Our Christmas Journey

As I've said many times, most people know that these movies often have little acquaintance with realism, but I still have to say this. The confrontation between mom and the institution is ridiculous. Any institution experienced with dealing with autism would have gone way overboard in informing and preparing the entire family before they ever got there. Much of the early conflict would NEVER have been allowed to happen. Routine is vital for families with autism. Changes in that routine would take place with great care and preparation. Their rules make total sense, but they would never spring them without meticulous preparation. I found these issues in the movie to be greatly distracting sapping potential enjoyment until the story got past those issues. It does eventually fade away.

Much of the focus of the movie is on the family. Mom and Dad dealing with their past issues. Sister struggling with being the "other" sibling. The house for family members is run by another mom with a child who seems a little more functional.

I never really fully got into the rest of the move, so I can't say more.

This is an unusual story for a Hallmark Christmas movie, but what makes it work are the really fine performances by the entire cast. It also evidences just what an excellent actress Holly Robinson Peete can be when she is cast in a complex role such as the mother here, who is coming to terms with the fact that her autistic son is growing up, and when she is surrounded by other talented actors like Lyric Bent and Aloma Wright, who play her character's ex-husband and mother. The other characters have their issues, too, and it is interesting to see how they get worked out. All in all, a fresh and endearing Christmas story that leaves you feeling good that you spent two hours with all of these charismatic characters.

6/10 - I consider myself a Holly Robinson Peete fan and having followed her on Meet the Peetes and her social media, I know that this was a passion project for her and while flawed, I think everyone should watch this movie if you know anyone on the autism spectrum or not.

7.1 stars.

A teenage boy has autism, doesn't speak, not certain of the severity of his condition. Over the holidays, his parents take him to a special school for people with this or similar conditions. The staff must have him for several days to see if he's a candidate to attend in the future. It's difficult for the family to spend the holiday in this unfamiliar place, coupled with the father who has been out of the picture for a while. The lead female, who is in many Hallmark films, does a wonderful job of portraying an overprotective mother, and her daughter and mother also act out their parts to perfection. I get the feeling this is what a family would be like in this situation. I was impressed by the skills of all the actors, including the inn owner and her son. Not much else to add, because this is a story about people dealing with disability and the difficulties that accompany that situation, and so this is not a romance or exciting, but it's very encouraging and uplifting.

'Our Christmas Journey' is Hallmark's first Christmas movie depicting autism. The fact that the autistic character in the movie is played by an autistic actor was quite warming to see on-screen. It is a heartfelt movie about family love and relationships, friendship, and the importance of keeping faith when times get rough. The story follows Lena (played by Holly Robinson Peete), a single mom of two kids (Marcus and Mia). Her ex-husband Rick (played by Lyriq Bent) has signed their son Marcus (played by Nik Sanchez) up for Hope Hills Academy, a school for helping kids and young adults with autism learn, grow, and gain a sense of independence. Lena has reluctantly agreed to her ex-husband's plan to spend Christmas in Orchardsville, which is home to Hope Hills. And so, our story begins as we watch Lena learn to let go and allow her son to spreads his wings. And we watch the family come closer together in unexpected ways this Christmas. One of the strengths of the story, I felt, is the focus on family dynamics. The writers do a good job of capturing the different relationships in this story in engaging and appealing ways from Lena's relationship with her son and ex-husband to Mia's (played by Hilda Martin) relationship with her brother and parents. What makes all this work on-screen, of course, is the acting. Peete does a brilliant job of portraying Lena as the protective mother who is worried about the needs of her son. Peete and Bent also have good chemistry. They feel like a divorced couple with a difficult past. As the story progresses, you can slowly begin to see and feel the love and passion they once had for each other. This transformation of their relationship on-screen was lovely to watch, I felt. Sanchez gives a sweet performance, though he could have used a bit more screen time. Martin too had some warm and heartfelt scenes depicting a loving sister that feels neglected by her parents but harbors no resentment against them or her brother. Finally, I can't forget about Aloma Wright, who plays Grandma Robin. She has such an all-loving and wholesome vibe to her performance, which I enjoyed. All in all, 'Our Christmas Journey' is a wonderful family movie, one that will leave you feeling warm and sappy this Christmas.