Christmas Cheer just might bring you some Christmas cheer. It’s a movie filled with hope, and it is about not getting for Christmas but doing Christmas. In other words, doing things that brighten the holiday season for other people. The picture opens with “Jingle Bells” and it focuses on a mixture of attitudes in people, and the wonderful change that Christ and the spirit of giving can bring about. It’s a movie the entire family can enjoy together.
It packs a lot into its 38-minute runtime. It’s almost over before you know it, but will give many viewers the warm fuzzies. It opens with some cheerleaders including Megan and Hannah (Zoe Giese and Kate Larson) as they perform their cheers. In a funny moment, one girl yells out, “Alright, alright, alright!” just like Matthew McConaughey.
The girls chat about what they are getting for Christmas when Trevor walks by. A girl asks him what he’s getting for Christmas, and he replies, “We don’t get Christmas, we do Christmas. Y’all realize that Christmas isn’t just about getting presents, right?” One girl, possibly with a guilty conscience, replies, “I go to church!”
Character growth is always a positive thing in a film, and in this one, the character of Megan undergoes a real transformation. Early on Megan wants to go to the mall to shop but is frustrated because her dad wants her “to go to this charity thing.” The charity thing is helping others out at the Shepherd Family Christmas Center, led by a Mr. Camp. Trevor winds up helping Megan out at the “charity thing” and even teaches her about bearing others’ burdens from Galatians Chapter 6.
Megan wonders if Mr. Camp takes the best of the donations that come in for families, but Trevor corrects her, telling her that Mr. Camp is the nicest guy in the world. Another example of character transformation in the film is a girl who is talking to friends, and she ignores a phone call from her mother. Later, she apologizes to her mom. The true meaning of Christmas continues to be seen as one young man is thrilled by receiving socks and underwear from the Shepherd Family Christmas Center. He is appreciative of a much-needed gift, even if it isn’t a new smartphone or the latest electronic toy.
In one humorous scene, Megan manages to sign up a woman to receive help. “You signed her up?!” asks Trevor, almost in disbelief at Megan learning so quickly. “I’m not a complete idiot,” says Megan. “Does that mean you’re half an idiot?” Trevor asks with a smile. And is it possible that Trevor also likes Megan in a romantic way? Megan continues to change and grow and encourages her friend to help out a girl at school named Maddie with a “cheer” box, containing items to hopefully make her day. The girl plans a surprise delivery. It doesn’t go as they hoped as an angry Maddie says she doesn’t need their charity. “She was so rude,” says one girl.
Megan shares what happened with Trevor, about the “door slamming in my face.” Trevor encourages her that God knows this and to try again. Peace is eventually made with Maddie who comes to realize that her friends cared about her.
The movie contains a nice balance between the drama and some light moments. Due to a fire at the center, some damage was done, and Jerod, Megan’s brother, puts his hands together as if he’s praying at the dinner table, and pretends to be Megan, praying, “Thank you God, it wasn’t the mall!” A local radio DJ speaks with Megan and her friends, and Megan shares the thought of not getting Christmas, but doing Christmas. The DJ is moved, speaking of the love he feels in the room. Near the conclusion of the movie, a girl sings a very nice rendition of “O Holy Night.”
Content Analysis: This film has a distinctly Christian worldview. Trevor is a shining example of pointing people to remembering the true meaning of Christmas and of bearing one another’s burdens. A friend of his captures the vision and she and her friends prepare a package to help a school friend. This movie is appropriate for All Ages.
Think About It: Good discussion topics regarding the film include re-thinking our attitude about what Christmas is about, and how instead of getting Christmas we can DO Christmas, and what does that mean?
The Dove Take: Christmas Cheer is a feel-good movie that is a good watch any old time of the year, and it’s a family-friendly film all the way! The film has earned our Dove Approved All Ages Seal.
