Mom had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. And you never did find out why she gave up on life in the first place. She was lazy and thoughtless and selfish and disrespectful. The three spirits really didn't follow the normal pattern that you would have expected. I got kind of lost on the three spirits. I thought the acting was okay even though it was a low-budget flick. Like I said earlier it could have been a good movie had the script been better.
What was up with her hair? It look like she was wearing an old wig that she found at Goodwill that needed to be brushed out . Her hair and makeup was awful through the whole movie. It's okay movie for some cheap entertainment
10 Reviews
The gift that never gives.
mrlanceb29 November 2018
"All American Christmas Carol" tries to play both sides of the line between trailer trash schlock and family redemption ala Dickens. Unfortunately, it fails to entertain in either realm. The pace of the movie is uneven and slow, bouncing around story points that go on too long and initially leave you wondering what all this is leading to. Most of the cast is competent enough, but the characters and situations, as written, are uninteresting and unconvincing. Ironically, when the first ghost finally appears in the presence of the character supposedly needing to be un-Scrooged, the moment is rushed with no buildup or reaction whatsoever to the game-changing event. Why this scene is played with such dryness by both characters is both puzzling and disappointing, especially after so many uncompelling scenes leading up to it. And so it goes with the rest of the spirits who have their subsequent (and unremarkable) interactions. At what point this movie was supposed to be entertaining was lost on me. The resolution that finally brings this movie to an end is equally unbelievable, uninteresting, and prolonged.
I gave this movie 3 stars for good acting by some of the cast, and overall technical production that was decent. None of those stars are for special effects, as the ghosts appear mostly via camera cuts and are only afforded makeup for their afterlife appearance.
If you like stereotypical trailer trash gags, this movie has a few. Otherwise, there's not much else in it worth the hour and a half.
I gave this movie 3 stars for good acting by some of the cast, and overall technical production that was decent. None of those stars are for special effects, as the ghosts appear mostly via camera cuts and are only afforded makeup for their afterlife appearance.
If you like stereotypical trailer trash gags, this movie has a few. Otherwise, there's not much else in it worth the hour and a half.
Decent Cast
gavin694218 April 2017
A white-trash mom is visited by three ghosts intent on showing her a path to a brighter future.
This film was watched as part of Eric Roberts Appreciation Day (April 18), and Roberts plays the Ghost of Christmas Present. As far as all the many different versions of this story are concerned, this is not the best one. Not even close. In fact, it is a wonder why they keep making such films at all with the story being done to death.
Despite this, the cast is pretty decent. These may not be A-listers, but Roberts is a known face ,and even Taryn Manning probably has her following. Maybe this is worth watching once around Christmas time, but I doubt anyone is going to make it a Christmas tradition like they would with "Scrooged" or "Muppet Christmas Carol".
This film was watched as part of Eric Roberts Appreciation Day (April 18), and Roberts plays the Ghost of Christmas Present. As far as all the many different versions of this story are concerned, this is not the best one. Not even close. In fact, it is a wonder why they keep making such films at all with the story being done to death.
Despite this, the cast is pretty decent. These may not be A-listers, but Roberts is a known face ,and even Taryn Manning probably has her following. Maybe this is worth watching once around Christmas time, but I doubt anyone is going to make it a Christmas tradition like they would with "Scrooged" or "Muppet Christmas Carol".
All American Trash Christmas Carol
gfinkelhoffer-4502613 November 2021
Who thought that it was a good idea to make this trash? I will admit that I love the classic movie adaptations. I don't like the cartoons, the musicals, etc. BUT I would rather watch them on a continuous loop than watch this rubbish! All involved should be thoroughly ashamed for their participation! If I could give it minus stars I would!
Nice momento for a Christmas movie
Steve-Zoicks20 December 2018
It's hard to make a Christmas move that has a good storyline and plot but is also emotional or comedic. While the momento of a trailer park mother comes to grips with her bad life choices, nothing in the movie was memorable , emotional or funny. I really wanted this to be a good movie but it had all the faux paus of a C grade movie rolled up into a Christmas storyline that has been done over and over and over again.
Waste of my time.
daveconaway9 December 2018
This movie was terrible. Story line was lame and acting wasn't that great. Modern day trailer trash Christmas Carol. Could be a funny concept, I grew up in a trailer court, I know what I'm talking about. This movie had a few laughs but was mostly cringe inducing. Skip it.
