I guess I’d never seen the whole original movie before, but today I watched Miracle on 34th Street and actually enjoyed it. I guess I’d thought the movie was more sappy or overly sweet or emotional or something, but it really wasn’t. It actually was pretty funny and more enjoyable than I’d expected. Plus it starred Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, Gene Lockhart, and Natalie Wood (at 9 years old).

If you’re looking for a Christmas special that’s not too serious and not too preachy or sweet and mushy, this is a good choice. It’s light enough to get you laughing now and again, while managing to make a relatively subtle statement about the Christmas spirit. Definitely on the list of best Christmas movies.