Miracle in Bethlehem, PA

Interesting the way the writers engaged the Biblical account of the Birth of Christ into this film. Clean, free of smut. Not completely accurate. Good discussion movie for when chatting about the Biblical references. More shocked that this movie originally showed up on LGBTQ Hallmark! Hallmark is obviously trying to get their past viewers that prefer Bill Abbott being at the helm. Hallmark failed miserably when booting out Abbott and are likely frustrated that GA Family is doing far better in ratings than "inclusive" Hallmark. Like seeing Ben Ayers in a radically different role. He was funny and challenged me to observe his various talents. Support cast were funny and enjoable to watch. Sets were great as well.

7.9 stars. The most refreshing part of this film is the arguments between the lead male and his recent ex-girlfriend. What a breath of fresh air. I can't recall the last time Hallmark had actual scenes of conflict at this level of escalation, mainly the ex girlfriend is for real yelling at him, like you see in movies with genuine drama - movies other than the usual Hallmark, Family, UP. I am still surprised and it's what makes this film stand out amongst the rest, literally 600+ Hallmark films I've seen, this is a first. The emphasis is also a bit above and beyond the norm. 'Miracle in Bethlehem, PA.' has a very inspirational and religious feeling to it. There is a focus on how most of the characters believe in the God of Christianity, and they pray for miracles and for good things, and of course, before meals. A hot-shot single white female lawyer is finally able to adopt a baby. She's been waiting for over a year on a long list of recipients who are generally unable to have children of their own. She has had difficulty being selected due to her single status. Once she finally picks up the baby from a hospital four hours away from her home in the city, she is on her way back when a snow storm hits the east coast. She is now stuck in some podunk town called Bethlehem, PA (of all names) and can't stay at the inn (because there is literally no room anywhere), but she doesn't stay with the animals and her baby is not in a manger, but you get the point. This "loser" of a guy (really he's just mourning the loss of his dad who died fairly recently) takes her into his home until the storm passes and the roads are cleared. The two of them bond, but what's really nice is the narrative is unique and uplifting. We get a really good feeling from all the characters and the events and storyline flow. The lead male's sister has a son, about seven years old, and she's pregnant and very bossy. The rest of the characters are undeveloped. All ends well, as is the typical Hallmark "happily ever after" theme, but the road is bumpy due to the lead female's apparent lack of trust in anyone or anything (especially her family-her mother in particular). We don't really know why she's so cynical, but it's probably due to her ex-husband who left her because she was unable to have children. P. S. The supporting female sister is a well known Hallmark regular who can't seem to land a leading role, and I suspect she never will. Also, there is a lot of discordant singing. The lead male's character is supposedly the lead singer of a band, but you can tell that he can't carry a tune. And the church choir was way off key. But maybe that's part of the charm, making this whole experience seem more legitimate.

The modern twist on the nativity was cute; the town, the inn, the "stable", etc. Mary adopting to become a single mother was a bit of a stretch, rather than having a baby of her own. Though having to drive to Bethlehem to pick up the baby was the plot point to get her into the town. She was gung-ho to adopt, then has a 5 minute soliloquy about how hard it is to be a single mother - she's been a single mother for literally 2 minutes of the movie. I agree with other reviewers that the religious themes are blatantly obvious - so there is no chance you miss them - but it's nice to see some family values in the Hallmark movies this Christmas. My biggest beef about the movie was the scruff Ben Ayers had going on. What is with the greasy, haven't-showered-in-a-month look?! All the women are impeccably dressed, hair and makeup perfect - and almost every male lead looks unkempt and raggedy. Scruff doesn't make the male leads look any younger or more hip - just sloppy. Won't be an annual favorite of mine, but was a decent one-time watch.

The modern twist on the nativity was cute; the town, the inn, the "stable", etc. Mary adopting to become a single mother was a bit of a stretch, rather than having a baby of her own. Though having to drive to Bethlehem to pick up the baby was the plot point to get her into the town. She was gung-ho to adopt, then has a 5 minute soliloquy about how hard it is to be a single mother - she's been a single mother for literally 2 minutes of the movie. I agree with other reviewers that the religious themes are blatantly obvious - so there is no chance you miss them - but it's nice to see some family values in the Hallmark movies this Christmas. My biggest beef about the movie was the scruff Ben Ayers had going on. What is with the greasy, haven't-showered-in-a-month look?! Yuck. Come on, Hallmark - all the women are impeccably dressed, hair and makeup perfect - and almost every male lead looks like an unkempt, raggedy slob. Scruff doesn't make the male leads look any younger or more hip - just sloppy. Won't be an annual favorite of mine, but was a decent one-time watch.

This Hallmark holiday film started a little rough for me. Laura Vander Voort plays a family law lawyer named Mary Ann, who desperately wants to be a mother herself. She has been approved and yet has had some last minute let downs. When she is called at night to pick up a new born she doesn't hesitate...which is how she ends up stranded with a newborn in a Pennsylvania town named Bethlehem thanks to a storm and road closures. In Bethlehem, the inn is full and she ends up staying in the in owner's brother's house...which is how she meets Benjamin Ayres' character Joe. As it turns out Joe was also adopted and since the loss of his father he has lost his purpose. These two are almost instantly perfect for one another and his family is fantastically helpful to the new mom, Mary Ann. His family is rounded out by Amy Groening, who plays his sister Frankie and the lovely Tery Rothery, who plays his sweet mother Goldie. The one storyline that I had an issue with was the relationship that Mary Ann has with her mother. It made sense why she would hold her at bay when she was eager to be a part of her life. A little different and more religious than most of Hallmark's holiday offerings, but still a decent film. I would recommend it to those who appreciate the biblical story of Joseph and Mary.

