Beverly Hills Christmas

Beverly Hills Christmas had some wonderful performances by teen actors, who beautifully handled a story that could have been rather heavy-handed and melodramatic. While this may not be the best Christmas movie of all-time, it is most definitely time well-spent with family and friends when you want an uplifting story with some humor to lighten it up so the kids don't go running out of the room. Good story without sentimental overload to kill a fun buzz!

The concept of “Beverly Hills Christmas” is a classic: rich but mean-spirited corporate executive dies unexpectedly and is given the chance to return to Earth as a guardian angel for her equally-mean-spirited rich spoiled teenage daughter, with the hope of a happy ending for dead and living alike. I was looking forward to a new take on that trope. Unfortunately, the execution doesn’t live up to the potential.Donna Spangler overacts her way through the role of Angelina, the ghost/guardian angel; her “ruthless corporate executive” moments are whiney rather than cold, her “guardian angel” scenes are hammy, and her car-crash death-scene scream actually made me laugh out loud. On the other side of the scale, Vincent DePaul’s performance as James, the husband left behind to raise their daughter, is incredibly stiff and unconvincing. Kirsten Lea as Angelina’s former assistant / James’ new wife Carol is a braying and cloying plot device more than a character. Of the adult leads, only Dean Cain comes off as at all realistic – and he’s playing the archangel Gabriel as Heaven’s lobby greeter.The teenage leads fare better. Ravin Spangler as spoiled-rich-girl Ravin starts out a bit wooden but warms up as the movie progresses – her tantrums get more convincing and her change-of-heart works very well. For what seems to be her first movie, she handles herself well. But Brandon Tyler Russell as Jerry, the kid who has been tossed through the foster-care system and still has a giving and kind attitude, provides the film with its heart. His delivery is natural regardless of whether he’s being funny, supportive or pained and thus Russell’s character is virtually the only one in the film that has any depth. Because of this, the Jerry/Ravin scenes are the most natural in the movie – so it’s a good thing most of the second half of the movie is centered on them. (The back cover of the DVD and the IMDb page for this movie make it seem that Russell is barely in the film, but he’s as much of a lead as DePaul and Lea , and more so than Cain, in terms of plot importance and screen time.)Brian Skiba’s direction has heart but can’t seem to decide what it wants the movie to be. There are some extremely odd, almost slapstick-humor moments that crop up in awkward places. For instance: in a serious hospital scene near the end of the movie, various pieces of equipment explode around a patient, following which the doctor and nurse assigned to that patient stick their heads up from behind the gurney on which their patient still lays. They look around with bemused expressions on their faces … and then slowly duck down behind the gurney again like Arte Johnson in the bushes on Laugh-In, or like two co-eds in a college sex comedy. The moment was completely out of place, and it wasn’t the only such moment in the film.As much as I enjoyed the message of the movie and the performances by Ravin Spangler, Brandon Tyler Russell, Dean Cain, and a few of the supporting actors (like John Savage as a homeless guy, and Seth Menachem and Sarah Phillips as Jerry’s foster parents), I’m afraid this is one Christmas film I’ll end up never watching again.

A Beverly Hills Christmas is a classic feel good movie. You review is a bit off. Firstly, you are a male and you have no idea what you are talking about. Angelina Foxworth is a career minded woman in a man's world. She is NOT mean spirited. She is motivated and directed. If a man acted like her being the CEO of his own company ala Steve Jobs, Donald Trump -- he would be applauded for his corporate savvy ness. I watched the movie and loved Angelina and her ethereal acting. Mrs. Foxwoth is the owner of Jetson. A billion dollar fashion house company of woman's gowns. While building the trendy company she helped folks like her assistant Lucille(Mara Rydell.(by the way gives a beautiful and emotional speech at the end of the movie (spoiler alert.) ) Donna Spangler's angel scenes are breathtaking in Malibu. She handles playing DEAD pretty beautifully. Now about the father, James Bennet Foxworth (Vincent De Paul) happens to been the most charming man I have seen in a long time in these holiday films. So you know most men and husbands are beyond void of emotion. I am waiting to get my husband to act beyond scratching his ?? and seeing further than his newspaper to even check on the kids. De Paul plays a grieving husband and Beverly Hills dad with CLASS and restrained dignity. Very natural and very believable. And by the way, his looks on camera are very handsome which was appealing to me maybe not YOU. Also, De Paul's natural way about him when he checks on his family and kisses his wife in the middle of the night in the mansion made me swoon. He is very convincing as a real Dad dealing with the real situations. Such a tremendous loss and rearing a 14 year daughter with his second wife he tackles effortlessly. I felt his pain. I was thoroughly convinced he loved his wife in the hospital scene when he speaks to Ravin at the end... Re watch it!!!!I do agree with your opinion about Dean Cain (Angel Gabriel). He is always remarkable and I enjoyed watching him giving counsel, guidance, and enlightenment to Angelina. Cain encourages her to change the trajectory of her daughter's poor life choices. Kirsten Lea (Carol) really shows compassion as a step mom and was perfect in the role. Also Brandon Tyler Russell (Jerry)and Ravin Spangler (Ravin) and so right for each other we first see it in the first act. They were spot on in their development of their characters and delivery. YES they are an integral part of the movie and the collective importance in the plot of A Beverly Hills Christmas. You may want to talk to the DVD designer on why they left off pictures of them. For some reason middle America responds to doggies on covers of DVD box art. Great performances also by Andy Cohen (Very funny) Simona Fusco, John Savage (Touching) and Seth Menachem & Sara Phillips(Moving performance as parents of Jerry).Anthony, Just so you know this is a holiday movie that dares to address some issues folks deal with everyday. I feel the director Brian Skiba did a tremendous job of showing three dimensional people. Also pleased Skiba added humorous fun and loving moments not to take it self to seriously. ENJOYED IT!!!

It is a pleasant movie with good messages throughout, but nothing much else to recommend it. Not that it is bad. It just doesn't seem to have the "umph" to it to be really uplifting as it could be. I was disappointed that Dean Cain actually is not featured much, although he carries his part charmingly well. This is a wholesome movie nevertheless, nice family fare.

Weird movie and not completely predictable. As you could already guess, this movie is cheesy and there is some sub-par acting going on. I enjoy Hallmark-esque Christmas movies and this one is in the same vein. I was expecting it to be funny and a bit more lighthearted than it was. Still I enjoyed it in the end and might even watch it again next year.

Well intended movie. Performances a very uneven to the point of being distracting at times, but the film tries to deliver a positive message and I appreciate that.

it was OK

I like the premise behind the movie, but the acting is really terrible. That is time that I can never get back.

First of all, let me just say, I love Hallmark movies and am entirely saddened that I can't watch the channels regularly in Germany like I can in the US. I watched this one for free on Amazon Prime. The story is conducive to Hallmark's theme but, the acting is HORRIFIC! I couldn't wait for it to end! It is beyond hokey. Cute story but even a headliner like Dean Cain couldn't save it. Make your own opinion but, watch it for free if you can.

no problem.