A Little Women's Christmas

A fellow viewer remarked that this film resembled a high school production, and I wholeheartedly concur. The performances were lacking, and the writing left much to be desired. It is disheartening to see such a beloved story treated in this manner. One notable issue was the dialogue; characters frequently addressed each other by name in a way that felt unnatural. While this approach may have been intended to reinforce their identities as characters from Little Women, it ultimately detracted from the authenticity of their interactions. In reality, conversations are rarely so contrived-people do not typically enter a room with greetings like, "Hi John, my favorite brother." The script contributed to a sense of stiffness among the actors, resulting in performances that felt wooden and unconvincing. Additionally, the two standout performers, Jen Lily and Jesse Hutch, were relegated to minor roles when their talents could have significantly enhanced the film had they been given more substantial parts. As a devoted fan of the original novel and previous adaptations of Little Women, as well as wholesome films produced by GAC, I found this interpretation disappointing. Despite its good intentions, the execution fell short. I would recommend that future productions invest more time in developing a strong script rather than relying solely on the established names from such an esteemed literary work.

A much loved story and promising lineup but fell short of expectations. Not enough substance. Scenes were too short and changed too quickly so Jen and Jesse left me wanting more. In my opinion, Laura Osnes should have been Jo. Hers and Trevor's character rang the truest and I'd have loved to have seen her as Jo. I also enjoyed Tanya's character. I've seen some movies with Jillian and I'm sorry to say, the stories change but she's always the same... Some of the other cast members were so stiff I just couldn't believe the story. They were literally performing for the camera. It would be so great to see some of the more seasoned members of the network give this a try, perhaps with a little more of the original story left in it, maybe a series focusing on each separate sister within the family.

Faith based movies are great when the viewer isn't bombarded with stiff smiles and so much teeth and "niceness" that is so far removed from reality it's not believable. I know these types of movies are made to make the viewer feel good but we need believable characters and story lines that grip. It is possible. I'm also disappointed with the Christmas decorations throughout the movie...it was barely noticeable.

Really? They have Jen Lilley and Jesse Hutch but didn't put them in lead roles? Jillian Murray is too weak an actress for a lead. She was boring in the lead and her low cut dress at church was inappropriate for a GAC movie. The movie had good bones but was pretty boring and needed a meatier script with more humorous lines.

As far as the Little Women theme, it fell flat. The relationships between the characters was weak. Laurie and Jo have a history that was not at all apparent. I did love Gladys Night and the other singers at the church though. I feel I wasted 2 hours of my life. I love GAC and I'm praying for better scripts!

It might just be the fact that there were too many characters involved in this movie to do any of them justice. Somehow, this film seemed to both drag in places and gloss-over important story points, at the same time.

A bit more snappy banter between the leads wouldn't have hurt. They needed a better-developed story, even if that meant sacrificing one or more of the other sisters' stories.

The real standout performance here turned out to be from Trevor Donovan. I've seen him in other movies, but I believe this is the first time I've really noticed him as an actor. He did a great job here. Just wish the movie itself was better.

This movie had so many things that promised that it could be outstanding. Look at the stars. If this was Hallmark, this gathering of top names would indicate it to be a Hall of Fame entry.

I don't remember ever reading Little Women. Maybe but I doubt it. I'm sure the homages to that classic would have added immensely to a fan's enjoyment. I caught a bunch of name drops that even a non-fan would recognize. There are several good scenes with sisters being typical sisters. (I do love sister stories.)

I say too ambitious for two reasons. First so much in the story is derivative. I won't list them all, but the main romance is between a book editor hiding his identity sent to mentor and encourage a struggling writer while "the boss" repeatedly pressures him and eventually drops a bomb on them. At least one artistic character has lost her job. Another faces a career vs. Personal choice. And there is a husband and father saying he can't get home on leave. As I list these, is there any viewer who can't predict what will happen in each and every case?

The other reason is related to limits of a two-hour commercial broadcast which usually means just under 90 minutes of screen time. Squeeze that in with what would be an artful introduction, another artful parting scene, and then an epilogue, four main female characters, and literally 5 minutes of musical performances by blockbuster performers. (At least blockbuster for TV Christmas movies. I was disappointed that Laura Osnes got not just second place, but third being only a harmony part.) The relationship between Jo and Fritz got barely enough screentime to make a good story. That left three other sisters with stories begging for more time. I think that's part of why the endings were so predictable. Early in the movie, it felt like scenes and lines were being rushed.

Despite the rush, there were a few good Ahh moments and maybe a couple of tears.

This is a faith-based movie. The message there is not one that will offend many who are not enthusiastic about such. Who can argue with - Christmas brings joy and love?