The Christmas Heart (TV 2012)

When a teenage boy desperately needs a heart transplant on Christmas Eve, his family and neighbors' forty-year tradition of lining their quaint street with Christmas luminaries is put on ... See full summary »

Director:

Gary Yates

Writer:

Michael Heaton

Stars:

Teri Polo, Paul Essiembre, Ty Wood

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Teri Polo	...	Ann Norman
Paul Essiembre	...	Mike
Ty Wood	...	Matt Norman
Cruise Brown	...	Tommy Norman
Tess Harper	...	Elizabeth
John B. Lowe	...	Don Foy
Susan Kelso	...	Yvonne
Samantha Kendrick	...	Karen
Blake Taylor	...	Bob
Cherissa Richards	...	Dr. Shirazi
Adam Hurtig	...	Jimmy Mars
Arden Alfonso	...	Nicky
Stephen Eric McIntyre	...	John
Mike Bell	...	Ray
Jess Mal Gibbons	...	Miller (as Jess Gibbons)

Storyline

When a teenage boy desperately needs a heart transplant on Christmas Eve, his family and neighbors' forty-year tradition of lining their quaint street with Christmas luminaries is put on hold. When his parents, Ann and Mike, pray for a donor on a stormy night, the neighbors suddenly realize their luminaries could have a deeper purpose.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un coeur pour Noël

Company Credits

Production Co:

Julijette, Xmas Heart Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Nice Christmas themed fare from Hallmark

This latest Hallmark offering of its Christmas themed movies this year breaks from their more common story lines such as Santa adventures, Scrooge adaptations, and Christmas time romances. This movie has a more serious tone: a teenage boy's life hangs in the balance after he collapses during a basketball practice. He has a heart defect and needs an immediate heart transplant.

It's more a story of faith than anything else. The fact that it's Christmas time certainly plays into the story, but more to set up events, than to be the main focus of the action. How the characters bind together to help and support each other and the boy are the real focus. The interactions of the people are very real; in particular, the mother of the donor and the parents of the heart patient have believable and frank dialog with the doctors involved. This movie often hits some emotional moments, and avoids getting schmaltzy. The use of the luminaries as a metaphor is a sweet touch.

Some events that might have otherwise been dismissed as contrivances in another story, are made logical to fit the plot, both by carefully seeded plot points; as well as the fact the entire story is embracing the ideas of faith and miracles. You've got to love that barn storming cowboy in a Santa suit who sets out in a vintage Cessna against the worst storm nature could throw at him, as well as his courageous co- pilot and passenger that dare to trust him. Their flight lives up to everything the movie prepares you for. Only one minor criticism of the movie: a couple of actors overact in a couple of scenes.

A nice, sentimental movie with positive intentions that it conveys well. Worth catching during one of its repeat showings this December.