CHRISTMAS MOVIE REVIEW
One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is the abundance of Christmas movies. I am not terribly sappy, but I love a good Christmas movie (especially if it causes me to get a little teary-eyed too). To keep myself in the glow, I've decided to watch a Christmas movie a day until Christmas, and do my best to share them here.
This past week, I picked up a new-to-me Christmas movie called "Christmas Child" at Family Christian Store. It seemed to be a great way to start. It is based on the book "The Christmas Cross" by Max Lucado. I had not heard of either so it seemed to be a great way to go.
About the film (from Amazon):
Jack, a Chicago journalist dealing with a midlife crisis and a troubled
marriage, is sent to Dallas, but a detour to a small Texas town that's
home to a life-size Nativity scene leads him to a discovery about his
past and the courage to face his future.
Starring: William R. Moses, Megan Follows, Steven Curtis Chapman, Tonya Bordeaux, Vicki Taylor Ross, and Muse Watson
Impact Productions and Bridgestone Multimedia Group
My Review:
Christmas Child brings us into the life of Jack Davenport, a journalist who is at a cross-roads in his life. Jack's adoptive father has passed away, his wife and he are simply not getting along and he is on the cusp of turning 40. With many heart questions and quite a bit of emptiness, Jack hits the road for another inconvenient assignment from his magazine. Leaving behind an upset wife who is simply ready to close up her own heart.
The small town that Jack stops in is exactly the small town you would envision in your mind. There is a large nativity in front of the church and the town is loaded with character and characters that brought me lots of smiles and a little bit of aggravation. Almost everyone in the town is extremely open and helpful to Jack who really needs the kindness at this time in his life. The genuineness of the townspeople caused me to hope that Jack would scrap it all, grab his wife, and move there....maybe in another film?
The actors were well cast though I must admit, Steven Curtis Chapman reminded me of Ned Flanders of the Simpsons (but I liked that about him). It was also nice seeing William R. Moses who I remember from my young...young...young years when he was on Falcon Crest.
Christmas Child is a story of searching, struggle and hope. It is a story that shows the importance of reaching out to others. There was a strong focus on adoption and redemption. I enjoyed it a great deal and highly recommend it.
If you can't find it in the store, I suggest you stream it. I saw it was available on Hulu. Myself, I'm glad I purchased it. It will definitely be a part of our Christmas traditions. Here's the trailer:
Christmas Child trailer from
American Family Association on
Vimeo.
A few months ago, I joined ministry leaders and media representatives in my town for a preview of a film called "Home Run." "Home Run" is the story of true freedom from the darkness that can engulf a person's life when dealing with their past and addictions.
Starring: Scott Elrod, Dorian Brown, Vivica A. Fox, Charles Henry Wyson, James Devoti, Nicole Leigh, Robert Peters, Drew Waters and Juan Martinez.
About the film (from the website HomeRunTheMovie.com) :
Freedom is Possible
Baseball all-star Cory Brand knows what it takes to win in the big
leagues. But off the field, with memories of his past haunting him, his
life is spiraling out of control.
Hoping to save her client's career and reputation after a DUI and a
team suspension, Cory's agent sends him back to the small town where he
grew up. Forced to coach the local youth baseball team and spend eight
weeks in the only recovery program in town, Cory can't wait to return to
his old life as quickly as possible.
As his young players help him experience the joy of the game, Cory
discovers his need to find freedom from his past and hope for his future
… and win back the love he left behind. With this unexpected second
chance, Cory finds himself on a powerful journey of transformation and
redemption.
Based on thousands of true stories, HOME RUN is a powerful reminder that with God, it's never too late … freedom is possible.
Here's the trailer:
PS...Ya'll hear Third Day in the background there? That was their song "I Need a Miracle." YAY!
My opinion:
This is not my review because I saw the unfinished project. I will be seeing the movie again when it comes to theaters on April 19th.
"Home Run" tells a story that many of us are familiar with. It is a story of lives like our own that have been impacted by complications of the past and how those complications can impact our present and future. There is hope. "Home Run" explores that journey. "Home Run" tells that story well. It is full of impact from the choice of actors, location and music. "Home Run" tells an honest story, and it is a story of hope and encouragement. Even if you have not lived a life with its own complications, you most likely know someone who has. This could be a movie to give that person hope. This could be the gentle touch that could bring a person you know to a place of decision and in that decision, solid direction for healing.
"Home Run" is heading to theaters on April 19th. If you like a movie with a message, you should check it out. If you are a fan of faith-based films, you should also check it out. It is not often that we find a movie of this caliber with such a strong message of hope that can truly inspire. Find a theater near you by following this link.
If you are a reader, there is a novelization of the film by author Travis Thrasher. Get the scoop on that as well as read the first chapter here.
