Mrs. Worthington's Party (2007) User Reviews

The Jury was Out . . .

[inspectors71 · 6/10 · 17 December 2019]

Until the little girl whispers in David Wall's ear.

I was coming down with a cold last Saturday, and I didn't want to be bothered with anything other than streaming something to take my mind off my rapidly-filling sinuses.

On Prime Video, the ad for David Wall's indie film "Noelle" caught my attention because it didn't look anything like the 87 other Hallmark love-amongst-the-fake-snow wallows. My wife and I watched it, and we couldn't figure out if the movie was supposed to be in the Maritimes, Wales, or some alternate-reality state in our Union.

Noelle is a dry, somewhat humorous, and confusing joy. I sat there harumphing at the infuriating main characters' inability to seal the deal, to get me to buy totally into the story and suspend disbelief. Yet, I stuck with it, and as the story of a diocesan hatchet-man who is sent to close down a tiny-town parish church and finds out he really shouldn't be a priest unfolds, I began to appreciate the deeply-embraced Catholicism of the movie. The idea that a man can be a priest and despise the transactional humanity of his ministry is so foreign to me that I had to see how this movie, made for what appeared to be about a $143, resolved the large and small conflicts.

I wasn't sure if I could say I liked Noelle until the little girl whispered in the priest's ear. All of a sudden I had to grab a paper towel.

And it wasn't to mop up snot.

The Alternate Title Is Noelle On Tubitv

[deedee_2000-985-341635 · 6/10 · 29 November 2021]

Once again after reading the all horrible reviews, i was compelled to write a review. Evidently the religious theme has sent some viewers into orbit. Believe it or not, pastors/priests are people too. They have feelings. They get angry. Sometimes they abuse alcohol. The key thing to take away is pastors are human. They're not godlike creatures that never commit any wrong. And questioning faith, showing all things good and bad to it isn't the horror some of the other reviews have made it out to be. If your faith can't stand up to the hard light of day aka a few questions, you have a more serious problem than a movie.

Onto Mrs. Worthington's Party.

I saw this on Tubitv and it was under the title Noelle and i must say i prefer Noelle much more. The movie starts out very cold, very much based in the everyday world with very little holiday spirit. A small church is under review and could possibly be closed by the end of the year if the auditor deems it necessary. This causes a flurry of activity and emotions, both in the community and the pastors.

I loved this movie. There was so much personal growth made in the characters. This wasn't your typical holiday movie and thank God for that. One can only see so many girl sees guy, hates guy, loves guy, gets guy, saves Christmas formulas until your brain rots. :)

Merry Christmas everyone.

A Mixed Bag ...

[cdelacroix1 · 5/10 · 7 December 2007]

I just saw this movie today after it opened here in two multiplexes, one of which only rarely carries independent films. It's really a remarkable movie in so many ways, but as can happen especially with independent films, occasionally, it raises for me two ethical dilemmas. First, it's misleadingly advertised as a traditional Christmas movie, but won't be found to be such by most viewers; and second, it includes a strong dose of anti-Catholicism.

But setting aside these two unpleasant features of this film, I found so much of this movie really very appealing. The storyline and the supporting script, anti-Catholicism aside, are really very interesting and so often moving. The characters in this movie are developed vividly and engagingly. We meet Father Jonathan Keene, who at first has the heart and social skills of a cash register, but we rejoice as we watch him developing into a human almost despite himself. We meet Father Simeon Joyce, full of love for his parishioners, though seemingly doomed to alcoholic ineffectiveness.

The story really revolves around relationships more than anything else, and some of the relational scenes were to me simply delightful to behold. One of my favorite scenes like this has Father Keene and the bartender engaged in a dialog that is just full of wit and poignancy. I really think this scene, and the delightful scene at Mrs Worthington's party, will stay with me for a long, long time.

The acting is almost uniformly very good, even though the actors and actresses apparently have had very little film experience. There is one exception: I thought Sean Patrick Brennan's performance as Father Joyce was wooden and monotonous. In contrast, David Wall gives a wonderful, wonderful performance as Father Keene.