What a set up for a chance to leave all the viewers with a ton of war and fuzzies. But it was poorly done in a lot of the little things. Several things were laid on too thick. Our introduction to Joe is overboard on making him out to be a juvenile slob. I don't know how old Joe is supposed to be, but Ben Ayers is 46 and Joe is still addicted to video games and not only doesn't clean his room but his entire house. Meanwhile we get the point about Mary Ann. She is having a hard time adopting. That also could have been dialed down a few notches. Then the storm. Roads closed in every direction and when they showed visuals it is a wonder Mary Ann was able to leave the hospital. So many things were laid on too thick. It happens again late with Brook and Joe's interaction. There was almost no subtlety in this movie and there was a lot of clumsiness in the presentation. There were some clever aspects like the names, but then the attempts to draw similarities between Mary Ann and Natalie's situation against the original Christmas story was obvious and again not subtle. The conflict or obstacle didn't ring true at least not enough in my view to justify where it immediately led. Likewise the climax and conclusion. My criticisms are at times harsh, too harsh. I'm trying to say that the little things were just a bit off making what could have been a great story come out just ok. There were some definite warm and fuzzies, but not what I was hoping for and not what many other movies on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries have done, even this year. I'm glad to see Hallmark show a movie that presents Christians in a good light and even mentions Jesus. There is prayer. There is talk about faith. There are some obscure references to the reason Jesus came, usually in Christmas songs. But what we see is simply what it is - an attempt to win points with a certain audience, the religious one. The message that did come out loudly is the same one that almost all the Christmas movies have - Yay family! But that is not the reason Jesus came. There is nothing wrong with this approach and the result, but there is also nothing special about it.

These movies always have the same premise where a woman goes to town where it has Christmas like name and someone meet a guy who's like the only good looking in the city. You can tell they will date from the start because she hardly interacted with anyone beside him and of course her baby she adopted. To make even more of a Hallmark trope, her name is Mary or Mary Ann to be specific and his name is Joe as in Joesph so is like "oh so the names in bible so they have to be in love!!." Hallmark likes to recycle their plots because it's simple and easy to understand and also it brings in many views as well. Overall this movie can be very sweet movie and with a simple plot and yes these movies do have specific audience of women over the age of twenty. If you are person who like Christmas movies or Hallmark movies or a modern twist of nativity then this movie is for you.

A touching and moving drama, with a bit of humor, this one may be the best of the Christmas 2023 movies. An inclusion of family, unafraid to represent religious beliefs along with a marvelous music score. Many of the beliefs that fans of Hallmark have watched dissipate over the years will be glad at the there's presented. Bringing joy to parts of life that produced failure, the movie allows the audience to look up and forward, while the writers did not negate the struggles that people experience in life. The movie works and is likely to be a favorite for many years to come. Great acting, writing and production.

There has been a lot of revisionist Hallmark history going on and this movie highlights it. This movie is basically an allegory about the traditional story of the birth of Jesus, complete with The Bethlehem Star Inn, Mary (Ann), Joe, Goldie, Frankie, and Grandma Myrtle, an old barn, and even a Wise Man, a guy named Shephard and a dog named Donkey. The story is about a new adoptive mother (told the good news that her baby is ready for pick-up by a woman named Gabriella) who is caught in a snowstorm and has to bunk in with Joe because all of the hotel rooms are filled. In short, it is a very Christian religion-centric movie where the leads actually talk about their faith and God, and quote the bible. Some seem to think that Bill Abbott and his GAF network somehow scared Hallmark back to faith-based programming when actually the opposite is true. It was under Abbott's leadership that Hallmark got away from more faith-based programming. Here is a quote from him about Hallmark in 2019 in answering why Hallmark seems to snub other religions and traditions: "...we don't look at Christmas from a religious point of view, it's more a seasonal celebration. Once you start to slice it more finely within individual religions it's a little bit tougher to necessarily tell that story in a way that doesn't involve religion and we always want to stay clear of religion or controversy." It was under *his* guidance that Hallmark cut out Christianity from Christmas. To the point that there were no more Christmas Carols that sung about God or Jesus. What forced him out of Hallmark was the incorporation of gay and lesbian couples and more racial diversity, not that he wanted to put on "Family and Faith-based programming." At Hallmark, he was all about keeping movies secular with no God or Jesus involved in Christmas movies. Needless to say, he has now changed his tune. Now that Abbott is gone, Hallmark is returning to its faith-based roots with some of its movies and outdoing GAF at its own game. This movie, and many other movies since he left exemplify that in large ways and small (religious Christmas Carols are finally back.) Hallmark is incorporating the traditions and beliefs of other cultures and groups Including but not limited to Christians, both conservative and liberal. You can pick and choose which movies appeal to you and watch just those, or embrace all of them. At least, with Hallmark, you have a choice.

This was remarkable for a Hallmark movie! The characters were well-cast, and the acting and interaction between characters was truly believable. The story line was different enough from so many Hallmark movies so as to not be trite and formulaic. The sets were not over-decorated like so many Hallmark Christmas movies of late. And I believe, because this was a Dayspring movie (the Christian side of Hallmark cards), that the script writers were allowed to included some of the real meaning of Christmas. Those reviewers who rated this movie low because of its "Christian content" need to realize that this is a CHRISTmas movie. The celebration is about Christ and His coming to the earth as God the Son and Savior of the world. These characters depicted that they authentically believed and embraced this - the true meaning of Christmas. Other Hallmark movies depicting families fighting and quarreling over Christmas light displays on their homes don't have the intimacy, love, caring, trusting, and faith that this movie depicts. This was heartwarming. Keep your Christmas movies telling the real Christmas message, Hallmark. Get back the the Hall of Fame status that you were always known for in the past!