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Christmas in the City

  • TV Movie
  • 2013
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Ashanti in Christmas in the City (2013)
ComedyDramaFamilyRomance

With the threat of having to close her father's candy store, Wendy and her 5-year-old daughter travel to the big city in the hope of making enough money to save it.With the threat of having to close her father's candy store, Wendy and her 5-year-old daughter travel to the big city in the hope of making enough money to save it.With the threat of having to close her father's candy store, Wendy and her 5-year-old daughter travel to the big city in the hope of making enough money to save it.

  • Director
    • Marita Grabiak
  • Writer
    • Barbara Kymlicka
  • Stars
    • Ashley Williams
    • Ashanti
    • Jon Prescott
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    1.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Marita Grabiak
    • Writer
      • Barbara Kymlicka
    • Stars
      • Ashley Williams
      • Ashanti
      • Jon Prescott
    • 33User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos23

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    Top Cast25

    Edit
    Ashley Williams
    Ashley Williams
    • Wendy Carroll
    Ashanti
    Ashanti
    • Teanna Musk
    Jon Prescott
    Jon Prescott
    • Tom Wolman
    Shanola Hampton
    Shanola Hampton
    • Angie
    Kylie Noelle Price
    Kylie Noelle Price
    • Grace Carroll
    • (as a different name)
    David Ralphe
    • Harry Wolman
    Beverly Leech
    Beverly Leech
    • Meg Carroll
    Josh Crotty
    Josh Crotty
    • Bruno
    Michael Durrell
    Michael Durrell
    • Santa
    Stewart Scott
    Stewart Scott
    • Ken Moore
    Duncan Joiner
    Duncan Joiner
    • William
    Fred Mancuso
    Fred Mancuso
    • Mr. Henderson
    Joel Rush
    Joel Rush
    • Hunky Santa #1
    Andy Ashton
    Andy Ashton
    • Hunky Santa #2
    Michael Potter
    Michael Potter
    • Bank Manager
    Troy Lupien
    • Child #2
    Marc Abbink
    • Theater Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Abimael Acosta
    Abimael Acosta
    • Realtor
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Marita Grabiak
    • Writer
      • Barbara Kymlicka
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews33

    5.71.7K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    8samaanderson

    Nice & Sweet

    This film is most likely going to be hated by men all all ages. This is because this film deals with "romance" and for once "Men are subjected to being sex objects". (That only is subliminal)

    What this story is about is saving "Your Own Since of History". In this film Wendy is a single mother. SHe has a young child. SHe works with her mom and the family candy store but it has fallen on hard times. Wendy decides to move to "The City" and get a job that will help her save her family business.

    She takes a job a department store which also happens to be failing on hard times. A new sales manage has been brought in and is turning a "Once Family Owned Department Store" from a great place to shop and work at to a nasty work environment where everything comes at a cost including "Love" When the sales manages sees Wendy and the stores owner Tom are slowly falling "In Love" with each other she sets out to destroy Wendy anyway she can.

    Other people have pointed out that the final reveal of the store and its big holiday Christmas display need was "Not Much" and needed to be bigger. However in "Spirit" it is huge. The display was put up not because these people were getting paid but because "The Love of Christmas"

    If you get the chance watch it. Females 14 on up will enjoy this the most. Small children will be bored. However this nice little movie is well though out and is a sweet as a "Christmas Cookie"
    10brianclarkdallas

    The Final Act needed work

    Television films are by the number. This is a "GREAT EXAMPLE" of a that. This doesn't mean this is a bad movie its just nothing special.

    In this movie a young woman (Wendy) leaves her small town with her daughter to earn money to save her fathers business. She gets a job a department store and she falls in love with the stores owner.

    Things get messy when another woman (Teanna) sees Wendy a threat. The actress Ashley Williams smiles in every scene. I fully understand why she took that approach. The reality is that "Wendy" is a nice woman. She is kind and supports her friends. Teanna however never smiles and she is only out for herself.

    The climax of the film however needed more work. There is a scene where they "Make-over" the store. I think the whole film would have worked better if they showed more decorations and customers reaction to them. What we get is "Okay" and gets the point across but the film needed a bigger "WOW" then what was presented. Don't get me wrong the scene still works but it should have been better!

