A Christmas. . . Present (2022) -
I've been known to turn off a God-bothery film within minutes of watching it, so it was a testament to how well this seasonal effort handled that element of its story that I made it all the way through it without questioning whether I would turn it off or not.
It helped that it had the gorgeous Marc Blucas in the role of Eric being a very cheeky and cheesy Dad, with jokes to prove it. His hair did look like his barber had used a knife and fork instead of scissors though.
Personally I'm glad that I don't have anyone in my life like Eric's wife Maggie (Candace Cameron Bure), with her overzealous organising and lack of bending, but I did agree that families need to realise that a bit of sacrifice doesn't hurt anyone. You should cherish those that you love while you can, because you never know when they might be gone. I just felt that there was an extreme lack of balance, because it was all about Maggie's list of things to do and without consideration for the others involved, including Ashley (Keilah Davies), the youngest girl, who was really brash and annoying. Everyone else was fine though.
By the end of the film I will admit that it was on the borderline of being too churchy, but by the time the credits rolled I felt that it had got it just about right.
I did like the message it delivered, that grieving doesn't have to be so hard with the right people around you. It seemed to say that you need to find time for yourself, as well as making time for yourself to help others, whether they're related to you, a homeless person on the street or someone else entirely and that the efforts don't have to be connected to a church, but maybe a faith within yourself or in your loved ones. Do good in the name of someone that you've lost if you can't do it for yourself and you will feel better for it. After all "It's not the things we do at Christmas, but the Christmas things we do all year through!".* I often think about the chain that I may have forged in my life and desperately hope that it isn't anywhere near as long as Ebenezer Scrooge's?
I liked the soundtrack that went with this film too and because the actors all did what they needed to I was able to enjoy the story, which was actually very different to most of the others out there, even if some of the conversations and behaviour were a bit too perfect.
I could also tell that it wasn't a low budget example of a made for TV film and for me it was that bit of extra care that made the difference.
6.89/10.
*Thank you Julie Andrews.
I've been known to turn off a God-bothery film within minutes of watching it, so it was a testament to how well this seasonal effort handled that element of its story that I made it all the way through it without questioning whether I would turn it off or not.
It helped that it had the gorgeous Marc Blucas in the role of Eric being a very cheeky and cheesy Dad, with jokes to prove it. His hair did look like his barber had used a knife and fork instead of scissors though.
Personally I'm glad that I don't have anyone in my life like Eric's wife Maggie (Candace Cameron Bure), with her overzealous organising and lack of bending, but I did agree that families need to realise that a bit of sacrifice doesn't hurt anyone. You should cherish those that you love while you can, because you never know when they might be gone. I just felt that there was an extreme lack of balance, because it was all about Maggie's list of things to do and without consideration for the others involved, including Ashley (Keilah Davies), the youngest girl, who was really brash and annoying. Everyone else was fine though.
By the end of the film I will admit that it was on the borderline of being too churchy, but by the time the credits rolled I felt that it had got it just about right.
I did like the message it delivered, that grieving doesn't have to be so hard with the right people around you. It seemed to say that you need to find time for yourself, as well as making time for yourself to help others, whether they're related to you, a homeless person on the street or someone else entirely and that the efforts don't have to be connected to a church, but maybe a faith within yourself or in your loved ones. Do good in the name of someone that you've lost if you can't do it for yourself and you will feel better for it. After all "It's not the things we do at Christmas, but the Christmas things we do all year through!".* I often think about the chain that I may have forged in my life and desperately hope that it isn't anywhere near as long as Ebenezer Scrooge's?
I liked the soundtrack that went with this film too and because the actors all did what they needed to I was able to enjoy the story, which was actually very different to most of the others out there, even if some of the conversations and behaviour were a bit too perfect.
I could also tell that it wasn't a low budget example of a made for TV film and for me it was that bit of extra care that made the difference.
6.89/10.
*Thank you Julie Andrews.