L'Invité de Noël

source: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Ralph is a retired police officer who has worked as a New York cop for over 38 years. He plans on visiting his niece Jennifer in Chicago for the holidays. Jennifer is a successful businesswoman and the single mother of her young son Brian. She grew up all her life mostly at Ralph's, as her mother was constantly traveling and her father died when she was very young. Since then, she has lost her Christmas spirit. At the airport, Ralph has no idea where he has to be and he is helped by co-traveler Morgan Derby, a 30-year-old chef who has trouble accepting his age. When it turns out his second flight to Denver is canceled, Ralph offers Morgan to a place to stay at Jennifer's house. Although Jennifer is initially reluctant to take in Morgan, Ralph convinces her to allow him to stay since he is a top chef and she needs someone to make her son a turkey. They soon come to the conclusion that they are two completely different people. Jennifer is irritated by his careless and adventurous behavior and Morgan feels that she is a cynical control freak, which is mostly the result of dating the successful but materialistic businessman Richard Windom. Ralph, however, feels that they are perfect for each other and tries to prevent Jennifer from sending Morgan away. This film is SUPERB entertainment. It very funny. I would of scored it a 10 but the ending delves into a cliché. However the first 80 Minutes are just fantastic.

Henry Winkler is one of the all-time greats. My family watches this Christmas movie several times every year. I still laugh at Henry's sense of humor in this film. This is a feel-good family Christmas movie. I also enjoy the chemistry between Morgan Durbin and Jennifer Cullen. This is an all-around great movie!

I liked everything about this movie! One of my very top favorites that I enjoy watching again and again...and again! The plot was not boring. It was presented in a unique, delightfully light-hearted way...with so MANY funny scenes! Focused on a Christmas situation ...with Christmas décor...and snow, the theme, background, and scenery was wonderfully perfect...as well as was the script and directing. All of the players were just wonderful...very-well casted! No one was annoying or distracting. "Jennifer" and "Warren" were delightful and wonderfully matched..... "Uncle Ralph"...SO funny...was the highlight!...a well-known, talented actor portrayed his role wonderfully...and he is what made this movie most extra uniquely enjoyable! A LOT of talent and professionalism went into this movie! Congratulations to the stars, co-stars, and staff for making a most wonderful movie! : )

Okay, so I decided to get out all my Christmas movies & pile them all up ready to watch, & after seeing this film in my collection (still sealed in it's packaging, I decided to rip it open & watch it!) & I'm now asking myself why haven't I watched this film sooner?!! It was brilliant! I have to agree with most of the other reviews listed here that yes, it's a very predictable movie - you know what's coming but I guess most Christmas movies are like that, aren't they? First of all, the cast are amazing - I can't say I've seen any of Brooke Burns's work before this movie (& I have to admit, I never watched Baywatch!). I wasn't familiar with Warren Christie either but I can't think of any other two actors who would have been more perfect for this little gem of a movie - the chemistry is right up there and on form throughout the whole film. The humour is really good also, funny, predictable & light hearted - & yes the one-liners are right there! Henry Wrinkler - perfect! I've seen a few of his movies (I think the first I saw him in was 'Scream' & then a couple of TV movies). If you're reading this review & you're a Wrinkler fan, be sure to check out the movie "A Child Is Missing" (starring Roma Downey & Keegan MacIntosh). A rare & hard-to-find movie but you'll love it. But in this Christmas gem his bright ideas in pairing up Burns & Warren are just amazing. He's nailed the part as the comedic uncle. As for the co-stars, Woody Jeffreys (Jen's Boyfriend, Richard) of course has to be completely opposite to Warren Christie's character (Morgan). It's to be expected that if a movie is going to have two guys pining over one beautiful woman, then they're personalities should be completely different - Richard plays the ever-so-serious boyfriend who never smiles, never shows Jen any affection, & hardly shows any interest in her son Brian (played by Connor Christopher Levins) other than offering a $500 gift card for Toy World - a nice gesture yes, but really? Not exactly something a kid can open on Christmas morning and play with.... Back to Warren Christie - very chirpy, upbeat, humorous, & clearly to us viewers we can see he's trying his best to make any little boy's Christmas special (buying him a bike, buying a 'real' Christmas tree, taking interest in the toys in his bedroom). He likes to joke around a bit & I just love the little flirtyness between him & Brooke Burns, especially the scene when he's just stepped out of the shower & she's right there to hand over some towels & he says, "I've already got one", & she says, "Yes I can see that." & then he comes right in with the line - "Imagine how embarrassing it'd be if I didn't." Great stuff! Now then, I've read the other reviews here about the assault scene with the shop owner", I can't say I thought much of it really. But I'd hardly say it's something to raise concerns about - there was no blood - I just found it to be quite light and comedic really, similar to what you'd see in "Home Alone" with the famous shovel-over-the-head scene!. And we have to ask ourselves, would Jen's boyfriend, Richard have done that all for the sake of getting her son the Christmas wish he longs for. Sometimes a bloke has gotta step in and do what he's gotta do. Maybe I'd have done the same, I don't know. Now, not to spoil too much here (if I haven't already) but yes, the airport scene made me crumble - I'm a sucker when it's come to the climatic endings in a movie (especially these Christmas gems). That big dash through the airport to stop the guy (or girl) from getting on that plane... we've seen it a hundered times, but in this movie you won't be disappointment. I like the ideas here & you'll know what I mean once you've watched this movie. So, as I'm writing this review, I'm craving to watch this festive-feel good movie again, I can't fault it, it's definitely The Most Wonderful Film Of The Year!

