The Angel Doll

It borrows some elements, quite noticeably, from films like Sandlot and Stand By Me, but it puts enough of its own spin on them to where it doesn't feel like a ripoff of anything. Honestly it doesn't feel like much of a Christmas film for most of the runtime, but it does capture the essence of the holiday. Solid acting. Wish the script was a little less meandering & messy plot-wise. The ending is pretty sweet. A decent movie, shouldn't be as obscure as it is.

(Rewatch: better than I remembered. Does a good job of establishing the setting. I wish there was a happier ending, but the way it ended is a good lesson for a family movie. Sad that the director died young after only a couple of credits. Fav scenes: the play; the ending.) Reminds me a bit of Stand By Me. Has a decent ending to tie it together.