Christmas with Tucker

7.8 stars.

A young boy lives with his grandparents on a farm over the holidays. He falls in love with this place more and more and although his mother and two sisters want him to come home soon, he is feeling less and less excited about it. One major reason, is a dog named Tucker that he's fallen in love with. I could go on about the dog and how they meet and about the questionable owner of the dog etc, but it's the same story that's been told time and time again. This is simply a magical tale of a boy and a dog and a family changed by circumstances that all boils down to a boy and a dog and how they impact all of those around (did I mention a boy and a dog?).

There are some missing pieces in the film, I think they should develop a few characters a little better. The grandfather is a bit of a mystery even if we see a lot of him. The boy's mother and sisters share only a minute or two of screen time. I don't know if this was helpful.

Hallmark really should go back and look at its movies that it made 5-10 years ago because it's movies like this that I remember forever, not the ones they are mass producing now. This was such a sweet story. Sweet dog movies always make me cry and this one was no exception. I didn't realize until I finished that it was written by the same person who wrote A Dog Named Christmas. I enjoyed both, but I think I liked this one a little better. The young boy who played George was very likable and his connection to Tucker made the story great. James Brolin does a great job with his character as well. Actually, I really enjoyed all the characters. I don't like giving spoilers, so I won't say anything about the storyline. I will say that if you love dogs and a sweet story, this is one for you. It's going on my list of favorites, even if it makes me cry every time.

Dogs truly are man's best friend. They are unpretentious, honest and loyal - and this movie proves it so well.

George's Dad recently died in a freak accident on the family farm. Unable to cope, George's mother moved to Minnesota while George stays in Kansas on the farm with his Grandparents, Bo and Cora McCray. When their neighbour, Frank Thorne, goes to jail, the McCrays look after his dog.

George immediately bonds with the dog, and calls him Tucker. However, when Frank is released from jail, he takes his dog back. Seeing how Frank treats his dog, George makes a plan to get him back.

There's actually so much more to this movie than simply a boy's love for a dog. It also teaches us valuable lessons. This is a feel-good movie for the Festive Season, and as a dog lover, the adorable dog off course is a bonus!!

Looking forward to a new Xmas movie. Especially one involving saving an animal as people need to learn, understand. Treatment of animals needs to change, improve. Abuse needs severe consequences. Enjoyed all until the one moment when an intelligent, grounded guy tells his grandson to give the dog back to a guy known to be abusing him, who left him out in the cold to die. Seriously?! where's the understanding, support. The writer and producer should know this makes no sense what so ever. No one would act like this in any way knowing this young boy had no idea what he had been asked to do. he wanted to save the dog. Stupid writing. The Xmas movies are getting to campy, stupid. Let's get it together.

If I made an exception to my perfect score of seven policy for the hallmark channel I'd give this an 8, but common sense media's review ( see external reviews) has all I'll say about the movie and more. Good family fare, a refreshing departure from the getting to be cliche obsession with Christmas romances that have earned the Hallmark channel its nickname "The Harlequin channel." It was a family struggling to keep focused on what was important, what really counts. They make mistakes and learn from them while trying to cope with loss, but Harlequin channel take a hint: to score an 8 no one should have been moving in the direction of having a family.