A Joyous Christmas

This one rates somewhere in the middle of my list of Christmas films. It's not bad, it's just not got that wow factor either.

I was glad that Rachel had a moment at the beginning that changed her outlook on life, because the film would not have lasted in my house if she hadn't. It's great the way that Michael Rady (With those beautiful eyes) gets the best out of her and shows her the way, using Christmas spirit to help, which makes him very attractive in his role.

I did like the story arc involving the character of Joy and felt that I could really empathise with her. It was easy to feel her pain, even before we knew what it was.

I've also never understood how families can separate, even having experienced it myself. It should never be and I love that these Christmas films always right these wrongs. Everyone can be forgiven at any time of the year, but especially at Christmas.

It's a well put together film.

I absolutely loved this movie. Natalie Knepp plays Rachel Kennedy a motivational speaker who returns to her home of Fall Oaks, Massachusetts for an event near Christmas. The bad guy manager was played very well by Steve Bacic. The good guy producer Jack is played by Michael Rady. He starred in Christmas in Homestead (2016) which I have not seen, but probably will after seeing him here. The scene where Rachel and Jack first meet is great as he is asking her whether he should get the Santa or Snowman tie. The last main character is Joy who is the reason the movie is named a Joyous Christmas (very well done).

The movie to its success focuses on Rachel. Natalie Knepp seemed so familiar to me, but I haven't seen her in other roles. Seems like this is her biggest role and she was superb. I did see she was in Loving Leah 8 years ago as "the female guard" (very small part). I will go out of my way to see her again. This movie came close to getting a perfect 10 from me. The story has a little surprise between Jack and Joy, which was good. My criticism is the revealing could have been done better maybe involving Rachel a little more.

I am happy to watch it again. The scenes and dynamic between Rachel and Jack are good. We have some singing by Jack and piano playing by Joy.

This certainly is a "Joyous Christmas" movie. The premise is not a new one but it's well executed and the acting, especially by Bonnie Bedelia and Michael Rady, is well above par. A young, self-obsessed, self-help author returns to her home town to promote her new book with a grand inspirational event at Christmas. She mends fences with her own family and discovers the true meaning of Christmas love with the help of the town and two locals in particular. Her ambitious Manager almost upsets the apple cart but the situation is caught in time. Natalie Knepp is a little weak as the leading lady but she is probably perfect for the type of person she is playing ... and we certainly see her grow and soften as she embraces the help she seeks and is offered to her. The only problem I had with the movie is that on several occasions, we have to suspend disbelief when things seem to magically happen in impossibly record time and that we rarely see her "working" on the event. Instead, she is Christmas shopping, volunteering at the Community Center, having fun with her new (and incredibly attractive) producer, entering a candy cane relay race and sampling the local fare at the Christmas Carnival etc etc etc ... She seems to save the Community Center Christmas party in a flash and when she and her producer arrive at her townhouse, after what seems to have been a full 24hr day, they notice that she has no Christmas decorations up so they drive off to get some! Before the night is over they seem to have decorated the entire yard, bought and decorated her Christmas tree and the whole living room. Now, maybe we are supposed to think a few days have gone by but the editing makes it a little confusing. Had I noticed if she'd changed her outfit, I might not have been so confused when she interviewed her producer-to-be the day after she helped him choose a tie and nearly got knocked down. The way it was edited, it seemed like only a few hours later to me. I think it's really enjoyable movie.

It is like a small, crooked tree. It has nothing special among Hallmark Christmas films but it is different. And you love it. For many reasons, many out of words, few very simple. First, for the rehabilitation of Christmas as a happy , in profound sense , of family, in many aspects. Second- for the beautiful acting of Bonnie Bedelia. Three- for the fine job of Michael Rady. Not the last - for the nice perspective about motivational literature. It is real different and you feel that. Not better, not special, not great or out of the too familiar recipe. But a seductive crooked tree. And it is enough to see it not only once .

Although some reviewers didn't like her work in this movie, I thought Bonnie Bedelia did a convincing job depicting Joy, a broken, perpetually sad woman trying to help others. She was slow moving, slow talking, and withdrawn because that is in line with her sad and depressed character, especially when we learn why she's so sad. It's probably also worth pointing out that Bedelia was nominated for two Emmy awards and has been in countless TV shows and movies including the first 2 Die Hard movies (she was Holly McClane).

Michael Rady and Natalie Knepp were both fine. Rady has done good work at Hallmark (my favorite so far is Christmas in Homestead). Knepp, on the other hand, seems to be one and done at Hallmark. She apparently hasn't acted in much since. I liked her, but it's a tough business.

There are 2 big problems with A Joyous Christmas. One is the Big Reveal. It's not just implausible, it's insanely unlikely. It's like in Dumb and Dumber when Jim Carrey is told the chance of being with Lauren Holly is "one in a million" and he says "so you're telling me there's a chance?".

And he had way better odds than the odds of what is disclosed during this movie's Big Reveal.

The other big problem is the whole "Me First" self help phenomenon that somehow justifies a pricey big production "Event" in Rachel's hometown during Christmas. I've seen plenty of lectures and they're basically somebody standing on the stage in front of a lectern, or sitting on a couch or chair, talking for an hour. Occasionally, there's a multi media presentation projected on the screen behind the speaker. There's also, inevitably, a Teleprompter to help them out. There's not a whole lot of "production" involved, and there certainly wasn't any evidence of any special production with the "Me First" event despite all the scrambling around to "get ready". Basic Christmas decorations don't count.

And Rachel's brother, and his kids, would likely have been bored out of their minds.

Plus, a "Me First" "Christmas spectacular" makes about as much sense as a Fourth of July celebration in Russia. How can Rachel promote her "Me First" brand in the midst of a holiday season centered around the selflessness of Christmas? Why would anyone set that up? And why would a successful producer just happen to be in their small town ready to work?

And if Rachel is inevitably convinced to wrap herself up in the Christmas spirit, and give a speech that embraces the selflessness of Christmas, how does that promote her "Me First" brand? In fact, doesn't that just undermine her book's message? And thereby invalidate her entire career?