Smartorhypo
Highly Overrated But Still Good
Skunkyrate
Gripping story with well-crafted characters
Sharkflei
Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.
Humbersi
The first must-see film of the year.
Jack Vasen
This story is about what happens when a newly blended family tries to blend their traditions for Christmas. They do a good job of showing how traditions are bittersweet when someone is no longer there to share them. We see that these kids are not selfish and in fact very mature for their age in that sense. Giving up the traditions is like losing that loved one again.This is not your stereotypical Christmas story, although I'm sure elements of it have been done before. The ending could have gone a couple of ways.All the acting is good. Two of the kids seem especially mature for their age. I was particularly impressed with John Ratzenberger who was nothing like he was on Cheers and presented a Christian retired pastor as a reasonable man of faith and love.There was a Bible reading about Christmas and saying of grace that was more than rote. The movie may be a little preachy, but it is not about religion. It is about the importance of family.
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!"Our First Christmas". In this film: After a whirlwind romance, widowers Cindy and Tom and their children are spending their first Christmas together. Planning and hoping for the perfect holiday, the couple finds themselves in a dilemma. Both sets of children are determined to keep their traditions of the past, even if it means spending the holiday apart.The film has many familiar faces including "Dixie Carter" and John Ratzenberger.What I like the most about this film was the fact "NOBODY" comes across as a bad person at anytime during the film. From the Children to the eldest adult! Everyone's point of view is herd! Nobody is ever called "Stupid" for feeling or wanting certain things.The writer of this film did a great job. She did not take the easy approach on certain subject matter.This film might not be for everyone especially if you recently lost someone you love. Please if you LOVE Christmas you will love this film. The film is about what is important in life and how we should all treat one another. A Huge Winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zoooma
Made-for-TV (Hallmark Channel) production, one of about a hundred in the past decade alone. So many have lost their way, using Christmas in name only when the story itself has so little to do with Christmas. Here we get a different treat, a 1 in 10 movie that actually works. Despite taking place in Southern California, it's quite Christmasy throughout. The holiday spirit is the background for this. Unfortunately another background exists -- the orchestral score which is so in your ears at times that it's distracting. Why add that in so heavily? It's like they don't want to rely on strength of script to carry the film. Strip the score away and you get drama. Add it in you get schmaltz. Score aside, this is pretty good. Dixie Carter and John Ratzenberger are such a joy here! Anything with Cliff from Cheers is definitely worth seeing! Such a good and warm actor! The end result works and is sure to pull at the heartstrings the way a good Christmas movie should! Worth seeing!6.4 / 10--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener
windtar
A+ to everyone involved in this Christmas movie.This is a perfect example of how a family holiday movie should be made. It had every angle covered to keep your interested with a ending that makes you happy and tear.This movie is about 2 families who each lost a mom/dad who come together in marriage and each side "kids" wanting their own tradition Christmas. Not giving in and sticking by their own "selfish" desires causes tension within the family.I really liked John Ratzenberger in this movie as the logical calm grandpa. His chemistry between the kids and parents was only over shadowed by his sincerity to Dixie Carter, the mother in law. Ratzenberger is a very good drama actor, a far cry from Cliff on cheers. John, can I have your autograph? heheThe storyline between the mom and dad's tension was well written, and even better was how everyone intermingled with their own sub-plots. In the end, the entire story was wrapped up perfectly.SPOILER -- *** When Dixie carter goes home and Ratzenberger goes to get her, WOW, that was so well written i would give a award to John for that alone. The tears rolled from my eyes from there, and my heart made me think of my family until the final climactic ending with grandma walking in living room.The only thing I would have changed a bit was the ending and families reaction when Dixie walked in. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but they could have did something a little better, maybe a bow around Dixie, lol.... They should have put a dramatic momentary pause in the kids faces when they saw grandma, maybe tears in their eyes before they ran to her.To me, this movie was Christmas perfection.It's a MUST SEE for anyone who loves family movies. A+++MERRY Christmas 2008