The Christmas Blessing
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Movie Reviews of The Christmas Blessing
Movie Review: heartwarming
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great family movie, we watched with the kids and everyone enjoyed it.Movie Review: Not Comparable to The Christmas Shoes
Summary: 3 Stars
Last night my sister found this at our local movie rental, and I was really excited because The Christmas Shoes broke my heart . . . in a good way. After watching this, however, all I can say is that it's interesting, enjoyable, and -- in a few places -- genuinely touching. I really wish they had done a better job with this. The plot is unfocused and flimsy. This guy Nathan (Neil Patrick Harris) loses a teenage boy on the operating table and is suddenly ready to give up his career as a doctor to return to his hometown and work in his widowed father's auto shop. To me, the motive for this sudden change was too weak. Perhaps if there had been a series of setbacks and dissapointments with his job . . . but they didn't make time for it. Soon he is attracted to a spunky young schoolteacher and starts dating her, not knowing that her health is in jeporady due to a bad liver. She is a lot like his mother was -- very compassionate, loves kids and helping people, etc; etc. His insecurities keep him from sharing with her about his decision to quit being a doctor, which causes problems in their relationship when she finds out later. Meanwhile Nathan and his dad have trouble understanding each other's needs, so there is some drama from that quarter. There are several underdeveloped and distracting sub-plots, the dialog is trite, and the scenes that were meant to be heartwarming usually get bogged down in syrip. But Neil Patrick Harris's bad acting during the last leg of the movie is the straw that breaks the cammel's back. He is able to potray Nathan as being attracted to his love interest, but he entirely fails to potray the emotions Nathan would have expirienced upon finding out she was very likely to die. There was no passion, no agony. . . just frusteration. They should have chosen a straight man for the role. I also missed the beautiful Christmas carols that were in The Christmas Shoes. The only singing in The Christmas Blessing was country music.Movie Review: Worth renting - up to you as to owning it
Summary: 3 Stars
I rented A Christmas Blessing yesterday. It is a good movie. I don't deny it that status. However, some of the other reviewers mentioned that it didn't live up to The Christmas Shoes The Christmas Shoes. I agree with that as well.
The story is not as deep as TCS was. It is definitely worth renting to watch it through once. After that, you can decide if you want to add it to your collection. As for me, I am not sure if I will or not. There are plenty of other horrible "Christmas" movies out there (Deck the Halls, Happy Feet, Christmas in Handcuffs, Christmas Do-Over, A Very Muppet Christmas and other low life trash), so this is definitely a better choice than those that I have listed.
** SPOILERS - DO NOT READ FURTHER IS YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT **
The one disappointing aspect of this story was Charlie's Dad. He was never totally developed as a character. He was also left 'hanging' at the end of the movie. It seemed like everybody else was set for a Christmas Blessing except the Dad:
- Nathan's Dad was getting his life back.
- Nathan's Dad was also looking at new relationship.
- Nathan and his girl were looking forward to a life together.
- Nathan was returning to be a doctor
- Charlie died but not in vain as his death gave somebody new life.
Charlie's Dad lost everybody and everything. It seems that he was going to wander off to continue his life as a lone drifter. I realize that this is reality in life, but I was hoping for more since this is a Christmas movie (life can be depressing enough as it is).
Watch it, enjoy it (as I do think it is worth watching) and then decide if you want to add it to your Christmas collection.
Movie Review: Good message
Summary: 3 Stars
I am giving "The Christmas Blessing" only three stars, because personally I found it to be a little boring. It took me about 1/2 to 2/3 into the movie before I could get interested in the story. I also thought the acting seemed too scripted at times. I, however, did appreciate the message of the movie, which was to embrace life, and not let the past rule your future. Charlie from the "Christmas Shoes" is all grown up, but the death of his mother, and a fear he has had since 10 years old of losing his dad is keeping him stuck in the past. Throughout the movie, Charlie learns to let go of his fears and his past.Movie Review: Good theme
Summary: 3 Stars
This film shows the experience of many that have lost loved ones during the holidays. There are several plots going on. One of them is the breakdown of a marriage. I would have liked this film better if Mr. Lowe had put more into it. He seems to have very little emotion and even his expressions have little variation. The other actors do a very good job, especially the little boy who is very good. He was very well directed and gave an outstanding performance in a role very difficult for anyone, and more so for someone so young.