A Country Christmas Story

This is like the third Dolly Parton Christmas movie I have seen, or maybe the second, and I always like them. While not being a big fan of country music, it was interesting how the film tried to educate the viewer about the presence of blacks in the genre. Yet strangely Charley Pride was never mentioned.

Grace is a 14-year-old who wants to be a singer and songwriter. Her mother is dead set against that because her mostly absent father is a musician who never made it big, and who doesn't help much with the bills. Grace has to secretly practice the guitar at her grandmother's house, since her mother wants to sell it.

Helping her achieve her music goals is her music teacher and choir director, the most interesting person in the movie, in my opinion. He is a failed singer/songwriter/composer himself from NYC. He also apparently comes from money, which was interesting in this Appalachian story.

Forunately, this film is free of all Appalachian stereotypes, but is it stereotyping black fathers? Some would argue yes, but it appears to me to be trying to avoid seeing race as that important. Nevertheless, it does focus some on if a biracial teenager will have any chance whatsoever in winning a country music contest.

Dolly Parton is the hostess of the final contest concert event, and she is always so appealing in personality. She gives special attention to Grace when she realizes her estranged parents are causing her so many emotional problems. This movie is foremost a story about a broken family.

It really doesn't even seem like a Christmas story until the end, either. Moreover, the song Grace wrote and sings doesn't sound like a country music one to me. All and all, though, it's a nice clean film for the whole family that encourages pursuing one's dreams, and not being afraid of obstacles.

I'll cut to the chase. This is yet another movie that unnecessarily portrays a black man as an absent father. He's abandoned his family to be a bartender while he works on his music. This story could've been written so that the father was an active member of the family and supportive of his daughter's musical aspirations. Instead it uses the damaging trope of the black father that's abandoned his family to create tension in the story.

Studies have repeatedly shown that the pervasive myth about black fathers being absent from their children's lives is just that. A myth. The CDC has found that black fathers are "more involved with their kids on a daily basis than fathers from other racial groups."

The presence of this harmful stereotype in this movie is a continuation of the subtle and systemic racism that makes it so difficult to be a black man in America.

How wonderful this movie would've been if it showed both a mother and father fully engaged in their child's life, encouraging them, and helping guide them to work towards their dreams. It could have portrayed a black man as a positive role model and rejected harmful stereotypes while still telling its story. Because it failed to do so, this movie does more harm than good.

More than anything, I am so disappointed that Dolly Parton signed on to this movie. She seems like such a wholesome and caring person that I assume her involvement is out of ignorance rather than malice. Regardless, her involvement is shameful.

Rating it 1/10 stars due to systemic racism.

This is an EXCELLENT movie would be NICE to see more like this one

A Country Christmas Story, is a not-to- be-missed film about a young Appalachian girl who pursues her dream to become a country singer and journeys to Dollywood. Stars Dolly Parton, Brian McKnight and introducing Desiree Ross.

This film is way above average. The film created a world that I wish did exist. The film has a charming lead Dolly kind of plays a guardian angel in this film. The end of the story might surprise many of you. The film is great entertainment. Even thought the film is classified as "A Christmas Movie" its really about a girl with a dream and a mother who disproves. It could take place in October.

The film is runs a brief 90 minutes so you will never be bored.

This is not your typical Christmas rom/com. It's not really a rom/com since the focus of the story is mostly Grace's journey to and through the contest amidst family downs and ups.. It has nothing to do with Christmas other than a few decorations on the stage of the contest and Dolly singing a quick Jingle Belles.

There's a wonderful few lines between Danny (dad) and Jenny (mom). "So why's Grace staying with Sarah?" "Cause I don't like what she's been doing." "Boys?" Jenny shakes her head no. "Drinking?" "No?" "OK I give up." "Music." Lady did you hear that conversation? Danny should have also added "Drugs?" Jenny further proves her lack of sense as the conversation progresses. Actually this whole sequence is quite realistic. It captures the flavor of the first half of the movie. There are a lot of other messy realistic exchanges in this movie before we get to the contest.

The story kept surprising me. Just when I thought it was going one way, it went another.

The contest was amazing. Each of the other two contestants sounded unbeatable. They sang well and had charisma. Grace's song was different and showcased both her voice and her heart.

The climax and ending are a bit sappy, but that's OK!