Christmas on the Bayou

"Christmas on the Bayou" is a holiday romance film that is set in the American South, were it rarely snows. But, unfortunately this is another film with multiple formulaic features. It has a divorced, single mom with a seven-year-old boy. She's climbing the corporate ladder in the big city. They live in an apartment and the boy feels she doesn't pay much attention to him. In frustration and weary from work, she decides to go home for Christmas. So, she calls her widowed mother who is vary happy to have her come home to Martinville, Louisiana. While there for a week, she still spend time on her laptop doing work, in between other things. The last formula element is that her old childhood boyfriend is there - and is now a town police officer.

The only fresh aspect in this film is the holiday lighting in the community for Christmas, the pictures of the bayou, and some interesting treatment of Santa Claus as Popa Noel. The mom finagles to get the daughter and her old sweetheart back together. But the daughter is overly standoffish with her former beau.

Although one can guess how this will end, as with most of these TV films for the holidays, the interest for many of us who continue to watch and enjoy these annual holiday offerings is in what may be new or different about them. But for the scenery and different location, I would have rated this film just five stars. The performances aren't particularly good, and some even seem wooden at times. That goes for Ed Asner too, who plays Papa Noel.

Here are some lines from this film.

Zack, "And I hate school. I don't wanna go." Katherine, "Hey, it's third grade. You don't know how to be miserable until at least high school."

Zack, "Look, I do like soccer, but you never play with me. How am I gonna get better if I have no one to play with?"

Caleb, "Cute kid. Got your nose. And your scowl."

Lilly, "Oh, honey, you can't chase happiness. You gotta find it where you are."

Throughout my whole Lifetime (Hallmark too) Christmas film completest quest undertaken namely late last year, an interesting quest but very hit and miss, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with Lifetime's output. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level. One could see that with enough of Lifetime's work.

While it is not perfect, 'Christmas on the Bayou' is one of their in general better early 2010s films and a lot better than most of their Christmas output now, which has been very hit and miss for some time now. It is very charming and engages and moves enough, even if the story and pacing are far from flawless what made me see 'Christmas on the Bayou' (primarily the cast) does not disappoint. It is very easy to dismiss outright the film as sentimental, predictable and plot light, understandably, but given a chance without prejudice one may find themselves pleasantly surprised.

'Christmas on the Bayou's' story is very slight and does drag in the sections where the story is fairly uneventful. It is also very little different from similar themed films, and there are a good number out there. The final quarter is easy to figure out, which is not unusual for Lifetime.

Some of the dialogue early on is rather too corny and mawkish.

However, 'Christmas on the Bayou' has a lot that is done right. It looks attractive enough. The scenery is both rustic and festive and the photography doesn't look rushed or drab, quite beautiful actually. The music doesn't come over as too melodramatic while still having some presence. The direction is suitably sympathetic on the most part while taking a little time to find its feet. The dialogue is not perfect either but the cheese and sentiment don't go overboard and it generally doesn't come over as stilted.

Furthermore, the story, despite its imperfections, is warm hearted and has a lot of well meaning heart, without taking itself too seriously. The characters interest and are worth investing in, not being too perfect or having flaws too exaggerated. Hilarie Burton is an alluring and touching female lead and the child actor is neither sickly sweet or bratty. The best performance comes from Edward Asner, one of the best when it comes to portraying crusty curmudgeonly charm yet with a twinkle in the eye.

Overall, very nicely done. 7/10.

It is just so sweet. And the romance story is cute and realistic and they have funny banter. The kid in this had such an arc that towards the end I was crying over him when I started out annoyed!

At the first sigh, another Christmas film , like so many others. In fact, a beautiful film. For few reasons. The first - Edward Asner and his talks with the young Brody Rose , reminding few slices of childhood dialogues with grand father, and the dream to meet Santa. Second- the South atmosphere, realistic, delicate, precise crafted. Not the last -Randy Travis portrait of a contemporary saint. And, sure,Hilarie Burton defining, in inspired manner, a carrer woman, preocupead by her child, returning to her home and rediscovering the true love. Short, a seductive romantic film, giving more than expected romance.

If you've seen one of these you've seen them all. This is just as sweet and heartwarming as the others. I'll watch this with my wife but I would never watch it alone.