The Heart of Christmas (2011 TV Movie) User Reviews (13)

Very Sad Film to Watch

[Christmas-Reviewer · 8/10 · 8 March 2017]

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THAT PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE ABOUT THESE FILMS.

The Heart of Christmas is a 2011 American Christian drama feature film directed by Gary Wheeler. It stars Candace Cameron Bure, Erin Bethea, Jeanne Neilson, Eric Jay Beck, George Newbern and Matthew West in his film debut. It is based on a true story. It involves a woman's encounter with a family caring for a child with acute leukemia and how it transforms her faith and her attitude about her own family.

Megan Walsh is a successful businesswoman who does not seem to have enough time for her husband and two children. While taking her children trick-or-treating during Halloween, she encounters a confusing situation in which many families are decorating for Christmas (which is nearly two months away). Their explanation is that they are trying to provide one last Christmas for Dax Locke, a toddler in their neighborhood who is dying of a rare form of leukemia. Curious, Megan reads Dax's mother Julie's blog and learns about the Lockes' journey. Inspired, Megan examines her own life and priorities

This family theme film is well made and I enjoyed the film. ***SPOILERS Ahead***. In this film a family is doing everything it can save their child from dying of leukemia. They spend months and months at St Joseph but the child loses his fight.

Now I loved the way they did this film. It was a different approach and that we see the film through the eyes of a person who is reading a blog about the family dealing with a child with cancer.

If you lost a child please don't watch this. The ending is uplifting however it is still "A True Story" and my heart just breaks when I think of this film.

This film is very good! Its just that watching not only a child suffering but watching a family feeling hopeless is also very hard. If you don't cry watching this film then you are not human.

Nice Heart Warming Film

[Christmas-Reviewer · 8/10 · 19 May 2019]

Review Date 5/19/2019

I Have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films and Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films.

Megan Walsh is a successful businesswoman who does not seem to have enough time for her husband and two children. While taking her children trick-or-treating during Halloween, she encounters a confusing situation in which many families are decorating for Christmas (which is nearly two months away). Their explanation is that they are trying to provide one last Christmas for Dax Locke, a toddler in their neighborhood who is dying of a rare form of leukemia. Curious, Megan reads Dax's mother Julie's blog and learns about the Lockes' journey. Inspired, Megan examines her own life and priorities

There is not one false moment in this film. Every progresses in logical ways. It makes you at the end cherish your own life. One of the best "Christmas Films" you will ever see!

Great Movie

[bobbyreddin · 10/10 · 14 December 2011]

All the actors were great. Extremely liked Austin and his dad and mom. Hope to see them in other movie's! This movie will make you move on the inside with emotions. I am not an emontional person but watching what they all went thru and to see a mom and dad be so strong with the child of a disease the true parents if they are this strong God has to be with them.I hope that this movie will be one that the family looks forward to seeing every Christmas. I also believe that this movie should be viewed at youth detention centers. Maybe it would help the children who think they have a problem realize that they really don't. I pastor a church and have told my members to watch this movie with their children.

Not a Late Night Infomercial!!!!

[drthdve · 10/10 · 11 December 2012]

Hey TravelJunkie23, have a heart and think of someone else that is need this Christmas!! Their are so many kids with cancer that may not have a Christmas this year or next, their are so many families that can not afford the treatment for their child that has cancer, and so many families that have may other needs! Anyone that would not be affected by this movie in some degree doesn't have a heart! I am sorry to that that, but it's true! I am guilty of getting a little selfish sometimes and I need something like this movie to remind that their are so many that need us! As for me, I will think of those that are in need this Christmas! I thought this movie had the perfect message, that it's not about what WE are going to get for Christmas, or if we didn't receive that special thing that we wanted for Christmas! It's about thinking of others that may be in need and helping them! I give this movie a rating of ten and we need more movies like this! Keep them coming!

