Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Family-friendly holiday romance has mild language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Very Country Christmas
What's the Story?
In A VERY COUNTRY CHRISTMAS, Zane (Greyston Holt) is a famed country singer who, for undisclosed reasons, leaves a concert before getting on stage. Instead of running home to Florida or to his California ranch, he hides in the small town where he went to music camp as a boy. Jolene (Deana Carter), who used to run the camp and remains Zane's good friend, puts on the town's Christmas show every year. She recruits Jeannette (Bea Santos), busy single mother of little Quinn (Raven Stewart), to help design the stage for the coming performance. Jeannette holds down several jobs while finishing her degree in interior design, so even though she's attracted to Zane, she tells him she's too busy to date. Zane is a great guy and wins over Quinn first. Then through a series of "non-dates," he persuades Jeannette that his feelings are real. Soon after his brother-agent (Greg Vaughan) finds him, the entertainment press pours in to harass him. Will he stay or go?
Is It Any Good?
A Very Country Christmas does the job it sets out to do, providing a family-friendly, cookie-cutter, predictable romance in an attractive holiday setting. Nothing here will challenge anyone or offer any original thoughts about anything, which may make this some viewers' idea of perfect holiday fare. Two nice people meet nicely. That's about it.
There's one standout moment, but it doesn't have much to do with the plot. With only a couple minutes of screen time, Kelsey Lamb (as a character called Kelsey) sings a moving version of that solid and reliable Christmas carol, "Deck the Halls." Kids may not be necessarily interested in a holiday romance, but if they walk in when someone else is watching this, there's nothing to worry about.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the story's emphasis on the importance of family. How does Zane prove to Jeannette that he cares about family? Do you think he's sincere? Why?
Jeannette talks about being a good mother. What are some qualities good mothers have that she displays?
How does this movie characterize small-town living versus big-city living? Which do you prefer, and why? Why do so many movies compare these two locations?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 12, 2017
- On DVD or streaming : November 28, 2017
- Cast : Greyston Holt , Bea Santos , Greg Vaughan , Deana Carter , Raven Stewart , Kelsey Lamb
- Director : Justin G. Dyck
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : for some mild language
- Last updated : November 23, 2020
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