The cinematography is excellent. Again and again we are treated to the most lovely vistas shot (I think?) in wintry Massachusetts. What beautiful settings for a beautiful story.

Well … the story is partly beautiful. But that brings me to the movie's ugly side: its anti-Catholicism. I won't say anything more about the other ethical problem with this movie, its marketing as a traditional Christmas story when it clearly isn't. The misleading marketing isn't really part of the movie as such after all.

But about the anti-Catholicism so prominent in the movie. The story could well have been told with a much less denominational context, but the movie singles out one particular religion for representations that could have come out of any number of anti-Catholic tracts known for their bigotry. The director/writer/producer, David Wall, is reported to be prejudiced against Catholics. This certainly comes through in his movie, in which he depicts Catholicism from a point of view that could be termed liberal, post-Christian, and anti-Catholic.

The Catholic archdiocese is painted as greedy and interested solely in money … a superfluous characterization that apparently has nothing to do with the story. We are treated to a Catholic priest who is an alcoholic who asserts no interest in priestly abstinence from sex. The same priest disdains Midnight Mass, a distinctively Catholic religious service of special affection to most Catholics. The priest is depicted along with a congregation that has lost interest in a Midnight Mass either. The other Catholic priest walks out, twice, on a Mass, a religious service considered important to Catholics in general. He also walks out on a poor woman's Confession; and breaks the Seal of the Confessional, betraying to others what he has heard in confidence in the Confessional. And by the end of the movie our priest has formed a romantic attachment and we are given to understand that he's become a nice, normal married man that has left that nasty old Catholicism behind.

As one feature of Catholicism after another is trampled underfoot, the movie apparently expects us all to applaud. If you're wondering what this has to do with the wonderfully humane storyline as such, I wonder as well.

One of the dilemmas of a moviegoer confronted with what is actually plain bigotry, mixed with so much beauty and so much humanity, is to know how to respond. I don't know the answer. I'm guessing that the same dilemma would have confronted a moviegoer in South Africa a few decades ago, who might have been watching a movie full of good things yet jarringly pro-Apartheid. Or perhaps a moviegoer in Nazi Germany might have found himself or herself watching a movie full of much beauty and humanity on the one hand, while coupled painfully with implicit or explicit celebrations of Nazism.

Can one applaud the beauty and humanism in such a movie while denouncing the ugly prejudice that's also there? I'm not sure … but I hope so. Each of us I'm sure must make our own decisions about how to approach such material, if we approach it at all.

Not afraid to take on the hard questions

[lasasala · 14 December 2019]

This is a wonderful holiday movie. Highly recommend!

Should have stuck with the original title, Mrs Worthington's Party.

[msimplyemail · 6/10 · 2 December 2023]

Who ever changed the title should have stuck with the original title, Mrs Worthington's Party. It's an unfortunate renaming because titlling it Noelle may be confused with the Disney movie Noelle with Shirley MacLaine. Having said that, the lead actor, David Wall, playing Father Keene, bares a stunning resemblance to a young Robert Redford; his hair, his front teeth, the jawline - and his acting ability! I'm surprised David Wall is not in more mainstream/famous movies - he exudes lead actor, and his acting is a joy to watch. Surprisingly, his Wikipedia page is sparse. Back to the movie, David Wall as Father Keene is the reason I stuck it out with this movie. There are a lot of likable and quirky characters, along with a love story, that fill and complete this movie. And the snowy location is charming. But David Wall is the stellar actor in this performance and makes this version of Noelle worth watching.

Thought it was an old Robert Redford film

[tara1177-804-924544 · 10/10 · 10 December 2019]

Am I the only one who thinks Mr. Wall looks like Mr. Redford? The film was very well done. I enjoyed it. I also love that it was a family project.

This is a worthwhile holiday film that isn't perfect but is worth a viewin

[kevin_robbins · 6/10 · 8 December 2022]

Mrs. Worthington's Party (2007) is a movie that I recently watched on Amazon Prime. The storyline follows a priest who is sent to a small town to help close a struggling church. The church is trying to get through the Christmas festivities before shutting down. As the priest helps with the transition he starts challenging why the local minister does what he does; and in doing so, realizes he has some of his own self reflecting to do.

