Hometown Christmas (2018 TV Movie) User Reviews

The Christmas story

[Jackbv123 · 7/10 · 10 November 2020]

The is a pretty typical Christmas story in terms of premise and themes with one major exception. A significant amount of time is spent with the Nativity where Beverley Mitchell reads a version of the real Christmas story, Jesus birth. It doesn't differ greatly from what Linus tells us in Charlie Brown's Christmas so it's not unparoled, nor should it be offensive. It is unusual among Lifetime, Hallmark and even UpTV movies. Lest someone ask, it is also true to the original in the Bible as was Linus'. Then Beverley sings O Holy Night which mentions that same story. I think the song was meant to be a surprise, but it was pretty obvious they were practicing something.

As to Beverley's singing, her voice is strong and holds notes well. Unfortunately there are those who find her voice unappealing, probably both speaking and singing. I enjoyed the song.

Beverley and Stephen Colletti have decent chemistry. (I think) Donny Boaz and Erin Cahill had even better chemistry in a secondary story as Noelle's brother and fiance. Her father also had a secondary romance with Nick's mom.

There were no great highs or lows, surprises or tension other than all the potential problems with the Nativity.

Louisiana

[rsaustin31 · 6/10 · 26 December 2020]

Enjoyed see this filmed on location in South Louisiana. But a few things No one had the right accent, or any accent at all 99% of South La is Catholic, no one would say "Paster..." In a small bar, people would be playing Bourré, not darts

Old formula with a nice cast

[phd_travel · 7/10 · 31 January 2019]

The story of a rekindling a romance has been done so many times. The cast is led by Beverly Mitchell and Stephen Colletti and they are quite appealing and the couple are quite cute together. The parents have a romance too with Melissa Gilbert making a welcome appearance.

So it's ok for one watch.

Cheesy Holiday Movie - it's so awesome

[xinagames · 7/10 · 19 December 2018]

Got home from work early and came across a ton of holiday movies on Lifetime and Hallmark channel. This one follows the cheesy holiday movie formula quite nicely. Best of all, it stars one of my favorite actresses of all time: Melissa Gilbert. I'm a Little House on the Prairie fan for life!

However I nerded out and froze the frame where Noelle sees the article about Nick. The authors of this fake website forgot to use spell check. They forgot an "S" in "Russell", used "collage" instead of "college" twice and forgot to follow the grammar rule "i before e, except after c" in the word received. Then again, I may be the only viewer to freeze a screen and spend time reading the text on a fake website.

Aside from that. Loved the movie!!

Away In A Manger

[adamjohns-42575 · 6/10 · 21 January 2021]

This isn't a bad story at all, although I'm not keen on Beverley Mitchell, who reminds me of one of the Fraggles (I'm not sure which one). Stephen Colletti on the other hand is like a hot Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) and his character is really nice.

I like how they managed to have three relationships going on without compromising on the main story, it was all balanced very well.

It's full of Christmas and the Nay-tivity (They can't pronounce it properly) and it does the job that films like this are made to do.

I especially liked the Dad and Mary.

It's definitely worth a watch, even the brother has something about him.

Naff

[puddlecheck-12219 · 3/10 · 12 November 2019]

Like most low budget Christmas films that are mostly full of wooden acting. I felt that they should have had the script in front of them because it definitely gave me the impression of 'acting'. Why do they bother to waste the celluloid it surely can't return its outlay. Oh and the singing! that's when I turned off. Give it a miss!

Good mix of cheese and sugariness

[prickly101 · 6/10 · 27 December 2019]

Which is a good thing for a Christmas movie, so I enjoyed that aspect and storyline. What kept giving me pause was the casting of Beverly Mitchell and Stephen Colletti. I have nothing against an 'older woman/ younger man' motif, but the pair were supposedly same-year high school sweethearts, and meaning no offence to either actor, my imagination could't strain that far for any sustained period. They were manifestly not the same age. A trivial thing on which to focus, but the thought kept intruding...

Charmless hometown

[TheLittleSongbird · 3/10 · 13 December 2021]

Throughout my whole Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas film completest quest undertaken namely late last year through to early this year, an interesting quest but very mixed one, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with Lifetime's output but in some cases it came not too far off. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level.

