It's funny that 5 of 9 reviews find this Christmas movie wonderful(8/10)while 4 others think it's terrible or even worse. And what do I think?I think reading all of the reviews,good or bad,is as much or more fun than watching the movie, a good case for how reading the reviews enhances the movie experience.I had Town Christmas Forgot at 6 before, then I pulled it down to 5(safe place in the middle) after reading 9 reviews.
There's some truth in all of the reviews, but if you read the bad ones you'll realize that those six glowing ones may reflect the reviewers opinion, but are undeserved as far as the quality of this product. Films at this time may have an "it's Christmas, make me feel good" sympathy bonus built into them, and this one is capitalizing on the formula.
It's a bad economic climate,no coincidence that it's a very financially troubled town where our well to do couple and their two children are stranded in a snowstorm, in the middle of Nowhere(literally , it's the name of the town, and you better believe it).They have to stay at Nowhere for a few days, while they wait for their car to be fixed.
Lo and behold, in record time Annie(Lauren Holly),who is a former dancer-actress, and Charles(Rich Roberts), a bank executive,bond with the town folk,organize the town's Christmas pageant, teach the Nowhere women and children to dance,save a local man's life;while their daughter Trish(Torri Webster) finds a Nowhere boyfriend and trains a local teen rock band; their young kid Nolan(Azer Greco), yes, Virginia,transforms the local toy store owner from a grump into a Santa.There's more, but hey, it would be a spoiler...and you would be really dumb if you can't figure it out.
The actors do their best to make this story as credible as they can, and Holly shines as usually in her lady Santa role. Only a great actress and trooper could get away with doing that silly dance Holly does at the end during the Christmas pageant, and still look cute and lovable.
This Christmas film is predictable; it's maudlin, it's schmaltzy, but not as extreme as to be camp.It's watchable, entertaining,but a stretch in credibility for the viewer and less than intelligent fare. I certainly think that Canada(if this is indeed Canadian) and Hallmark can do better. I long for the days long past when one could expect real first rate dramas with award winning actors from Hallmark.This is not...that.
There's some truth in all of the reviews, but if you read the bad ones you'll realize that those six glowing ones may reflect the reviewers opinion, but are undeserved as far as the quality of this product. Films at this time may have an "it's Christmas, make me feel good" sympathy bonus built into them, and this one is capitalizing on the formula.
It's a bad economic climate,no coincidence that it's a very financially troubled town where our well to do couple and their two children are stranded in a snowstorm, in the middle of Nowhere(literally , it's the name of the town, and you better believe it).They have to stay at Nowhere for a few days, while they wait for their car to be fixed.
Lo and behold, in record time Annie(Lauren Holly),who is a former dancer-actress, and Charles(Rich Roberts), a bank executive,bond with the town folk,organize the town's Christmas pageant, teach the Nowhere women and children to dance,save a local man's life;while their daughter Trish(Torri Webster) finds a Nowhere boyfriend and trains a local teen rock band; their young kid Nolan(Azer Greco), yes, Virginia,transforms the local toy store owner from a grump into a Santa.There's more, but hey, it would be a spoiler...and you would be really dumb if you can't figure it out.
The actors do their best to make this story as credible as they can, and Holly shines as usually in her lady Santa role. Only a great actress and trooper could get away with doing that silly dance Holly does at the end during the Christmas pageant, and still look cute and lovable.
This Christmas film is predictable; it's maudlin, it's schmaltzy, but not as extreme as to be camp.It's watchable, entertaining,but a stretch in credibility for the viewer and less than intelligent fare. I certainly think that Canada(if this is indeed Canadian) and Hallmark can do better. I long for the days long past when one could expect real first rate dramas with award winning actors from Hallmark.This is not...that.