Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas (2022 TV Movie) User Reviews (19)

Not what I was expecting.

[dahotnessk · 5/10 · 21 December 2022]

I expected a nice variety show, not a "movie" about her making a show. During the first 5 minutes I was thinking that was just an intro to the show, but no, it continued.

When she was singing the non Christmas'y song in the field, I was confused even more! Then the scene at Dollywood. That was just full of stage fright and overacting from all involved.

I fast forwarded it to the "go to hell" song as I saw it on a meme and wanted to hear it in its entirety. I had a good laugh and after that point, pressed stop, then deleted it.

This was too all over the place and just didn't care to see how it ended nor was I interested in seeing any of the other celeb appearances. Waaaaaaaay too much cringe for my liking.

It was ok here and there

[jamestakisblain · 6/10 · 24 December 2022]

Dolly herself was very engaging and fun to watch, but the show was all over the map. She preached Jesus then catered to the "free-spirited" crowd. She wore antlers when female deer don't have antlers, though the overall effect was cute, admittedly. My biggest disappointment was her closing song, "When It Gets Better" (at least that's the chorus). She basically said don't act on your faith until things get better. That has nothing to do with the faith I practice, which is to NOT wait until things get better but to get on your knees at once and believe, no matter what the circumstances. Otherwise, why faith?

Just ok

[jmcauley-1 · 6/10 · 8 December 2022]

The Miley Cyrus and Jimmy Fallon segments were great. My only complaint was half the songs were not very Christmasy. One was about Satan. 'He's Alive' sounded like an Easter song. It's a Christmas special, so in my opinion every song should have been a Christmas song. There are plenty of them!

The acting segments were also a bit much. I don't really want to watch Dolly Parton acting like a diva or "boss" in a Christmas special. I get she probably wanted to show another side of herself, the "business side." But in a Christmas special it was distracting and a bit jarring.

Overall I would recommend it.

What the heck did I just watch?

[bartonmft · 3/10 · 4 December 2022]

When a Christmas special, especially one by a country music star, includes a song titled "Go To Hell," something is off-kilter. Okay, Dolly is addressing Satan in the song, but the effect is jarring, especially for folks who have their young kids gathered around the TV.

The producing-a-special-within-a special plot doesn't work, and some of Dolly's duets are just awkward. The audience-free Christmas special she did during the pandemic in 2020 was a much better showcase of Ms. Parton's singing and songwriting talent. Better yet, if you can find her 1990 "Home for Christmas" special, you will see Dolly in her prime, singing classic songs as only she can.

Disappointing

[mysweets530 · 3/10 · 2 December 2022]

I love Dollys movies and her music, but this one left me feeling depressed and flat. Not much in the way of really good Christmas music and the storyline left a lot to be desired.

I was looking forward to see and hear her and BRC sing a duet but please BRC, cut your hair. Half of your face was covered by your hair to the point that Dolly had to brush it a side.

I think the best thing in the special was Liam although I could not find out why he was there.

Please Dolly next year make it a real special and not a hodgepodge of whatever came to mind. This special was boring to the point that I felt I had a voice on one side telling me to change the channel and another telling me to wait maybe it will get better. I should have paid attention to first voice, it didn't get better.

Dolly is a legend, but this movie is a head-scratcher.

[FredRogers42 · 1/10 · 5 June 2023]

Dolly Parton is a time-honored, legendary country music star with a catalog of smash hits spanning decades. She's been inducted into multiple halls of fame. You might be surprised, then, to find out she made a Christmas movie that's harder to stomach than week-old Taco Bell.

Everything seems to be going wrong for Dolly in this movie-in more ways than one. Her big show is being sabotaged by seemingly everything imaginable. As opposed to blaming the incompetence of her staff, she spends a good five minutes of precious time ranting and singing about everyone's favorite punching bag: SATAN. Yes, folks-you heard that right. At least decent Christmas movies like "Home Alone" had the decency to blame Joe Pesci.

