Christmas Caper (2007)

Just what I expected

Brilliant and touching

Blistering performances.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 300 HOLIDAY FILMS & SPECIALS. I HAVE NO AGENDAIn this film Shannen Doherty is hiding in her tiny hometown after a house robbery goes wrong. When her sister, Savannah (Sonya Salomaa), is stranded on vacation due to bad weather, she asks Cate to watch her kids until she returns. Cate reluctantly agrees, planning to work out a new scheme which involves steeling gifts from other homes. This is her way of Christmas shopping. This film is not great but it is enjoyable. So far it is one of the best "Christmas Movies" I have watched so far this year!

Kate (Shannon Doherty) lives in the Big Apple, far away from her hometown, Comfort, which she labels as "dullsville incarnate". Not only that, Kate has an unusual job as a cat burglar, for a quiet life beside the road is not for her. Yet, when her sister and brother-in-law get marooned on their island vacation, they call upon Kate, as a last resort, to look after their two kids, pre-teen Annie and teenager Parker. Kate is most reluctant to do so, until she learns that a recent theft gone bad has resulted in her face being splashed all over the papers in Manhattan. When she lands back in Comfort, Kate commands the children to just "go their own ways and she will go hers". But, before she even realizes it, she is taxiing the kids to school and events and meeting up with her former boyfriend-turned-sheriff, Hank (Ty Olsson). Even though Kate's heart begins to change its direction more warmly toward the town's serenity and values, there is still the sticky problem of the APB out for her! Will the handcuffing cops interrupt Kate just as she is kissing Hank? This fun little made-for-TV movie is perfect for fans of romantic comedy. Although it is also suitable for family viewing, the kids may be a bit confused over Kate's chosen profession and on the consequences of her actions. Doherty, Olsson, and company do a fine job as the folks of Comfort and the costuming, scenery, production values, script and direction are quite nice. If you need a bit of a "breather" between bouts of shopping and making cookies for the holidays, brew a pot of tea and flip this flick into the movie machine. It is just the diversion you need to put the spirit back into the holiday for you and your loved ones.

It's a strange movie in the sense that it could make me suspend disbelief and hold my attention but afterwards I felt annoyed.Pros: Female leads are fairly strong, for Hollywood standard.There's a kid who had integrity and is heeded as an individual not by standard age and gender. It gave lots of things to talk about afterwards. It keep dramatic tension. It has a classic story arc of hero's journey and redemption. Elements feed back through to make sense such as the lead two being described as always having had a fight and make up fiery relationship. People are self-accepting and the community is affirming of one another.Cons: Holy Gender Norms, Batman. Boys must be horrified and disgusted that he has received a female toy. And let's denigrate housewife clothes; women to be sexy must have long hair down and show cleavage for basic self-image maintenance.A role for an overweight man? Comic foils only need apply. And no queer couples, even in the background. Race. Lordie. Who did the casting choices? The career criminal is black and is the only one who goes into a squad car in handcuffs. He can steal without remorse, reflexively even without noticing. The white middle class America girl does same crime and yet no time because she has a cop friend willing to work the system for her, even erasing a past record. Somehow even being a skilled acrobat and long time criminal, she is the victim of life and herself. And gets her butt saved by a man, with her cooperation.Good girls who do everything "right" in life are two blondes. Both arguably ditzy.

Shannen Doherty stars in this made for TV caper, she plays Cate, a savvy thief who get betrayed by her partner and must run from the law. With her Sister and Brother-in-law stranded in the Bahamas, she hides out by baby-sitting her niece and nephew in Comfort, USA. Cate being Cate, she's less than thrilled. Cate grew up in comfort and her ex-boyfriend is now the sheriff! Uh-oh! Her Nephew, Parker, takes after her, and Cate's not so sure thats a good thing. Can the holiday spirit melt her heart?Shannen is well cast here and she does great with the role. She looks fantastic too I might add. I didn't know the supporting cast but they were all good, especially the kids, who manage to be cute without being annoying. "Christmas Caper" doesn't have the sweetness of the Kathy Ireland movies, or the panache of the Mimi Rogers "Christmas List" but its a nice holiday movie for the whole family.The scene that really got me is at the Christmas party, somewhat grudgingly Cate decorates the house with Hank and her kin, then her little niece Annie gives her a heart, because her Mom, Cate's sis, said she didn't have one, the look on Shannen's face broke my heart. Its very touching and you pretty much figure that she'll have a change of heart.Even so , I was surprised by Cate's decision, I won't spoil it in case you haven't seen this, This is a good Christmas movie in an age when they don't do very many. The big movies that get released in the theaters tend to be awful, so stay home and enjoy this on with a glass of eggnog!