Redwarmin This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

Plustown A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

luna-tuna I was home, alone, recovering from a serious week-long chest cold. Still contagious, I knew that both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day would be spent with Kleenex, Campbell's Chicken Soup, and the remote. Being a HUGE FAN of ALL Christmas movies, it was tough to find one that l hadn't seen. The name Amber Riley jumped off of the cable network, on ASPIRE network, which I'd never heard or seen. I've loved Amber since GLEE and followed her to DWTS, where she won...Go Amber! I was completely absorbed in the plot, acting and non-traditional Christmas formula that 90% of ALL Christmas movies follow. Not saccharine nor predictable, I will be looking forward to seeing this film for years to come. Not until the very end was I aware that this was a true story. I also deeply appreciated that this was a mixed race film, showing that race has NOTHING TO DO WITH HAVING A MISERABLE CHILDHOOD. I'm Caucasian and grew up like Amber's character: addicted mentally ill mom, too many abusive boyfriends of hers to count, and I ran away from home three times...from a lily white farm town in Michigan. Only by my strength and the grace of God did I survive and thrive. This movie showed how the same incidents can be treated vastly differently by the individual. Some rise above their past, some use it as their gravestone.

gehewe This was a wonderful surprise. The movie had a higher than normal rating (7.1) which attracted me to watch it. Amber Riley was great in the lead role and she was the force behind its success. She portrayed an unstoppable vibrant beautiful good person who came through adversity. Beautiful singing in spots fit right in with the character.The movie was gripping. The description did not do it justice. It was about kids that did not have a family to go to for Christmas and how one such kid overcame. Guess what- it is based on a true story. Well done.Really it was a very simple movie. It was well done and was memorable. Only about 1 in 10 movies will I rate a 10. This one had that special something.I enjoyed the girls (5 of them), the soon to be boyfriend and the professor in the supporting cast. They all contributed positively to the movie.

mbang-1 I watch a lot of TV holiday movies in December. Most of them are pretty predictable--two nice looking people who meet and like each other, but then something goes haywire and one of them hurts the other or leaves or somehow they end up on the outs, only to reunite for a happy ending and the perfect Christmas. This movie was so refreshing because none of that happened.For one thing, it's based on a true story. Jackie Turner is played by Amber Riley, who really does a outstanding job in that role. Jackie Turner is a young woman who had a rough childhood and a rough adolescence, but she managed to pick up the pieces and work towards a future. This movie follows her as Christmas approaches. She's a college student, in the church choir, works, etc. So we see her as she interacts with college friends, work friends, church friends, a teachers, etc. And while it looks like she has it all together to everyone who knows her, we find out that she doesn't have any family to enjoy Christmas with. So, she places an ad for a family to spend Christmas with. The fallout of that ad is the heartbreak and joy of real life, and how this college woman handled it. It's a very moving and inspiring story. It really made me think of how those who do not have loved ones to spend Christmas with feel. Definitely worth watching.

Irishchatter I am so pleased to have seen Amber Riley on this as it's been ages since I last saw her on Glee. This movie isn't your typical overrated Christmas film you would normally see but its way more realistic! I loved how it concentrates on individuals who never had families or have been abused in their homes so Christmas can be just a hard time for those people. I just think Christmas causes lots of pressure as well for families that don't have much money. I'm not exactly a Christmas fan but I think this movie was pretty good! I honestly thought this is the best holiday film I've ever seen, they should actually show this to anyone who is finding it tough on Christmas!