Star Spangled Banners

First of all, why is Christian Campbell top billing? Nothing special about him. If anyone deserves top billing it's Mercedes Ruehl, she was incredible, kudos to Mercedes.

I am not going to rehash the blurb on the DVD case, nuf said there.

Decent plot, decent script, typical Hallmark movie. Great acting ensemble.

My advice - watch the movie, it's a good family film, just don't expect Shakespeare.

In typical Hallmark movie fashion, there's conflict followed by redemption. Here, Mayor Mom (Mercedes Ruehl) pulls a fast one in an attempt to prevail upon her children, a former music trio known as the Banner Project, but now estranged for a decade, to save their hometown, along with the family's relationships.

Christian Campbell is given top billing, but Brooke White, insofar as one can discover, is the only professional musician in the group, having been a fifth place finalist on American Idol, now with several albums under her belt.

I enjoyed the music enough that I bumped my rating of the move up one notch, and even bought the 4-track soundtrack EP (released under the U.S. title for the movie, "Banner 4th of July".)

A terrific family movie with heart and humor, not to mention an outrageously fine soundtrack. Surprising plot lines, accomplished actors and a great script combine to make this a must-see for every Independence Day! Mercedes' unexpected turn as the mother is delightful. Everyone who knows small towns will know these characters. I really enjoyed the subtle nuances given by the cast in playing out the complicated familial relationships and the way the actors brought fresh humor and wit that made every scene engaging. You find yourself in these characters and their struggle to maintain independence and keep the home fires burning at the same time. As I said, this is a movie to 'look forward' towards when the 4th of July rolls around. Kudos to a great cast and the writers. This is a great 'go to' movie that the entire family can enjoy.

This movie about a family music act that disintegrated ten years earlier but reunites when their mother, the mayor of their home town, has a heart attack just as the town goes bankrupt, is a well written, well performed musical drama that never quite interests me in its details. Part of it is that the lead roles are rather bland. Part is that their music does not particularly appeal to me, and the outcome of the movie is never in doubt. This is clearly a case where you may enjoy it far better than I.

As with many of these Hallmark movies, what makes it worthwhile for me is the older, supporting actors. Mercedes Ruehl, as the mother, is clearly the manipulative scene stealer; trying to figure out what she will do next is interesting to me. The result was a movie that I kept watching to the end.

This movie is centered around a few things: one is family, two is the Fourth of July, and the third is music. Hallmark is known for its romance movies but I do have to say I was a little disappointed in the romance of this movie. I mean one brother like the guitar store lady and the girl likes the lawyer. They all basically go on a date to the concert and after they sing none of them even kiss. The closes thing we saw to make us think that maybe they were going to get together was a hug and the lawyer told the main girl that he liked her. I mean if it's ganna be a hallmark movie I expect a kiss in there somewhere.

This movie was a good change of pace for hallmark it taught family values. This is a movie that is good for all ages. And the music is really good. The main girl is from American idol and she has also acted in a few things she plays the role well. This character could have easily been over played or under played and she did a good job at playing the crazy parts well.