All Good Things is an uplifting and relevant film that deals with how busyness and distractibility often dictates the quality of our lives. Two teenage sisters, Baily (Brett Hargrave) and Calista (Sierra McCormick), who stem from a divorced family, reluctantly visit their grandparent’s’ horse farm for Christmas. They are dealt a blow when the internet does not work, and their pending escape to Hawaii is canceled. As they slowly forego their constant dieting and glamorous, social media lifestyle, they get in touch with family and make new friends, and their true character is revealed.
Especially powerful is the dedication Pop-pop (Corbin Bernsen) and Gramma (Morgan Fairchild) have to the cause of their farm, where rehabilitated horses are purposed, in turn, to help rehabilitate people. The two sisters do not believe they need to make any personal changes, but through encountering the locals and one trainer/counselor named Fiona (June Shreiner), who helps them consider another way to live their lives, they begin to look inwardly and slow down enough to appreciate the natural setting where they find themselves. Calista especially struggles with superficial behavior, and as she unwinds and discovers who she really is, her appearance mirrors this transformation, with a change from city to country clothes and much less make-up. It is refreshing to see these young girls embrace their surroundings and begin to focus on the needs of others.
This takes shape upon learning that their grandparents’ farm is in jeopardy, and they brainstorm, sacrifice, and exert all their efforts to help stop the loss of the property. As I was rooting for the girls to succeed, I was finding that I wished I were in that beautiful Washington state setting, spending some time at a slower pace. The scenery is indeed breathtaking, with several captivating shots of mountains, rivers, and forests, which makes up for some of the more mediocre acting by secondary characters.
Though this film pits city life against the rural life, reinforcing messages about how much better life and even people are in the latter as opposed to the former, the primary moral messages from Fiona and Pop-pop are universal as they talk a lot to Calista about not giving up, helping others and having faith.
The Dove Take:
The timeless message of the importance of proper perspective, values, and character is reinforced throughout this charming Christmas movie that leaves viewers with hope for themselves and a younger generation, who is willing to stop long enough to smell the roses.
Dove is pleased to award All Good Things the Dove-Approved Seal for All Ages.