This movie is written, directed and stars David Wall (Gold Dust) and also stars Sean Patrick Brennan (Joe & Joe), Ciaran O'Reilly (The Kitchen), Kerry Wall (The Running Man) and Brennan Wall (Gold Dust).

This movie has a real authentic feel to it. The settings are well selected and the characters are relatable and feel like people you could know. The circumstances are worthwhile and the character backstories are sad but also relatable. There's definitely some solid subplots in here. The acting and dialogue is inconsistent with some sequences feeling more authentic than others. The conclusion is worthwhile and takes you where the film wants you to go.

Overall, this is a worthwhile holiday film that isn't perfect but is worth a viewing. I would score this a 6/10 and recommend seeing it once.

Odd little film

[rdrift1879 · 3/10 · 21 December 2020]

I had no idea what this would be except that it looked like a family friendly Christmas movie.

It is a low-budget affair with mostly amateur actors. It looks pretty good, but the screenplay is a confusing mess. The behavior of the main characters is frequently inexplicable. The big "reveals" as the story progresses doesn't really help explain just plain odd behavior.

It is sort of a faith movie related to someone's idea of Catholicism, but none of the characters behave like they believe any of it. I think the core message is a nice party is as good as any church. Then it adds a kind of pro-life finale, which almost works, except for everything leading up to it.

The 10 start ratings must be from people who are friends of the film's maker.

Wonderfully Subtle

[SaukMtnMan · 8/10 · 27 November 2012]

"Noelle" is a movie that is both wonderfully subtle and profound in the message it delivers. It is a Christmas movie, not because of the beautifully filmed winter landscape or the softly illuminated lighting, but because its' characters experience the true essence of Christmas: forgiveness.

The character development is slow and methodical, almost predictable at first. However, as the story progresses, the reserved tension between the two priests builds, forcing the true person within both characters to bubble to the surface, spilling out in an unexpected manner.

The movies music does a splendid job of capturing the loneliness many people feel at Christmas, and the main characters in Noelle are no different.

The story is not predictable in its' outcome from the outset, although an hour or so into it, the viewer gets a feeling it may twist in a certain direction because you almost want it to.

I felt great empathy for the character of Father Keane, because his job was the one no one would relish in doing. It is a thankless position that keeps him at arms length with the Church, the Almighty, and himself, creating an empty life within the shell of a "holy man".

If you are expecting gags and laughs to be dished out like Halloween candy like so many cheesy, box office hits, you will be disappointed. The real humor is in the dry wit and the naiveté of the characters that lay just below the surface throughout the movie. Save the fact that Father Keane does not know how to ride a scooter very well and takes some very predictable falls in the snow and ice, the real laughs will be within yourself as you begin to recognize members of your family, or even the person you see in the mirror, in how each character reacts to one another.

The movie has a serious message and is not for younger audiences because of the subject matter, but is tastefully done without explicit information being thrown in for dramatic effect.

I found Noelle heart-warming, well-done, and definitely a movie that will be on my Christmas watch list each year.

The most interesting thing about this film . . .

[info-90701 · 3/10 · 6 January 2022]

Was how much the Writer/Director/Lead looks like a young Robert Redford! Otherwise it was a bit tedious frankly, for an after school special.

Independent film, decently done, slow, vaguely interesting.

Fabulous Film!

[mikesbikes-58-197771 · 10/10 · 16 December 2021]

I stumbled across this after watching "It's A Wonderful Life" on Prime. Came up as a recommendation. I'm a fan of Christmas films and Faith/Family film in general.

What a great film, depicting people of faith as they really are! Not a film for those who want to see a sugar coated version of the Christian life, but one that shows struggles faced by all people.

Hats off to David Wall for writing and directing such a compelling Film!

Sean Patrick Brennan I hope you have another job

[princessandthepeabody · 4/10 · 12 November 2020]

Sean Patrick is a terrible actor. Without him this would have been a much better movie. Nice scenery though.

