All I Want for Christmas (1991)

 

cast: Ethan Embry, Thora Birch, Harley Jane Kozak, Jamey Sheridan

 

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Rated: PG

 
reviewed by: Rissi C.
  

For most children there are dolls, toy trucks and the latest tech gadget on their Christmas list, but all the O'Fallon kids want for Christmas is their family back together and they are willing to go to desperate lengths to get it.

Ethan (Ethan Embry) and Hallie (Thora Birch) live in the city with their wealthy grandmother (Lauren Bacall) and recently divorced mom Catherine (Harley Jane Kozak). As Christmas approaches, both of them find they are uncertain about Christmas, since this will be the fist year their dad has moved out. After seven-year-old Hallie has wrangled Ethan into taking her to see Santa, Ethan is less-than-thrilled to learn she plans to ask Santa to get their parents back together. During the holiday season, Ethan and Hallie are back and forth between their two homes; their grandmothers and their Dad Michaels (Jamey Sheridan) awesome downtown diner, a place they love to go. Knowing Santa is not going to help his beloved sister, Ethan decides to take matter into his own hands with the help of friends. So begins operation Desert Island. And it doesn't help when their mom decides she's marrying her new boyfriend! This well crafted family holiday film gives us plenty of laughs along with some sweet poignant moments.

This film sparkles is every department, from the casting to the Christmas spirit portrayed. It has become a classic in my family just as Miracle on 34^th Street enchanted audiences so many years ago. This pleasantly crafted tale has a lot of wonderful moments and themes involved and the director and writer brought them together quite well. The story premise I loved the most was the relationship between Hallie and Ethan. Hallie is a humorous part of the film, from her wishing of a Merry Christmas and a happy Hanukah to her going out to fix a mistake." She is priceless, while Ethan is a protective big brother who genuinely cares for Hallie and only wants what's best for her. When you find a film that portrays a positive sibling relationship, its a joy to watch. This particular on-screen relationship comes off as realistic to the viewer. Small touches such as family life and witty remarks are what make this movie so fun to watch with your family.

Both Jamey and Harley do a great job as divorced parents who are really still in love with one another. While the crush between Ethan and visitor from Boston, Stephanie, is well done and comes across as a believable relationship between fifteen-year-olds; it has awkward moments, but then every day life certainly has plenty of those. A particular scene between Ethan and Hallie is also very special (when he picks her up from school), the afternoon the kids spend at the diner is also another fabulous and memorable sequence. My family and I have sat down to watch this now for several years and each year it tops one of my favorites to re-watch, I cant help but find myself still enjoying this and anxiously awaiting another Christmas spent with these fun loving kids and their parents. The lengths the kids go to in order to get their parents back together are funny to watch, but when you think on it, they aren't the wisest things to do.

On one occasion they send Tony to Jersey in a freezer truck and make their mother believe that nothing happened to him. While other things that they do are more minor and have less consequence involved; letting mice loose, singing annoying songs and attempting to ruin an evening out. Once, Ethan tells his mother he is spending the night with a friend, something she learns differently the next day. This G-rated tale generally doesn't abuse its rating, but there are a few occasions that is was befitting of a PG. In the opening sequence a boy in Ethan's choir sneaks a look in a magazine at a model in a skimpy bathing suit, its brief and doesn't linger. While watching home videos, Ethan's parents are on vacation and are shown passionately kissing; during a trip to the museum, Ethan is shocked to look up and see a painting of a nude woman (briefly shown); he quickly turns away. The kids do a few things that are considered wrong and in the end are forced to explain. Hallie once fakes an illness in order to bring her parents together.

If you are looking for a new flick to watch on Christmas Eve or during the holiday season, check out All I want for Christmas this year. It isn't an Oscar worthy production, but who needs that curled up on the couch with loved ones? During Ethan's final speech he talks of how much he missed his family and I found it particularly touching, in the busyness of this holiday season, as you gather with family, shop at the malls and decorate the house, don't forget to celebrate the birth of Christ and lets all take a moment to thank Him for all our abundant blessings. The final backdrop is also reminiscent of White Christmas' final scene; the backdrop of a huge elegantly decorated tree and snow falling.  Enjoy the season and I hope this year, you'll be able to find a new classic for your family to add to your collection in one of our films.