Tails of Christmas

We were looking for a happy, sappy Christmas movie as an escape from our maniacal daily lives. Tails of Christmas had so much promise. A great storyline, a production under the Great American Family banner, wonderful cinematography/stage-direction, well-done background music, good-looking actors, DOGS! What could possibly go wrong?

The acting. That's what went wrong. We've seen better acting in middle-school plays. We didn't make it past the 30-minute mark, it was so cringe-worthy. A shame, really, because we've seen some really well-done GAF Christmas movies this 2024 season. GAF made the mistake of deploying nearly an entire pretty-faced rookie cast on Tails of Christmas that otherwise would've been great with some seasoned actors.

Also, if you want to do a movie with "shelter" dogs, you've got to show the dogs in the shelter barking/going crazy, not sitting there like perfect angels. There are ways to direct around that type of realistic chaos.

I agree with a lot that Lily said. The actors seem like actors reading from a script, not like regular people interacting in real life. The overall tone is even more farfetched than most Christmas TV movies and while this movie wasn't promoted as a GAF Pure Flix movie it had all the hallmarks of one, meaning an over reliance on religion. Caleb, while troubled seems to have a fairly prosperous lifestyle for someone with just a nine year enlistment and no discernable job prospects. You would be better off sticking to the standard Hallmark fare even if the plots are usually predictable and hackneyed.

I loved the dogs; they were actually my favorite part. I've always been a doggie Mom, and have had many over the years - have 3 right now.

I enjoyed the movie and the storyline. It certainly proved that dogs are good for you, good for the soul, good for healing.

But, the writing and/or the acting could have been much better. The acting seemed so tense, so scripted - like they were just reading lines - not natural at all.

Also, if you've ever visited your local animal shelter - I feel quite certain it looked nothing like the one in this movie. I know for a fact that the 2 in our city don't look like this one did. This one looked like a cute little puppy boutique. Cute, but not realistic.

I actually watched this a month ago, but I held off reviewing. Then I saw all the tens and thought I had the wrong movie.

No mistake.

Well, we're all entitled to our opinion. Mine is this movie is barely a five.

It stars Ash Tsai as a young woman who operates an animal shelter, and Eric Guilmette as an embittered veteran who begins volunteering there.

There's not a great deal of story here, but it is, unfortunately, one of those GAC movies in which the actors are stiff, wooden and amateurish...at times painfully so.

You really have to be able to get past that to watch some of these. Clearly several people did.

I can understand that. Ash Tsai was in another movie last year I gave a similar review and doubted I would watch it again. But I was wrong. I did watch it.

I don't see an Academy Award in her future, but she does have an appeal that's hard to describe, and an ever-present sweet smile that makes it ok that she's not yet a great actress.

Guilmmette was much the same. I have seen worse actors refine their craft and become very good, so I will hold out hope for both of them.

All in all not the best year for the Christmas movies, but GAC is getting there. In fact, I think I liked them better than Hallmark this year. First time for everything.

Whilst doing physiotherapy Caleb meets Amber, who owns an animal shelter. A Year later, Caleb is all better, and happens to drive past Amber's shelter. Being unemployed, he offers to volunteer for her Christmas adoption drive.

With his love for dogs, Caleb manages to make her drive a huge success, and in the process he falls in love with Amber, and an adorable dog named Rex. This dog is so precious that he might just inspire you to adopt a dog yourself!

From a romance perspective, it is just as predictable as a Hallmark movie. I mean, from the moment Caleb and Amber met it is inevitable they would fall in love. But hey, this is a movie with a simple premise, and a real feel-good movie! 'Tails of Christmas' is perfect for a family movie night - especially around Christmas!

The acting wasn't the greatest. Ash Tsai, who portrays Amber, sounded like she was simply saying her lines. She might not be the best actress, but at least her voice is nice and clear and I could hear every word. Eric Guilmette was much better in the role of Caleb, but then again, he is a far more experienced actor. And he's darn cute, too!