Independent Film-making at it's Finest

[FilmFestCritic · 10/10 · 24 November 2007]

I was fortunate enough to screen "Noelle", then Mrs. Worthington's Pary, at the "Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival". I was not sure what to expect from a movie written, directed and starring the same person. The first thing I noticed was the enormous amount of people that were coming into the screening. There must have been almost 600 people for the showing. From the start the Cinematography was purely outstanding. The film was shot on 35mm and was absolutely beautiful. The scenery was breathtaking, the music magical and mysterious, a true testament to great Independent Film making. The acting also greatly surprised me as the movie was comprised of all unknown actors. The performances were very strong all the way down to the beautiful ghostly child. The movie uses Priests as the main Characters and thoughtfully takes you through a true to life journey of problems and circumstances that any everyday man or woman could relate too. The wonderful writing and story gently and magically carry you through the movie like a journey back in time to the great Holiday Classics long gone. I found myself deeply involved in every Character and every aspect of the story, a credit to David Wall's writing and directing. I do not wish to give away any of the story, as that would be tasteless. I can tell you that if you are looking for a true Holiday movie, with a wonder inspiring story that is destined in my opinion to become a Holiday Classic, then you owe it to yourself to see this movie.

As the movie was ending, I looked over to my right to notice a man in his sixties gently wiping away tears from his eyes, just as I had done. The lights went up and to my surprise everyone was still there. As the music stopped, all 600 people stood almost in unison for a standing ovation. I had already been to six screenings with barely a round of applause at the ending of each. It seemed as if every single person got it and felt the same thing. This was a great movie. Last I could not help watching as a Catholic Priest made his way to David Wall in the lobby outside the theater. I was curious what he thought of the movie since the movie revolved around Priests. As I stood near, the Priest walked right up to him, grabbed his hand and arm, and said thank you with glossy eyes. I was amazed. Even the Priest loved the movie. The movie went on to win "Best Director" and a nod for "Best American Indie".

There are many things you could say about this movie, "Wonderful" is all that comes to mind.

Stoney and cold

[ewinch-85484 · 2/10 · 12 December 2020]

Some of the stiffest acting I have seen in lead actors. The supporting cast showed more warmth and empathy.

Loved it!!

[dswall0 · 10/10 · 24 November 2007]

Awesome film!! My wife and I saw it in Florida at the Lauderdale Film Festival. The most amazing story of redemption I've ever seen. It was mysterious and romantic and hilarious. The ending took my breath away. Apparently the writer/director David Wall also played the lead role of Father Jonathan Keene. We thought he was great, my wife thought he looked like a young Robert Redford. Wall's wife in real life played the role of Marjorie Worthington. She was perfect, very classy lady. Apparently their daughter plays the title role of Noelle. What a hauntingly beautiful little girl. This movie will stay with you. Can't wait for it to open as I want to take my parents and our kids. I imagine there may be some controversy among religious folks over this one as Wall plays a Catholic priest but I applaud him for his courage in portraying a priest as a real human being, as a man grappling with his faith. We think this one will be a classic.

Dreadful...SIMPLY dreadful

[docm-32304 · 1/10 · 21 December 2020]

What a steaming pile. The only good acting was on behalf of the Walls. Sean Patrick Brennan should change his name after working so hard at being that bad an actor. The quirky fishing town people were funny but other than that the writing, directing, continuity...virtually everything was so bad that I have no idea (unless you're a bot or investor) how anyone could rate this a 10

I didn't see it as anti-Catholic

[justbennett · 9/10 · 11 December 2007]

I agree with all of the positive things I've seen in the other comments. This is such a quality work. I wasn't 100% sold on the Father Simeon performance, but I still enjoyed him.

I didn't see it as anti-Catholic mainly because there are only two representatives of the church in the movie. They are clearly meant to represent two uncommon extremes. There is a business side to ministry and that can easily come off as cold or harsh, but this movie is about the character. He is cold and harsh. Those are the characteristics that lead him to the position he holds.

Besides, are we to believe that there are no men in the ministry such as these? Are we to believe that everything is so perfect in the church (any church) that there is no room for criticism? I agree that the movie could have been set in any denomination, but who has prettier sets than the Catholics? I can only accuse this movie of being honest.

