A Gettysburg Christmas

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Bryan M. @thecivilwargeek 1d This movie would have been a perfect opportunity to showcase the sights around Gettysburg while interweaving a heartwarming story. While the plot is something akin to what you might see in a Hallmark-produced film, the terrible acting completely tanks this feel-good story. Written and directed by Bo Brinkman, who starred in both the Civil War films Gettysburg (1993) and Gods and Generals (2003), he accomplishes much in showcasing sights such the town square, the Dobbin House, the Wills House where Lincoln finished his draft of the Gettysburg Address, and other points of interest in the town itself. I had a great confidence that he would do the town proud in his representation of it during the Christmas season. Kelley Jakle, who plays the lead character of Hope, does an admirable job as the estranged daughter of Ron, played by Bruce Boxleitner. Lee Majors, of Six Million Dollar Man fame, turns up as Charley, a somewhat angelic character who designs to heal the relationship between Hope and her father. It is the rest of the supporting cast that falls way, way short. The love interest Nick, played by Sean Faris, who also co-produces, has zero chemistry with Jakle. He spends 99% of the movie smiling with no discernible reason as to why. His only other facial expression is exposed for a brief moment in which an ex threatens to destroy his budding relationship with Hope. Tom Vera plays Ryan, the brother of Hope, who has an air of swagger and is set up to be a plot device as the friend of Nick and the reason for the introduction between the latter and Hope. Ryan’s fiancé, Emily, played by Sarah Burkett, is one of the most annoying and unlikable characters I’ve ever watched in a film. Burkett’s lines are terrible, and she feels extremely out of place alongside the talented Jakle. This is, as another reviewer noted, a C-list cast with the exceptions of Jakle, Boxleitner, and Majors. Jake Busey turns up for a brief moment as a bartender, but his talents are wasted. At only an hour and twenty minutes in length, there isn’t much time to resolve the many conflicts that arise in this film. By the end, however, you won’t care and will be thankful that the agony is over. See more Christopher D. @CJMicktopher Dec 3 Cute town, bad actors. I finally rented this movie because I live in Gettysburg and was waiting for two years while they sought distribution. Now I know why it took so long. From beginning to end, the acting is trite. The writing lacks originality, the plot is painfully predictable, and the production is less than inspiring. While the producers managed to capture some of the charm and beauty that is Gettysburg, they ruined it with C-list (yes, to call it a B-list movie would be flattering) production and corny one liners that would make a Hallmark movie actor blush with embarrassment. While the film does contain some heartfelt and heartwarming themes, it’s unfortunately overshadowed by the lack of originality and painfully predictable story line . . . and then it’s all wrapped up in 1 hour and 20 minutes! The writers inserted a conflict with less than 19 minutes left in the film and then resolved it ten minutes later, all in time for a hackneyed Christmas eve proposal! If that’s not enough, the writers borrowed the playbook from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation with the exterior Christmas lights on the home that wouldn’t turn on because the interior outlet controlling the lights wasn’t plugged in! All in all, dreadful! Gettysburg deserves better than this C-list movie that couldn’t make it to Hallmark. I want my $3.99 rental and 1 hour and twenty minutes back! See more Read all reviews

A Gettysburg Christmas

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