Even Willie Nelson couldn't save this one from being totally, completely, and utterly rotten. Were there a movie made whose sole purpose was to teach aspiring filmmakers how not to make a movie, this would be a fantastic candidate. I've been a fan of Dolly Parton all my life, but I have to call this one as I see it.

Watch it for the closing song

[krisrharper · 9/10 · 22 December 2022]

Lots of hating reviews on here, and I'll agree - don't expect a lot going in with storyline, character development, production quality, etc. But it's worth watching at Christmas. Get a glass of egg nog, a few cookies, and soak in some Dolly for a couple hours, it will warm your heart. When I visited Dollywood, my review was "Not enough Dolly." This is lots of Dolly. The parts with Miley, Jimmy Fallon, Willy, Billy Ray were kind of disjointed, but it was nice to see them perform with Dolly. And the closing number is still in my head the next day. I loved it, I'm glad I watched it, and you should too.

Go To Dollywood or Go To Hell?

[covertjby · 1/10 · 25 December 2022]

I don't get it. Dolly has lots of money and mega talent. Why do a Christmas special just for the sake of knocking off another one? This so called special begins with her talking about making a special. Perhaps a throw back to Mickey Rooney's "Let's put on a show" theme. Then she wastes your time with a romp down the streets of Dollywood singing as she goes. It's cheesy as you might expect as she sits and sings with an imaginary Willie Nelson.

The coup de grace was a song in which she stands up and repeats "Go To Hell". Not once but many times. Christmas is a time for family and especially for children. Exposing them to this kind of message is very counter productive and defeats the meaning of love at Christmas time.

I had to shut off the TV after that number. I had just watched her accept a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination the week before and it rekindled my love of her music. If you're producing shows for the sake of the almighty dollar perhaps it's time to consider censoring yourself.

Interesting and beautiful

[kel-02810 · 9/10 · 11 December 2022]

Seeing Willie Nelson is always a treat. I'm not like a lifelong Dolly fan club member or anything but I tell you what, she showed optimism, thoughtfulness and talent. Much respect for the way of life that Dolly presented and the joy and fun that she brought to our home. The kids watched it too, not knowing who she is but just being avid consumers of streaming family content and now Christmas themed shows in particular. Not to spoil anything but I have to say it got better as it went and climaxed at the end with a song I am still thinking about the next day. Glad we came across this one. God bless Dolly Parton! Also was introduced to a new singer Zach Williams who sounded great I am planning to find more of his music.

So very disappointed in this If I can call it a Christmas special

[dgkfpsznv · 1/10 · 22 December 2022]

I cannot begin to say how disappointed I was in this Dolly Parton Christmas special. I could not even watch it all...scrolled through most of it after I asked my husband to record it for me. It was a hodge podge mess. Whoever wrote this and produced it should be groveling right now to keep their jobs. Mountain Magic Christmas was a total flop. It was just awful. So many twists and turns, did not flow, awful dancing, awful scenery, awful songs. This is supposed to be a Christmas special but it would seem that the producers have no idea of what Christmas is really all about. The costumes were also awful. Hopefully next year (if they do another one) it will be done with taste showing Dolly in a much more regal light rather than this trashy themed idea they did for this one. Ps Who put the "hell" song in there for a Christmas special? Ugh! It was hard to watch is the best I can say. Next year find someone who truly appreciates Christmas to run the show! Dolly deserves writing better than this!

It will leave you perplexed and confused

[MikeBiddle · 4/10 · 6 December 2022]

I know everything on screen isn't expected to be real, but watching the Dolly stand-in dancer being flipped around & doing high kicks in Red's Diner was totally weird and comical. You can freeze frame at 21:39 and clearly see it's not even Dolly or Jimmy Fallon. Also, the Jimmy Fallon autotune was distracting when accompanied by Dolly's magical voice. Dolly has great success off playing both sides of the fence, i.e. Talking about Jesus and the Devil, but then singing about being whatever you feel like which this movie also does. She's made a point to cater to all audiences which after all, she is an entertainer, not a preacher. If it was not for the Dolly Parton singing, this would be a 1 star movie!

Love Dolly but.....ehhhhh!!!!!!

