No doubt your kids, your nieces and nephews, your grandchildren, the kids you babysit, or any kids in your life will love a Christmas movie about a dog. If you have a dog this is a great movie to watch as a family, which will add to your appreciation for your friendly Fido. However, if you don’t want a dog and don’t want your kids asking for one, this movie is definitely not for you.

The Dog Who Saved Christmas follows a dog named Zeus (voiced by Mario Lopez). He’s a homeless dog who gets adopted into a family, but needs to prove his worth as a watch dog to the mom in the family. She didn’t want the dog in the first place, but her two kids and especially her husband desperately wanted to add a canine to the family. The dad in the family goes out and adopts this dog, making him an early Christmas surprise. Can Zeus prove his worth? Well, as the titles hints, this dog will get his chance to save Christmas.

The Dog Who Saved Christmas is like that of the movie Homeward Bound where the animals play the lead talking role where the camera follows the pet about their day while an actor voices their thoughts. The action of this movie isn’t on par with the theatrical elements of the Homeward Bound series, but for a TV movie it does a good job. Dog lovers will swoon over all the cute doggies in the pound and will want to run out and adopt one!

The storyline is cute and family friendly. The dog Zeus is not surprisingly lovable. The family portrayed exemplifies a typical family, mom and dad plus a son and daughter. There’s nothing overly spectacular about this movie, but it’s enjoyable none the less. When it comes to Christmas entertainment it’s not like you really need anything other than cute, heart warming, and holiday focused story telling.

Elisa Donovan plays the mother in the family. Starring on the web series In Gayle We Trust and now also The Dog Who Saved Christmas, she is clearly making the move to the grown up roles such as the mom in the family. It’s about time considering she’s 38 years old (even though she doesn’t look it). Even though she doesn’t have children of her own (as she told me in an interview) she sure interacts with kids well on screen and portrays a believable mom. And while I’m sure she’s having fun playing sweeter characters, I do miss her sass and hope eventually she’ll return to a role more like those she played on Clueless and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Even if she doesn’t, I do like her new roles and would be happy to see her show up as similar character in future projects. Sure takes talent to make the audience love you as the sassy one but also as the sweet one. Most actors don’t pull off the dual dimensions as well as she does.

ABC Family is famous for their 25 Days of Christmas, where the first 25 days in December are celebrated with nightly holiday movies. This year ABC Family continues the tradition but adds 16 days to the celebration with Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas.

The Dog Who Saved Christmas will premiere Sunday November 29th at 8/7 central as part of the Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family.