Sarah Polley is a Canadian actress and filmmaker who starred in the movie "One Magic Christmas." The film, released in 1985, was directed by Phillip Borsos and tells the story of a struggling family facing financial difficulties during the holiday season. Polley plays the role of a young girl named Abbie, who has lost her faith in Christmas after witnessing a tragic event. "One Magic Christmas" takes a unique approach to the typical Christmas movie formula. The film explores themes of loss, grief, and the importance of belief and hope. Abbie's lack of faith in the magic of Christmas is challenged when she encounters an angel who tries to restore her belief.
Well, don’t let those things deter you from seeing this film. Skillfully directed by Philip Borsos (The Grey Fox, The Mean Season) and featuring a cast of strong character actors, One Magic Christmas might be rather depressing, but the payoff at the end is well worth it. It basically gives you a worst-case scenario and turns it on its head with a little Christmas spirit.
Despite having a title that conjures up visions of sugar plums dancing in your head, this 1985 G-rated Christmas film offers up unemployment, robbery, murder, holiday depression, a fatal car chase, and the threat of homelessness. Happy to have her kids back, Ginny is still crushed by the loss of her husband and all of the other problems that have piled up on the family over the year.
Abbie's lack of faith in the magic of Christmas is challenged when she encounters an angel who tries to restore her belief. Polley delivers a compelling performance as Abbie, showcasing her talent as a young actress. She effectively portrays Abbie's emotional journey from a disillusioned and skeptical girl to someone who rediscovers the joy and wonder of Christmas.
Sarah polley one magic chfistmas
Movie - One Magic Christmas is a wonderful little film that has been pretty much overlooked by most people. Released theatrically with little fanfare during the 1985 holiday season, the film is one of the live-action Disney gems that deserves more recognition.
It's Christmastime, but Ginny Grainger (Steenburgen) is not feeling the holiday spirit. The family is low on cash, her job at the supermarket is hardly fulfilling, and come January 1, they're moving out of their home. A Christmas angel named Gideon (Harry Dean Stanton) is assigned to cheer Ginny up and show her all the wonderful things she has to be happy about this Christmas. What ensues from Gideon's quest is a magical journey for Ginny, her husband, their two kids, and even Santa Claus. One Magic Christmas is a heart-warming holiday drama/fantasy that undoubtedly appeals to adults, perhaps even more so than to children. Audiences of all ages will be entertained by the thoughtful and emotional story told. It should be noted that for a G-rated movie, there are some rather intense and dramatic moments, but these are essential to the plot. Overall, a charming Christmas film that is definitely worth checking out!
Anchor Bay DVD Note - Disney and Anchor Bay studios have a contract, whereby Anchor Bay was able to release a number of live-action Disney films from the 1960s through the mid-1980s. You might think Anchor Bay, being a small studio, would not be the best distributor to give these films the treatment deserve. On the contrary, Anchor Bay's DVD presentations are up to par and most likely better than what Disney would have done.
Video - For starters, Anchor Bay is able to include both the widescreen and pan & scan versions of the film (which clcoks in at just under 90 minutes) on one dual-layered disc. Disney, on the other hand, would rather include just one version of the film on the disc, and in the case of many upcoming releases, they're opting for the Pan & Scan version and not the original widescreen aspect ratio. Their reasoning includes space considerations, claiming that video quality would suffer by including both versions on a double-sided or dual-layered disc. The video quality of One Magic Christmas undoubtedly proves that claim wrong--the movie looks great! The level of detail is high and the snowy Canadian scenery is crystal-clear. One minor complaint is that the 1.85:1 widescreen transfer is not enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions, as at the time, Anchor Bay was not big on anamorphic DVD releases. Fortunately, it is a minor qualm for a beautiful-looking DVD.
Audio - The feature presentation also benefits from the inclusion of a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The audio is remixed and despite what you might expect from a somewhat low-key film, the surrounds are pretty active. The cold wind from the snowy exteriors is realized through surround usage. In addition, scenes involving travel to and from the North Pole utilize the 5.1 track with powerful effects. The 5.1 track is a solid addition, and a rather surprising treat for a family-friendly drama.
