L'arbre des anges

Lynn Brandt (Josie Bissett) escapes an abusive relationship taking her son Thomas Brandt and daughter. She applies for the Paper Angels Program with The Salvation Army. Thomas gets bullied at school when he tries out for the basketball team. Kevin Morrell (Matthew Settle) loses his biggest client and his wife is pregnant with twins. He become Thomas' basketball mentor. With pregnancy and money troubles hanging over them, his wife Jenny nevertheless convinces Kevin to pick two names from the Paper Angels.

I like this. It's a sincere Christian film with good messages. The bullying is a bit over the top but I do like Kevin's solution. I would have played into the premise and put out a tip jar. It would be a sarcastic middle finger to everyone. Thomas decides on something more Christian and more giving. I like it. It's 1000x better than my idea. It's very Christian but it doesn't hit the audience over the head with it. For the non-religious, I do have to warn you that they go to church. I don't think most people care. I do want better music. That matters a lot. All in all, these are good messages no matter your personal belief.

This is a more serious Christmas movie with good actors. The two intertwining stories are realistic and interesting. Matthew Settle of Gossip Girl plays a financially struggling business owner with twins on the way. Josie Bissett plays an abused wife who takes her kids to settle down in the same town where they face money troubles. She is quite good in less glamorous roles than usual. Her son faces some bullying. Liked the way he overcame his troubles. The stories intertwine cleverly. The message isn't too preachy it's about charity - the Paper Angels in the title.

A change from the more trite romantic Christmas movies out there. This one has a message and a watchable cast.

This UP movie was a great surprise. Loved it from beginning to end. This is not the typical Christmas romance movie. A well written story with some thoughtful advice between the lead character and the teenage boy he plays basketball with. Their lives intertwine around a Salvation Army giving tree in which children's names are hung as "Paper Angels".

The lead is played well by Matthew Settle. I recognize his voice from "Band of Brothers" I think. The mom of the teenage boy is played by Josie Bissett who I recognized in being in an Episode of When Calls the Heart as AJ Foster. The teenage boy (Thomas) is the new kid and one of the basketball stars dislikes him and they play this high school drama up very well. Yes there is a teenage girl (Cassie). It is very well done. I notice a familiar face in a minor role. Delores Drake who plays a Salvation army worker.

This is a beautiful Christmas story that also has a wonderful take on cyber-bullying. Of course it is another one of those movies that is way too good to be true and that goes double for Thomas. Oh, and bring Kleenex.

Added after second viewing: The story is a little slow developing which is partly because everything is so negative - the implied abuse, the poverty, and the bullying. It makes up for it with an UPtv ending, which although it is a little over the top, it is also spread out a little at the end.

The acting is mostly a little stiff. It's not terrible. The actors avoid overacting. But it seems to lack a little in passion.

Throughout the movie, there are people giving thanks in prayer. There are many references to the guiding of a higher power. There is even attendance at church services mostly Christmas related. But I don't think God is specifically mentioned, or possibly but not in most of the references.

But Jesus is present without ever mentioning his name, and there is absolutely no preaching about him. Instead, Thomas does exactly What Jesus Would Do, and repeatedly. He doesn't curse his enemies, but he blesses them. And he gives to others unselfishly. I said at the beginning in my original review that the movie is too good to be true. And it is, except that one time in history, there was someone who did what was too good to be true and that is the story of which Christmas is only the beginning. So many movies talk about the "Spirit of Christmas". This movie really is the Spirit of Christmas.

Heart warming movie. It is great to see good people doing well after suffering trying times.