Miracle on 34th street- What a magical Christmas film (Miracle On 34th Street (DVD))

Member Name: mummy2twogirls

Product:	Miracle On 34th Street (DVD)
Date:	03/12/08 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: the storyline really makes us want to believe

Disadvantages: The beautiful scenes, that you only get in movies

With being only 3-4 weeks until Christmas, I like many other people am really not in the Christmas spirit, as much as I'm trying to be its just not happening. I'm no scrooge or anything but it just doesn't feel like the run up to Christmas. Every year there always one film I watch to get me in the mood and that's - Miracle on 34th street.

Growing up I used to adore this film, and would sometimes even watch it during the summer, because I loved the magic and intensity it brought to me. The storyline we know can never come true, but the writers made us feel like it did. So what makes this film such a household classic that both adults and children love. Well for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of watching it, let me tell you a little bit about this magical film.

== Miracle on 34th street==

~Cast
Richard Attenborough- Kris kringle
Elizabeth Perkins- Dorey Walker
Dylan Mc Dermott- Bryan Bedford
Mara Wilson- Susan Walker

~The plot~

Dorey Walker co-runs one of the biggest department stores in America- Coles. It is the run up to Christmas and they need to find a Santa clause, as their original one seems to have a little drinking problem, and during the big thanksgiving parade makes a fool out of himself.

Dorey during the parade spots an elderly gentleman who looks just like the real thing! She runs after him and asks whether he would play Santa. He agrees and whilst filling in forms she discovers that his real name is Kris Kringle, a bit shocked she thinks nothing else of it, until he starts acting like Santa. Of course no one believes him and thinks that he is a tad loopy. But in the back of dorey's mind she does have slight positive thoughts that he could be.

Susan- Dorey's daughter, is a normal ordinary little girl, her mother has brought her up to believe that Santa isn't real; she is quite smart for he age being an only child. Her mum and dad spilt up when she was little and her only wish is that she has a proper family.

Dorey has an admirer- Bryan Bedford who's a top lawyer they go out a few times and Susan grows very fond of him, but Dorey really isn't that interested. Bryan takes Susan to see Kris one day, and then starts to believe himself that he is real. This then changes Susan's mind also.

With Kris Kringle being such a hit at Coles, the stores rivals aren't happy because their profits are going down. The stores two owners decide to set Kris up and frame him for an attack on a drunken guy, in which he gets sent to jail and has to await trail. Bryan having grown fond of him takes on his case and helps him try to prove to everyone he's innocent and that he's the real Santa clause. But this proves harder than it looks because who's going to believe that there is a real Santa clause. Kris also promises to help Bryan out, by match-making him with Dorey.

So will Susan get her Christmas wish of having a real family, or will no-one ever believe that Kris Kringle is Santa, and just think he is an old loopy man thinking he is??

==what I thought==

Like I previously mentioned before I love this film, the storyline gets us gripped from start to end. I think with it being such a mythical plot, it makes us want to believe that it's actually real and that Santa clause really does exist.

Being set in America, in the run up to Christmas, some scenes make it seem like a fairy tale, what with the snow, decorations, and people rushing around shopping. It really is something that you would only see in films. With the scenes of Kris in court trying to defend himself, and how more and more people in the city getting together to support him, because they start to believe in him, really does make it a warming Christmas movie. Not only do we get to follow a story of a man wanting to prove that he is Santa, in-between there are other little stories that bring the whole film together.

I think Mara Wilson (Susan) plays her character brilliantly, known for her role in Matilda, it just shows what a great up and coming actress she is. Even though when the film was made she was still young, i think these days' people will always associate her with this film.

If you haven't yet had chance to watch it, I would defiantly recommend it. I think it's on Channel four this coming Sunday, which gives you an option of sampling it before you buy.
All in all a great family film, that really gets you into the spirit of things.

== My rating== 10/10

Summary: A great family film to watch for christmas