A MOM FOR CHRISTMAS
US, 1990, 88 minutes, Colour.
Olivia Newton John, Doug Sheehan.
Directed by George Miller.
A Mom for Christmas is a sweetness and light Christmas story for mothers and daughters. It was produced for the Disney company and takes its tone from the genial Disney style. The film was directed by Australian George Miller (Man From Snowy River, Bushfire Moon, Over the Hill, Gross Misconduct). The star is Olivia Newton- John (with her Australian accent) and she also sings some songs composed by her usual composer, John Farrer.
The film borrows some of its theme from the mannequin story, mannequins coming alive, this time as answers to wishes in a department store, especially for children. Jessica, the heroine, goes to the store to watch people buying, to watch mothers and daughters, and longs for a mother. Her widowed father tends to neglect her. Olivia Newton-John? is Amy, a mannequin come to life. The film has strong family themes - but everything is done in sweetness and light, especially with Olivia Newton-John's more wholesome than wholesome style.
1.Christmas story for families? For mothers and for daughters?
2.The Christmas setting, the city, the department store, homes, school, school pageants? The special effects for the statues coming alive? The songs and the musical score?
3.The title, Jessica's longing, Amy fulfilling the longings?
4.Jessica, her age, clashing with fellow students? Their taunting her? Her relationship with her father, his being busy with his work? Her dead mother? The photos - and none of her since her mother died? Going to the department store, watching the mothers and children and their buying? The wishing well, the friendship with Philomena? The promise of the fulfilment of the wish? Her looking at the statue of Amy? Amy's arrival, Jessica's response, wanting her to stay? Amy and her sweetness and light - and Jessica's reaction? Her being upset when Amy invited the boy to the house, had read her diary? Discovering that Amy didn't understand human feelings and love? Going to the shop with Amy? Training for the pageant? The other statues coming alive - Santa Claus, the gnomes, the chauffeur driving them? Going back to the shop? The encounters with the shop detective? Pleading that Amy could stay? Her relationship with her father, the bond with him growing? Hoping for Amy to stay, going to the shop, and Amy coming back? A happy future for Jessica and for her father? Wishes coming true?
5.Olivia Newton-John? as Amy, the statue, her explanation of her background, no past, talking to Jim, falling in love with him, caring for Amy, trying to do the right thing, hurt, reading the diary? Her going for her job interview, working at the shop? The pageant and its success? Bringing the other statues alive? Her having to go back, the possibility of her staying? Christmas Eve, her materialising? The happy ending?
6.Philomena, in the shop, the wishing well, making the wishes come true, her support of Jessica?
7.Jim, the death of his wife, being busy, not noticing his daughter, no photographs? The scenes between father and daughter? Accepting Amy, transforming the house? The pageant? His inviting Amy to come for the holiday? The happy future?
8.The children and their being hurtful to Jessica? The friendly girl? Preparing for the pageant? Jessica and her lapse of memory, Santa Claus giving her the cue?
9.The chauffeur, Santa Claus, the gnomes? The contrast with the store detective and his wanting to catch Amy and Jessica?
10.A happy kind of Christmas story - for families?