Fantastic Movie! I mean 100/100

[eltonmenezes · 10/10 · 13 March 2022]

Watched this movie with my family. It truly is so well produced! The actors were just phenomenal. This movie has impacted all of our lives and has spurred on the will to try and help more children and more people who are suffering in this world.

Always love those who are nearest to you and cherish every moment!

Awful acting

[amanda-15127-18211 · 1/10 · 1 November 2018]

I see many other reviews have praised the acting but I don't understand why. It's awful acting and in many parts, awful writing too. I appreciate it's based on a true story and I don't want to take anything away from it, but I agree with one reviewer who said it's like a commercial for the hospital. If you're looking for a tear-jerker, there's way better films out there.

Some of these reviewers are quite shocking.

[mattstorm-12206 · 10/10 · 29 December 2022]

I'm not a "pearl clutching" type but my oh my, the venom being hurled at this film as being "just a commercial", well, no it's not just a commercial it's a movie and yes it's also trying to raise funds for....sick kids and desperate parents, what's wrong with that?

Then there seems to be this bickering over the acting with some feeling they have to praise it and others ripping on it. Reality is, the acting was acceptable and got the job done, really not the point of the film.

So, how about I actually review the film itself eh? I don't want to spoil stuff but I'll just say I popped it in a few Christmases ago not super paying attention at 1st cuz figured it was gonna be another standard fare Candace/Hallmark film - which I enjoy them - but just saying I had no idea how serious this was going to get.

I do recommend this film and won't give away specific plot details but will "forewarn" parents, this does deal with the often harsh realities of children getting sick, there's no graphic surgeries shown or anything like that, but this is about a real childrens ward and not all the characters are going to have a happy ending.

Giant infomercial

[TravelJunkie23 · 2/10 · 27 November 2012]

The whole movie plays out like a giant St. Jude hospital commercial.

While i feel the acting is good and draws the viewer in for an emotional movie experience, it seems like the screenplay was written for just that purpose. The writers create an emotional roller coaster where the only option is to donate money to St. Jude. The movie follows a family's struggle with a terminally ill child, but with frequent references to the St. Jude hospital's staff and general medical care it's hard to get lost in the plot. Next time i'd rather just watch their late night infomercials and skip the movie part of it. Not my ideal movie watching experience.

AMAZING acting!

[JBThackery · 10/10 · 21 July 2021]

I felt like I was right there with them all. So real and professionally acted. You feel moved by the emotions and want to see them get through their trials. The child actors are tops in their field! I couldn't imagine how these tots could take such complex directing so well. And their filling the roles of their little charactors was so impressive. Directing, music, camera work, editing, and cinematography are spot-on. My faith, and appreciation, were greatly bolstered.

Good storyline, very poor acting

[moviereviewer99 · 5/10 · 15 March 2019]

The storyline was good, but the acting was definitely lacking.

VERY dry emotion.

Terrible acting. I mean bad.

[roxanneangell-22440 · 2/10 · 15 December 2019]

The storyline was there, but the acting was the worst! Where were the directors? And was St. Jude the purse behind the production, because it was a very long commercial for them. I mean they do good work but

Not a Christmas Movie, more of an Infomercial

[moviereviewermi · 1/10 · 24 December 2020]

I created an account purely to submit a review because I am beyond shocked that this has any positive ratings.

1. It is most definitely an infomercial for St Judes. Nothing wrong with that hospital but this is a very long infomercial for them. Not a movie.

2. It is not about Christmas and barely addresses Christmas or any plot outside of the Infomercial. What little there is is very minimal and strung together

3. Candace Cameron Bure shouldn't be listed so highly in the list of actors in this movie. She's barely in it.

Dreadful infomercial

[barnsleylad4949 · 1/10 · 24 December 2020]

Shut this garbage off after 20 minutes. Terrible acting, totally depressing and not Christmas related at all. Just a huge infomercial for St.. Jude. BTW, the kid dies and the parents are now divorced. Kinda kills the whole theme of the movie.