Christmas on the Range (2019)

Kendall's one holiday wish is to keep the family ranch solvent. Her rival's charming son offers help-and maybe more-but can he be trusted?

Director:

Gary Wheeler

Writers:

Torry Martin, Marshal Younger

Stars:

Erin Cahill, Nicholas Gonzalez, A Martinez

Cast

Credited cast:
Erin Cahill	...	Kendall Riley
Nicholas Gonzalez	...	Clint McCree
A Martinez	...	Brick McCree
Lindsay Wagner	...	Lillian McCree
Dawntavia Bullard	...	Memphis
Dash Pomerantz	...	Marcus Montoya
Lance E. Nichols	...	Gus
Drew Waters	...	Hank
Daniel Williams-Lopez	...	Pete
Rebecca Koon	...	Vivian
Tara Gulledge	...	Betty
Randy McDowell	...	Inspector Stittum
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Conor Church	...	Boy at tree lighting
Maddi Rose Church	...	Girl with long hair at tree lighting
Bill Edenfield	...	Shopper

Storyline

Despite constant threats from her ambitious neighbor, Kendall Riley fights heroically to save the family ranch. In a surprising turn of events, Clint McCree, a Veterinarian and her neighbor's son, arrives on the scene to deliver a calf from a cow having trouble giving birth. Gradually, a romance blossoms, until her neighbor's henchmen scatter Kendall's herd and she wonders if Clint's concern is genuine or if he is part of his family's effort to sabotage her land. Filled with action, adventure, and emotion, this modern-day Western provides an engaging tribute to small towns, big dreams and the power of love. Stars Erin Cahill (Saving Grace, Red Widow, Sleepy Hollow), Nicholas Gonzalez (The Good Doctor, Walker Texas Ranger), A Martinez (Longmire, The Cowboys, Days of our Lives), and Lindsay Wagner (The Bionic Woman, Grey's Anatomy).

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | holiday | christmas in title | holiday in title | christmas season | 

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Genres:

Romance | Western

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Torry Martin, the movie's co-writer, makes an uncredited appearance as the Christmas ball's wild-haired DJ.

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Quotes

Clint McCree: It's bleak in here pap.
Brick McCree: Oh yea. Well, ah, I don't eat in here much.
Lillian McCree: Ever.
Clint McCree: You know what you could use?
Brick McCree: What's that?
Clint McCree: Christmas tree. Right there.
Lillian McCree: You know your father is not a fan of Christmas trees.
Clint McCree: No Trees. No carols. No presents. I never understood it. It's just one day pap.
Brick McCree: Well, I guess I was always too busy making sure you had what you needed for the other 364.
Clint McCree: Yea, well, there's Christmas movies based on characters that think like that.
[...]

User Reviews

Two birds with one stone

While loving Christmas (a lifelong love too) and having liked/loved many Christmas films, there are plenty of Christmas films that are too sappy and cheese ridden as well as predictable. Have seen quite a few films in the past few years using Christmas on a ranch setting (always an intriguing setting for this particular holiday) and they have varied in success, some are very charming, sweet and engaging while others are too simplistic, dull and silly.

'Christmas on the Range' is among the better ones and generally in the former category, though there are some not unexpected glimpses of the latter adjectives. Was not expecting a classic and didn't get that, but did expect in a way an at least average film that didn't have me wrenching my hair and teeth out. Luckily that was the case here with 'Christmas on the Range'. Not an essential, but there is nothing offensive about it either at the same time.

Shall get the not so good things out of the way. The story is rather basic and too slight, a fair share of familiar elements with not much new done to them (including the obligatory too easily telegraphed and too neat ending). There are moments of dullness early on and some of the dialogue is on the awkward and too sappy side.

Most of the acting is fine, but there are signs of overacting in the supporting cast.

On the other hand, 'Christmas on the Range' looks attractive enough. The scenery is both rustic and festive and the photography doesn't look rushed or drab. 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. Erin Cahill and Nicholas Gonzalez are very likeable leads, their chemistry has a lot of charm and their relationship develops realistically, easy to connect with emotionally and is not underused. A Martinez and Lindsay Wagner are fun in support, with Wagner especially bringing a lot of heart to the film.

The dialogue generally gets better as the film progresses, it becomes more natural in the flow and it didn't make me cringe as much. The story on the most part, providing that one doesn't mind that it is predictable and slight, is heart-warming and easy going. And while there is more of a serious edge here than most recently seen Christmas films, it doesn't come over as too serious or heavy-handed.

In conclusion, worth watching. 6/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 December 2019 (France)

Also Known As:

Christmas on the Range

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sydney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color