2018's 'Hometown Christmas' is sadly not one of watchable ones, though is not quite cash in level quality. Have absolutely personal against Lifetime and have liked enough of their work, but when they were on bad form the film in question was bad. While not one of their all time worst, 'Hometown Christmas' fits this negative definition sadly. A few big things redeem it from being a disaster, but they are overshadowed by the many major flaws.

Am going to start off mentioning those good things. Erin Cahill (who would have made for a much better lead) and Danny Boaz are appealing in their roles and their subplot is a lot more interesting than the main one, there is a charm and spark in that subplot that the main one badly lacks.

Despite not being lavish or high budget, 'Hometown Christmas' doesn't look too bad. The scenery is especially lovely to watch and is filmed slickly.

On the other hand, a lot doesn't work with 'Hometown Christmas'. Beverly Mitchell comes across as bland and too smug, and really did not like her character. Her character is very difficult to endear to from the get go and she doesn't really grow, what little there is feels rushed. Stephen Colletti isn't as bad, but he struggles to bring much life to a colourless role. There is no chemistry between them or even any form of spark and the romance is completely lacking in charm as well as underwritten. Other than Cahill and Boaz, the rest of the cast don't register all that much.

'Hometown Christmas' characters are shallow ciphers and little more than typical Lifetime cliches with no variation, and none of them are believably developed or likeable. The direction throughout is as indifferent as the lead chemistry and is at best leaden. The music is, as can be the case with Lifetime, intrusive and there is nothing memorable to it. When it comes to the dialogue, it is very awkward in flow and there is no heart to it.

Both the cheese and sentiment go overboard, and because of disliking the characters so much there was nothing in 'Hometown Christmas' to connect with emotionally. The story is not much of one at all for most of the length, much of the first portion is endless and pointless filler and what there is of the story is very dull and makes no sense. The ending feels too rushed and too tidy.

Overall, weak. 3/10.

Standard Lifetime-type movie

[DonandLiG · 6/10 · 10 December 2020]

My biggest disappointment with this movie is at about 1hr, 17 mins in. The lead is reading the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke chap 2. When she reads "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior," she abruptly omits the words, "who is Christ the Lord." Yeah, kind of the whole point of the story...

I actually work where the film was made!

[philliplejeune · 3/10 · 25 May 2021]

The 'Barn' and Hayride scene is filmed at Le Barn Rouge,a wedding venue in Lafayette Louisiana, although the script was made from people NOT from Louisiana & corny and typical lifetime movie quality,& most of the accents are Definitely NOT southern Louisiana,It's still cool that the movie was made here...

A predictable movie

[dianamarinelli · 9/10 · 3 December 2020]

This movie hits the expectations for a lifetime movie with the cliches, predictable romances and Christmas nostalgia

Superb variety of characters in an enjoyable Southern Christmas film

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 10 February 2022]

"Hometown Christmas" is a very welcome deviation from the common Christmas holiday films. It has not one, but a few refreshingly different characters. Both of the young leads are single and have never been married. While they were sweethearts through high school, they split and went their separate ways after that.

Noelle Collins isn't a woman climbing the corporate ladder in the big city. She is a medical doctor who just finished her internship in Chicago, and is now moving back home to Youngsville, Louisiana. She is looking forward to working alongside her dad, Peter Collins MD, in his clinic. Peter has been a widower for several years and has recently become quite close to long-time divorcee Mary Russell. Noelle's big brother, Will, is engaged and his fiancé, Jen, is staying with them over Christmas. Noelle runs into her old flame, Nick Russell who is Mary's son. He is a professional baseball pitcher and has been in town for six months recovering from a severe shoulder injury.

Unlike so many other films, there's no bitterness between Noelle and Nick, and both missed the other when they went their separate ways. Well, as with all of these films, it's a no-brainer to figure out how it will end. The enjoyment comes from the story details and how the ending comes about. In this film, all of the supporting cast have substantial roles, so it's more like a very good family story with lots of people. There's much happiness among these people that is portrayed so that it appears quite real and believable. Noelle's brother makes up a special room as a surprise for Jen. Mary and Nick bought and now run the favorite lounge hangout. And Nick has organized and heads up a youth baseball program. He has been offered the coaching job at the high school.

