Und plötzlich war Weihnachten

This is one of my all-time favorite movies. This film proves that you don't have to use profanity every other word, endless scenes of meaningless violence, and that hope does still exist. Yes, it does look like a Dukes Of Hazzard reunion, but they make this film work. Hoyt Axton is excellent as Al Besinger.

The scenery is beautiful to view. The plot is wonderfully set, with a heart-warming ending. It is a perfect film to watch at Christmas time. I would not be worried about letting my young children watch this film because of the message it sends out.

I wish that movies made today would take some lessons.

This movie centers around a very dysfunctional family. One one hand, we have two brothers, Ray and Pete who had a disagreement over a girl (Jessie) years ago, and can hardly stand each other now. They lost their father when very young, and were raised by Al, the owner of the trucking firm they work for now. Pete has a teen age son (Mike) who he is struggling with, trying to raise alone, and getting nothing but resentment and trouble from the boy. Mike resents the fact that his mother is no longer with them, and that his dad has spent most of their Christmas's on the road, hauling freight. Ray brother has his own struggles, having had his wife Jessie walk out on him after finding out he did not want any children. He didn't know she was expecting at the time. Now let's bring Willow Creek into the story, way up in Alaska, Al's hometown. It seems the town is on it's last legs, having lost all hope of bringing in any industry to replace the now closed cannery. Al has a special plan, but a near heart attack keeps him from being able to go. Someone has to deliver the load, and for reasons Al won't divulge, Ray has to be there too. So we head for Alaska, two brothers who can't stand each other, with Mike hand-cuffed in the back seat of the truck. They meet up with a very pregnant Jessie on the way, and as the baby arrives, find out that there are things more important than the things they have been fighting about. They put their differences aside, and a family is restored. Al's surprise brings about not only the salvation of the town, but a new start for Ray and his new family. Pete and Mike also manage to have the heart to heart communication that they needed to have had years before, and become a father and son again. I have to watch this one every year. If you can get past seeing Pete and Ray as the "Duke Boys) you'll love it.

I remember well when this came out. The moral of this movie depicts that there are more important things in life instead of ourselves. The filming locations are more than Canada. Definitely quite a few California locations. The oceanside scene looks to be in Ventura County, California.

This is the story about a small one industry Alaskan town named Willow Creek. Unfortunately, the cannery has been closed and this impacts everyone. It is looking like a bleak Christmas for the Willow Creek residents when many miles away in California Al, a former resident, is filling up a truck to play Santa to the Willow Creek residents. When Al's health takes a turn for the worse he convinces two of his employees to make the run in his stead. Pete and Ray are truck driving brothers who had a bit of a dispute over a girl which has put them on the outs. Pete's son ends up making the run to Alaska with them and through a series of flashbacks you learn what is at the heart of the brothers' dispute. Along the way they pick up an additional passenger, get into a few fights...both with each other and others, and in a true Christmas miracle a baby is birthed by a shepherd. The real question is will the brothers get the truckload of supplies to Willow Creek in time to save Christmas?

The brothers are played by none other than Dukes of Hazard alumnus John Schneider and Tom Wopat, who played wonderfully off each other as fighting siblings. The music was unique and one song of note that got me chuckling was "Barstools and babies don't mix, now I'm home by six."

I was happy to see Homer get his true Christmas miracle before he froze in his Santa suit!

This is an unusual Christmas movie to say the least, but it is filled with brotherly love, neighbor helping neighbor, and the spirit of Christmas. So, if you are looking for a non-mainstream Christmas film or are a huge Dukes of Hazard fan, this might be the Christmas movie for you.

For me this was a watch and delete, but I did enjoy it for it's uniqueness while it was on.

From LA to tiny Willow Creek Alaska with a semi-load of holiday cheer! I just found this movie in my favorite Seattle video store, and loved it. On the first viewing the acting seemed a little rough, but maybe that's OK - after all it is a truckers film. And a 1987 made for TV one at that. The cinematography is especially good with nice scenes of Alaska and cool long shots of the road. The story is appropriately warmhearted, with maybe just a bit too much brawling, but that's the Hollywood and LA television world for you.

Some really nice incidental moments in this film..... the lonely harmonica solo on a quiet wintry street, the Reno cop quoting Sir Walter Scott, his swish partner wiggling out of the scene in sexy police "tights", and Homer, the town sage, sitting atop the Willow Creek water tower like a four year old in his Santa suit, 'til the spirit of Christmas returns. And it does! The music is fun too. Lots of Opera and opera bashing! Some nice bluegrass, and the Willow Creek holiday band clunking their way through "Good King something or other"..... throughout the show.

Also quite nice, is the way the writer and director portrayed the Christmas miracle/fantasy, just letting it be a part of the ongoing story without making a big deal out of it. The actors handled this very well.

I have to say, if the scene with Jessie and her newborn baby coming out of a snowbound semi with three rowdy, desperate characters doesn't remind you of a modern day Alaskan Highway Nativity.... you need to get your butt back into church this Christmas.

Well, a belated 2013 thank you to all who contributed to the making of Christmas Comes To Willow Creek, a 1987 gem.