Snowglobe (NR, 2007)

For twenty-something Angela (Christina Milian), the perfect Christmas would look like powdery white snow, sound like carolers singing in three-part harmony, and smell like ginger snaps fresh from the oven. Unfortunately for her, her holidays are more often dominated by boisterous clashes amid her overbearing Italian-Cuban family. But when a mysterious package arrives on her doorstep just before the holidays, Angela opens it to discover a beautiful snowglobe, whose quaint village scene epitomizes her Christmas ideal. With visions of cookies and hand-knitted mittens dancing in her head, she drifts off to sleep -- and is soon whisked away to the wonderland within the globe, complete with an ice-skating rink, old-fashioned inn, and horse-drawn sleigh. Angela is delighted to discover that the snowglobe town is overflowing with Christmas spirit, but when the two worlds collide, she must evaluate her own idea of perfection -- and choose between the perpetually happy (but unnervingly simplistic) Douglas and her down-to-earth neighbor, Eddie (Josh Cooke).

While Snowglobe probably won't become an instant holiday classic, the magic-infused tale has a charm that will appeal to some viewers' sensitive, sentimental sides. Milian is a delight throughout, and she's supported by a well-cast group that includes Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos) as her oppressively loving Italian mother and newcomer Cooke as nice-guy Eddie.

With all the iffy stuff kept to a minimum (a few kisses, some inconspicuous drinking, and virtually no strong language), there's little here that will be new to tweens or teens. But the movie will be most enjoyable for older viewers who can appreciate Angela's struggle between the idyllic holiday and the reality of her imperfect family.