[tcountry · 3/10 · 6 December 2022]

Couldn't wait to see this new Dolly tv program/show/movie. I think it was trying to be too many things at once. I usually love Dolly in everything but she missed the mark on this one. I'm a Catholic when it comes to religion and I just think there was too much religion injected into this. It could have been soooooooooooo much better. When Willie Nelson came on I swear he looked 110 years old. The poor guy should retire and go rest somewhere on a tropical island that allows.....marijuana. The little blonde kid that kept showing up everywhere was a little annoying too. I don't know why that kept happening. So....that's about it for this Dolly flop.

Only made it 30 minutes in.

[kellieahoiland · 3/10 · 11 December 2022]

Who ever had this idea, wrote, and directed this should have rethought it! Dolly usually has heartwarming shows during the holiday but this seemed like a neverending ad for dollywood. The acting was horrible and the songs strange. After 30 minutes I had to turn it off. Would have been much better if she was just giving an actual concert instead of a movie about trying to make a concert. Don't waste your time! It was hard to watch and I can't get those 30 minutes of my life back. Stick to your regular concerts and your heartwarming stories Dolly! This was so fake and disingenuous it's a complete waste!

Dolly has always brought Christmas and Love to the world in many different ways and she is the most Iconic singer of all time.

[GusherPop · 10/10 · 6 December 2022]

'Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas' on NBC Is the Campy Holiday Special We Need Right Now. NBC knows you can't have Christmas without Dolly Parton, so here's Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas. This rehearsal of a live special within a scripted special is two hours of old-fashioned Dolly magic, presented by the queen herself alongside Jimmy Fallon, Miley Cyrus, Jimmie Allen, and the seasonal spirits of Willie Nelson, Zach Williams, and Billy Ray Cyrus. But can Dolly Parton still deliver the holiday goods, or has she plumb run out of magic? I'm sorry to all of the very talented guests and actors that help bring this special to life, but the performance worth watching belongs to Dolly Parton's wardrobe. From a satin pajama set complete with satin bustier and heels to a green velvet leisure suit with hippie holly patterned blouse, Dolly's serving more eleganza than a ball episode of Drag Race. The special itself is a tradition. You can't have Christmas without a new Dolly Parton special! There's nothing else like this on-air this season, so why not go back a little and rewatch Netflix's Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square? "Mountain magic" is said about as often as "Christmas" in this special, so they really nailed it. What can one say other than, "It's Dolly"? While watching this special, you will find yourself wondering how this special exists, why it's airing on NBC, and why it all somehow works despite its incredibly confusing premise. The answer to all of those questions is, of course, Dolly Parton. The entire special is a testament to Parton's persuasive power - and the audience's willingness and just flat-out love of being persuaded by her. Dolly Parton is quite possibly the only entertainer alive with the personal mythology to fill a two-hour holiday special every year (and also a theme park), and she definitely has a public persona beloved enough to make a major network say, "Yes, we will air a Jets vs. Sharks style musical showdown about a country singer and her choir gang sending Satan - yes, Satan - back to Hell." Dolly can do no wrong - and I mean that in the best way possible, because so much of what Dolly is doing here is so right. And to give you an idea of the tonal whiplash of this special, she urges her viewers to be true to themselves no matter what, then sings a soulful acoustic number asking if God is listening to her prayers - and then smashcut to Dolly in antlers and a jewel encrusted reindeer jumpsuit. Honey, that is drag.

A Very Overbearing Religious Carnival

[lichauco · 1/10 · 21 December 2022]

This feels like Dolly's version of a gospel album. I understand that religion is the reason for the season but I think this is not a story first movie. I felt overwhelmed with religious browbeating. This was definitely not my style of happily holiday movies. This "movie" felt more like a Dolly/Dollywood commercial than an actual movie. A notice at the beginning of each section should warn that this is an infomercial. The story writing is very poor and disjointed. The movie seems like it was written by choosing songs, writing a story for the section, and pasting the sections together later. This would have been better if the story was the first priority and the songs were integrated cohesively.

