Call this one Miracle on 12th Street. No it’s not precisely the same story as the 34th Street model (or even one-third the story), but it borrows much of the same whimsy, grit and Christmas sentiment from the original. What two New York City kids want for Christmas, more than anything else, is for their two divorced parents to renuite in wedded bliss. Adolescent Ethan (Randall) is realistic but hopeful about their chances while his sister Hallie (Birch) appeals right to the great benefactor himself, the Santa at Macy’s. Mom (Kozak) is a bit of a yuppie who’s engaged to a smarmy new boyfriend (Nealon). Dad (Sheridan) devotes most of his time to his 12th Street Diner, a speculative business venture that helped sink his marriage. And Lauren Bacall is their grandmother, an opinionated grand dame of the New York theatre. The kids figure that if they can trap their parents alone together for a suitable period of time, true love will re-emerge and they will all live happily ever after. The scheme they hatch is fairly convoluted and unbelievable but, hey, I tend to side with the “bah humbug” camp. This New York they inhabit is a fantasy land, all serendipity and good cheer. Really, just about the only dark cloud in this Manhattan Island paradise is the nasty fact of divorce. And for the few lucky youngsters out there whose lives so far have not been touched by divorce, this movie may stir up illegitimate (or, at least, unnecessary worries). Such realism in an otherwise fantasy-based tale makes for an awkward combination. The cast is the best thing this movie has going for it. With what little they’re given to work with, they are all uniformly excellent (though Birch’s toothless Hallie pushes cuteness well beyond good taste). All I Want for Christmas is passable kid’s entertainment that’s neither great, nor shabby. Just don’t be fooled by all the altruism. All kids really want for Christmas is more Nintendo.
This article appears in November 8 • 1991 (Cover).
