Customer Reviews

The Christmas Choir

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

"Hitting bottom is when you're all alone and there's no shoulder to lean on."
"The Christmas Choir" begins from nothing, the true bottom of the barrel, but the men lean on each other, and on those who, in helping the choir, get help themselves. It's a win-win for Christmas. It's a Hallmark TV channel airing that won two "Most Inspirational" awards. And it is that--inspirational.

Workaholic (Peter: Jason Gedrick) gets dumped by fiance.
Workaholic goes to a bar.
Workaholic meets homeless shelter man, Bob (Tyrone Benskin).
Workaholic dreams up "choir" idea.
A Hum-Bum choir is not a frequent-flier tale connected to Santa or a nativity.
A unique and true story.

The dramatized events surrounding The Christmas Choir, comprising homeless men, is heartwarming. The story has a side plot of romance, but the basis of the film is forgiveness & giving & transformations & miracles & second chances. That's a lot for one choir and director to accomplish in 84 minutes but they do it, and it works, and it is a delightful way to spend a small portion of your Christmas holiday time.

One surprise recognizable cast member is Sister Agatha played wonderfully by Rhea Perlman who is a habitless nun working at the shelter with the same in-your-face attitude Perlman developed and made famous as a bar-maid on "Cheers". Fun as well as sincere.

Expect NO extras or bonus material except previews of other Christmas DVDs.
But the DVD is a value regardless, a staple in picking up the Christmas spirit.
Low economic times call for low economic Christmas miracles, right?

This was another totally new movie to us this year--never heard of it before, but really enjoyed it. As another reviewer mentioned, there are a few scenes with alcohol and someone being drunk, but it is based on a true story so those scenes don't take away from the overall message of hope, forgiveness, charity, and good will. The story shows the pain that many of us feel at Christmas and the holiday season when we're reminded of deaths and other losses we've experienced.

I'd rate this PG or PG13. The editing is a little choppy/abrupt because it's made for TV and was made to have commercials between scenes. Overall it is a keeper in my book--emphasizes the impact of one person's life, and on things that matter most in life. Heartwarming and genuine, not sappy. The movie made me look at my own life and at homeless people in a different way (reminded me of the poem about how you spend your life and what will be on your tombstone).

I like that I only recognized Rhea Perlman; it's easier for me to enjoy the story line sometimes when I don't know the actors from other roles they've played. My vote is: definitely worth renting and/or buying.

As a Christmas film freak, i will watch mostly anything dealing with Christmas. I approached this film because i am a musician but i did not realise that it was based on truth until the credits rolled. It was not heavy going as a film .At first i thought that the performances were for me steroetypical. Things shown were too easy to happen and there was not enough depth of emotions in the whole package. Maybe it was because the makers wanted a light edged film I don't know . I think it had all the ingredients for a mini series That way there would have been room for exploring the various characters. However, i did enjoy it .It made me think . And without wanting to give anything away there was real joy for me to know what happened to these characters. I intend giving it another look and hopefully will be able to pick up on things i missed first time around . I guess that in someone elses hands it could have been a much deeper film , more serious , more heartbreaking because of its dealings with people who have fallen on bad times, and the real problems of motivating them . Would i recommend buying it . Yes i would.. It's a film that has its heart in the right place .and i was so pleased to have come across it .

This will be one of our favorite Christmas movies. It has a bit of romance and a lot of love. You won't be sorry if you get this.

I saw this movie on TV and decided to send for it.. I am very pleased with the quality, story line and theme of movie. I will send for more movies through Amazon.

I thought Ive done a review on this movie.It was a good movie I gave it to my best friend for Christmas.This movie really makes you stop and think about your life and many blessings God gives you so you need to try and do the same to help those in need.

This is a wonderful movie, good for all to watch. Guys shouldn't discount it as a chic flick. This is said to be based on a true story. This very busy accountant is very wrapped up in his work, loses his fiancee and finds himself listening to a guy playing the piano in a bar (I think he was having a pop) and they begin talking and the guy takes him home to visit his family. Come to find out, they go to a homeless shelter. He is basically told to do something good. He begins remembering the times he and his mom had sang and played the piano before she died. He had an estranged relationship with his father. Anyhow, he starts a choir, wanting to help the homeless guys earn some money and help them help themselves. He found himself not needing to work at his accounting job so many extra hours overtime but found what was more important. He started to notice a worker at the subway station and they started talking and she suggested they sing there. Well the police broke that up and cited the man for not having a permit; however, they sang well enough to get a permit. The father comes in the picture. Ups and downs with the people of the choir, the father, the new lady, the leader himself occur. Wonderful blessings arose from the two guys meeting for all.