This is a fine cast, and all seem to put their hearts into this film. With the warmer clime of Louisiana over the holidays, there's a lot of focus on lights and lighting. This is an enjoyable, much better than average family Christmas film for the holidays.

Not the best Christmas story

[denise-dargan33 · 3/10 · 12 November 2019]

I only saw the last 30 minutes had to turn the sound to mute when Noelle started singing (awful). I only watched the rest because of Stephen Colletti.

Bad movie

[camilla_one · 1/10 · 3 December 2021]

This was bad. Bad acting specially from Steve, no chemistry between the main characters. They all were so overly excited every time they spoke it got really annoying fast. Like who talks like that. Don't recommend.

Corn-y

[stubblefieldpamela · 3/10 · 23 December 2020]

Corn does not grow in Louisiana in December. UNLESS it's a corny movie.

Home town step siblings ?

[mealion · 4/10 · 18 December 2020]

The movie was alright in terms of a romantic Christmas movie but both and noelle and nick finally get together in the move kissing each other at the end just after both of their parents kiss which was was weird lol

Feel good Christmas show!

[klmreview · 10/10 · 16 December 2020]

Cannot believe this has only three stars!! Great cast!! Great plot!! Just a feel good Christmas Show!!

OK Film

[lgroden · 5/10 · 22 June 2022]

It was an OK Christmas film until Beverley Mitchell spoke. She has the most annoying false, high-pitched voice which grated on my nerves - not a good actor. The saving grace of this film is the relationship between Noelle's father & Mary (played by Melissa Gilbert) who had chemistry - it was a shame they weren't the main story.

How about a remake?

[gzazzarelli · 1/10 · 17 December 2023]

I would love to make a remake of this movie following the same plot and acting style but only until around the middle point.. then convert it into a horror movie where the main protagonist discovers that all the other characters are actually psychopaths.

Think about a plot twist and change of direction as the one you get watching the movie "The talented Mr. Ripley". And think about the horror crescendo you get in "Texas chainsaw massacre". And think about a anticlimactic finale you get in "Pshycho".

The original acting quality in the original movie would be a perfect set up for this remake...

Great Christmas movie

[AdrienneGrayceMusic · 9/10 · 18 December 2018]

Most of the tv christmas movies are corny with bad acting, but this one was enjoyable. It was nice to see Beverly Mitchell in a movie again. The acting was surprisingly good. A nice Christmas love story.

Lifetime Christmas 2020

[mitchellrharl · 10/10 · 9 December 2020]

Been watching more Lifetime 1360 lifehd than Hallmark 365 1365 366 1366 their Christmas movies 2018-2020 lack Christmas appeal too much diversity not interracial no problem same sex I am having trouble with. Hometown Christmas is sweet Beverly Mitchell always like her Stephen Colletti Erin Cahill Donny Boaz Brian McNamara and Melissa Gilbert good casting

Hometown Christmas doesn't invent the wheel, but it's a nice holiday film with lots of nostalgia.

[allmoviesfan · 8/10 · 10 December 2023]

You've seen this movie a dozen or so times before (at least) if you regularly watch Hallmark/Lifetime/GAC Family movies,.

That said, the distinctive southern setting (the movie is set in Youngsville, Louisiana) and a very good cast - Beverley Mitchell, Stephen Colletti as estranged high school sweethearts + Dony Boaz, Brian McNamara and the always-gorgeous Erin Cahill, to name just a few - make this box-ticking smalltown Christmas trope movie hum along nicely, fuelled by the chemistry that zings between Colletti and Mitchell. There are plenty of nods to southern Christmas traditions as well.

I'm a sucker for Christmas nostalgia, of which there was ample helpings, and the subplot about the two single parents getting a second chance at love was a nice touch.

The nativity performance angle was a nice way to finish a pleasant movie and Mitchell's rendition of 'O Holy Night' is stunning.