Arnold Schwarzenegger opted for an unusual change of pace for his directorial debut - this remake of a sugary old Christmas favourite from 1945. Sadly, it needs some of the firepower that Schwarzenegger brings to his blockbuster action movies, as this is routine fare, updated with too little imagination for the 1990s. Dyan Cannon, in the role originally played by Barbara Stanwyck, is entertaining and believable as the TV presenter who decides to take heroic ranger Kris Kristofferson into her home for Christmas as a publicity stunt, but Schwarzenegger has upped the saccharine content of the tale to unacceptable levels. Further down the cast, Tony Curtis and Richard Roundtree work hard to try to make this digestible.

Elizabeth is the star of a successful cooking show and author of several cookbooks. But when her manager, Alexander sees forest ranger Jefferson, who lost his cabin in a fire, comment on TV about wishing he could get a home-cooked Christmas dinner, he arranges for a special live show on Christmas, for Elizabeth to cook him Christmas Dinner. Only Elizabeth can't cook, and trying to keep Jefferson and the viewing public from finding out on a live show may be a little difficult.