It is inevitable that people would compare this movie to "Groundhog Day" because of the time-loops, but there are significant differences. The main character in "Groundhog Day" was looped for reasons and by forces unknown, with no set time limit or even requirement for getting out of it. The main character in "The 12 Days of Christmas Eve" dies but divine intercession gives him another chance (12 actually) to find real meaning in his life before his premature demise becomes a final judgment. Murray plays a shallow, self-absorbed, and self-important reporter lusting after a co-worker, whereas Weber (Calvin Carter) plays a successful entrepreneur driven by guilt to provide for his family. Both need a character adjustment, but for different reasons. Murray's character must learn to give, but Carter must learn the meaning for giving for it to mean anything.
And, pleasantly enough, the movie is not as predictable as some would indicate. The gallows humor of Calvin Carter dying each day in some bizarre way, and his increasing fatalism when it happens, is in itself entertaining. His failure to escape the loop by giving money, presents, service, and time to others also avoids the trite and shallow message that simply giving to others is the answer. At the end he finds that even then he does not have the full answer, evidenced by Angie's (Molly Shannon) admonition that the perfect Christmas Eve is a journey, not a destination - not simply something you make, but something you live.
And, pleasantly enough, the movie is not as predictable as some would indicate. The gallows humor of Calvin Carter dying each day in some bizarre way, and his increasing fatalism when it happens, is in itself entertaining. His failure to escape the loop by giving money, presents, service, and time to others also avoids the trite and shallow message that simply giving to others is the answer. At the end he finds that even then he does not have the full answer, evidenced by Angie's (Molly Shannon) admonition that the perfect Christmas Eve is a journey, not a destination - not simply something you make, but something you live.