Finding John Christmas MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: +3

After disappearing 25 years earlier, former firefighter Hank McAllister (William Russ) comes back into town. No big deal until local newspaper photographer Noah (David Cubitt) puts on the front page a picture of him wrapping a torn American flag around a shivering dog. The picture causes a stir and lots of calls about who the man is, so the editor offers a reward for him. Everyone begins searching for this unknown man who is given the name John Christmas by the editor. After seeing the photo, his sister Kathleen McAllister (Valerie Bertinelli) believes this is her long-lost brother and joins in the search. Noah has his own reason for wanting to find him; it seems that it was Hank who saved his life years before in a fire that killed several firefighters. With help from Max (Peter Falk), an angel who takes the form of Santa, a fire-truck guard and a janitor, Noah and Kathleen find the answers they need.

Finding John Christmas is holiday magic with all of the ingredients for a great movie. This one will bring laughter and tears. It is a redemptive story of a family reunited with love as its theme. William Russ (Mr. Sterling, Boy Meets World) is a versatile actor who can pull off many roles believably. Valerie Bertinelli (One Day at a Time, Touched by an Angel), who never seems to age, is a pleasure see on the screen. David Cubitt shows why he was nominated for a Genie (Canadas equivalent to the Oscar) for best actor. And theres the beloved Peter Falk who has proven time and again that hes more than a detective smoking a cigar. There are a few elements to point out for the parents: a bit of bad language with damn being used three times, hell five times and my G once. Preview encourages you to put aside anything you have to do at 9 p.m. Eastern Sunday, Nov. 30, and watch this movie.

Preview Reviewer: Lynn Nusser
Distributor: CBS Television