Eves Christmas

"Eve's Christmas" is a TV movie with a very weak script, that is valiantly held together by a good cast, and a nice "second chance in life" plot. Eve is a top New York ad agency gal, making lots of money and a mess out of her life. She is having an affair with her licentious married boss, and left alone on Christmas Eve, has far too much to drink (the libations run like a river in this film). She reflects over the last few years of her empty existence, which have been cut off from her family, and very lonely. A guardian angel, disguised as a panhandler, tells her to wish upon a star, and she is granted a week to go back in time and make different choices.

Elisa Donovan plays Eve, and is fine in the role, but it's a difficult part to be convincing in, as she is the sophisticated New Yorker, but at the same time the girl back home, about to get married, working in a coffee shop. Cheryl Ladd shines as her mother, and also excellent are Winston Reckert as her father, Erin Karpluck as her friend Mandy, and Peter Williams as the guardian angel, Brother James. Best of all is Sebastian Spence as Scott, the man she almost married. His charismatic smile and good looks, as well as his talent, make me wonder why he is not more well known as an actor, and not the current heart-throb on the magazine covers.

Directed by Timothy Bond, a veteran of many TV films, "Eve's Christmas" is a charming romantic fantasy despite its many flaws (the bridal shop scenes make no sense at all, and are simply horrible), and if one doesn't have high expectations, this unpretentious little film is quite entertaining. The total running time is 96 minutes, and the DVD extras include a "Behind the Scenes Featurette."

I was afraid this movie was going to be a career versus family story. It isn't. It's a career-only versus career-with-family story. It seems to be speaking to those who feel that the decision to get married and have a family means giving up their dreams, setting low goals and having low expectations. This movie shows that you don't have to do it that way. You can get married, have a family and still strive to make something of your life. It does not show that it may (or may not) be harder that way, but the point is made.

If you want a career versus family movie, the best is "Me, Myself, I" (NO, not "Me, Myself and Irene"). This is an intelligent Australian movie that shows that both choices come with a price, both have their advantages and disadvantages. The movie stars Rachel Griffiths and is powerful, if sobering.

Eve's Christmas is not really a Christmas movie, but a story set at Christmas time, which is appropriate since thoughts of family and old friends tend to occur at this time of the year.

To take on our local "experts": the script is no "weaker" than most other movie scripts, and the acting is competent. The first half of the movie could have been more eventful but is not slow. The lead actress could have been better cast, but this one does not hurt the movie.

Bottom line: an enjoyable feel-good movie, quite realistic (unless you've never seen a happy family and don't believe they exist).

I have read mixed reviews about this movie but I really enjoyed it. I've seen it a number of times and I continue to find it entertaining. I was never a big Elisa Donavan fan prior to this but after this movie, I actually grew to like her very much. There are some funny things in the movie that I chuckle at----like the fact that this is set 10 years ago (10 years ago from point of filming which was 2004, so 1994) and supposedly Eve can create a working website overnight and sell things over the internet the next morning, linking the store's inventory up, etc. Humm......I don't think it was quite that easy in 1994 but I'm no IT expert. Overall, I think this movie is very enjoyable for the holiday season and I do recommend it to anyone that likes a good "chick-flick."