Katherine is a Ghost of Christmas Present and she must help one soul, Peter, rediscover his Christmas spirit. But this year has something unusual in store.
Kim Matula
Katherine
Ian Harding
Peter
Beth Leavel
Susan Kraine
Lori Tan Chinn
Arlene
Reginald VelJohnson
Roy
Kathleen Garrett
Mrs. Winchester
Christopher Innvar
Robert Baron
Kate MacCluggage
Lily Baron
Julian Gamble
Grampa Bob
Blair Baker
Charlie
Liana Hunt
Betsey
Jack Carter Barton
Teen Peter
Leo James Davis
Middle Peter
Christopher Riley
Young Peter
Stanton Nash
Bob
Meghan Grace O'Leary
Rachel
Kendyl Ito
Neighbor
JB Chen
Robert business associate
Juan Carlos Infante
Gabe
Anna Clare Kerr
Peter's mother (1956)
Austin Schoenfeld
Devon
Steve Antonucci
Valet (uncredited)
Warren Smith II
Carousel Kid (uncredited)
Sara McDermott
Ghost (uncredited)
Estavion White
Reporter (uncredited)
Director
Rich Newey
Story, Writer
Zac Hug
Writer
Annika Marks
December 11, 2022
7
A pretty good take on the classic Scrooge festive storyline.
<em>'Ghosts of Christmas Always'</em> features a cast that is, I'd say, a step up from the usual standard that Hallmark normally produce. Kim Matula and Ian Harding are good, I like how the latter's character is aware of the clichés and reimaginings of Scrooge from real life.
Matula is joined as one of the ghosts by Reginald VelJohnson and Lori Tan Chinn, which is strong casting. I would've liked to have see more of them in truth, though both are still positive additions - particularly Chinn. Christopher Innvar is solid in his role too, even with the major Jonathan Hyde/Sam Parrish vibe his character had going on.
They do well in connecting all the dots in the story, I especially enjoyed the stuff with Matula's Katherine (Marley... nicely done) and Liana Hunt's Betsey, which is rather sweet. The last chunk of the film is real nice, in fact.
The music is also relatively neat, there's a bit of it that reoccurs and it kept reminding me of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pd1dctTmIU" rel="nofollow">main theme</a> in 2004's <em>'<a href="https://letterboxd.com/film/the-polar-express/" rel="nofollow">The Polar Express</a>'</em>; which I adore, so every time I heard those similar notes here it did give me Xmas vibes.
All in all, a more than watchable flick; one I'd happily revisit.