A Christmas Gift

August 31, 2009
Katie Williams, the protagonist of this so-so Christmas yarn, can see things before they happen, and though few believe her, she uses her gift to try to save her ex-con uncle Charlie. Fresh out of prison, Charlie’s having some trouble adjusting to the outside; Katie foresees trouble, and, sure enough, Charlie is approached by criminals who want to entice him back into a life of crime. Charlie and Katie must figure out how to keep their family safe, stay out of prison and have a merry Christmas together. Charlie’s internal conflict is palpable, and Katie’s gift is even plausible, though the supernatural elements are often paired with hokey spiritual sentimentality. If you can slog through the sappy parts, there’s some fun to be had.