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.