Well that's an hour and a half I'll never get back...
crcorr15 December 2021
End of Days?
mgratk15 December 2018
So, is this abomination a sure sign that the last days are upon us? No. Because if God was planning to end us anytime in the next few years, ihe would have just gone ahead and ended us before this thing had a chance to be made. That this exists is proof of an afterlife. This surely is one of the movies playing on an endless loop in the theaters of Hell.
The actors seem to know it is pointless to even try, and deliver their lines lifelessly for the most part. I don't see how this could have been made, let alone released anywhere. They should have destroyed all the footage at some point. Oh, also, mom from The Goldbergs looks a lot better with big 80s hair. And Adam Goldberg probably made better movies with his VHS camcorder sometime around Christmas 1980-something.
If you're looking for Christmas spirit, you'll find none here.
Love it, different and fresh
HotToastyRag14 December 2019
While I don't believe in the phrase "guilty pleasure", if I did, I would use it to describe my love for the movie All American Christmas Carol. This movie is so trashy and so tacky, everyone in my family teases me for liking it so much, and it's earned the nickname "Trailer Trash Christmas" in my house. Nevertheless, it's one I look forward to watching every year, albeit all by myself.
Charles Dickens's classic tale gets a new environment in this movie, and the Scrooge who needs a Christmas makeover is the white-trash Taryn Manning who lives in a trailer park. She teaches her children that "work is for suckers" and uses her idiotic boyfriend for his money while playing around with Alex Solowitz. When she misses out on her son's school Christmas play because of a late-night rendezvous, she gets visited by three spirits to help change her priorities.
This version is really different, and I understand why some people can't stand it. Jake Marley getting killed by a paintball, the Ghost of Christmas Past turning into a drunken, beer-bonging stripper, and a spray-painted Christmas tree might be jarring and ridiculous to some viewers. I see past those changes and find the humor in them. There's still a do-gooder Bob, a Tiny Tim, and Scrooge's miserliness. The basic point of the story is still there. Her childhood memories have tainted her views on Christmas, romance, and money, and when you watch them, you understand. The present still reminds her of what she's lost, and the future still scares her into wanting to change. She's just dressed in cut-off shorts and has ratted-out hair while she does it. And she says things like, "I can't believe that dirty ho is trying to steal my man!"
I won't tell you to give this one a shot if you don't think you'll like it. But maybe the next time someone tells you they like it, you'll understand. Or, if you secretly watch it when no one's looking, you can take comfort knowing you're not the only person who loves it.
DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. Each time a ghost is introduced, the camera tilts unexpectedly and it will make you sick. When Taryn wanders down the school corridor alone, cruises the shop aisles alone, and sits in her car alone, look away until the ghosts appear. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Charles Dickens's classic tale gets a new environment in this movie, and the Scrooge who needs a Christmas makeover is the white-trash Taryn Manning who lives in a trailer park. She teaches her children that "work is for suckers" and uses her idiotic boyfriend for his money while playing around with Alex Solowitz. When she misses out on her son's school Christmas play because of a late-night rendezvous, she gets visited by three spirits to help change her priorities.
This version is really different, and I understand why some people can't stand it. Jake Marley getting killed by a paintball, the Ghost of Christmas Past turning into a drunken, beer-bonging stripper, and a spray-painted Christmas tree might be jarring and ridiculous to some viewers. I see past those changes and find the humor in them. There's still a do-gooder Bob, a Tiny Tim, and Scrooge's miserliness. The basic point of the story is still there. Her childhood memories have tainted her views on Christmas, romance, and money, and when you watch them, you understand. The present still reminds her of what she's lost, and the future still scares her into wanting to change. She's just dressed in cut-off shorts and has ratted-out hair while she does it. And she says things like, "I can't believe that dirty ho is trying to steal my man!"
I won't tell you to give this one a shot if you don't think you'll like it. But maybe the next time someone tells you they like it, you'll understand. Or, if you secretly watch it when no one's looking, you can take comfort knowing you're not the only person who loves it.
DLM warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. Each time a ghost is introduced, the camera tilts unexpectedly and it will make you sick. When Taryn wanders down the school corridor alone, cruises the shop aisles alone, and sits in her car alone, look away until the ghosts appear. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"
Feel good Christmas movie
jenifer-4977323 November 2018
If you're searching Netflix for something to watch on a drunken night.....look no further. This movie provides laughs and feel good vibes. Want to feel good as a single mom? Definitely watch this movie. The main character in this film made me feel like super mom. I sat through the whole thing and never once felt like I wasted my time. I only had two glasses of wine. My son cringed a bit but afterwards he was ok and told me I was a good mom.
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