Christmas in the Smokies

The always lovely Sarah Lancaster stars in this by-the-numbers inspirational Christmas TV movie. Inspirational, for those who don't know, is code for religious (usually Christian). I'm not particularly religious myself but I don't have an issue with religious or spiritual themes in movies. However, I know from many reviews I've read on IMDb that some recoil from these movies like vampires from crosses. So if religious subject matter bothers you, be prepared before watching this so you don't gripe about how they "tricked" you or something. Also, I should point out that the religious elements do not overtake the movie; they're just there in the background and occasionally at the forefront. Mostly just little scenes like Sarah's character will say "How are we going to pay the huge bills to save the farm" and her dad will smile and reply "Oh we'll find a way" then turn to look at a nativity scene he's got laying out in his living room. Cloying perhaps but harmless to all but the nastiest among us.

The plot's a mixture of familiar elements: Sarah's family is in danger of losing their farm to a greedy land developer just as her ex, a country music star who left her when they were teenagers, returns to town. About 95% of all movies made about farms seem to be about how the farm is about to be taken away from its owners. Must be hard running a farm when there are villainous land developers lurking around every corner waiting to turn your heritage into a parking lot. I like Sarah Lancaster but I've come to the conclusion after seeing her in so many shows and TV movies that she is only ideally suited to a narrow range of roles. Here, she's not really convincing as a Southern farm girl. For one thing, her accent comes and goes. She looks great in those jeans, though. But the main problem here is that her character is a pain in the rear for most of this movie. On the one hand, you feel bad for her because she has to shoulder the burden of saving the farm while her parents, who are approaching senility it seems, laugh it off like bags of money are just going to fall from the sky if you believe hard enough. But then we have the romantic plot, which is just a mess and does her no favors. So her high school boyfriend left her and she's bitter about that. She's also gorgeous and smart and, you know, over thirty....so maybe get over it already?

Vets Barry Corbin, Gregoy Alan Williams, Brett Rice, and Rebecca Koon offer solid support. Jill Wagner is sadly wasted here. She really should be playing the lead in things like this, not the sassy best friend who appears for only a few scenes. The major weak spot in the cast is Alan Powell. He has no chemistry with Sarah and just seems smugly nonchalant most of the time. They obviously didn't help him with good dialogue but his character's basic purpose is to end conversations by putting his head down, saying something like "Well OK" and shuffling off. This, coupled with the actor's inability to fully open his mouth to speak, makes it hard to like or relate to him in any meaningful way. I just didn't care about his character's flimsy problems (he embarrassed himself intentionally dancing badly on a charity TV dancing show -- what?) and I was never invested in the romance with Sarah's character. She should've moved on with her life and this guy should hire a better agent.

It's not a bad movie of its type but it is very familiar and corny. You'll see every slight twist in the plot coming a mile away. I knew as soon as I read the plot description how the family's financial problems would be resolved, and I'm sure you will figure it out quickly, too. Anyway, not bad but not great. Harmless fluff with a little bit (just a little) of seasonal spirituality to give it appeal to an audience that might want something different from a Christmas movie than Santa and Rudolph. Oh and those who like seeing Sarah Lancaster in tight jeans will also enjoy it.

They writers don't know how to write a leading female character. Also she's a business owner and doesn't know anything about her finances or even how much she owes on her 2 mortgages?? What? She's poorly written and really unlikable

Her farm is in danger because she doesn't make money and is in a ton of debt and the old man who is the villain of the story wants to buy it to develop it in a way that benefits the town. They have a town meeting and she's the only one who doesn't want that and talks about how much she cares about the land and the town people but we never see that ever, and the villain doesn't want to develop the natural beauty of the mountains.

She can't save her farm from foreclosure and has to grovel to her famous musician ex-boyfriend ( who she's only been shown hating) to help her raise the money. The main guy is fine I guess, he has no real personality to speak of and I don't get why he likes someone who charges him $5,000 to sleep in her barn. She only softens after he saves her farm for her and they dance together on Christmas and that's how it ends. Her parents are the only real characters and they don't make up for the boring leads.

Great to watch and make fun of.

Give them credit to have a Christmas movie somewhere other than New York City. Loved the home in the Smokies. Sarah Lancaster and Barry Corbin fit right in as Tennessee folks- very convincing and very well done. Barry Corbin was perfect as the boisterous dad- loved the tender mom as well. Alan Powell was great as the country music star. His dance was the most memorable part of the movie.

The film lacked any real drama or surprise and lagged in many spots. I watched it on DVD and dozed about half way. A very forceful Brett Rice was present in the film in a small part as a villain of sorts. It was on the verge of being a good film but only made it as an OK film with lots of good talent.

Yes, the story line of a farm about to close is one we have all heard before, but I love this one. I like the chemistry between the leads. Shelby is angry because she's been burned by him before, when he put his music career first, but you can't help but pull for them the whole time. Their squabbles keep you engaged and their smiles at each other are so great. I also love the side characters, which is often not the case. They are funny, they are not overacting, they are entertaining, etc...

My girls and I watch this one almost every year and I couldn't say that about most romantic Christmas movies.

Am not giving 'Christmas in the Smokies' a low rating or negative review out of maliciousness or prejudice. Although the story sounded very tried and tested (by a few years after this it was a concept that became done to death) with not much to it, Sarah Lancaster is often watchable and Christmas has always been very special to me and my family. So actually there was some potential in it. Hardly a film doomed from the get go, very few films in existence are like that.

'Christmas in the Smokies' just completely failed to deliver in nearly every area. There are redeeming merits, sadly over-shadowed by the many big flaws. Is it a complete waste of time? No, and it takes a lot for me to call anything that and has done so for quite some time. Some films do have less than promising concepts but actually do manage to execute it in a far more engaging way than one would think. 'Christmas in the Smokies' does not do that.

Lancaster is an appealing lead and is expressive and easy to like as the one halfway interesting character in the whole film. Barry Corbin is decent too.

The film looks quite nice, lovely scenery and well shot.

Everything else however is done rather badly. While the supporting cast are not terrible, nobody stands out as memorable or identifiable. What is the point too of having Jill Wagner in the film and give her practically nothing to work with. The characters are shallow cliches and nothing more, with no real development to them. The central relationship is both underdeveloped and rushed with no conflict or growth, it also lacks spark and at times looks awkward. The music can be intrusive and too schmaltzy sounding and the direction is at best workmanlike.

Regarding the story, there is practically nothing to it. It is very dull due to having a wafer thin story that is over-stretched and does absolutely nothing new with over-familiar material. Add to that a leaden pace and no charm, heart or any discernible tension (everything seemed too neat), and one has a very dull and bland story and film that resolves too easily and obviously.

Overall, not a waste but not recommended. 3/10