Holiday movies come in three varieties: the sentimental, the preachy, and the counter-programming. The sentimental films are not just pulling at the heartstrings; they are kicking at them. The preaching ones want to ensure you know the reason for the season at any cost. The counter-programming films want to turn things on their head and often play against the niceness of other seasonal movies. All of these forms have their place and value and are beloved in their own way for what they offer. The hardest one to pull off may be the sentimental film, which wants to remind you of past holidays, offer up a hopeful message, and entertain you. These are hard to pull off because, so often, they become either preachy or heavy-handed in their message. And let’s face it, not everyone wants a sweet holiday film and part of that reason is that the romance networks have made these films utterly vanilla and corny with no real depth or emotional honesty.
Hitting the sweet spot of nostalgia while saying something is a tough needle to thread, but it’s one that SAINT NICK OF BETHLEHEM manages very well.
The story follows Nick, a small-town man looking for a new start. Nick lives with his mother following a hard divorce and then a deeply personal loss in his life, and he needs to rediscover his purpose in the world. The former teacher is well-liked in his hometown of Bethlehem, but no one has a job that will help him get back on his feet. After an old flame returns to town, Nick seems to get a second wind and takes a job with his estranged brother at the family car dealership and slowly remembers who he is and what makes him who he is, and on the way, the town remembers how important he is to them as well.
This is a very sweet film with likable characters and a nice message of hope. The heart of the story is a message of faith and spirituality, but it never feels forced or preachy. The cast is very good, with star and co-director Daniel Roebuck leading the charge as the lovable Nick and Cathy Moriarty as his cantankerous mother. The cast has genuine chemistry, and it really raises the film. The movie captures the small-town charm of Bethlehem, where it was also filmed, and adds to the nostalgic flavor. The film is sweet, it’s funny, it has moments of deep sadness, and it captures the warm feeling of family, and community.
One of the best compliments I can offer is that this is a Christmas film that the entire family can watch and re-watch in the coming years. It’s not easy to make a film that has no real darkness. There is grief, and there is sorrow, but these are dealt with in real ways and feel genuine and earned. This movie is what it is – a Christmas movie. It’s meant to make you feel good and smile, and does that well. There are more than enough grim and dark holiday movies out there, and it’s always nice when one comes along who is sweet and smart and doesn’t treat the audience as if they are children.
If you are looking for something that can be shared with the family for years, SAINT NICK OF BETHLEHEM is perfect for you. Very highly recommended and beautifully done.
4 out of 5
The Spooky World of Chris Ringler 