Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
'80s Christmas movie has depressing, intense scenes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
Ginny Grainger (Mary Steenburgen) no longer has a trace of Christmas spirit, and with good reason: Her boss at the grocery store is an overbearing jerk, her husband lost his job last summer and can't find work anywhere, and they're being kicked out of their house by the end of the month. Through an angel named Gideon (Harry Dean Stanton), Ginny learns that it could be much worse, especially when you don't believe in the spirit of Christmas. When her Christmas spirit vanishes after one-too-many difficulties, the Christmas lights in the neighborhood shut off, her husband is shot while at the bank by an impoverished man Ginny had ignored at the gas station, and the man kidnaps her two children and nearly drowns them after driving them off a bridge in trying to get away from the police. But if Ginny can somehow learn to believe in Christmas, and to believe that she is the master of her fate, she can learn that simple goodness, kindness, and consideration go a long way to avert the evils of the world.
Is It Any Good?
Families looking for lighthearted holiday fare should definitely look elsewhere. With a story somewhat similar to It's a Wonderful Life, ONE MAGIC CHRISTMAS makes the low points even lower, as Mary Steenburgen's character must endure the shooting death of her husband by a bank robber, her children being kidnapped and nearly killed by the bank robber, and then telling her kids that their father has died. This is all because she didn't give the future bank robber any money in an earlier scene at a gas station when he tried to sell his beat-up car to the mechanic.
Although this movie does its best to show the many difficulties families and individuals who are struggling financially face during the holidays, the dark moments are too dark, and the ending is a bit too neat and tidy, even by Hollywood standards.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Christmas movies. What similarities and differences do you see between this and other Christmas movies?
How are the financial difficulties the Graingers face presented in the movie? How accurately does this reflect the realities of working families who have fallen on trying financial times during the holiday season?
In what ways did the movie seem dated? How would you remake it?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 25, 1985
- On DVD or streaming : September 7, 2004
- Cast : Arthur Hill , Harry Dean Stanton , Mary Steenburgen
- Director : Phillip Borsos
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Holidays
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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