Miser Brothers’ Christmas (2008) A

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Mickey Rooney

Synopsis: Santa Claus and the mischievous brothers Heat Miser and Snow Miser are the targets of yuletide treachery.

Review: I love the Miser Brothers, Heat Miser and Snow Miser.  I really love their song.  The character of North Wind was done in such an annoying way he actually takes away from the story.  I didn’t enjoy this as much as I expected to but for me it’s worth it to see the Miser Brothers and get the nostalgia from The Year Without A Santa Claus.

Scoring: 3

Miss Me This Christmas (2017)

Rated: NR

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Starring: Erica Ash

Synopsis: Before finalizing their divorce on Christmas Day, Regina returns to the Chesterton Hotel where Franklin and she were originally married, only to meet an eccentric millionaire whose affection towards her forces Regina to come to grips with the choice she's facing.

Review: I thought this movie was dreadful.  The plot, the acting, everything was bad.  There are so many moments where I couldn’t believe what was happening.  The fighting and drama feel manufactured.  Skip this one.

Scoring: 1

Mister Scrooge to See You (2013)

Rated: NR

Genres: Drama, Religion

Starring: David Ruprecht, Matt Koester, and Shannon Moore

Synopsis: Sent on a journey 170 years into the future, Scrooge encounters a world even colder and greedier than his own, a world that includes a cutthroat businessman named Timothy Cratchit VI.  Will Scrooge be able to turn Cratchit from his selfish ways and teach him the true meaning of Christmas?

Review: This was a truly original take on the original.  In this movie the book hasn’t been written.  I found it to be an interesting and sweet movie if a little light.  It delves into too many subjects without getting deep enough into any.  Belle’s kindness is worth watching for.  The topic of religion is throughout but isn’t the theme.  I’d watch again.

Scoring: 3

Mistletoe & Menorahs (2019)

Rated: PG

Genre: Romance

Starring: Jake Epstein and Kelley Jakle

Synopsis: A determined toy company executive must learn about Hanukkah in a hurry in order to land a big account. 

Review: I loved it!  They started each day with an advent calendar to let us know what day it was and track the time left to the holiday. The two people teaching each other about their traditions and show such respect to other cultures was done well. There was a sense of fun and friendship. Check this one out. 

Scoring: 4

Mistletoe & Molly (2021)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Eden Broda and Zach Smadu

Synopsis: Molly Bishop is counting on a big career opportunity to come through before the holidays without using her family’s name to get there.

Review: It’s not a bad movie just a very blah one. I never got emotionally invested and it seemed to last forever. The acting isn’t bad, but they didn’t make me care about the characters. It’s okay to watch once but I probably won’t watch again. 

Scoring: 2

Mistletoe in Montana (2021)

Rated: PG

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Melissa Joan Hart, Duane Henry, Jamey Sheridan, and Sam Marra

Synopsis: Merry owns the ranch and has been unlucky in love, but that’s about to change when a single father, Mark, and his two kids book the ranch for Christmas week.  The holiday spirit is everywhere, and love is in the air.

Review: There were times where it really felt like the movie was dragging. Sadly, most of those times were during the romance scenes. The rest, with the family and all the Christmas was wonderful and helped make up for where it lagged. I especially loved the ending. 

Scoring: 3.5

Mistletoe Magic (2020)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Jessica Sippos and Stephen Huszar

Synopsis: When Harper realizes that she accidentally donated her family’s beloved magic mistletoe to a charity, she enlists the help of thrift store owner and old friend Luke to help her retrieve it.

Review: Magic is a good title for this film.  It’s sweet yet lighthearted.  Seeing them search for the mistletoe meant seeing touches of Christmas all around town.  Huszar does an excellent job as Luke.  He brings depth to the movie and the romantic tension.  It’s a pleasurable watch.

Scoring: 3

Mistletoe Match (2023)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Romance 

Starring: Elena Juatco and Ryan Bruce

Synopsis: Journalist Olivia goes undercover to the successful Mistletoe Match event. There, she meets single dad, widower Thomas. Sparks soon fly, but with a promotion on the line, will she risk losing it all for the romance she never saw coming?

Review: At first it seemed like a negative and kind of boring movie. Then quickly it became interesting. It’s not as deep with the background characters but it’s there where it matters. Super cute. 

Scoring: 3.5

Mistletoe Mixup (2021)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Danielle C. Ryan, Joey Lawrence, Matthew Lawrence, and Andrew Lawrence

Synopsis: A workaholic with no time for romance, or the holidays, ends up meeting two potential suitors on the same day, but unbeknownst to her, they turn out to be brothers.  A sibling squabble commences in this holiday romance.

Review: If this happened in real life, I would be judging everyone. For a movie, it made an interesting premise. It was really enjoyable to watch. I wish the humor of the beginning was still there at the end but still fun to watch. 

Scoring: 3

The Mistletoe Promise (2016)

The Mistletoe Secret (2019)

Rated: G

Genre: Drama, Romance

Starring: Kelly Pickler and Tyler Hynes

Synopsis: Aria hopes being selected for Sterling Masters' Big Holiday Adventure will save Christmas in Midway.  Little does she know that Alex Bartlett i the voice behind Sterling Masters.

