Is It Happened One Christmas Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1977)
It's Christmas Eve 1944 in the small town of Bedford Falls, New York. A despondent and suicidal Mary Bailey Hatch is praying for guidance on what to do about an incident no fault o...
✨ The Quick Verdict
If you are a fan of TV Movie, Comedy cinema, then It Happened One Christmas offers a standard experience that justifies its existence in the 1977 landscape.
👥 Target Audience
📔 Detailed Analysis
📖 The Core Premise
It Happened One Christmas returns to the screen in 1977, bringing a fresh narrative to the TV Movie, Comedy genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "It's Christmas Eve 1944 in the small town of Bedford Falls, New York. A despondent and suicidal Mary Bailey Hatch is praying for guidance on what to do about an incident no fault of her own which threatens her name and the community standing of her longtime family business, the Bailey Building and Loan, which she took over after the passing of her father. What Mary does not know is that most in town, including her husband George Hatch and their children, are also praying for her. All the prayers are heard by Joseph, God's gatekeeper of prayers. As there are no other angels available on such a busy day, Joseph assigns Clara Oddbody, angel second class (i.e. she has yet to receive her wings), to Mary's case, which he reluctantly does as Clara has never been assigned a case on her own in the two hundred years she's been in heaven for good reason."
🎬 Performance & Direction
A movie's success often hinges on its execution. Marlo Thomas attempts to elevate the material, but the direction leaves them with little to work with. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good TV Movie. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.
🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)
Is It Happened One Christmas worth your time? If you appreciate TV Movie, Comedy films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.
🏆 Final Verdict
Ultimately, It Happened One Christmas misses the mark on several fronts.
With a runtime of 110 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.
Our recommendation: Skip It.
⏳ Time Investment
At approximately 1.8 hours, the film requires a standard time commitment.