Christmas Princess

As a former foster child, Donaly has undergone numerous traumatic events. These are Experiences she still struggles with even as a popular student in a stable, adopted home with her birth siblings.

The film does an excellent job portraying her increasing fears even as she progresses through the Rose Princess levels.

My parent was a former foster kid adopted by a loving family, but despite their success in adulthood, numerous degrees and a stable middle class home, I remember my parent's ongoing fear of the other shoe dropping.

The acting was realistic and showed how a teen navigates that experience while trying to reach out, yet fearing to do so. Despite her harrowing backstory, the editors/directors/writers avoided trauma milking save through small flashes.

What also remained notable is as this teen navigated these difficult experiences, her adopted parents and even close friends, knowing her difficulty, couldn't stop putting their own pressure on her, which is also pretty realistic.

This was definitely warmhearted. There are a couple mentions of Christianity, for those anti-religion, but not overwhelmingly so. Overall, it's nice to have another holiday movie entry that allows for a bittersweet backstory with holiday warmth.

First, this is not another girl meets royal prince story. It is also not a festive Christmas movie full of baking Christmas cookies and building snowmen and going on sleigh rides.

It starts out as a Cinderella story, but even then there are hints that all is not sugar and spice. It is based on a true story, but I have no idea how accurate it is. The story in this movie is about life with ups and downs and not just disappointing-Christmas-gifts downs. The story in this movie is about a scared little girl in an 18 year old body who needs to unlearn some of the lessons life has taught her.

There are many things that could be criticized in this movie. I don't think the acting is one of those things. Yes it's sappy and some of the things that happen seem unlikely, but there is a compelling story here and it needs to be taken in fully and it can touch the viewer's heart. And hopefully it leads to some thought. .There are a lot of good things here if you are open to them. And a bit of Cinderella too.

There is some talk about God, but not oppressively so. There is a bit of preaching, more about what Donaly has learned along the way than anything else.

A now teenage girl that is now adopted along with her sister and brother has aspirations of becoming a Rose Parade Princess. Donaly and her siblings would their way through the foster system and finally got adopted. But Donaly's mother still haunts her. Can Donaly overcome the mental and physical barriers, not to mention her father's permission to enter the contest to become a Rose Parade Princess? Good messages and a nice story.

A great Christmas movie. Inspirational. No over the top drama. Good acting. Get out the Kleenex!

This was a really good true story about a girl chosen to be on the Christmas float. Well worth watching. James Welch Henderson Arkansas 12/11/2020