The best part of this movie is Ed Asher. He is an amazing actor!
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jdrmusicgod4 December 2018
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It's a very simple story. Usually these films tend to make a big drama in the middle where the two romantic interests argue about something, but this one just didn't have the harshness that usually comes with it.
I liked the charming setting of Baton Rouge and felt that it was a little bit like a Christmas episode of "True Blood", but without the Vampires.
I liked the simplicity and the ease of the story, it makes it an enjoyable watch while you're doing your favourite Christmas jigsaw. -
TheLittleSongbird13 July 2021Throughout my whole Lifetime (Hallmark too) Christmas film completest quest undertaken namely late last year, an interesting quest but very hit and miss, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with Lifetime's output. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level. One could see that with enough of Lifetime's work.
While it is not perfect, 'Christmas on the Bayou' is one of their in general better early 2010s films and a lot better than most of their Christmas output now, which has been very hit and miss for some time now. It is very charming and engages and moves enough, even if the story and pacing are far from flawless what made me see 'Christmas on the Bayou' (primarily the cast) does not disappoint. It is very easy to dismiss outright the film as sentimental, predictable and plot light, understandably, but given a chance without prejudice one may find themselves pleasantly surprised.
'Christmas on the Bayou's' story is very slight and does drag in the sections where the story is fairly uneventful. It is also very little different from similar themed films, and there are a good number out there. The final quarter is easy to figure out, which is not unusual for Lifetime.
Some of the dialogue early on is rather too corny and mawkish.
However, 'Christmas on the Bayou' has a lot that is done right. It looks attractive enough. The scenery is both rustic and festive and the photography doesn't look rushed or drab, quite beautiful actually. The music doesn't come over as too melodramatic while still having some presence. The direction is suitably sympathetic on the most part while taking a little time to find its feet. The dialogue is not perfect either but the cheese and sentiment don't go overboard and it generally doesn't come over as stilted.
Furthermore, the story, despite its imperfections, is warm hearted and has a lot of well meaning heart, without taking itself too seriously. The characters interest and are worth investing in, not being too perfect or having flaws too exaggerated. Hilarie Burton is an alluring and touching female lead and the child actor is neither sickly sweet or bratty. The best performance comes from Edward Asner, one of the best when it comes to portraying crusty curmudgeonly charm yet with a twinkle in the eye.
Overall, very nicely done. 7/10. -
TxMike16 December 2013I watched this with my sister, we both grew up in Louisiana and it was fun seeing Lafayette and St Martinville where it was filmed. The actors are not Louisianians but the accents were passable if not authentic. Ed Asner actually did the best job of approximating a Louisiana bayou accent.
Christmas themed TV movies often have this similar theme ... a 30- something workaholic big city lady travels back to her rural home town and meets a nice young man that she resists at first but eventually gives in to. We KNOW from the very beginning this will happen, but we sit back and enjoy the ride getting there.
Hilarie Burton is the divorced, 30-something marketing professional Katherine with a young son of about 8 or 9. They travel to her home town of St Martinville, about 20 miles SE of Lafayette, to visit her mom and spend Christmas along the bayou.
As the movie opens, 20 years earlier, we see the 10-yr-old Katherine about to be kissed by 10-yr-old Caleb, but something happened and they never became an item. But now, back home she meets up with Tyler Hilton as the grown up Caleb who works as a ranger. Caleb hits it off right away with her young son, but Katherine is very gun-shy, her first marriage didn't work and she didn't want to get into another to do the same.
Randy Travis has a good, small role as the local store owner Mr. Greenhall. Markie Post, looking really good in her early 60s, is Katherine's mom Lilly.
But the best character is 80-something Ed Asner as Papa Noel who seems to be the real bayou Santa Claus, and he has a positive impact on the little boy. That little boy is Brody Rose as Zack.
There isn't really anything new here, story-wise, it is just a good family movie with nicely attractive actors. -
"Christmas on the Bayou" is a holiday romance film that is set in the American South, were it rarely snows. But, unfortunately this is another film with multiple formulaic features. It has a divorced, single mom with a seven-year-old boy. She's climbing the corporate ladder in the big city. They live in an apartment and the boy feels she doesn't pay much attention to him. In frustration and weary from work, she decides to go home for Christmas. So, she calls her widowed mother who is vary happy to have her come home to Martinville, Louisiana. While there for a week, she still spend time on her laptop doing work, in between other things. The last formula element is that her old childhood boyfriend is there - and is now a town police officer.
The only fresh aspect in this film is the holiday lighting in the community for Christmas, the pictures of the bayou, and some interesting treatment of Santa Claus as Popa Noel. The mom finagles to get the daughter and her old sweetheart back together. But the daughter is overly standoffish with her former beau.
Although one can guess how this will end, as with most of these TV films for the holidays, the interest for many of us who continue to watch and enjoy these annual holiday offerings is in what may be new or different about them. But for the scenery and different location, I would have rated this film just five stars. The performances aren't particularly good, and some even seem wooden at times. That goes for Ed Asner too, who plays Papa Noel.
