Shoelaces for Christmas

At first I was not sure I was going to like this movie and was surprised it was a BYUTV offering. I don't like movies with mean girls. I try to avoid them whenever possible. But, after that the heartbreaking scene where Jennifer has to come to grips with her mother's illness, the story slowly and tenderly turned around.

Jennifer begins to change. And an adorable young girl is one of the reasons. And the unexpected, quiet climax is why we learn shoelaces are in the title of the movie. Beautiful.

It was also great to see Utah play Utah. The scenery in the mountains were absolutely gorgeous.

It was also great to learn what really happens with the trip to Paris.

Well done, everyone who made the sweet Christmas movie!

It's a good movie for any age. We all need a wake-up call sometimes. Gotta get all kids community-centric while they're young and the world will be a better place. Can't blame them if we don't give them the right opportunities & encouragement soon enough. Lots of people have complained about the supposedly 'unrealistic' chemo hair-loss, but the mom hasn't been on it long, so I wouldn't expect her to be bald yet. I like that she started to get more confident and show some hair. Hairloss is tough but you gotta deal with it in your own way/time, like many things. I'm new to ByuTV - totally looking forward to more.

Hopes actually were not low for 'Shoelaces for Christmas'. The title is not the most inspired or interesting of ones, it also doesn't really match the plot synopsis and turned out to be misleading. Have made no secret about being a big fan of Christmas and have liked and loved many Christmas films and specials. Really liked the idea of the story too, with a deep and serious theme that sounded like with the right execution 'Shoelaces for Christmas' would be a moving film.

It did thankfully turn out to be that. 'Shoelaces for Christmas' didn't strike me as a great film and is less than perfect. There are though a lot of great things about it, its good intentions are worthy of admiration and a less than easy topic is handled sensitively. It is deeper and more serious than most Christmas films seen in the few years and is a welcome departure from the more of the same basic formula that Hallmark and Lifetime films (of which 'Shoelaces for Christmas' is neither) adopt.

'Shoelaces for Christmas' succeeds in many areas. It looks good, simply but never cheaply shot and the scenery is lovely on the eyes. The music avoids being too constant or over-scored and captures the essence of Christmas quite well. The direction lets the drama breathe while not letting it get sluggish. The beginning is absolutely beautiful.

The acting is very good, with movingly dignified turns from Yolanda Stanger and Ivey Lloyd Mitchell in roles that could have been too sentimental but actually the two most relatable ones. While not caring for Jennifer for too much of the film's duiration, Mia Topalian's performance is game and quite spirited. The script is well meaning and thoughtful, mostly not being mawkish and it flows well. The story is not over-deliberate and is genuinely moving, the family dynamic is sensitively done and worth investing in and most of the characters are ones worth caring about.

By all means 'Shoelaces for Christmas' isn't perfect. Did feel that the ending was slightly too pat and could have slowed down in pace and there are moments where the sentiment is slightly overdone. Others have mentioned the unrealistic chemotherapy look.

My biggest issues concerned the character writing and development for Jennifer. Did not find her a character worth rooting for, with the film committing two of my biggest bugbears with character writing, exaggerating character flaws and out of nowhere character changes. Her self-absorbed and selfish trait to her personality is overwritten and Jennifer agreed never grows or progresses enough for any changes of heart to be believable. The change was too out of nowhere and felt too tacked on and convenient.

Overall though, this was good. 7/10.

While the idea of a simple gift could have made a wonderful plot line, either the director or the screenwriter(s) dropped the ball on this one. The main character was plunged too quickly from horrible selfish girl to loving girl, there is no real transition - it was too forced. After noticing that it was written by two guys, that explains a lot as there was no real sense of the depth in the lead character.

Good message. Unfortunately those who are probably in the greatest need of seeing something like this wouldn't be watching it anyway unless it was a movie reward night at a boot camp for brats in Utah's boondocks.

And then.... Whoever did makeup and continuity of story line was devastatingly clueless about the ravages of chemo. The hair, the complexion--the father figure looked as though HE was the one dealing with cancer. Utterly dreadful inattention to detail insofar as makeup.

In terms of the daughter's selfish/narcissistic traits, it would be easy to cover up illnesses when texting seems to be the preferred manner of family communication, even if the person is in the next room or at the opposite end of the sofa.

The message? Serve others. Empty ourselves of self, give something from the heart to/with others, and the importance of sharing regardless of the season. The novel and its cinematic realization is weak in many areas, but the sentiment rises above the mediocrity and how it is presented.