One of my favorite comedies of all time is Groundhog Day. Christmas Again is a Christmas/Disney take on that plot, and, on its own, it makes for a fantastic TV movie. This is my favorite Disney Channel Original Movie, despite it being a recycled premise.
The plot centers around a girl with a beautiful name, Rowena. (I know that's an odd thing to note, but every time her name was said, I beamed. I love that name now.) Anyways, Scarlett Estevez from Bunk'd plays Rowena. She has a stepmother now and is upset that she has to have to do Christmas differently since her new family is joining them.
After having a horrible Christmas, she tells a Santa that she meets that she "wishes to have her Christmas again!" and wakes up the next morning to find out that Christmas has in fact started over. And it does the next day. And the day after that. And the day after THAT. And the day after....
This annoys Rowena at first (she meant that she wanted Christmas the way it was in the past), but then she finds ways to change up her Christmas, and then she later learns how to use her curse to have a joyful and meaningful Christmas later on.
The highlight of Christmas Again is Scarlett Estevez herself. She does a wonderful job in her role as Rowena and is very convincing when nessacary, such as when she needs to cry near the end.
In fact, I began to watch Bunk'd on Disney Channel if she was in the episode, and I also enjoy later seasons in the series now.
Back to Christmas Again, the movie is also very funny. There are many moments where I laughed out loud. For example, one day to mix up Christmas, Rowena casually goes into the freezer and eats ice cream from the carton and sprays whipping cream in her mouth as her family stares in shock and horror.
Apart from how well acted and entertaining the movie is, there is not much else I can say to highly praise the movie without spoilers. The movie was simple yet entertaining, and even touching.
If I had to criticize anything about it, it would be that the plot IS recycled, not only from Groundhog Day, but with Pete's Christmas with Zachary Gordon of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. That said, Christmas Again actually takes a spin on it, and makes the repeated holiday a wish, not just a curse. Therefore, I don't count that as a flaw.
Christmas Again is a wonderful holiday movie, and it even made my top 10 favorite holiday movies. I hope it will be released on DVD one day- 2 years have passed and it hasn't happened yet. In those 2 years as of now, I've seen it 4 times.
Not all Disney Channel movies make it to DVD, but Christmas Again should be an exception. This is a festive film that deserves to be cherished again, and again, and again.
*Edited from my review posted on 12/4/22.*
The plot centers around a girl with a beautiful name, Rowena. (I know that's an odd thing to note, but every time her name was said, I beamed. I love that name now.) Anyways, Scarlett Estevez from Bunk'd plays Rowena. She has a stepmother now and is upset that she has to have to do Christmas differently since her new family is joining them.
After having a horrible Christmas, she tells a Santa that she meets that she "wishes to have her Christmas again!" and wakes up the next morning to find out that Christmas has in fact started over. And it does the next day. And the day after that. And the day after THAT. And the day after....
This annoys Rowena at first (she meant that she wanted Christmas the way it was in the past), but then she finds ways to change up her Christmas, and then she later learns how to use her curse to have a joyful and meaningful Christmas later on.
The highlight of Christmas Again is Scarlett Estevez herself. She does a wonderful job in her role as Rowena and is very convincing when nessacary, such as when she needs to cry near the end.
In fact, I began to watch Bunk'd on Disney Channel if she was in the episode, and I also enjoy later seasons in the series now.
Back to Christmas Again, the movie is also very funny. There are many moments where I laughed out loud. For example, one day to mix up Christmas, Rowena casually goes into the freezer and eats ice cream from the carton and sprays whipping cream in her mouth as her family stares in shock and horror.
Apart from how well acted and entertaining the movie is, there is not much else I can say to highly praise the movie without spoilers. The movie was simple yet entertaining, and even touching.
If I had to criticize anything about it, it would be that the plot IS recycled, not only from Groundhog Day, but with Pete's Christmas with Zachary Gordon of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. That said, Christmas Again actually takes a spin on it, and makes the repeated holiday a wish, not just a curse. Therefore, I don't count that as a flaw.
Christmas Again is a wonderful holiday movie, and it even made my top 10 favorite holiday movies. I hope it will be released on DVD one day- 2 years have passed and it hasn't happened yet. In those 2 years as of now, I've seen it 4 times.
Not all Disney Channel movies make it to DVD, but Christmas Again should be an exception. This is a festive film that deserves to be cherished again, and again, and again.
*Edited from my review posted on 12/4/22.*