All American Christmas Carol

"All American Christmas Carol" tries to play both sides of the line between trailer trash schlock and family redemption ala Dickens. Unfortunately, it fails to entertain in either realm. The pace of the movie is uneven and slow, bouncing around story points that go on too long and initially leave you wondering what all this is leading to. Most of the cast is competent enough, but the characters and situations, as written, are uninteresting and unconvincing. Ironically, when the first ghost finally appears in the presence of the character supposedly needing to be un-Scrooged, the moment is rushed with no buildup or reaction whatsoever to the game-changing event. Why this scene is played with such dryness by both characters is both puzzling and disappointing, especially after so many uncompelling scenes leading up to it. And so it goes with the rest of the spirits who have their subsequent (and unremarkable) interactions. At what point this movie was supposed to be entertaining was lost on me. The resolution that finally brings this movie to an end is equally unbelievable, uninteresting, and prolonged.

I gave this movie 3 stars for good acting by some of the cast, and overall technical production that was decent. None of those stars are for special effects, as the ghosts appear mostly via camera cuts and are only afforded makeup for their afterlife appearance.

If you like stereotypical trailer trash gags, this movie has a few. Otherwise, there's not much else in it worth the hour and a half.

Pass. Just say no. Did they really make this on purpose? Did they not realize how stupid it is while they were making it? The kids are the only redeeming characters in the whole movie...and uncle Bob.

If you're searching Netflix for something to watch on a drunken night.....look no further. This movie provides laughs and feel good vibes. Want to feel good as a single mom? Definitely watch this movie. The main character in this film made me feel like super mom. I sat through the whole thing and never once felt like I wasted my time. I only had two glasses of wine. My son cringed a bit but afterwards he was ok and told me I was a good mom.

While I don't believe in the phrase "guilty pleasure", if I did, I would use it to describe my love for the movie All American Christmas Carol. This movie is so trashy and so tacky, everyone in my family teases me for liking it so much, and it's earned the nickname "Trailer Trash Christmas" in my house. Nevertheless, it's one I look forward to watching every year, albeit all by myself.

Charles Dickens's classic tale gets a new environment in this movie, and the Scrooge who needs a Christmas makeover is the white-trash Taryn Manning who lives in a trailer park. She teaches her children that "work is for suckers" and uses her idiotic boyfriend for his money while playing around with Alex Solowitz. When she misses out on her son's school Christmas play because of a late-night rendezvous, she gets visited by three spirits to help change her priorities.

This version is really different, and I understand why some people can't stand it. Jake Marley getting killed by a paintball, the Ghost of Christmas Past turning into a drunken, beer-bonging stripper, and a spray-painted Christmas tree might be jarring and ridiculous to some viewers. I see past those changes and find the humor in them. There's still a do-gooder Bob, a Tiny Tim, and Scrooge's miserliness. The basic point of the story is still there. Her childhood memories have tainted her views on Christmas, romance, and money, and when you watch them, you understand. The present still reminds her of what she's lost, and the future still scares her into wanting to change. She's just dressed in cut-off shorts and has ratted-out hair while she does it. And she says things like, "I can't believe that dirty ho is trying to steal my man!"

I won't tell you to give this one a shot if you don't think you'll like it. But maybe the next time someone tells you they like it, you'll understand. Or, if you secretly watch it when no one's looking, you can take comfort knowing you're not the only person who loves it.

DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. Each time a ghost is introduced, the camera tilts unexpectedly and it will make you sick. When Taryn wanders down the school corridor alone, cruises the shop aisles alone, and sits in her car alone, look away until the ghosts appear. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

A white-trash mom is visited by three ghosts intent on showing her a path to a brighter future.

This film was watched as part of Eric Roberts Appreciation Day (April 18), and Roberts plays the Ghost of Christmas Present. As far as all the many different versions of this story are concerned, this is not the best one. Not even close. In fact, it is a wonder why they keep making such films at all with the story being done to death.

Despite this, the cast is pretty decent. These may not be A-listers, but Roberts is a known face ,and even Taryn Manning probably has her following. Maybe this is worth watching once around Christmas time, but I doubt anyone is going to make it a Christmas tradition like they would with "Scrooged" or "Muppet Christmas Carol".