12 Days of Christmas Eve (2004)

Yes, this movie is similar to Groundhog Day, Family Man, and A Christmas Carol.... BUT it still carves out it's own place at the table.If you like Christmas movies, and if you go into this understanding it was made for TV - you'll be VERY pleasantly surprised and pleased with this comedy. It's not Oscar material, it's not deep, it won't make you cry (thank goodness), but it will give you some laughs and it's a fun holiday film.There are many many similar films..... most are dull or okay (Christmas Do-Over with Jay Mohr is markedly similar in plot to this tale, but not nearly as entertaining).Molly Shannon as the angel is absolutely fabulous! Steve Webber does a great job tying comedy and humanity together, creating a sympathetic and believable (for a holiday TV movie) character.While the plot is familiar in its similarities to other films, and consequently extremely predictable - the humor and contemporary setting make this a great "sitcom" style film.It wouldn't be a Christmas movie without a moral and the lesson here was deeper and more provocative than expected. He wasn't able to buy, give, volunteer, or simply donate his way out of the mess - it was more and I especially appreciated that.If you want a fun family Christmas movie with some light laughs, check this out!

It is inevitable that people would compare this movie to "Groundhog Day" because of the time-loops, but there are significant differences. The main character in "Groundhog Day" was looped for reasons and by forces unknown, with no set time limit or even requirement for getting out of it. The main character in "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve" dies but divine intercession gives him another chance (12 actually) to find real meaning in his life before his premature demise becomes a final judgment. Murray plays a shallow, self-absorbed, and self-important reporter lusting after a co-worker, whereas Weber (Calvin Carter) plays a successful entrepreneur driven by guilt to provide for his family. Both need a character adjustment, but for different reasons. Murray's character must learn to give, but Carter must learn the meaning for giving for it to mean anything.And, pleasantly enough, the movie is not as predictable as some would indicate. The gallows humor of Calvin Carter dying each day in some bizarre way, and his increasing fatalism when it happens, is in itself entertaining. His failure to escape the loop by giving money, presents, service, and time to others also avoids the trite and shallow message that simply giving to others is the answer. At the end he finds that even then he does not have the full answer, evidenced by Angie's (Molly Shannon) admonition that the perfect Christmas Eve is a journey, not a destination - not simply something you make, but something you live.

I want to know who the artist is for the music. There are 2 main songs.. the one playing in the beginning when he is waking up, and the other is playing on the main menu. I would like to know where I would find them I have watched this movie at least 5 times just this season. There are so many movies of this type out for the holidays but with Molly Shannon you can't miss. She is always awesome. I enjoy movies that the whole family can watch, don't have to worry about language, scenes you don't want your children to see. There just aren't many of those around anymore. For those of us who are older and somewhat old fashioned this is what we look for.We are totally fed up with Hollywood hype, the liberty they take regarding language, sexual content, violence and politics. It is just sickening and we have stopped going to movies.. Don't want to support their whole scene. thank you

12 Days of Christmas Eve - think "Scrooge" meets "Groundhog Day".This Christmas special is nothing special. Steven Weber plays Calvin Carter, a wealthy businessman who took a failing family store and turned it into a thriving national chain. Of course, along the way, he left a lonely son, a bitter younger brother, an angry ex-wife and various other casualties.After living "the best Christmas Eve" of his life, Calvin finds himself waking again that same morning with 12 chances to "get it right."What follows is cute, but completely predictable. I give it 6/10 - for having its heart in the right place.