Sterling Media, Birch Grove Films, Firm Films
Jared Padalecki, Marcia Gay Harden, Peter O’Toole, Aaron Ashmore, Richard Burgi, Geoffrey Lewis, Chris Elliott, Richard Moll, Kiersten Warren, Gina Holden, Edward Asner, Chelan Simmons, Tegan Moss, Nancy Robertson
Most of us know Thomas Kinkade (Jared Padalecki) as a great painter. But the year is 1977. In this story he is a student who comes home from UC Berkely to Placerville and finds his mother (Marcia Gay Harden) is in danger of losing her home. Young Thomas and his brother take on work. In the process he learns some lessons about love and friendship and loyalty. Artist Glen Wessler (Peter O’Toole) is his mentor and takes the lead in the project to save the house while helping Thomas to find his style and technique which led to his famous work.
This is a touching heartfelt Christian film, and it’s a Christmas movie, so you can expect it to be very saccharine. That it is. But what do you expect for a Christmas movie? There are a lot of sub plots going on, so it’s pretty busy, but the prime relationship between Thom and his mentor Glen is the most significant. Peter O’Toole is very good in his role, and he gets better and better as the film goes on. He is very good. Jared, as Thomas Kincaid is also very good. Basically the whole story is a lot of fun, and it’s very touching. I enjoyed this film quite a bit when I first saw it in 2008, and watching it again was very worthwhile.
Throughout there is a light hearted humor to the film, and we find a lot to laugh at. But as it winds down, it goes straight to your heart and Peter O’Toole brings it to an amazing level. This is one that you don’t want to miss.
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