Review: This movie is chock filled with Christmas spirit and tradition.  Add in a myth about a bad prince and a knight in shining armor with characters who fill that role and you have a love triangle.  We have a bad guy to dislike but not to the point it ruins the movie and a good guy who is interesting and you want to root for him the whole time.  This small town knows Christmas and I’d love to have a Christmas like they do. 

Scoring: 4

Mistletoe Time Machine (2022)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy 

Starring: Mega Sandhu, Erika Prevost, Alicia Richardson

Synopsis: It follows a group of ex-best friends who are forced back together when a magical incident sends them back to an important moment in their past.

Review: This is yet another takes place at Christmas but isn’t about Christmas. I did really enjoy it. It made me wonder what I’d do if I redid high school. I loved watching their relationships. It a real friendship movie. 

Scoring: 3

Mitch Albom’s Have A Little Faith (2011)

Rated: PG

Genre: Drama

Starring: Bradley Whitford, Laurence Fishburne, and Martin Landau

Synopsis: Cleric Henry Covington and Rabbi Albert Lewis profoundly affect the life of write Mitch Albom.

Review: First of all, this isn’t a Christmas movie.  I’m not sure why Hallmark includes it in their Christmas line up.  It is a very deep and meaningful movie about faith and a person’s ability to change.  It also really emphasizes human connection and how others affect us.  It’s a great movie, just not a Christmas one.

Scoring: 3

A Mom For Christmas (1990)

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Olivia Newton-John and Doris Roberts

Synopsis: A young girl who wants a mom for the Christmas holidays gets her wish when a department store mannequin comes to life.

Review:  There’s something moving about a little girl wanting a mom to fill that void. It’s a little too sweet but it’s sentimental and it's a good family film. 

Scoring: 3

Mom’s Christmas Boyfriend (2023)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Jeananne Goossen and Zach Smadu 

Synopsis: Single mom Emma always puts others first, especially her daughter, Lily, whom she adopted on her own. But when the precocious Lily wins a contest to have her Christmas wish granted, Emma's life gets turned upside down.

Review: While this is a really cute movie, and I love the mother and daughter together, I wasn’t able to really enjoy it. Why?  Because it’s basically the same story as Gail O’Grady’s All I Want for Christmas (2007) which I’ve seen numerous times. There are only small changes like a daughter instead of a son. If you don’t know the other movie, you’ll like it. 

Scoring: 3

Monster & Me AKA Santa & Me (2013)

Rated: NR

Genres: Drama, Family, Fantasy

Starring: Athena Baumeister

Synopsis: A mean and spoiled 13-year-old girl is turned into a "monster" by Santa. She must get a real present from a real friend by Christmas or she'll stay a monster.

Review:  By monster, they mean “ugly”.  Santa, in a departure from the traditional looking Santa, makes Rubie’s outsides match her insides.  Rubie learns what true friends are when her popular group wants nothing to do with her when she isn’t pretty anymore.  It has a good message about treating everyone with kindness and respect.  I think it would be valuable to watch as a family and discuss.

Scoring: 3

The Most Colorful Time of the Year (2022)

Rated: G

Genre: Romance

Starring: Christopher Russell and Katrina Bowden

Synopsis: It follows Ryan, an elementary school teacher who learns that he is colorblind. Michelle, an optometrist and mother of one of his students, helps bring color into his life in time for the holidays.

Review: While there’s tons of Christmas, the main heart of the story is Ryan and Michelle. Ryan seeing color that opens him up to the world in every way. The romance is so delightful and happens at a perfect pace.  This is one of those movies you feel.  I loved it. 

Scoring: 3.5

Most Wanted Santa (2021)

Rated: PG

Genres: Romance

Starring: Denyce Lawton, Donnell Turner, Teresa Castillo, and Mark Lawson

Synopsis: An FBI agent and police detective must work together to find the criminal stealing rare artwork.  Santa Claus is their number one suspect. 

Review: Other than the major plot hole of Santa’s criminal activities being ignored in the end, it was a cute movie. I liked seeing a female duo who build each other up and can be strong and feminine at the same time. 

Scoring: 3

Mr. Christmas (2005)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Family

Starring: Jace McLean and Jen Celene Little

Synopsis: In 1941, a young father can't afford to buy his 5-year-old daughter the bicycle she expects Santa Claus to bring her for Christmas.

Review: The film quality looks like it’s a home video but don’t let that stop you. I enjoyed all the props and costumes for the era.  Everyone brings their characters to life.  I won’t spoil it but there is a happy ending.  There are references to Pearl Harbor and WWII so you may have to explain that to young children but the references are so brief they may not even notice.

Scoring: 3

Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol (1962)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Starring: Jim Backus

Synopsis: Mr. Magoo plays Ebenezer Scrooge and learns the meaning of Christmas.

Review: If you’re familiar with Mr. Magoo, you may find this lacking some of the silliness he is known for.  It’s a fairly classic retelling of the story.  A good version for kids or families. 

Scoring: 3

Mr. Miracle (2014)

Rated: G

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Religion

Starring: Britt Irvin and Rob Morrow 

Synopsis: A Guardian Angel, posing as an English teacher, helps a young woman find her way before Christmas.

Review:  I was so disappointed. I thought it would be as good as the Mrs. Miracle movies. Unfortunately, Rob Morrow plays a new angel but rather than appearing to be excited experiencing things for the first time he comes off as unintelligent with some issues. Sadly, the story seems good and would’ve made a good movie if the angel wasn’t so distracting. 

Scoring: 1.5