I must admit I was not expecting much from this film. I had seen Billy Ray Cyrus' acting in Hanna Montana an didn't think too much of it, well at least in the couple of episodes I saw of the show. So I was pleasantly surprised to see him give a good performance here. I was surprised that I actually go into this movie and was moved by it. The story of racism was not overplayed though it did make up a good part of the story. I'm also glad they didn't show the black kids grandmother as some sniveling scared black person that is often seen in movies about race.

I will definitely make this one of the Christmas movies I'll watch again.

Rayvyn

The vast majority of Christmas theme movies made each year have single season plots. They can be comedy romances, dramas or other mixed genres but they take place around a single Christmas season. The most common among these are the romances that just happen around Christmas. And most such movies are just fair at best.

"Christmas in Canaan" is an exception to all of the above. It takes place over several years. It's not a comedy romance. It's about family, friendship, caring, teaching, learning, and struggling together. The movie opens in 1964 in Texas farm country where most of the story takes place. It ends there around Christmas of 1975.

The plot addresses racial bigotry that still existed in much of the country after the Civil Rights Movement. It's a look at broken families and how they survive. The movie is based on a book by Country Western singer Kenny Rogers. This is a very good film for the whole family.

This was a great movie. Well worth watching. James Welch Henderson Arkansas 10/8/21.