A Faith Filled Christmas (2017)

Rated: NR

Genres: Drama, Religion

Starring: Anna Alayo

Synopsis: Three generations of the Fairway family ensure the Christmas season has the opportunity to be about Christ through their involvement in foster care, adoption, retirement community, and homeless ministry.

Review: I hate to give a poor review to an indie film but this was just so boring.  The stories didn’t tie together well, the acting was often quite amateurish, and a lot of scenes just felt blah. 

Scoring: 1

Fallen Angel (2003)

Rated: G

Genres: Drama, Romance

Starring: Gary Sinise, Joely Richardson, and Rick Roberts

Synopsis: When his father dies, Terry returns to the house where he grew up, planning to stay only long enough to clean and settle the estate. Yet something indescribable keeps him there longer than expected. Soon, he is reunited with memories and people from his past and his life is changed forever.

Review:  A meaningful emotional journey as a man comes to peace with his father and himself. It’s hard to describe without spoilers but this is one I’d have a tissue on hand for. Truly lovely. 

Scoring: 4

A Family Christmas Gift (2019)

Rated: G

Genres: Family, Romance

Starring: Holly Robinson-Peete, Patti LaBelle, and Dion Johnstone

Synopsis: When Amber spends the holidays with her Aunt Dora and helps plan a fund-raising Christmas Concert, it brings Amber closer to her aunt and a new love into her life.

Review: The story is sweet and the little girls are precious. The direction is where I think this one was lacking. There were so many long shots of faces in thought and the characters often spoke so slowly. It made the movie feel so slow and took away from the story. Overall, I thought it was okay. 

Scoring: 2

The Family Holiday (2007)

Rated: PG

Genres: Comedy, Family

Starring: Dave Coulier and Christina Pickles

Synopsis: A romantic family comedy about what happens when a thirty-something lovable pool hustler who owes money to the mob stands to receive a ten-million-dollar inheritance if he can prove he's forsaken his street days and settled down with a family.

Review:  Very silly but I had a good time watching it. The premise is weird but the kids are funny and it’s an easy film to sit back, relax, and smile. 

Scoring: 3

The Family Man (2000)

Rated:  PG-13

Genres: Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Romance

Starring: Nicholas Cage, Téa Leoni, and Don Cheadle

Synopsis: A fast-lane investment broker, offered the opportunity to see how the other half lives, wakes up to find that his sports car and girlfriend have become a mini-van and wife.

Review:  This has been compared to Its A Wonderful Life for the modern age. I see it more as a see the path not taken. Jack gets to see what his life would be like had he made different choices. We all wonder, what if, at some points and this movie explores that. 

Scoring: 3

as The Holiday. A New York ad man and a NC handyman switch homes. As you’d expect, the city boy falls for country girl while the country boy falls for city girl. Despite that it’s relaxing and has some interesting characters.

The Fitzgerald Family Christmas (2012)

Rated: PG-13

Genres: Drama, Family 

Starring: Edward Burns and Connie Britton

Synopsis: The adult siblings of the Fitzgerald family prepare for their estranged father to return home for Christmas for the first time since he walked out on his family 20 years ago.

Review: The stories of each family member, and their relationships, unfold at just the right pace. I was completely absorbed in the movie. It’s not a feel-good Christmas movie. It’s a tender examination of life, family, and forgiveness.  It’s very well done.  If you've seen an Ed Burns movie this will have a familiar feel.

Scoring: 4

For The Love of Christmas (2016)

Rated: PG

Genres: Drama, Family

Starring: Jazsmin Lewis and Trae Ireland

Synopsis: The movie follows Bryson, a devoted husband with a strong desire to have children, and Sunday, a once loving wife, who at some point has lost touch with peace, love and the gift of giving. But when a homeless family appears on their doorstep, bearing nothing but the true meaning of love, Sunday's heart is reacquainted with the vows that once held their marriage together.

Review: At first, I found the movie to be quite slow and boring.  I am glad I stuck with it.  Sunday first seemed to heartless and selfish and Bryson appeared to only care about his wants.  Eventually we learn why Sunday feels the way she does and we see them come together.  By about halfway through I was completely invested in the characters and the story.  I won’t ruin it but there is a happy ending.

Scoring: 3

Frozen (2013)

Rated: PG

Genres: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Musical

Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, and Robert Pine

Synopsis: When the newly-crowned Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister Anna teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a snowman to change the weather condition.

Review: I don’t agree that this movie is a Christmas movie. It is more of a winter movie. It does have great music, a charming story, and fun characters like the rock trolls and Olaf. This is one children’s movie that many adults will like.

Scoring: 4

A Frozen Christmas (2016)

Rated: G

Genres: Animation, Fantasy

Starring: Nathaniel Rose

Synopsis: A Frozen Christmas is the perfect way to get the family in the Holiday spirit with the most beloved animated Christmas characters, including Santa Claus, the Snowman, Elves, Santa's Reindeer, and more. Gather around and listen as Santa and his young elf pals narrate time honored Christmas story classics such as, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Little Girls' Christmas and more.

Review:  It’s nice listening to the stories but the animation doesn’t show the stories. It’s like listening to a book while watching a screen saver. Nice for kids but adults should avoid unless you want to listen while doing something else. 

Scoring: 2