The Christmas Heart
| The Christmas Heart | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Michael Heaton |
| Directed by | Gary Yates |
| Starring | Teri Polo, Paul Essiembre, Ty Wood |
| Theme music composer | Shawn Pierce |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Patricia Heaton[1] |
| Cinematography | Michael Marshal |
| Editor(s) | Brad Caslor |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Julijette, Xmas Heart Films |
| Release | |
| Original network | Hallmark Channel |
| Original release |
|
The Christmas Heart is a 2012 Hallmark Channel Christmas film directed by Gary Yates.[2] The movie first released on the Hallmark Channel on December 2, 2012 and stars Teri Polo, Paul Essiembre, and Ty Wood.[3] The film's premise follows a group of neighbors that come together to help provide emotional support for a teenage boy that needs a heart transplant.[4]
Plot
When a teenage boy desperately needs a heart transplant on Christmas Eve, his family and neighbors' forty-year tradition of lining their quaint street with Christmas luminaries is put on hold. When his parents, Ann and Mike, pray for a donor on a stormy night, the neighbors suddenly realize their luminaries could have a deeper purpose.
Cast
- Teri Polo as Ann Norman
- Paul Essiembre as Mike
- Ty Wood as Matt Norman
- Cruise Brown as Tommy Norman
- Tess Harper as Elizabeth
- John B. Lowe as Don Foy
- Susan Kelso as Yvonne
- Samantha Kendrick as Karen
- Blake Taylor as Bob
- Cherissa Richards as Dr. Shirazi
- Adam Hurtig as Jimmy Mars
- Arden Alfonso as Nicky
- Stephen Eric McIntyre as John
- Mike Bell as Ray
- Jess Mal Gibbons as Miller (as Jess Gibbons)
- Paul Magel as Dr. Brady
- Aisha Alfa as Nurse Detroit
- Adriana O'Neil as Nurse Cleveland
- James Juce as Bartender
- Stan Lesk as Wino
- Ernie Pitts as Coach
- Jonathan Wolfe as Assistant Coach
- Kelly Wolfman as Traci Collins
Production
Heaton first began working on a treatment for The Christmas Heart around 2000 and pitched it to a Hollywood executive, but a film deal was never confirmed.[5] His sister Patricia Heaton remembered the script Heaton had written and sent a copy of his treatment to Hallmark, who purchased the treatment and the script.[5] Filming for The Christmas Heart took place in Winnipeg, Manitoba during March 2012.[6] Due to the unseasonably warm weather in Winnipeg, the film crew had to make snow to make it look "like winter",[7] but was also able to find "a snow bank in the parking lot of a church".[8]
Reception
Critical reception was mixed to positive, and the Christian Film Database stated that they found the film "very touching".[9] A reviewer for the Philadelphia Inquirer remarked that the film "[followed the] made-for-TV Christmas formula" and that it "would work better if we were a little more invested in young Matt and his survival", but that the ending was satisfying.[10] The Akron Beacon Journal also commented that the film held "no surprises" but that "If you are willing to surrender to its unabashed sentimentality, you may find reason for a sniffle or two, and maybe a reason to smile at the end".[11]
References
- ↑ Bobbin, Jay. "Patricia Heaton produces Christmas film". NewsOK. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ↑ "Hallmark Channel's 'Christmas Heart' Movie Has Cleveland Roots". CBS. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ↑ "MOVIE MAGIC WITH THE MOVIEMATIC". St. Paul Pioneer Press. 27 November 2004. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ↑ Cohn, Paulette. "Patricia Heaton Shifts Gears in New Hallmark Holiday Film 'The Christmas Heart'". Comcast. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- 1 2 Connors, Joanna. "'The Christmas Heart,' TV film written by Plain Dealer reporter Michael Heaton, is in production in Canada". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ↑ King, Randall (2012-03-17). "Christmas films shoot in not-so-wintry Winnipeg". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ↑ Dawidziak, Mark. "Tess Harper warmed by amount of heart in script for 'The Christmas Heart'". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ↑ Goodrich, Barry. "Holiday Heart". Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ↑ "The Christmas Heart (review)". CFDb. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ↑ Hiltbrand, David (12/01/2012). "Hallmark's 'Christmas Heart' follows made-for-TV Christmas formula". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 9 November 2013. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ Heldenfels, Rich (1 December 2012). "'The Christmas Heart' premieres Sunday on Hallmark Channel". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 9 November 2013.