Watch All I Want for Christmas

All I Want for Christmas is a family friendly comedy-drama film released in 1991 which focuses on the efforts of two siblings attempting to reunite their divorced parents for Christmas. The movie was directed by Robert Lieberman and stars Harley Jane Kozak, Jamey Sheridan, and Ethan Embry in lead roles. The film opens with a family trip during Christmas time with a couple, who have two children, sharing their love for winter with their kids. These children, Ethan and Hallie, have a very close bond, and they both share a unique idea that they wish to have their parents back together again.

Soon after their parents' divorce, the family dynamic has been difficult for the siblings, and they come up with a plan to make their dream of bringing their family together a reality. Ethan and Hallie believe that Santa Claus can help their parents reconcile, and that all they need to do is write a letter to Santa explaining their heart's desire.

While Ethan and Hallie plot their scheme, their father Michael is attempting to move on with his life by dating a woman named Elizabeth. Although he is happy with Elizabeth, he is still saddened by the hurt he caused his children – but he feels that he cannot just turn back the clock and wish things back as they were. Meanwhile, the children's mother, Caroline, is trying to move on with her life too. However, the children feel that Caroline may still be in love with Michael as they keep bumping into him when they are out and about.

As the holiday season draws nearer, Ethan and Hallie's ambitions grow stronger, and they come up with more elaborate and dramatic ways to convince their parents to reunite. They start by setting up their dad with a female friend before escalating to mailing themselves to the North Pole, hoping to intercept Santa Claus himself. Along the way, they befriend a friendly old lady and a department store Santa Claus, both of whom play an essential role in bringing the family together.

All I Want for Christmas is a charming, feel-good film that explores the importance of family and the power of the Christmas spirit. This movie is not one of those sappy Christmas movies but instead is a heartfelt film with genuine characters that are relatable to people of all ages. The writing is witty, and the jokes are sweet yet punchy, and the acting performances are solid throughout, particularly in the portrayal of the characters on screen.

One of the unique aspects of this movie is that it is not overly sentimental, which is rare for Christmas films. There are moments of genuine emotion, but the film never drowns in cheesy melodrama or cloying pity. The filmmakers manage to balance the sweetness and the emotions well, making it a must-watch for viewers of all tastes.

The movie's central message is about the importance of family, and how despite being imperfect, it is still worth working at their relationships. This message is delivered in a subtle, sweet way that never feels preachy or heavy-handed, thanks in no small part to the excellent performances of Harley Jane Kozak, Jamey Sheridan, and Ethan Embry.

All in all, All I Want for Christmas is an excellent Christmas movie that perfectly captures the spirit of the holiday season. It is heartwarming, funny, and genuinely moving, making it a perfect family movie to watch this holiday season. While it may not have gained the same level of recognition as some of the other holiday classics, it is undoubtedly one of the unsung greats.

All I Want for Christmas is a 1991 kids & family movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.