Christmas in the Smokies - Ein Song für die Liebe

The always lovely Sarah Lancaster stars in this by-the-numbers inspirational Christmas TV movie. Inspirational, for those who don't know, is code for religious (usually Christian). I'm not particularly religious myself but I don't have an issue with religious or spiritual themes in movies. However, I know from many reviews I've read on IMDb that some recoil from these movies like vampires from crosses. So if religious subject matter bothers you, be prepared before watching this so you don't gripe about how they "tricked" you or something. Also, I should point out that the religious elements do not overtake the movie; they're just there in the background and occasionally at the forefront. Mostly just little scenes like Sarah's character will say "How are we going to pay the huge bills to save the farm" and her dad will smile and reply "Oh we'll find a way" then turn to look at a nativity scene he's got laying out in his living room. Cloying perhaps but harmless to all but the nastiest among us.

The plot's a mixture of familiar elements: Sarah's family is in danger of losing their farm to a greedy land developer just as her ex, a country music star who left her when they were teenagers, returns to town. About 95% of all movies made about farms seem to be about how the farm is about to be taken away from its owners. Must be hard running a farm when there are villainous land developers lurking around every corner waiting to turn your heritage into a parking lot. I like Sarah Lancaster but I've come to the conclusion after seeing her in so many shows and TV movies that she is only ideally suited to a narrow range of roles. Here, she's not really convincing as a Southern farm girl. For one thing, her accent comes and goes. She looks great in those jeans, though. But the main problem here is that her character is a pain in the rear for most of this movie. On the one hand, you feel bad for her because she has to shoulder the burden of saving the farm while her parents, who are approaching senility it seems, laugh it off like bags of money are just going to fall from the sky if you believe hard enough. But then we have the romantic plot, which is just a mess and does her no favors. So her high school boyfriend left her and she's bitter about that. She's also gorgeous and smart and, you know, over thirty....so maybe get over it already?

Vets Barry Corbin, Gregoy Alan Williams, Brett Rice, and Rebecca Koon offer solid support. Jill Wagner is sadly wasted here. She really should be playing the lead in things like this, not the sassy best friend who appears for only a few scenes. The major weak spot in the cast is Alan Powell. He has no chemistry with Sarah and just seems smugly nonchalant most of the time. They obviously didn't help him with good dialogue but his character's basic purpose is to end conversations by putting his head down, saying something like "Well OK" and shuffling off. This, coupled with the actor's inability to fully open his mouth to speak, makes it hard to like or relate to him in any meaningful way. I just didn't care about his character's flimsy problems (he embarrassed himself intentionally dancing badly on a charity TV dancing show -- what?) and I was never invested in the romance with Sarah's character. She should've moved on with her life and this guy should hire a better agent.

It's not a bad movie of its type but it is very familiar and corny. You'll see every slight twist in the plot coming a mile away. I knew as soon as I read the plot description how the family's financial problems would be resolved, and I'm sure you will figure it out quickly, too. Anyway, not bad but not great. Harmless fluff with a little bit (just a little) of seasonal spirituality to give it appeal to an audience that might want something different from a Christmas movie than Santa and Rudolph. Oh and those who like seeing Sarah Lancaster in tight jeans will also enjoy it.

Give them credit to have a Christmas movie somewhere other than New York City. Loved the home in the Smokies. Sarah Lancaster and Barry Corbin fit right in as Tennessee folks- very convincing and very well done. Barry Corbin was perfect as the boisterous dad- loved the tender mom as well. Alan Powell was great as the country music star. His dance was the most memorable part of the movie.

The film lacked any real drama or surprise and lagged in many spots. I watched it on DVD and dozed about half way. A very forceful Brett Rice was present in the film in a small part as a villain of sorts. It was on the verge of being a good film but only made it as an OK film with lots of good talent.

Yes, the story line of a farm about to close is one we have all heard before, but I love this one. I like the chemistry between the leads. Shelby is angry because she's been burned by him before, when he put his music career first, but you can't help but pull for them the whole time. Their squabbles keep you engaged and their smiles at each other are so great. I also love the side characters, which is often not the case. They are funny, they are not overacting, they are entertaining, etc...

My girls and I watch this one almost every year and I couldn't say that about most romantic Christmas movies.

What else do you need in a movie than to watch Sarah Lancaster. Has much better acting than most TV Christmas movies.

"Christmas in the Smokies" has a different enough twist on the usual romantic holiday season films. The plot idea was a good one, and it has the scenery to make a very good film. But there are too many shortcomings with this one. The most obvious is the weak screenplay. It really needed to flesh out the background much more and better, especially of Mason Wyatt's lifestyle and change when he achieved the spotlight as a country Western singing star.

Here's a story about a late teenage couple who had a sudden split, and now they come back together about 15 years later. The portrayal in the film of Mason is all a good guy, a little sorry for his past, and with a sense of humor, but having grown up. In contrast, Shelby Haygood still carries her hurt all these years later. And all the film shows of this is a very brief shot of a young girl looking forlorn as the movie opens. There was real drama and hurt in that relationship, which the script just passes over except for Shelby's dour portrayal.

And to the very end, there is really no sign of chemistry between these two characters. So, the acting doesn't really fit the circumstances of a real life situation.

The best thing about this film is the portrayal of Shelby's parents. Rebecca Koon play's Annie Haygood and Barry Corbin plays Wade Haygood. Corbin's character adds some nice humor to the story, and a bit of senior wisdom in places. He plays the role very at ease and comfortably. But, even with the good scenery on top of that, the loose, hole-filed script and poor screenplay relegate this to just another so-so holiday film. Without Corbin and the scenery, it would be quite boring and probably not hold the attention of many viewers.

Here are the best lines in this film, both by Corbin's "pop."

Wade Haygood, to Mason Wyatt on his return, "Those first years - burnin' all those photographs sure did keep the house warm."

Wade Haygood, to Shelby, "You know, it ain't baggage if you don't carry it around."