Hard-nosed and neglectful businessman Adam Thornton (superbly played by Ed Asner) learns that he has only a few weeks left to live after he's diagnosed with a terminal illness. Adam enlists the assistance of his feisty, yet still faithful and caring estranged wife Kate (an outstanding performance by Maureen Stapleton) to gather all of his now grown-up children and their respective spouses together for one last Christmas celebration before he dies.
Director Randal Kleiser handles the potentially sudsy material with tremendous tact and sensitivity without ever resorting to overly cloying or sappy melodramatics. James Poe's thoughtful script not only perfectly captures the heartwarming spirit of love, forgiveness, and generosity that are true hallmarks of the yuletide season, but also astutely depicts both the fabulous and frustrating aspects of an American family unit in an admirably levelheaded manner. Moreover, the exceptional acting by the first-rate cast really holds this picture together: Rebecca Balding as the sweet Julie, Bruce Davison as Julie's struggling and vulnerable husband George, Gregory Harrison as rugged individualist Bud Jr., Lawrence Pressman as the stubborn Tom, Veronica Hamel as Tom's sensible wife Helen, Gail Strickland as workaholic Peggy, John Randolph as the pragmatic Dr. Hodges, and James Karen as loyal lawyer Bob Block. Further enhanced by Dennis Dalzell's crisp cinematography and John Barry's delicately melodic score, it's overall one to relish and cherish as much as one's own family.
Director Randal Kleiser handles the potentially sudsy material with tremendous tact and sensitivity without ever resorting to overly cloying or sappy melodramatics. James Poe's thoughtful script not only perfectly captures the heartwarming spirit of love, forgiveness, and generosity that are true hallmarks of the yuletide season, but also astutely depicts both the fabulous and frustrating aspects of an American family unit in an admirably levelheaded manner. Moreover, the exceptional acting by the first-rate cast really holds this picture together: Rebecca Balding as the sweet Julie, Bruce Davison as Julie's struggling and vulnerable husband George, Gregory Harrison as rugged individualist Bud Jr., Lawrence Pressman as the stubborn Tom, Veronica Hamel as Tom's sensible wife Helen, Gail Strickland as workaholic Peggy, John Randolph as the pragmatic Dr. Hodges, and James Karen as loyal lawyer Bob Block. Further enhanced by Dennis Dalzell's crisp cinematography and John Barry's delicately melodic score, it's overall one to relish and cherish as much as one's own family.