Product Details

• Actors: Rhea Perlman, Marianne Farley, Jason Gedrick
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: GAIAM AMERICAS
• DVD Release Date: October 13, 2009
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002AL2TYM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,458 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Christmas Choir" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Based on a true story, The Christmas Choir is the inspiring account of how one man can make a remarkable difference simply by giving of himself. Workaholic accountant Peter Andrews (Jason Gedrick) has overlooked Christmas, friends and even his fiancé for far too long. As a result, his life begins to fall apart. But a chance encounter with a homeless man named Bob (Tyrone Benskin) changes everything and inspires Peter to start a choir that eventually goes on to enormous success. With the help of the unconventional Sister Agatha (Rhea Perlman) and his newfound friends at the shelter, Peter learns that Christmas is not a season but a state of mind and that everyone deserves a second chance at life and love.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not your typical Christmas Movie, November 13, 2009

By 

J. Olsen (UT, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Christmas Choir (DVD)

This is a good movie. It isn't just a mindless romance of a single parent at Christmastime--as so many Christmas movies are. There is a romance involved, it just isn't the whole story.

Peter is a workaholic accountant who has just been dumped by his fiancee. He meets a piano player in a bar who can sense he is down and invites him to "come home" with him. "Home" turns out to be a homeless shelter run by an outspoken nun who is trying to quit smoking. He spends the evening there, makes a donation and leaves, never expecting to return. But after seeing one of the homeless men the next day being pushed along for loitering, he returns to the shelter and helps serve dinner, much to Sister Agatha's surprise. But he wants to do more. On the way home he sees a group of carolers on the street receiving donations. He has an idea and returns immediately to the shelter to discuss it with Sister Agatha. He wants to form a choir as a way for the men to earn some money for Christmas, but there are obstacles along the way. He has to face Sister Agatha's doubts, the men's mistrust of his motives, their lack of training and discipline, his rocky relationship with his father and his own deteriorated personal life.

At first he sees himself as the one doing great things to help these men, but finally comes to see how much they have done to turn his life around. It is an uplifting movie that teaches a good lesson without heavy-handed preaching.

The romance is a gentle thread developing throughout the story. It is never suggestive or inappropriate.
Amazingly, this movie of a rougher side of life has no rough language. I think the term "brain-fart" is as bad as it gets, and we hear that only once. Alcohol abuse is dealt with as one choir member shows up to a performance drunk, violating the "cardinal rule". Peter is very angry, words are exchanged and he quits and walks out on the choir. He ends up drunk himself, which is ironic since in an earlier scene he had expressed his frustration with his own father's alcoholism. I can't think of anything else that might be objectionable to anyone. Things look bleak for a time, but are resolved nicely with an upbeat ending.

It is "based on" a true story, but take it with a grain of salt. The fine print at the end of the credits indicates that they have fictionalized events for dramatic effect. Still, I think it is a very good Christmas movie that isn't just light fluff--it actually has some meat to it. I would definitely recommend it. The whole family can watch it, though younger children may not grasp the message.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly surprised, November 1, 2009

By 

P. Conable "Pat C" (Arvada, CO USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Christmas Choir (DVD)

Have always appreciated Jason Gedrick's performances & this proved to be another good role for him. It was enjoyable for the Christmas season & would have been any time. He, following a disappointment in his life, rose to the occasion to help a group of street people improve their lives by giving back just as the hero (Jason) had done to overcome some problems in his life. Everybody lived happily everafter!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Christmas Dvd, December 30, 2009

By 

Amber A. Wright "Reading Rainbows" (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Christmas Choir (DVD)

I watched this movie last year and loved it so much I decided to order it this year so I can enjoy watching it over and over again. It's one of thise movies that gives a message and has that warm feeling when the cast comes up.