Christmas for a Dollar

Watchable Christmas movie. These movies are supposed to be uplifting. But nothing seems to go right for these kids in a family struggling without their mother in the depression. So it's more serious than the usual Hallmark movie.

There is an injured horse and a missing dog and a bunch of bullies and an outspoken cute girl and a older nurse wannabe and a budding romance and a mean old horse owning woman. It's okay if you want a change from Hallmark fluff.

During the Great Depression, the Kamp family struggles to get by after Mrs. Kamp passes away. The children expect another Christmas without presents until their father brings home one dollar for them to spend on gifts.

The film is very enjoyable. It is one of those films you don't want to end. It reminds me on "Little House on the Prairie" and "The Waltons". If you like family safe films then please watch this film. Its so well made.

The film was made for "UP" cable channel. If you don't get that channel then buy it on DVD. After you are done loan it to friends.

The acting wasn't that great and the homes as everyone else keeps mentioning are well kept for poor people during the depression. The home that the Kamps lived in was very nice and large for a poor family with 5 kids. However, the story line was the true meaning of Christmas. I am one that doesn't look for perfection in movies. I look at the meaning. I am very sappy.

My son is a literary agent and every since he went to Film School, I have learned more about what goes into rating films than I ever wanted to know. He would have not liked the poor quality or the acting of the film. I liked the film because of the substance. I look at all the Christmas movies on Hallmark and UP every year (over and over) and all the others I can catch on other channels and I like them because I am a sappy person. I gave it an 8 because of it's substance. Had the quality been better it would have rated a 10. That is just my sappy take on it.

Way better than I was expecting. At first, I was thinking "these are some pretty modern hairstyles for a bunch of people living in the depression", and "look at all these well kept homes that these look more like This is the Place state park than the dust bowl". But it didn't take long for the story to suck me in and even bring me close to tears a couple of times, and I'm a stoic dude. I knew it wasn't just me when my 9-year old had to leave the room because he couldn't bear to watch the developing conflict in the story line. Obviously, this isn't a high budget production, but if you can suspend your disbelief for a bit, you and your family will be entertained while learning some valuable lessons in the process.

I had the pleasure of watching this tonight for the first time. I decided I wanted to review it and as I came to the page, I read one from someone who said the cast was awful. OMG, the first thought that came to mind was just how amazing the entire cast was. You might find a movie here and there with a great young child actor; maybe one with even two; but this movie had at least 5; probably 8-10 when you think about all of the children in the movie. The grownups were great too. Some have criticized the direction but hey, this was a movie that takes place during the depression. I thought they did a wonderful job bringing that time period to life. I found the movie looking for films with Danielle C. Ryan (Danielle Chuchran) who may be one of the most beautiful young actresses I have ever seen. She is also very talented and always brings her characters to life. I would and will highly recommend this movie.