User Reviews

This movie played me like a violin. You won't find emotional depth in the Christmas movies being made these days. Unlike the current rage of casting plastic soap opera actors in their movies, this film uses real actors. Louise Fletcher is great, as is Kristopher Turner in the lead. And Lindsay Ames was a cute little pop tart back then.

After the movie was over, my wife - who met me when I was in a family law practice - asked me in what state (a) a teenage father's parental rights could be signed away by the mother's family against his will, and (b) said father could actually land in legal hot water for "kidnapping" his own son when the mother doesn't want him. "The State of Lifetime," says I.

Yes, I know that Lifetime's viewership has a vested interest in portraying men (especially handsome, engaging, young studs with high Q ratings) as warm, loving and invested in their children, but the plot's core dramatic conflict is a crock: that there is a jurisdiction anywhere in the United States which wouldn't have come down on the bad guys' heads like white on rice.

Given that - "What the hell, the judge is actually bothering to hear this case instead of telling the mother not to waste their time?" thinks I - the only way I could have wrapped my head around this movie was to dismiss it as fantasy, and I couldn't.

4/10.

"A Dad for Christmas" (a.k.a., "Me and Luke") is a great fan favorite of Lifetime viewers, especially those of the male persuasion. And the reason for the acclaim is the rare occasion to celebrate a decent male character in a Lifetime film! The character's name is Matt Blessing, and he is truly a blessing in disguise!!!

Early in the film, Matt is not right when he walks out of the hospital with his newborn son Luke in his arms. That act was wrong. Yet, every male in the audience will stand up and cheer at that moment because we all know that young Luke is in good hands!

The filmmakers devised an especially strong set of characters, led by Gram Glennie and beautifully performed by Louise Fletcher. Gram Glennie and Matt will be the caretakers for Luke at Gryffin Lodge in Braceberg, Pennsylvania. There is also Bert, the wise old owl who will become Matt's attorney. There is one villain in Braceberg, the logger Jim Benson, who sets fire to Gram Glennie's shed, hoping to run her out of business. But my favorite character of all was Pam Kelly, who always talks of leaving Braceberg. Yet Matt and Pam hit it off nicely, and, after Pam boards a bus out of town, it is inevitable that she will return to her roots and help care for Luke.

Another skillful handling of character was the way the filmmakers treated Megan Eubanks and her mother Beverly. Megan carried the child to term, delivered it, but then insisted that the baby be put up for adoption. Beverly staunchly stood by her daughter's side. These characters were not vilified and were shown dignity in their choices, a point that was emphasized by the judge at the adoption trial.

This is a wonderful Christmas film with a heartwarming feeling about parenting. It also delivers a thoughtful message about the importance of telling the truth. Matt fessed up to the police about his "relocating" of the child, and that act was another demonstration of a character who was a blessing in disguise.