The Tree That Saved Christmas

This predictable Christmas drama surrounding a threatened tree farm unfolds in a rather intriguing fashion. There is the stern and unempathetic employer. There is the mean Scrooge-like banker. There is the broken romance. There are even the boss's young daughters. What is somewhat different is that the movie magic comes not from a fantasy miracle, but the eventual realism of the practical value of family and social connections. This movie also includes some nice emotional moments even as the movie at times has some rough, edged scenes. Overall, however, this Christmas movie stands out from the typical movie genre with a good effort with a refreshing production using script and scene selections that challenge the typical mold. Not a classic, but worth a one-time experience.

Every tree has a story to tell? In this case, Molly Logan and her childhood boyfriend Lucas Bishop come across our subject tree while exploring her family's Vermont Christmas tree farm. The tree is sick and Molly's dad wants to chop it down. Molly bonds to the tree and brings it back to life through her music. After an abrupt and unexplained fast-forward to Molly's adult life, the tree shows up at her posh New York office as a delivery for her boss. Molly immediately recognizes the tree as her long-lost friend and feels compelled to return it back to their home in Vermont so they can share Christmas together. What are the chances of this happening outside of a made-for-TV Christmas movie?

Back in Vermont, Molly discovers the family farm is in foreclosure and Lucas now works for the developer trying to turn it into a "green" golf course. Horrified, Molly gets to work saving the family farm. While the Christmas tree watches all this happen from the homestead living room, Molly's deep-pocket,recently-widowed boss Walter shows up because his kids want to spend Christmas with Molly. A hint of a rivalry for Molly's love ensues between Logan and Walter. Who will win Molly's heart? Will the family keep the farm? Does the tree end up saving Christmas? You can probably guess where this tree's story is going from here.

Un- or underdeveloped characters, mediocre acting and numerous loose ends in the story line turns this tree's saga into something that becomes easily forgettable. Every tree may have a story, but not all of them will be interesting or even well told.

There were quite a few reasons for wanting to see 'The Tree That Saved Christmas'. The title was a little corny but also somewhat appetising. The idea for the story was hardly innovative but sounded cute enough. Lacey Chabert is always a likeable watch, and is no stranger to Christmas films where she has always been watchable. Am someone who has always loved Christmas and has seen many Christmas films as a completest quest for the past year and a half.

While there are certainly far better festive films out there than 'The Tree That Saved Christmas', there are also far worse. Although it may not be a Christmas miracle or classic, and suffers from trying to do too much, 'The Tree That Saved Christmas' is worth saving and watching and is quite charming in its own way. It is one of those films though that one shouldn't expect too much from, and not expect anything that is award worthy. It does serve its purpose quite well on the whole.

Am going to start with the good things with 'The Tree That Saved Christmas'. It looks lovely, especially the scenery which is at its best magical. Lovingly photographed too. The music is nostalgic and has an appropriately festive feel, have seen a lot of Christmas films recently that were overscored and where the music didn't fit but it wasn't an issue here. The direction is more than competent, not exceptional but at least it seemed like they knew what they were doing.

Some of the dialogue is corny, but there isn't the overload of cheese and schmaltz that many other recently seen Christmas films have. It flowed well and is well meaning. Enough of the story was charming and heart-warming and the messaging was relatable and inspiring. The characters had personality and interesting and un-annoying ones at that, finally we have a boss character that was actually likeable. The acting is better than average on the whole, with a charmingly winning performance from Chabert and a particularly strong turn from Jim Thorburn. Nice chemistry between the actors.

However, 'The Tree That Saved Christmas' could have been better if it didn't try to include too much. There are too many plot strands, which makes the story feels over-crowded, and there are a couple of too many loose ends due to not being focused upon enough. Also felt that there were too many characters and some of them are sketchy, while Corey Sevier does decently his character seemed underwritten.

It does tend to be very predictable, there are attempts at doing things differently but with not much unique done with them, with an ending that is too neat and obvious from the title of the film alone. Pacing could have been tighter as well, especially early on.

Overall, inoffensive and sweet but didn't wow me. 6/10

BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 HOLIDAY FILMS. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM HONEST

Lacey Chabert plays Molly Logan, who grew up on her family's Christmas tree farm in Vermony writing stories about individual trees, her favorite being a Charlie Brown Christmas-esque tree struggling to grow. Twenty years later, while pursuing her dreams of a writing career in New York, she learns that the bank is foreclosing on the farm - and that little tree comes back into play.

What is nice about this film is that all actions cause reactions. It also shows that sometimes its "Okay to ask for help". Their also a minor message here about supporting local business's over the big box stores. The film is well made and paced nicely. The film is also family safe and a film you should with your kids. SHown ion the UP CHANNEL NETWORK.

Standard classic story line of Christmas spirit in a small town that conquers a greedy bank manager.

There is a romance storyline running through this too, although it feels forced. And frankly it felt like Molly had more chemistry and a better fleshed out story with her boss and daughters than the actual love interest.

The bank manager is played almost comically evil and anti Christmas. It almost felt like he was in a different movie than the rest of the cast. I can't tell if that was on purpose or not. It's probably why his son, the love interest, felt so flat. Straddling both parts of the move.