Shoelaces for Christmas

It's an uplifting Christmas movie, with establishing shots in Salt Lake City. I highly recommend it!

"Shoelaces for Christmas" - Those undergoing chemo usually lose their hair, the very very lucky ones do not, but you either do or you don't. Those who have lost their hair will either wear a wig or a head scarf/ turban to cover their bald heads (although it is becoming more and more the trend just to go bald.) Those who were lucky and kept their hair have no need of either. The mom in the film is wearing a turban up with hair clearly underneath and with long strands coming out in front. I know absolutely zero about hair and make up, but I even know that the actress's hair should have been plastered close to her head with a bald cap or at the very least with massive amounts of gel to give the illusion of being bald underneath her turban, and in no way shape or form should have long strands of hair coming out of the front of it! :((( Argghh!!! Just arghhh!!! What a way to distract in a non-professional way from an otherwise very heartwarming movie.

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Dec. 6, 2021 Monday

11:10 a.m.

"Shoelaces for Christmas" is on.

Ask me how badly that this movie drives me crazy and all of the things wrong with it?!!! Sorry Scout. You do great! Sorry Yolanda. I also loved you. Good to see what's her name (and her daughter in real life) who we haven't seen since she was a teen.

* Someone going through chemo doesn't have strands of hair falling out of their scarf. If you are going through chemo and have a scarf on it is bec. YOU ARE BALD - THERE WOULD BE NO STRANDS OF HAIR!!!!

* Or look so healthy.

* Too quick of an arc. Maybe I am cynical that people don't change.

* Her volunteering should have happened during summer break. The dad is asking her to get her grades up, help with the housework, help with her brother, AND go do this big time consuming emotional volunteer project, not to mention be a teenager and be there for her mom?????!!!!!!

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.

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.

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!