A Hobo's Christmas

Not a bad little Christmas movie! I watched it as a kid and looked for it . I found it on Tubi for free.. The acting is decent and has a couple well known actors from the time. It's about separation and reconcilation..

This is a great flick from the 80s. Not sure why people are saying its "dated" as if movies didn't exist until now 🙄. It has some funny parts, but more of a drama. Although this is a great family Christmas movie it would be better for older kids due to it being more of a serious film. I would highly recommend it.

This is definitely a tv movie. There's no mistaking it..Especially watching it now, here in 2024, almost 2025 (the future!) on crystal clear, high resolution, high definition flat screens of today. And honestly, this movie is so eighties, it's just too sweet and innocent, it's almost a fantasy.

I lived and was old enough to know that it wasn't just all ooey-gooey back then, either.

Maybe not at pessimistic as now, but far from perfect in 1987. Not bad at all, but not dreamlike, like it is here.

First off, I never really get why this dude bailed on his family.

Oh, they attempt to explain it but it doesn't seem realistic.

Probably because it's a twentieth century television movie, but there's no alcohol or drug abuse, no mental illness. No criminal history.

You haven't seen this guy in twenty five years, you don't know what he's been up to.

I'm just saying.

And his running buddies? His co-hobos as it were.

They all seem pretty functional.

What are they all doing out there?

And why give Gerald McRaney's character, Charlie, such an extensive back story? It's too complicated and unnecessary for a tv movie like this.

He's a widowed former steelworker who hobbies in woodworking and used to live in Pennsylvania before relocating his family to Utah and becoming a police officer.

What?

Okay.

At one point, Barnard Hughes, as the title character, actually makes his grandkids a huge stew in a garbage can. A new can? Okay, cool. A used can? Gross!

And I know it's a movie, but still, 25 years gone and you're just going to up and leave your children with this man?

I don't think so.

And again, it may be 1987, but they're treating the tramps here like they're all Charlie Chaplin or Boxcar Willie.

It's fun to watch because it is so ridiculous but it does have an overall sweet message.

Don't eat stew out of garbage cans.

A hobo left home (and his son) 25 years ago. His son is hoping for another 25 years.

This is the story of a family that gets along pretty well, father, son and daughter. Also, dad is trying to zero in on his one-year girlfriend, but she knows that he is not ready to emote enough to be marriage material.

Dad's father shows up to have a reunion. Dad blows him off. Dad's girlfriend pounds him for it. Dad decides to allow his father to spend a day meeting and getting to know his grandchildren.

This turns into a visit for several days, until Christmas. Then grandpa will go off with his hobo friends until the next visit.

Finally the son and daughter get to have another relative; grandpa tells stories of the road. Then they meet his hobo friends.

A good Christmas story.

I'm not someone who easily embraces Christmas. What I do like are simple, eloquent tales of folks reuniting or connecting at Christmas, examining their lives and making small adjustments. This is a compact little story of a painful past and an attempt at resolution. I found myself choking up here and there as the tale progressed, enjoying wise children, the camaraderie of people of the road and overall, the somewhat washed out images of Salt Lake City. There are plenty of sappy Christmas movies trying desperately to become instant classics. I think this might be a true contender. I enjoyed its message. I won't say what that message is but I suspect most will get it.