Dotsthavesp I wanted to but couldn't!

Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

Stoutor 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.

Lucia Ayala It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

nnwahler Well, this film is certainly not the greatest holiday movie ever; that honor woujld belong to either "It's A Wonderful Life" or the Alastair Sim version of "Scrooge." But it's the one movie I pull out every single year without fail. Michael Learned (the mother on "The Waltons") plays a lead character heading up a wagonload of talented actors, including John Houseman, Beah Richards, and James Cromwell.Zoe Jensen (Learned) is a Nebraska divorcee trying to reestablish herself in San Francisco and starts her new social life by joining a church choir preparing Handel's "Messiah" ; Houseman is a retired choir director who is extremely demanding.

SimonJack Had this been a movie just about a church choir coming together to produce Handel's Messiah, it could have been something notable and watchable. But "A Christmas Without Snow" has so many mini-plots and diversions that they detract even from the music. This film is a hodgepodge. It's slow moving, and we get just snapshots of the myriad characters – all of whom seem to have problems, if not pathos in their past. The dull, aimless plot kills this movie. It tries to include everything, and thus does little justice to anything. So, while the acting is OK, the story seems forced. Was CBS trying to make a politically correct – for the time – Christmas story? By putting too much in and trying to be all- inclusive, CBS wound up with a film that gives so little. But for the music – the singing that the film does have, it wouldn't earn even the four stars I give it. I fell asleep three times watching this on DVD. I can't imagine it holding the interest of children at all. While there aren't that many great Christmas films, many good ones have been made over the years. "A Christmas Without Snow" is a film best forgotten.

mark.waltz Quiet divorcée Michael Learned makes a new life for herself in San Francisco and finds a life she couldn't imagine from before. Lonely without her young son with her, she becomes an on-looker in the private lives of the troubled members of the choir and through her total unselfishness helps her fellow members look forward to a merry Christmas and a brighter future.Many familiar character actors have little bits of drama to express their inner turmoils with the highlights being a young black man facing hardships in his desperation to escape his struggling existence and an aging chorus member who must take a different role in the choir when her voice begins to fail her. John Houseman gloriously hams it up as the demanding but ultimately kind choir director while the sweet faced Beach Richards provides wisdom and guidance as the troubled Calvin Level's hardworking grandmother. James Cromwell is wise and funny as the church's minister. A lot of time is shown at the rehearsals and various performances, and a twist towards the end leads to near tragedy.Overall a decent T.V. movie that is honest and refreshing in the sense that it looks at real human beings. Learned, as always. is totally likable, but is more of the eyes rather than the mouth of the story. Great San Francisco location shots are nice as well.

thomandybish This seemingly forgotten telefilm is far and away better that the current crop of yuletide dreck being offered by the likes of the Hallmark Channel and various others. A Christmas Without Snow offers a great cast, intelligent writing, and characters we care about. As other reviews have stated, Michael Learned plays a divorcée starting over in San Francisco who, in an attempt to find some stability, joins a church choir which is about to attempt an ambitious mounting of Handel's Messiah. John Houseman is the no-nonsense director who demands perfection from his choir. As the choir progresses toward its performance of the musical masterpiece, we gain insight into the lives and personalities of various members. What other reviewers have missed is the sense of community among the diverse parishioners/choir members, something that reflects positively on the traditional Christian church. In almost vignette-type fashion, we get to know these people, their loves, hopes, hurts, and see them rally together to tackle the Messiah and also the various problems they encounter as a church and as individuals. There are no quick fixes, no tidy happy endings. Yet these people have each other and the satisfaction of working hard at their endeavors. There's support, there's love, and there's a lot that is healthy and thriving and growing. Intelligent and life-affirming without being syrupy. Recommended.