Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!

Aiden Melton The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Christmas-Reviewer This made for TV-film needed some re-casting. THe actors in this film were good however they are in the wrong roles. Devoted father and husband Tom Chandler dies in a car accident, but appears as a ghost to his 11 year old son Jonathan. Now a single mother, Susan Chandler tries to concentrate on her reporter job and dismisses the idea of a ghost, but allows the school counselor, Kevin Harrison, to work with Jonathan. Now Tom's Ghost and Jonathan arrange for Susan to enter a radio show's dating game, and conclude that only Kevin, a widower and coach in Jonathan's former favorite sport, ice-hockey, will do as his stepdad, while she leans towards lawyer Greg Roberts.I truly think that the actors playing Tom and Jonathan should have been switched. The film would of been better served. Besides you can easily see why she was so deeply in love with her husband if he was played by Michael Shanks. If Conan Graham played a school coach you would see why Susan would never "Notice Him". Michael Shanks however stops traffic.

denverddg I've watched this movie several times over the last few years and enjoyed it each time. I do suspect that the version I saw this year has been edited for time. If I can find it, I plan to add it to my DVD collection so that I don't have to worry about more editing in future years. I love Christmas movies of all kinds and "Under the Mistletoe" will be added to the list of those that I look forward to every year. Thanks to all involved in it's production - particularly Michael Shanks, Jamie Ray Newman, Burkely Duffield, George Mendeluk, Lindsey MacAdam and Jason Rilie. British Columbia is a beautiful place and movies made there reflect the natural beauty of the Province and the people who live there.

Marla Reed Aside from a few sentiments that bothered my slightly feminist nature this is a charming and gentle movie.Both George Mendeluk and Michael Shanks describe Jamie Ray Newman as being very 'present' in her role of Susan Chandler and after seeing the movie I understand more clearly what they are saying. Susan Chandler just fills the screen with chemistry and energy.The only problem I had with Susan Chandler is that she seems a bit too self absorbed. Even with thinking that Kevin Harrison has a wife at home, she constantly imposes on him to look after her son while she pursues her 'love life'. I mean I would think it was very strange for someone's wife to allow him to just go baby-sit my kid on a moment's notice.After seeing this movie and even with knowing why Michael Shanks chose the role he did in it, part of me kinda wishes we could have seen what he would have done with the role of the ghostly father, Tom Chandler.In my interview with George Mendeluk, he says that Michael Shanks has a wholesome quality about him that makes Kevin Harrison so believable. Boy is this ever true. You just can't help but want to take this man home with you. He is gentle, caring, intuitive, intelligent and dedicated to helping Jonathan deal with losing his dad. Yet there is an air of sadness about him that tugs at your heart. When he finally reveals the reason for that sadness, you just want to hug Kevin and never let him go.It's easy to see why Michael Shanks was drawn to this role considering how devoted to his own family he is. If you haven't seen the movie yet, keep your eyes open for the bracelet he is wearing which is clearly visible in one particular scene. It is the one that his oldest daughter made for him and Michael Shanks told me it was part of what he was using to remind him of his own family life and using it to create part of Kevin Harrison's character.Burkely Duffield is really amazing in this movie and George Mendeluk is right, he is the one who brings it all together. Under The Mistletoe fore goes the stereotypical 'wisecracking' preteen who is smarter than the adults. Instead, Jonathan Chandler is filled with a childlike faith and sense of wonder that so often children lose as the head towards their teens. Burkely Duffield makes Jonathan come across as sweet and sincere.In many aspects, Under the Mistletoe is a 'by the numbers' storyline, yet it manages to rise about that and stand out because of the extraordinary cast of characters and the actors playing them, especially Michael Shanks and Burkely Duffield.Jonathan Chandler is very worried about his mother and he finds a safe harbor in Kevin Harrison who, instead of treating him dismissively for claiming to be able to speak to his deceased father, opens his mind and heart to the troubled young boy to really listen to him. The movie treats both Jonathan and Susan's issues of grief over the loss of Tom Chandler with respect, not as comedic fodder.The one thing I did come away with is that the movie to me is really more about Jonathan Chandler and Kevin Harrison's interactions, than it was about Susan and Kevin's. Susan Chandler in many ways seems almost secondary to this part of the story line as she blithely turns her son's emotional issues and problems over to a man she hardly knows, but immediately trusts to help him.On the totally shallow side, Michael Shanks is absolutely stunning to look at in this movie. His close ups highlight his eyes and his smile. The camera angles and blocking for this movie are definitely used to his best advantage, as it is with all the actors involved. This movie was clearly made by someone who wanted it to be focused on the characters, not on the scenery around them.Marla

alterangirl First of all, I just love Jaime Ray Newman and Michael Shanks. I'm a fan of both the Laura Cadman and Daniel Jackson characters.The thing I love the most about this movie is that the husband appears to Jonathan. While I don't believe it to be true, it's such a sweet thought, that your Daddy would come back to talk to you and give you guidance.It's rather ironic that Michael Shanks' character is the school guidance counselor. Shanks played a psychologist in the Stargate SG-1 episode "The Changeling." Also, I'm used to my OTP of McKay/Cadman, so seeing this made me think thoughts of Daniel/Laura.Damn. I think I might have found myself another AU OTP.