The Christmas Box (1995)

A budding entrepreneur (Richard Thomas) is focused on his business, leaving little time for his wife (Annette O'Toole) and daughter (Kelsey Mulrooney). To appease his wife who wants a larger home for their daughter, he agrees to move into an mansion where he and his wife will work as live in help to a lonely widow (Maureen O'Hara). Based on the novel by Richard Paul Evans and directed by Marcus Cole. Typical family oriented Hallmark Christmas movie that manages to tone down the treacly sentiment that usually infests these TV movies. Still, it is what it is so don't expect anything great. O'Hara brings a strong dignity to her matron and Thomas isn't afraid to show what a jerk his character is and his "redemption" is believable. As Christmas movies go, it's not an embarrassment but it's no CHRISTMAS CAROL either. With Robert Curtis Brown and Michael Ensign.