It’s the holiday season. That means plenty of holiday entertainment including movies, TV shows and of course music. My husband and I are counting down the days until one of our favorite radio stations starts their 24 hours of holiday music, which runs from mid-November to Christmas day.
There are so many “must see” entertainment this time of year – Elf, A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life… the list goes on and on.
I try and catch as many holiday classics as possible (we have most on Blu-ray/DVD). I also enjoy watching new holiday films.
A new holiday film, Angels Sing, is currently available On Demand and for purchase in select stores and digital download. It stars Harry Connick Jr., Connie Britton (Nashville, American Horror Story), Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Chandler Canterbury (The Host, Standing Up) and Fionnula Flanagan (Defiance, Lost).
I was surprised to see so many singers in this film (Connick Jr., Britton, Kristofferson, Nelson, Lovett). You would think this film would have a lot of songs in it – but it doesn’t.
Harry Connick, Jr. stars as Michael Walker, who, as a child, wished every day was Christmas. That is, until a tragic accident crushed his holiday spirit. Thirty years later, Michael still can’t muster any joy for Christmas, despite encouragement from his playful wife (Connie Britton) and well intentioned parents (Kris Kristofferson and Fionnula Flanagan). But when his young son (Chandler Canterbury) faces a tragedy, Michael needs to make amends with his past. A mysterious man named Nick (Willie Nelson) gives Michael a gift that instills in him the courage to find the Christmas joy that he lost.
The film, Angels Sing, is inspired by the novel When Angels Sing, written by Turk Pipkin.
Turk Pipkin is a former stand-up comic turned writer and filmmaker. He has directed three award-winning feature documentaries (Nobelity, One Peace and a Time and Building Hope) and had a recurring role in The Sopranos as Janice’s narcoleptic born again boyfriend. He also founded The Nobelity Project, a global education nonprofit that works with Nobel laureates and other inspiring leaders to make enlightening and motivating films to raise awareness on global issues and move people to action. With the Nobelity Project, Turk has helped raise millions to build schools, libraries and water systems for kids in the developing world.
Angels Sing is a feel good family film. It does have a Hallmark Channel like appeal to it – part tear jerker/part feel good film.
I enjoyed the neighborhood that the family moves into in this film. It’s like Christmas Town USA. All of their neighbors go all out to decorate for the holidays including snow (they live in Texas!) and live animals (camels, sheep…). As crazy as it sounds I would love to live in such a neighborhood. It’s nice to see people enjoy the holidays.
One theme that ran throughout the movie is that the best thing about the holiday is the memories we create and pass down to our children. I really like that sentiment. I wish I had photos or home movies of my childhood Christmases to share with my kids. All I can do is verbally share memories with them. I hope that over the years we have made enough memories with our children that they will want to pass on to their children and grandchildren.
Check out this great list of ways to make your holidays more fun and festive.
Angels Sing is rated PG for Thematic Elements and Brief Language. I didn’t hear any bad language. I would have thought the film would have been rated G.
The run time is 87 minutes.
Here is the film’s trailer for your enjoyment.
Kimberly
*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this for the enjoyment of my site readers. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way. I originally reviewed the film last year via an online screener.
Lauralee Hensley says
Sounds like a wonderful movie. This year we’ll be foregoing any pay on demand items, but I will keep it in mind for a time when it comes to regular viewing TV.