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Bruce Greenwood and Noel Fisher in "A Dog Named
Christmas"
courtesy of Hallmark Hall of Fame
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“A Dog Named Christmas” (Hallmark Hall of Fame)
“A Dog Named Christmas” is the perfect holiday movie and the perfect Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. The story is one that concerns the spirit of Christmas, and it is family entertainment at its best. You will have a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye as you watch this “boy and his dog” movie.
George and Mary Ann McCray (Bruce Greenwood and Linda Emond) live on a farm in Kansas with their developmentally challenged son Todd (Noel Fisher). He is the youngest of their four children and he is the one whose future concerns them. They are trying to prepare him to be independent and at twenty years old he is progressing nicely.
One day Todd learns about an “adopt a dog for the holidays” program at the local animal shelter. He convinces his parents to let him adopt a dog with the understanding and promise that the dog will have to go back to the shelter the day after Christmas. He and his father then go to the shelter and he picks a dog he names Christmas.
Todd of course becomes very fond of the dog and the crux of the plot is whether or not his father will make him keep his promise. George, it seems, has an aversion to dogs. As the story unfolds we find out why.
Greenwood is a subtle and believable actor. He immerses himself in the roles he chooses and makes them his own. George is a man with complex personality issues and Greenwood brings them all to life. A lesser actor could not have made George as interesting as he becomes in this film.
Opposite him Emond is more than just the supportive wife. She has a face that shows the stress and strain of raising her family, and her pride and love for Todd and George shines in her face.
Fisher is terrific as Todd and it is his performance that cements the family dynamic in the show. He gives Todd confidence and ingenuity without ever straying from the limitations in Todd’s abilities. He is totally believable in the role and endears this man to the audience from beginning to end.
There are a lot of twist and turns in this story of a family and a dog. Don’t get too confident about knowing how it all turns out because you just might be wrong. I had it figured out three different ways before I got it right.
“A Dog Named Christmas” is a solid show for the season of Christmas. It will make you thankful for your blessings and it will fill you with the joy of the Christmas spirit.
“A Dog Named Christmas” airs on the Hallmark Hall of Fame on CBS, Sunday, November 29 at 9PM. |
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©2009 Jackie K. Cooper |
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