This movie was a surprising delight. For starters, this is one of the more unusual stories. The leads are great together.. The movie is cute and funny and lively but has touching moments as well.
This movie also has a lot of music, mostly Christmas songs, even in different styles, but mostly upbeat. Marie Osmond performs a couple great songs and the leads do some great renditions also.
There is a beautiful montage toward the end that, intentionally or not, is a sort of tribute to the true meaning of Christmas.
Even Lifetime has optimistic heartwarming endings.
I have watched and reviewed literally several hundred Christmas movies and this is a definite must watch that will be watched over and over in years to come.
The Road Home for Christmas
2019
Action / Drama / Romance
The Road Home for Christmas
2019
Action / Drama / Romance
Plot summary
Lindsey Scott (Marla Sokoloff) and Wes Bailey (Rob Mayes) are reluctant partners in a New Orleans dueling-pianos/singing act, performing primarily in a Bourbon Street lounge on the approach to Christmas. Their reluctance is due to each being the antithesis of the other--Lindsey being hard working and classically trained and as such is always seeking perfection in her meticulous plans, while Wes is more relaxed and carefree. He has a greater ability to improvise being a jazz aficionado, and that general relaxed nature makes him outwardly more affable and approachable, which bothers Lindsey as he generally gets more attention than she. That's why Wes naturally has more connections in the business, like a friend of his currently being on tour with one of Lindsey's favorite singers, country star Cassie (Marie Osmond). And that's why Wes doesn't want to tell Lindsey that he has been offered a job on a nine-month tour with with a rock singer by the manager (Brian Robinson) Lindsey brought in to watch them perform in hoping to sign them or at least her as an act. When their last gig of the year just days before Christmas is canceled at the last minute, leaving Lindsey without sufficient funds for a flight to head to her hometown just outside of Akron for Christmas, more important this year with her sister Allie (Whitney Palmer) due with her first baby just on the other side of New Year's--Wes, just learning that he grew up in a neighboring town from her and too wants to head home for the holidays, suggests that they make what would be the 15-hour straight-through drive together. With the thought of not being home for Christmas the only thing worse than spending 15 hours with Wes, Lindsey, with no other option, reluctantly agrees. On the road trip, they hit one detour after another--some agreed upon, some bad circumstances--which in combination may threaten them making it to their respective homes for Christmas. But in the process, they have to spend extra time together, which allows them truly to get to know and fall for each other, one of the questions being if they can admit that to themselves and to each other. The situation is further complicated by Wes' upcoming new job on tour without her.
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One of the best of the year
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Well worth following this road
Christmas films can go either way, which has been my experience watching overtime the festive output of Lifetime and Hallmark. They can either be well-meaning, charming, warm-hearted and don't feel too heavy. Or they can be too over-sentimental, cheesy, contrived and bland. There have been many films of theirs that have fallen in both camps and in the camp where there is a bit of both. And 'The Road Home for Christmas' did have the sort of premise where the execution could have gone either way.
Luckily, for me, on the most part, 'The Road Home for Christmas' is in the former category. Having seen a lot of Christmas films that were in the latter category prior to seeing it, that was something of a relief. It is not perfect and not a Christmas classic, with a few common (for Lifetime's festive output) flaws, but as far as 2019 Lifetime films go 'The Road Home for Christmas' is to me one of the better ones and a nice way to spend 90 minutes.
By all means, 'The Road Home for Christmas' isn't flawless. Some of the dialogue in the early portions is a bit too on the corny and gooey side, not unusual for Lifetime.
It is a bit of a slow starter as well with it feeling a bit thin to begin with.
However, 'The Road Home for Christmas' also has some very attractive scenery quite photogenically shot. It is directed sympathetically without being routine and musically it doesn't feel over-scored this time. The film is helped hugely by the very appealing performances of Rob Mayes (in one of his better performances) and in particular perky and radiant Marla Solokoff, both managing to make their characters rootable and interesting. The supporting cast fare well too, with a wonderful looking Marie Osmond bringing a lot of heart and zip to her role. Really liked the chemistry between the two leads, which was very easy-going and charming. Not to mention that it looked genuine and like they cared for each other.
While not starting off on the right foot perhaps, the dialogue does improve drastically and flows better. Also being in general a lot less cheesy and over-sentimental than too many previously seen Christmas films, not to mention being thought-provoking in a sincere way without patronising. The story, even despite its lack of originality, is heart-warming, sincere and has enough of a light heart to avoid things from getting heavy. Really appreciated that the central relationship took its time to develop and did have more depth than most central relationships in the company's festive outings. Also that the ending wasn't abrupt ot too pat, which cannot be said for too many Lifetime festive films.
Concluding, a road really well worth taking. 8/10
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Lifetime Beats Hallmark
This Lifetime movie feels different from Hallmark and in a good way. It's a bit more sparkly and the cast is good. Also it doesn't use the overdone Hallmark formula. Marla looks quite good- better than on the Practice. Rob Mayes suits the easy going musician. Marie Osmond looks great and her voice is so good. Wish she would act more. The music does keep this one going.