Approved for All Ages

Megan’s Christmas Miracle

Christmas story about a teenage girl that finds hope in a magical nativity display at her church.

3
Negative Rating
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SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
7
Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

This 2018 movie stars Katherine Elise Shaw in her debut movie role as the adult Megan, Brooklyn Nelson as the teenaged Megan, Devon Bromme (who also directed the film along with Jason Campbell) as the kindly youth pastor, Dean Cain as adult Megan’s husband, and Timothy E. Goodwin as teenaged Megan’s father. The movie was produced by BMC Productions and JC Films, Distributed by Burning Bulb Publishing. The movie is inspired by the book of the same title written by Eleonor Wright. However, there appears to be very little resemblance from the book synopsis to the movie, except the fact the setting was in West Virginia where the author grew up, references to coal mining, and that Megan receives a miracle.

The film features memories of an adult Megan who struggles to enjoy Christmas. Scenes ping-pong from Megan’s adjustment to her move from LA to a small West Virginia mining town following her mother’s death. Her father, a one-time actor, finds employment as a church janitor; and the pastor asks her father to help with the upcoming Christmas play. Adult Megan struggles with the pain of remembrance.

Both time periods center on the days before Christmas. Megan’s husband is decorating the home and is frustrated by Megan’s inability to participate in Christmas preparations … he begs her to explain why Christmastime is so hard for her. Younger children may have difficulty with the time shifts and the pain Megan feels as she remembers her losses.

There are a few scenes of Megan’s interest in the church Nativity set. We get the feeling, Megan had not been told very much about the true meaning of Christmas. The Youth Pastor gives Megan a bible; and when at the church, where there is Internet, Megan researches the Nativity. She hears music playing songs from the Nutcracker. Megan begins to dance but turns town the invitation to dance in the Christmas program. Megan shares her reluctance with the youth pastor’s wife. She loved to dance, and her mother always enjoyed to watch her dance. When Megan’s mother died, she lost her passion for dancing.

As her father puts pressure on Megan to perform, to not waste the talent God gave her; Megan resists and runs off. She sees a statue of a miner. A stranger, whom we assume is an angel, tells her the story behind the miner statue, how trapped miners were rescued by a light showing them the way to escape.

Megan is reminded how her mother used to tell her there can be no light without darkness. She hears voices throughout the story saying this same truism, that there can be no light without darkness.

Megan does become involved as an instructor for her aunt’s students. The joy of dancing returns as Megan shares her gifts with others. She then feels she can participate in the Christmas program after all. We learn that this is the last time her father saw her dance. He died Christmas day.

I found the movie engaging in places. But it was slow moving and hard to follow at times. Some may have difficulty with Megan’s visions—the ghostly auras Megan sees of her mother, shining through the Nativity set, and later, her father, whom she sees at a restaurant. But these are her miracles, where she feels she is never alone, that her parents envelop her.

Parents may want to review the movie before showing to younger children. Young people who enjoy dancing will enjoy the dancing scenes. Parents may want to caution children that what Megan sees are visions. They bring her much comfort and reassurance that she is not alone. Otherwise, the movie is very clean, good acting, and a positive message on the importance of family.

The Dove Take

A good reminder that the love of family transcends death and to not give up on our God-given talents.

Dove Rating Details

3
Faith

Not clearly defined as to salvation or redemption, good representation of the true meaning of Christmas

4
Integrity

Strong elements on the importance of not giving up

0
Sex

None

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Language

None

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Violence

None

0
Drugs

None

0
Nudity

None

3
Other

Deals with grief after loss, post-traumatic stress. As an adult, Megan has unresolved grief issues. There are visions of her mother and father which might seem like ghosts but they bring her much comfort. In the scene involving a miner’s statue, as Megan walks away, a light shine from the miner’s helmet. Parents may need to explain this meaning to younger children.

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