Not worth the time to watch

[thecrafts-66710 · 1/10 · 18 August 2021]

I'm a consummate Christmas movie viewer and honestly, I'd put this one near the bottom of my list; just slightly above "Merry Friggin' Christmas." There is very little that is festive except for the occasional Christmas lights and the genuine snowy scenes (unlike most movies which deploy fake snow). And, I'm not Catholic but if I was, I'd strongly protest the portrayal of the two priests who have more raging emotions and issues than a soap opera. The lines are disjointed and confusing - it tries so hard to be profound but falls flat spiritually. I'm sorry - I wanted to like this move and watched it over several nights (I could only handle about 20 minutes at a time) but it never delivered. At least they changed the name from "Noelle" to "Mrs. Worthington's Party" which dismisses any holiday connection.

Exactly what a Christmas Movie Should Be!

[Buck_Vinegar · 10/10 · 24 November 2007]

I generally tend to resist Christmas movies and did not exactly leap at the opportunity to spend another hour and a half simmering in Hollywood-fabricated pseudo-cheer. However, I was pleasantly surprised right from the outset by many of the striking images and east-coast winter locations. As the film developed I found myself genuinely interested in the story and when it was all over, I was shocked to find that not only had I enjoyed a "Christmas movie", but would certainly watch it again if given the chance, even if it wasn't Christmas time.

While some overly "zealous" types may be offended by the use of a priest as one of the main characters, I felt the entire story came across tastefully while still maintaining enough of an edge to make for an interesting story. As for the rest of the characters, they come off as a combination of well acted professional productions coupled with charming "man-on-the-street" types for the supporting roles.

Compared to the amount of high-dollar "all-flash, no-substance" productions being cranked out of late, I found what was simply an interesting story about interesting characters to be genuinely refreshing.

Okay beginning but falls into mellow drama halfway through

[geonosianindustries · 4/10 · 25 December 2021]

Just boring and depressing at a certain point. Nothing particularly interesting after the amusing opening section.

Watch of you want to feel down, not a great Christmas film in my opinion.

Anti Catholic?? Nope.

[rodhackenflasch · 10/10 · 19 December 2019]

This is a wonderful story that I did not see as anti-Catholic. There are some mildly disturbing elements and opinions, but nothing sacriligious or defamatory with regard to the Church. In fact, the Catholic faith played a huge part, especially with regard to the positvity of forgiveness and redemption. The idea that a priest is conflicted turns out to be a positive element. The other priest's faith is also validated.The conflicts are played out in the presence of many prodigal parishoners, with positive results. If you want anti-Catholic, just pay attention to the current Pope and all of the molestation scandals. Like our government, the church has been infested with evil people for decades, but you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. I haven't been to mass in years, but after seeing this movie, I just may reconsider this Christmas. Peace to all.

Nice Try.

[marcdiconti · 3/10 · 7 December 2020]

The fact that it is a movie about redemption is an age where Hollywood produces little that is redemptive, makes it worthy to receive my 3 of 10 stars. However it is horribly written and acted. Nice try.

Well worth watching - heartwarming but thought-provoking

[tom-496-522106 · 10/10 · 17 January 2015]

For a one-man(family)-show, this was awesome.

The characters have depth, the plot was well-developed and well- executed, and it speaks to the soul.

I have to disagree with some of the reviews that thought it was anti- Catholic. I think it speaks to the brokenness of humanity. The plot would not have worked in any other denomination, but the basic theme of choices mad for the wrong reasons is universal, and the hope of second chances is universal.

I thank all those involved in the production for an uplifting message.

Again, well worth the time.

Truly terrible.

[richardglawton · 1/10 · 13 November 2021]

Amongst the worst films I have ever endured. I had to see it out from morbid curiosity. It went from bad to worse. The acting is so wooden the cast must still have splinters. It looks likes like a family project where no one had the gumption to tell themselves or each other to pull the plug after the first day of filming. They could have saved their time, their pride and somebody's money. An absolute stinker.

Unusual Christmas story

[paulfilstrup-87-979264 · 10/10 · 15 December 2019]

This movie is about personal transformation - how hard and painful it can be. A must see if you like a good story, wonderful acting, and a Christmas story. David Wall can be a substitute for Robert Redford - but his acting and directing are beautiful works of art.