Funny, Heartwarming, and Christmas

[laurenthurston-50087 · 10/10 · 11 December 2022]

I loved this film. There's a lot of hate in these reviews which are ridiculous. The song about Satan was about the fact she was trying to put good in the world but kept getting in an angry mood and she knew it was Satan trying to keep her from doing a good thing. The song "Go to Hell" was telling satan to leave them alone and let them put some food in the world, good grief. By the way she sang this on her album in 2003, so it wasn't a new thing. + if you love dolly for who she is, you'll love the movie.

Her duets were fun, and she included a ton of the staff at Dollywood! I think it's neat that she let so many be involved in this project.

I think this film has religion, Christmas, and everything Dolly all wrapped up in a neat little package. We all know Dolly's core beliefs right now and that's what this film was about. It is cheesy, but it's in a cute and funny way. I would definitely watch it again.

Confusing but I guess it works

[vchimpanzee · 6 December 2022]

Somewhere I got the idea this was going to be a movie rather than a variety special. I guess it was both, because it was the sort of fictional story about preparing for a TV special which, for the most part, never actually aired.

Instead, we see rehearsals, taping of musical numbers which will not air live, fantasy segments where Dolly is by herself (but not really), and preparations, with fictional characters played by actors who were supposedly in charge. So we have all the elements that would have gone into a real special, without ever seeing most of what actually would be broadcast.

And if you ignore all the details about preparations and pretend all the musical numbers and other content were in an actual special, most of it is pretty good.

Now I won't say Dolly Parton can do no wrong. I say this about Willie Nelson, who did well but really showed his age. Of course I like Dolly. Everyone likes Dolly, right?

But I didn't care for all the songs she performed. Of course she's talented and despite her age still has lots of energy. I just don't like some of the styles of music she performs, and she has done just about every style there is. I prefer the more traditional style country or Americana, and the 70s country sound that wasn't really country. But the various pop styles and Christian music that she also performed just don't happen to be my taste. Southern gospel is fine, and of course the European classical composers and other traditional styles of Christian music. But for a Christmas special, I mainly like the more traditional styles of music. I like rock and roll from when it was still called that, but at Christmas?

And I certainly don't care for something called "Go to Hell", regardless. Don't you think kids will be watching? There were kids in it.

It was probably longer than it had to be, but there was a lot of good stuff here.

Loved it, and want more of it!

[Lamosp · 10/10 · 24 December 2022]

I oved the words of the songs, the music, the colors, the costumes, and I can relate to humble beginnings as well. You are proof that big dreams do come true, and in every good thing we do, Jesus is the reason.

I'm really impressed with Dollywood, how you have given back to your community. I also really liked (loved) Christmas of Many Colors Circle of Love. Your Christmas movies are exciting, and keep things true. Mrs. Parton, I love what you're doing, and I look forward to many more Christmas specials from you, boy do they touch the heart, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!

I just need Dolly and that's all

[kathyaj-24890 · 9/10 · 19 March 2023]

I didn't give it 10 stars bc here's the deal, I just want to watch Dolly sing, and hear her tell HER stories of her family. Remember her Christmas special during lockdown that was low budget where she just stood on a stage and sang beautiful Christmas songs? It was AWESOME!! Each song had a different beautiful background, and she stood there and sang and that was all we needed. And that's STILL all we need. Dolly is so utterly phenomenal that we judge everything else around her by her already perfect standard, and, well, by that standard everything else that's going on around her just comes up lacking. Dolly doesn't need anything but herself standing up there and telling stories about her life and family and then singing. See, I don't think NBC, or even Dolly herself, could rewrite something better than JUST DOLLY HERSELF! You can't improve upon perfection and that's what this show seemed to try and do. So, for 2023, I want a Dolly Christmas special like her Covid lockdown special. Just Dolly, and maybe a few guests SINGING. No fluff, and no glitz that isn't Dolly, bc you can't have anything glitzier than Dolly and when you try....well it fails. So, Dolly, we just need YOU. We have always needed JUST YOU, and we will continue needing and wanting...ONLY YOU. Just you, on a stage, singing and talking to us. Like your tours, and when you perform at the Opry. Just you. Thanks Dolly.