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Parents' Guide to

A Country Christmas

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Big-hearted, kid-friendly holiday film with shallow plot.

Movie PG 2013 91 minutes
A Country Christmas Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 5+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Jacqueline7
Jacqueline7 Adult
August 27, 2019
age 7+

Heavy sadness and weird parts. Started with promise and went downhill from there.

When the parents tell the children about the mother’s terminal cancer the mother says there’s nothing she can do to fight it. This sends the daughter into a desperate pleading for her mother not to die. This scene was very upsetting to my 5yo and 7yo and honestly to me too. Mixed in with some terrible acting and just weird scenes like in the end when Santa heals the mother he loses his powers (the elf becomes Santa - also very weird) and becomes human ( a man in overalls named Nick) and then stays with the family on Christmas morning making breakfast?!? That’s the ending. All around poorly written movie.
S S.
S S. Adult
December 22, 2016
age 3+

Sweet but sappy

Good message except that it all happens a bit too easily. I felt the need to tell my younger kids, "you know that doesn't happen like that right". But, aside from a really sad part with a 'mom please don't die' theme, it was OK for the whole family (though may not hold the interest of the youngest crowd). Only 3 stars because the acting was not great. But the kids didn't notice. And my 11 yr old said "Why does it say no plot? That definitely had a plot and it was a good movie. Mom, write a review so people know its a good movie" I'm always nervous about movies that are about there being no Santa. But this one does it well, because there are several adults as well as the kids who believe.
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What's the Story?

When Arizona senator Max Schmucker (Kevin Pollak) bans all references to Santa from the holiday season, Santa's magic starts to disappear. Without his magic, Santa (Abraham Benrubi) can't travel the world anymore, and he crash-lands on the Logan family ranch. Kids Zach (Benjamin Stockham) and Miley (Caitlin Carmichael) soon discover Santa hiding in their barn along with his helper elf Elliot (Mikey Post). With Santa unable to help himself, Zach and Miley launch a campaign to bring back the magic of Christmas. Can they convince Max Schmucker, and the whole world, that Santa is real?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS has a big heart, a lot of country, and a lot of Christmas. Little kids will have no trouble overlooking the flaws that keep it from becoming a holiday classic (Santa's wig and beard are obviously false; Elliot's prosthetic, pointy, elf ear is clearly visible; and the flying-goat special effects are almost laughable), and they'll find siblings Zach and Miley easy to relate to and root for. Adults and country music fans might appreciate the cameos from Trace Adkins and Jay DeMarcus, but they're too brief to really satisfy. Country fans also may be disappointed with the music's backseat status, surprising for a project with names such as Adkins, DeMarcus, and Executive Producer Kix Brooks attached.

The story's formulaic, broad strokes feel emotionally manipulative, as when Miley makes no effort to prepare for her big debate with a U.S. senator and at the debate makes no actual arguments to prove her point, appealing to emotion to win the day. The cast's flat performances don't add any depth, either. The warm holiday messages of love and family shine through, but, with so many other great choices out there, this film is better left to country die-hards only.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the magic, love, and hope of the holiday season. What makes it a special time of year?

  • Do you have a favorite holiday movie? Did you like this one as much as you like your favorite?

  • Miley and Senator Schmucker have a big debate about Santa. Have you ever had to talk or perform in front of a big crowd? If not, do you think it would be easy to do?

Movie Details

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