jessica. This film needs more credit, and I'm surprised that it hasn't got it, given that Olivia Newton John stars as a lead role! If you want a touching Christmas film, watch this; you will not be disappointed.
DocWriter This is a delightful Christmas fantasy that deals lightly with magic and the power of love. Jessica, played with astonishing maturity by 10-year-old Juliet Sorcey, receives a free wish from a wishing well. When Philomena (Doris Roberts) asks what she wants, she says "I want that," pointing to a grouping of mannequins arranged to suggest a mother, daughter, and dog. The mother looks amazingly like Olivia Newton John. When Philomena asks Jessica what she means, she explains that she wants to have a mother to be with her during the Christmas season. And Philomena grants her wish: "One mother for two weeks, starting at midnight tonight and ending at midnight Christmas eve." At midnight, the mannequin she pointed to, now alive and looking exactly like Olivia Newton John, rings the doorbell and is taken in. As she becomes part of the family, we are all aware that the two-week countdown clock is ticking.The theme of a statue coming to life occurs throughout classic literature. The original Pygmalian, as described by Ovid, was a sculptor who fell in love with a statue he had made, brought her to life with a kiss, and married her. So, enjoy this film for what it is -- easy to watch entertainment that is fun for all. Good script and fine acting by a cast that finds exactly the right pitch to tell a modern fairy tale.