    Family safe but don't expect too much. It is worth watching!
    10Hollywoodwhore99

    It is Charming

    This film is almost one of those that you will "love it" or "hate it". Now I will admit this television film is not perfect but it reminds me of a tone that the Disney Live Action Films had in the 1960's and 1970's".

    What the story is about a woman named Wendy. She is trying to save her family business. It is a candy store that was started by her late father. She runs the shop with her mother. She also has a small child.

    Seeing that she needs money fast she goes to stay with her friend Angie and gets a job at a family owned department store and she slowly falls for Tom one of the owners. This also makes her a target of a Teanna who is out for all sorts of blood.

    The film is not perfect however if you like "Christmas films" then you will love this.
    6WendiDenise

    Disappointed

    Ashley Williams is adorable, BUT that constant huge smile throughout the entire movie was distracting and it took away from the sincerity of the production. I feel that it really watered down the show. It's wonderful to seem happy in a Christmas movie as long as it doesn't come across as cheesy and I believe that it crossed that line.Unfortunately, this movie had a few cheesy scenes. Also, some of the other main characters (and background actors)were very weak and also unbelievable, especially Ashanti. The little girl who plays the daughter was more convincing than the rest of the cast. Overall, I was disappointed because I had such high hopes after seeing the previews and I feel that everyone could have done a better job telling this story. Sorry.

    The good news is that I've seen much worse...
    10TheMan896325

    I should hate this but I don't

    This film is so far fetched that it borders on camp however, Ashley Williams makes the film watchable and believable. This is not easy because this film has things that are crazy.

    Example Angie lives in an apartment that she could never afford. Tom is "Good looking" "Nice" and "single"? Then there is Teeana Setting up Wendy and when she is caught she doesn't even go to jail?

    Putting all of that aside I still love this film. It all comes down to"Faith" "Hope" "Family" and "Traditions".

    The main plot of the film is that Wendy Carroll (Ashley Williams) and her six-year-old daughter Grace (Kylie Price) live in a small town where Christmas is everywhere, she gets a foreclosure notice three weeks before Christmas for her father's candy store that she has ran for the last five years. To make some extra money and save the candy store Carroll and Grace travel to the big city. She stays with her friend Angie from back home whom just got a major part in a play. Angie works at Wolman's Department store where she takes Carrol to apply for a temp job. On waiting for Angie to check in she meets Tom who manages the store and offer's her a job in the toy department of Wolmans, the city's biggest department store, Wendy can't wait! She thinks the store is amazing, with all the Christmas holiday cheer, unfortunately her excitement doesn't last long when the store's manager, Teanna (Ashanti), destroys the Christmas spirit throughout the store and replaces Santa. (Michael Durrell) with a hunky male underwear model surrounded by elfin "babes."

    I don't want to give too much away but I love it when it seems the whole world breaks out and sings "Oh Come All Ye Faithful". I am not religious but that moment is magic to me. This film has a vibe that reminds me of the movies "Disney" made in the 1960's and 1970's

    Very family safe. Not for everyone. However if you want to watch a film about a woman trying to hang on to family traditions and succeeding then watch this. I wish this was available on DVD however you can stream it on Netflix.

    I am looking forward to seeing Ashley Williams on other projects.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, André Holland, Herman Caheej McGloun, Edson Jean, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tanisha Cidel in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jon Prescott (Tom) is an accomplished musician and singer. It was really him playing the piano and singing in the store after closing.
    • Goofs
      Teanna states several times that she was hired "to raise sales". The sales figures would not be effected by the elimination of the day care or the staff bonuses.
    • Quotes

      Teanna Musk: Have no fear, Teanna's here.

    • Connections
      Features Holiday High School Reunion (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      It's Christmas
      Performed and Written by Ashanti

      Produced by Marvin Floyd

      Courtesy of Written Entertainment, Pookietoots LLC, Universal Music Publishing (ASCAP), Nivram Productions (BMI)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 7, 2013 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Navidad en la ciudad
    • Filming locations
      • Promenade Mall - 6100 Topanga Canyon Road, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Johnson Production Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 27m(87 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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