Watching movie Christmas 24 ..cosy, enjoyable movie. Just one quibble with continuity....when Jennifer takes Morgan to airport she is wearing loose dark purplish check jacket with grey scarf. When they return from airport (via toy shop) she is wearing fitted light grey jacket and royal blue scarf. Magical, eh? Apart from that, I really did enjoy the movie. Sometimes I almost felt as if Henry Winkler was ad-libbing, and if so, it worked. Whilst the plot is predictable I would not have had it any other way. A nice film in the run up to Christmas. Would recommend. Get out the popcorn and relax. It will help get everyone in the mood for the big day.

What a shame. One bad scene puts a negative spin on an otherwise great Christmas flick. I really enjoy the characters, amusing one-liners, and predictable but fun plot. Henry Winkler is a bright spot as always. Unfortunately, the scene when the main characters assault a man behind his store and then leave him lying unconscious is just too foul to overlook. The characters behave as though beating a man with a metal trash can is a big joke, but there's really nothing funny about it. I like everything else about this movie. What a shame that someone didn't see the implications of a violent scene and edit it before the film was released. I still watch the movie at holiday time, but that one scene spoils it for me every time.

This is without a doubt THE very best Christmas movie ever from Hallmark! Great cast, great acting! Come on now - who doesn't love Fonzie? And Brooke Burns is so beautiful & Warren Christie is so totally HOT!!! Wish they would make a part 2! This is a beautifully lighthearted story which is also comic at times. I couldn't even guesstimate how many times I have watched this movie because I have watched it over and over again throughout the years. I'm talking like Sept.-Oct. til around Feb.-Mar. Yes, IMO it's THAT good! My DH says this is the only Hallmark Christmas movie he likes and has watched it with me a few times that says a lot for him... Even my MIL watches it over and over again. She loves it that much, too. As a matter of fact, this movie is probably the only thing we both agree on!! lol

Henry Winkler and the cast are so well cast. He is so good and real. Hallmark has some really great holiday movies, among my favorites are Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Santa and the sequel Meet The Santas. Have bought them both. The little guy Dominic Scott Kay is really good. He has been on NCIS and was good there too! Yes, they have others that are great too Like the Christmas Choir, Grandpa for Christmas and the Card, also Season for Miracles. I liked the Note and its Sequel too. All these movies give the true meaning of family and holiday spirit. It is much needed in todays world.