The Christmas Bunny

My wife and I were surprised by well done this movie really is. It deals with some pretty serious issues in an honest yet ultimately heartwarming way. Well worth watching.

I just love rabbits and bunnies. I have had my share of pet rabbits over the years. This film has Florence Henderson as Betsy Ross aka the Bunny Lady in Michigan. The film unfolds as a young foster girl named Julia is sent to a rural town to live with a struggling family, the Coopers. They have a son, Billy. The film was shot entirely on location in Michigan so there is lots of snow everywhere. The film takes place around Christmastime. On Christmas Eve when the boys shoot a b.b. gun at the rabbit, the family seeks to rescue and heal it. The veterinarian recommends the bunny lady aka Betsy Ross who helps him heal at her place. Henderson is completely unrecognizable as Betsy Ross. She played her perfectly in this film. The entire cast does a remarkable job in their roles. The film doesn't try to be overly preachy, corny, or sentimental at times.

Very cute and personal story.

Little girl is adopted and won't really talk until she finds a bunny that was shot with a BB gun. The story takes a turn and nursing the bunny back to health helps the little girl get back into society.

According to IMDb this film was made for under $400K. The acting, directing, and writing is actually darn good for that little bit of money.

It's a good family movie they don't seem to make any more. Best part -- no Katy Perry or Lady Gaga squeezing out every cent they can from unsuspecting kids by putting their auto tuned voices into the sound track.

As an aside, I'm 90% certain I heard some one early in the film call the bunny an Easter bunny. If my memory holds, not sure why the movie is called the Christmas Bunny!

Not that it matters.

It's a neat small heart warming movie with a story that is actually believable.

This is a charming family film about a recently fostered young girl who has trouble communicating until she finds an injured rabbit.

The film explores the problem of loneliness through the eyes of both the young girl and an old lady who cares for injured animals. The film steers clear of the usual schmaltz served up in most Christmas movies and is realistic in it's portrayal of how children actually behave.

The script and performances of the cast are far above most made for TV movies. What struck me most was the cinematography which was superb. It seemed like a much higher budget film.

It's not a film that will change your life but it is more than worth a watch with the family in the run up to Christmas.

I won't go into story or plot details. I will say this movie reveals enduring truths in an artful, unadorned way. It is thoughtfully written, well-acted, and beautifully filmed. Florence Henderson, in particular, is a joy to watch. The arcs of each character contribute to and reflect the theme. The theme concerns the ways in which we close or open ourselves to the power of love (both giving and accepting), and how that impacts our becoming fully who we are meant to be. Yes, it's a Christmas movie in a thematically serious way. The story is a call not to hold ourselves removed, self-concerned, isolated and separate from others. It's a meditation on the love of Christ for us, and a beckoning to open our hearts to the reality of that love, that we may respond to it, act on it, and be elevated and redeemed.