Extras - Though the packaging mentions a Theatrical Trailer is on this DVD, it is not. A trailer would have been nice or extras of some kind, but the lack of supplements doesn't take away from this otherwise quality DVD presentation. One physical extra worth mentioning is a post card reproduction of the original poster art for the movie. Definitely cool and similar to a trailer, the poster art shows you how the film was originally marketed.
Closing Thoughts - Anchor Bay has put together a nice little disc for an excellent little Christmas film. By including both viewing formats, Anchor Bay is able to please both crowds and that deserves two thumbs up. The widescreen transfer and the 5.1 audio track both contribute to the high-quality presentation of this film.
Movie - One Magic Christmas is a wonderful little film that has been pretty much overlooked by most people. Released theatrically with little fanfare during the 1985 holiday season, the film is one of the live-action Disney gems that deserves more recognition.
It's Christmastime, but Ginny Grainger (Steenburgen) is not feeling the holiday spirit. The family is low on cash, her job at the supermarket is hardly fulfilling, and come January 1, they're moving out of their home. A Christmas angel named Gideon (Harry Dean Stanton) is assigned to cheer Ginny up and show her all the wonderful things she has to be happy about this Christmas. What ensues from Gideon's quest is a magical journey for Ginny, her husband, their two kids, and even Santa Claus. One Magic Christmas is a heart-warming holiday drama/fantasy that undoubtedly appeals to adults, perhaps even more so than to children. Audiences of all ages will be entertained by the thoughtful and emotional story told. It should be noted that for a G-rated movie, there are some rather intense and dramatic moments, but these are essential to the plot. Overall, a charming Christmas film that is definitely worth checking out!
"One Magic Christmas" received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics praising its heartfelt story and performances, while others found it to be overly sentimental. Despite the mixed reception, the film has gained a cult following over the years and is often regarded as a nostalgic Christmas classic. Sarah Polley's portrayal of Abbie in "One Magic Christmas" is considered one of her early breakthrough roles. She went on to have a successful acting career, starring in films such as "The Sweet Hereafter" and "Away from Her." In addition to acting, Polley has also ventured into filmmaking, directing acclaimed films like "Away from Her" and "Stories We Tell." Overall, "One Magic Christmas" is a heartwarming holiday film that explores themes of faith, hope, and the importance of family. Sarah Polley's performance as Abbie adds depth and emotional resonance to the film, making it a worthwhile addition to any Christmas movie playlist..
Reviews for "The Enduring Appeal of 'One Magic Christmas: How Sarah Polley Captivated Audiences"
1. John - 2/5 - I found "Sarah Polley: One Magic Christmas" to be extremely cliché and predictable. The storyline was unoriginal and lacked depth. The acting was subpar, and I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters. The whole concept of the film felt forced, and it failed to deliver any meaningful messages or emotions. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and unimpressed with this Christmas movie.
2. Emily - 1/5 - "Sarah Polley: One Magic Christmas" was a complete letdown for me. The plot was confusing and disjointed, making it hard to follow and understand what was happening. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real depth. I didn't feel any emotional connection to the story or the characters, and the overall execution of the film felt messy. It failed to capture the holiday spirit and left me feeling bored and disengaged throughout. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone looking for a heartwarming Christmas film.
3. Mark - 2/5 - I was expecting more from "Sarah Polley: One Magic Christmas," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story lacked originality and felt like a rehash of other Christmas movies I've seen before. The pacing was slow, and there were several moments where the film dragged on unnecessarily. The performances were average, but they couldn't save the film from its lackluster script. Overall, I was unimpressed and wouldn't consider watching it again.
4. Samantha - 2/5 - "Sarah Polley: One Magic Christmas" had the potential to be a heartwarming holiday film, but it missed the mark for me. The storyline was weak and failed to captivate my attention. The acting was passable, but the characters felt underdeveloped. There were moments that could have been emotional, but they didn't quite hit the mark. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable Christmas movie that didn't leave a lasting impression.
5. Michael - 1/5 - I found "Sarah Polley: One Magic Christmas" to be cheesy and unrealistic. The plot was full of clichés and lacked any depth or originality. The acting was subpar, and the characters felt like caricatures rather than real people. The film failed to evoke any genuine emotional response from me and left me feeling unsatisfied. Overall, I would not recommend wasting your time on this predictable and forgettable Christmas movie.