Christmas in the Heartland (2017)

Simply Perfect

Overrated and overhyped

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

While I agree with some that the ending was way too contrived ("the fight scene"), the clever premise was a nice change from the typical made-for-TV Christmas movie of man/woman enemies or strangers who find love, which has become painfully predictable. Kane's role is nice, and I can actually buy into two teenagers doing what teenagers might do. Bo Derek was surprisingly good in her role as a shallow snob. The ending? Ugggh. But since I got 98% pleasant out of it, and I got to seem some actors get roles again (often stereotypical) as they've aged, I can't knock it too much. A great classic it will never be, but not a bad way to spend a couple hours before Christmas.

The first 95% of the film was cute and decently acted. Then the climactic fight scene happened. It was horrendous. Excruciating. In terms of quality, I feel like I read "Fifty Shades of Grey" again. That's not a compliment. It was cheap and came off as contrived by a high schooler. Like seriously, who signed off on this scene? It actually kind of pisses me off, that such amazing actors would be budgeted and then there is a speedy stumble through such a crucial scene. It was a huge disappointment that comes across as a wasteful antithesis of the holiday spirit. Prior to the fight scene, I would have given it a 6 out of 10. The scene itself was a 1 out of 10 (as in I'd readily go out and purchase the movie "Glitter", than watch this scene again).

I am not normally a fan of Christmas movies, but this one is definitely worth watching. The entire cast was fantastic, the story was really cute, and I even liked the music. My main complaint was that Christian Kane wasn't in it more (I adore him). It's a great family holiday movie and one I will watch over and over.

Has a very Disney like feel to the movie. Very family friendly variation of the parent trap. Bo Derek plays an excellent superficial, materialistic, elitist snob with all the depth of a stick of gum. Shelly Long is a wonderful earthy, home town, cookie making type grandma. Christian Kane plays and amazing Dad unsure if he really want's or is even willing to reconcile with his parents. The girls are amazing. It's a wonderful movie. I rented it to check it out and see if it is worth purchasing. It very much is.