Here are some lines from this film.
Zack, "And I hate school. I don't wanna go." Katherine, "Hey, it's third grade. You don't know how to be miserable until at least high school."
Zack, "Look, I do like soccer, but you never play with me. How am I gonna get better if I have no one to play with?"
Caleb, "Cute kid. Got your nose. And your scowl."
Lilly, "Oh, honey, you can't chase happiness. You gotta find it where you are." -
doctorsmoothlove30 December 2019"Christmas on the Bayou" is a house of cards. Visually impressive yet lacking in substance. The film is unique in many ways. It's set in a warm environment, features jangly banjo music and has several shots of Louisiana rivers, or bayous, as they are called by locals. Perhaps the strangest element is the conversation between a little boy and Papa Noel (Santa) about whether or not Santa is real. Santa is a southern hermit who instantly reveals his identity to the boy. These conversations are interesting in how infrequent they occur in movies like this. The two of them have an interaction as pupil and student. The boy, I think, is grateful for someone to talk to since he can't spend time with his mother. She is stressed for many reasons and closed off to everyone even her son. Usually, the child is the hopeful person and the adult is cynical. Here, both people are. The film makes some allusions to the burden of single motherhood and how nice it would be for another person to be involved in the heroine's life yet nothing is directly spoken. I didn't like that everyone pushes Hilarie Burton's character to Tyler Hilton's character because they once dated as kids. She makes it clear that she doesn't want to be with a man because her ex-husband just walked out. Eventually, I feel like she capitulated because the script calls for it.
There are many shots of muddy rivers and vast yards leading to the bayou. I get the feeling that the film was actually filmed in Louisiana, and even if it was not, I appreciated the different scenery. Many of these films seemingly take place on a film set or in a generic town setting. There is a small town attached to the country estate where the film takes place. Thankfully, not much takes place there. A shopkeeper runs a general store and the main character helps him launch an online presence. For some reason, she recommends that he become a Christmas store. Of course it works out.
This is kind of a nothing happens movie. Usually these films are a bore. This one has a unique setting and take on Santa Claus which I won't spoil for you. I'd watch it as a double feature with the other Christmas film Burton and Hilton made together. -
Novelist_28 September 2020It is just so sweet. And the romance story is cute and realistic and they have funny banter. The kid in this had such an arc that towards the end I was crying over him when I started out annoyed!
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kgribz22 December 2019"Single successful Mum needs her life fixed". Really?
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vickietxfamily11 November 2018This is one of those movies that makes one feel like it's really Christmas in the South. No sudden snowfall at the end. It is St Martinville, Louisiana, after all. However, that wouldn't make a difference in some Christmas romance movies. "Christmas on the Bayou" is a feel good movie. As someone else has said, it isn't corny.
Ed Asner is great as Papa Noel. Is he the REAL Papa Noel or not??? The other actors and actresses are perfect in their roles. The accents aren't over the top and the fact that it's still warm in December in Louisiana isn't lost in this film.
My only regret about "Christmas in the Bayou" the fact that Lifetime seems to have forgotten about it and no longer airs this fine movie. And it isn't available on DVD, either. Just Prime Video. I'd rather have it on DVD.
If Lifetime ever does air "Christmas in the Bayou" again, be sure to catch it. Joyeux Noël! -
I had high hopes for this movie from the title but between the accents and the plot I just couldn't hang. I didn't make it past 30 mins. One of the biggest kickers was the grand son eating gumbo with a fork. WITH A FORK!
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partyman1015 December 2013This was one if the best TV movies I've seen in a LONG time. The production value was much higher than the usual standards, the story was well told, and the performances were genuine and heartfelt...not over-the-top and corny like so many other movies in this category.
I especially liked the young boy playing Zach. His storyline was precious and I expect we will see him in many more movies.
It was fun to see Ed Asner take on a Santa-like role again, too. Hilarie Burton gives a grand performance in a role that could have easily become melodramatic and she had great chemistry with the boy (Zach) and Tyler Burton and Markie Post. I've always been a fan of Markie's! She looks great and she, too, gives a very heartfelt performance.
I highly recommend this holiday movie. -
A very lackluster film. It bugged the heck out of me that they filmed this movie in Louisiana during the summer time! As a Louisiana native, you can clearly tell it is summer by the look of the trees and plants. You can even hear the cicadas chirping in the background, which only come out during July and august. I understand that it is a movie, but come on..They could have made it work even with filming it during the actual winter months here.
I also didn't like how boring the plot of this film was. Nothing interesting or exciting happens the whole film aside from the alligator scene with the little kid and they don't even show an alligator. The film lacked any major conflicts or antagonists.
The plot is super predictable. Single mom and kid travel back to their hometown for the holidays and she runs into an old friend in town who flirts with her.. blah blah blah typical Hallmark romance movie plot.
If it weren't for my wife I would've turned it off within 20 minutes in. Should have watched Christmas with the Kranks. -
sjones-5158329 December 2020Ed Asner promised he would make it snow if Zack went back and performed in the Christmas pageant, which he did. I didn't see any snow, did you?
