Ed's Review Dot Com

Richard Thomas, Ralph Waite, Michael Learned, Ellen Corby, Jon Walmsley, Judy Norton, Eric Scott, David W. Harper, Kami COtler, Joe Conley, Ronnie Claire Edwards

This fourth Walton movie after the series ended is, unlike the others, set in 1963. John-Boy is still in New York, now desperately trying to convince his sweetheart to marry him. This is set during the days when President John F Kennedy was killed in Dallas, and actual news footage of the events surrounding those days are blended in with the events surround this Walton’s family reunion at Thanksgiving. The family decides to get everyone back together again. Ben is having his troubles. He’s fighting with his dad over the way they are running the lumber company. Plus he and Cindy have just lost their young daughter, and Ben is opposed to Cindy’s wish to adopt another baby. Others come back home as well, including Elizabeth who has returned from Europe after a divorce and starts up with her old beau, against the others wishes. Grandma is back home, and the whole family gets together to catch up and to mourn the awful events that have happened to the country.

The people who hated this movie mostly feel that there is a big flaw in the timing. The kids were growing up back in 1946 and now in 1963, almost 20 years later, have not aged that much. You have to set that aside, as the ages don’t work out, but it’s a TV movie, so don’t think so hard. This has much more meaning to me, as I remember the events of that time, as I was a school boy in those years. So this family has much more meaning to me than a family from the 1940’s. But I imagine folks who grew up in the 40’s would probably like the other ones better. I can identify with this much more, and it’s very nice to catch the story up to when the kids are grown and have families of their own.

I felt this is a typical Walton’s story, with good family values, and good principles and beliefs. I love the rural stories that were on TV back in those times, and it was nice to catch up with the Waltons. I felt the way the weaved the Kennedy assassination into the story was very well done. It gave a lot more impact to that particular Thanksgiving that year, and how the whole country felt. They are such strong characters and so well known and well liked, that it’s great to catch up with them again. Even if you saw this in the 90’s when it aired, it’s nice to see it again to remember nostalgically the Walton Family and their friends.

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Ralph Waite, Jon Walmsley, Judy Norton, Mary Beth McDonough, Eric Scott, David W. Harper, Kami Cotler, Ellen Corby, Robert Wightman

This is the third Walton’s Reunion movie. In this one, most of the family has split up and hardly anyone is planning on coming home for Thanksgiving. Elizabeth is dead set on bringing people together so the family tries to bring it together as a gift for Elizabeth. John tries to get everyone rounded up, and one by one they begin to arrive. John-Boy (Played in this movie by Robert Wightman) is suffering from writer’s block in New York, and looking for inspiration. Erin and Paul are newlyweds and anxious to move out of the Walton Homestead for good. Jason is a struggling musician looking for a break.

Greg Bryk, Sydney Cross, Peter DaCunha, Jayden Greig, Tricia Helfer, Tedde Moore, Mairtin O’Carrigan, Damon Runyan

Mrs Santa (Tedde Moore) senses that her husband Santa (Mairtin O’Carrigan) is losing the Christmas spirit. He’s even talking of quitting. So she tries to think of a plan, and figures if she can find Christmas spirit anywhere, New York City is the place, so off she goes for The Big Apple to find some spirit to cheer up her husband. In the process she finds a great family who really needs her help.

This is a brand new Hallmark Christmas movie, premiering this year. It’s true that the “Santa is depressed because nobody believes in him anymore” premise has been done to done to death. But this is a fresh look at the problem. Mrs. Santa is extremely delightful and quite a nice lady. The family, dedicated New York policeman, and overzealous career woman that are planning to divorce, and two nice kids who are being torn apart by the divorce. This is a heartwarming story due to the characters and the fine actors that play the parts. It’s nice to have a new movie. There are a few every year, and that helps make the story fresh.

Jacqueline Bisset, Tatiana Maslany, Helene Joy, Ted Atherton, Vivien Endicott-Douglas, Kristopher Turner, Michael Barbuto, Paula Boudreau, Catherine Fitch, Gage Munroe

This Hallmark holiday film is the story, based on Louisa May Alcott’s short story, of a poor widow, Mary Bassett (Helene Joy) who is trying to support her three children, but they are so poor, they can’t afford a turkey for Thanksgiving. Unexpectedly her estranged mother (Jaqueline Bisset) arrives, but the stress and strain between the wealthy mother, and her poor daughter is deep, and there are serious wounds that will need healing.