Surely one of the worst motion pictures ever made. I could smell the stench of a Canadian production within a few minutes of this outstanding debacle. Having said that, it kept me laughing for a solid two hours so it definitely falls into the category of so-bad-it's-good. A nightmare of cliché, the shamefully bad script was brought to full glory by some truly appalling performances. The ex-con boyfriend was particularly bad, a metrosexual-type with a bit of stubble to try and make him look a little tough, he always looked like he wanted to run away from the whole mess (can't blame him). But the father of the missing child was the worst: he strained to look strained but looked, bizarrely, more like he was always about to burst out laughing. In general, most of the actors failed even to pull off the one-dimensionality of their characters. The only standouts who rose above the morass were an 11 year old Michael Cera (yes, of Arrested Devlpmt fame) and the infant, whose naturalistic performance should have won him a Gemini, or a Toaster, or whatever we Canadians call our esteemed filmic achievements. But then, the baby had the advantage of not having to speak any of the horrible dialogue. In the end, the actors were the victims of whoever wrote and produced this disaster.

I was only four at the time, but I did indeed remember in 1993 around Christmas that Margaret Wheeler, a woman pretending to be a nurse, walked into Carleton General Hospital, and walked out with a new born baby girl. My mother, who was expecting, felt terrible, but my parents were relieved to find the next day, Wheeler was caught. I thought, what kind of person would do something like that, along with her partner, Darryl Thibidault. It was scary. But in 2001 when Stolen Miracle hit Lifetime's Christmas specials, I was beginning to see another side of the story I hadn't already seen.

Jane Mckinley, a young Sargeant police officer, is desperate in trying to keep her family together, and also the people she knows around Carleton, Canada, safe. When she finds that Karen and Phil Lewis's premature baby has been stolen from the hospital, Jane must put everything aside, including her family, in hopes that she can help someone else in need, before the kidnapper, a manic-depressive named Mary Whelmer can get away with little Paul.

You've heard the side of the police officers, the families, but not the kidnappers. The amazingly talented and underrated Nola Auguston, who plays the bipolar Mary, was awesome in her portrayal of the kidnapper. You felt for her, even though she was the one who stole Paul from the hospital. You knew she wanted a family she could never have, and in her efforts to simply have one perfect Christmas, she takes a baby promising her boyfriend, Darryl, she'll take him back. Her boyfriend, an ex-prisoner on probation can do nothing, and if he tries to take Paul, he knows he'll be the one put on blame, even though he wants to take Paul back. It's an amazing story, and soon, you begin to realize that the two wanted a healthy family, but can never have it because of a miscarriage Mary suffered.

Then there's the story of Jane McKinley (beautiful Leslie Hope),changed from the true life Allison McKinley. There's also another side to her story in why she wants to protect everyone. Her son, played perfectly by Michael Cera, is portrayed as a whiny little brat whose feelings change when he realizes the truth of why his mom wants to keep everyone safe, and it's true. When we find out things, we all change for the better.

Stolen Miracle has got to be one of the best made movies. I wish it were on video, but I just wait until the holidays come around, and then I can record it. Watch it, you'll like it with every side of the story in a movie you could possibly imagine. All actors are perfect and not one misplaced. You'll love em' all.

This was a very well told story and the actors and actresses were excellent. I really did like the sound track, especially the song titled, "You Can Blow Out The Moon". It was very touching. I have tried various places to locate this song by Carrie Camp, but to no avail.