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docm-3230424 December 2021If you are going to do a CHristmas movie without snow, the story better be a good one, but alas, it was not. The story was dull, and crawled along at a snails pace. The accents were aweful, Ed Asner was at his creepiest and the whole movie just seemd pointless unless you had trouble sleeping.
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allie-6425429 November 2019We love this movie! My husband's family is from Louisiana. The actors do a good job adapting an accent that is believable. Great chemistry and small town charm!
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mcmiller5314 December 2013Divorced, busy working woman with young boy goes to visit her mother in her small town for the holidays, meets her old boyfriend, natural resistance against his overwhelming charm ensues, bossy, know-it-all mother gives relentless advice to the point of wanting to smack her, and 'Santa' is an old, crusty guy who hates phones but makes wood toys and rides down the river in a boat or something. Guess what will happen? The child will bond with nature, the mom will learn that her job doesn't matter (who's paying for everything?), love will bloom and Santa will, with a twinkle of 'I told you so' will give you everything you've been missing in your world of reality, which means nothing but eating grits and hanging out at the local hardware store.
If you've ever seen this plot before, why on earth would you waste your time ? You will know within the first 15 minutes what will happen and it does.
You will never get this time in your life back, so don't waste it on this. There are so many other, worthwhile, heart warming stories out there with interesting plots that this is rendered an insult to any watcher.
Instead, read A Christmas Carol, The Gift of the Magi, or, to not insult your intelligence but keep the charm, re-visit the classics, i.e., Shop Around The Corner, It's A Wonderful Life, you know the drill. -
Amren14 December 2018If you've seen one of these you've seen them all. This is just as sweet and heartwarming as the others. I'll watch this with my wife but I would never watch it alone.
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cujorocky11 November 2021Where did they dredge up this old actress with the smokers voice? Yuck!! Hated her. Likes the actor, but the movie sucked........pass this one by unless you want to watch this smoker for 2 hours.
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dianamarinelli24 November 2020I love this movie it brought the magic of the Christmas with no cliche romances. The downfall was the kid was a brat and Santa serieouly. But overall great movie
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fishfryluv222 November 2015My wife loves this movie based on the 20 minutes we saw. There is some crazy bayou action going on the screen right now. It makes Louisiana look like Bethlehem during the birth of Christ. My wife is convinced that swamp people are not really this beautiful. Maybe this movie is set in a special members-only section of the bayou.
The woman in this movie is clearly in her shell, probably due to her battle with drugs or possibly her son's father walking out on her, so she does not want to accept Tyler Hilton's magic light-up boat ride. But now at the end she is kissing him. Ed Asner plays a very convincing Santa. His monologue about the meaning of Christmas ranks right up there with Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. This movie, in my conclusion, is better than "No Strings Attached", which stars Ashton Kutcher. We watched 10 minutes of that movie, and not even the presence of Ludicrous could get us in the Christmas spirit. Christmas on the Bayou really got us in the holiday spirit by 10%, which is a lot more than I can say about that awful other movie "No Strings Attached". 5 stars because we didn't watch the whole thing. -
Hilarie Burton is a bit of amazing. She played the part of a Louisiana young mom perfectly. The way she talked was perfect. I live in the area and she reminded me of a young mom I know- phrases like "Just Sayin". If this lady got the roles Lacey Chabert got- we'd have better movies. The way she talked with her son in those tender moments was just perfect. I watched "Last Chance for Christmas- 2015" the night before in which she plays a black haired mom/rancher (did not seem like the same person). Good thing I hadn't watched this movie first because in comparison to this movie her role would have seemed such a waste. I see she was in another movie "Surprised by Love" in which she was a blonde.
As you gather Hilarie Burton gets an A+, her son, Markie Post (mom), and Tyler Hilton all get A's. Randy Travis played a part that added little to the movie. Ed Asner role was a bit crucial but a Cajun accent did not seem right. He reminded me a little of Spencer Tracy. If the story had some depth this could have been an excellent movie. It is a good movie, well done in acting and is worth watching, you might doze in spots if you're a bit tired. -
Kirpianuscus30 December 2019At the first sigh, another Christmas film , like so many others. In fact, a beautiful film. For few reasons. The first - Edward Asner and his talks with the young Brody Rose , reminding few slices of childhood dialogues with grand father, and the dream to meet Santa. Second- the South atmosphere, realistic, delicate, precise crafted. Not the last -Randy Travis portrait of a contemporary saint. And, sure,Hilarie Burton defining, in inspired manner, a carrer woman, preocupead by her child, returning to her home and rediscovering the true love. Short, a seductive romantic film, giving more than expected romance.
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lucylou37003 December 2020Very sweet movie. Not a ton of chemistry between the leads, but still a good story. Interesting to see a Louisiana Christmas!
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donnaguinivan13 December 2021The same old story but the cast if good - especially the incomparable Edward Asner and Tyler Hilton who played Elvis in Walk the LIne. Better than the average Christmas Hallmark movie. It's unusual to see the Bayou in these type of films and it's great to see another part of the US featured.