Films suitable for children to watch alone are rare birds these days outside of Disney's cartoon features, so it's well that the personal charm of little Thora Birch just about keeps this cardboard cracker from sinking in its own saccharine. Christmas is coming, and all seven-year-old Hallie (Birch) wants is for her divorced parents to reunite. To this end, she enlists the help of her brother (Ethan Randall) and his pals, who hatch an elaborate plan. There's lots of artificial heart in this family film, plus Lauren Bacall (as the kids' granny) and Leslie Nielsen as guest stars. If you enjoy watching precocious children work their manipulative wiles, while the film-makers try to do the same thing with your emotions, this could be for you, even if it's really as empty as a stocking on Christmas Eve.

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