The National Tree

I thought it was a very touching movie, and the Teen character Rock was very likable. 2 Thumbs up for a loving Christmas Movie! Good job. A little different in the normal holiday theme, but it wouldn't be memorable if it followed the same old theme. It was great seeing Actor Andrew McCarthy in a movie again, even if he was a little hard to like in the beginning. I do recommend this film for family viewing, and it is perfect on the Hallmark channel. I've been very impressed with the holiday movies this year. Also for those of you interested in watching Hallmark Movies, may I also suggest ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas and Lifetime's FaLaLaLa Lifetime.

Flaws everywhere! I-80 doesn't run through Oregon or Idaho ... that I-84. It's I-84 until you get into Utah. The Interstate does NOT go through Salt Lake City. It goes through east/northern suburbs and then cuts to I-80. It's also VERY flat along both highways EXCEPT a small area in Eastern Oregon and Eastern Utah/Western Wyoming. ... no mountains or forests along the way. Mostly grasslands and farms.

ALSO - all radio/TV stations west of the Mississippi River use call letters that start with K - not W. The reports of the forest fire (where's the forest on I-80???) Re on a TV station with W call letters. So we have this woman watching an Eastern US in Oregon? Good trick in the days before Cable/Satellite TV was prolific!

As far as the story - nice father/son road trip. The relationship was strained because dad doesn't get teenage boys - but in the end, they come together for the same cause. Could have been a better story - not in a truck cab. The video blogging was ridiculous.

Watch this only if you have NOTHING else to do...

I would like to know why they added the word "Mormons" in such a disgusting way? I also don't appreciate that they used Mormons so many times. There are Mormons all over the world. And they should be respected. Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed this move. But if the Utah and Mormons part was used as a joke it was not funny. Just like all religions and ethnicities they should not be made fun of in any situation, especially one that would be broadcasted through a movie. As a warning to all movies I hope they know that every one and thing in a movie should be respected. Thank you for allowing my comment to be seen. I really do appreciate it.

The National Tree as a story hit home for me because I remember back in 1965 my mother planted a tree for my grandmother the same way that Andrew McCarthy planted a tree for his dead wife and the mother of Evan Williams. When in 1997 my brother and I sold the house the tree was still going strong. I've not gone back to Brooklyn to see if the tree is still there though. I hope it is.

Which hangs the tale of The National Tree. That tree is saved because the President of the USA has chosen it to be the national Christmas tree to be lighted at the White House and replanted there. Otherwise it would have been scheduled to be bulldozed because Andrew McCarthy is selling off his property in Oregon.

But since the tree is saved McCarthy and Williams are driving a big rig to Washington, DC to deliver it to the White House in person. Along for the ride are Kati Matchatt from the company who bought the property and are reaping the publicity and Paula Brancati a video chat room pal of Williams whom they meet in the flesh in Wyoming. In fact the scenes with Williams chatting with Brancati and his other pals around the world are the best in the film. In fact they are the hope of the world as young people make connections beyond national boundaries.

The film is a pleasant two hours viewing with an easy to take cast and a story while not Citizen Kane is still entertaining.

This is quite possibly the worst piece of film I have ever seen. One hot actor is the only good thing. That being said, I'd rather take a shotgun shell to the face than watch This. Absolutely horrible.