The Heart of Christmas

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. Based on a true story, the film 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.

The Heart of Christmas
DVD released cover
Directed byGary Wheeler
Produced bySuzette Schafer
Charlie Schafer
Mark Burman
Written byLance W. Dreesen
Based onLocke family true story
StarringCandace Cameron Bure
Erin Bethea
Jeanne Neilson
Eric Jay Beck
George Newbern
Matthew West
Music byMatthew West
CinematographyRob Givens
Edited byJonathan Olive
Production
company
SlingShot Picture
My Three Sons Film
Distributed byImage Entertainment
Capitol Christian Distribution
Release date
  • November 7, 2011 (2011-11-07)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
BudgetNot Available

Plot

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.[1]

Cast
  • Candace Cameron Bure as Megan Walsh
  • Jeanne Neilson as Julie Locke
  • Eric Jay Beck as Austin Locke
  • Erin Bethea as Trish Hurtgren
  • Matthew West as Mark Hurtgren
  • Christopher Shone as Dax Locke
  • George Newbern as Dr. Don Sandler
  • Nicholas Shone as Dax Locke
  • Dendrie Taylor as Michelle Denford
  • Anita Renfroe as Theresa
  • Burgess Jenkins as Walt Walsh
  • Brooke Bryan as Emma Walsh
  • Hayden & Christian Nelson as Jackson Walsh
  • Bruce Marchiano as Dr. McDowell

Reception

The film does not appear to have received reviews by any major professional film critics. Rotten Tomatoes has no rating for the movie.[2] Metacritic does not even have a listing of the film. Scott Rolfe at The Dove Foundation website assigns the film 5 stars out of 5,[3] although this may reflect its acceptability for the foundation's wholesomeness for family viewing. The film rates 7.1/10 at the Internet Movie Database, based on 865 user ratings, as of February 6, 2019.[4] The website for Gospel Music Channel, which promoted the broadcast of the film, collected 211 ratings for the film, averaging 4.8/10.[5]

Release

The film was released in the US on November 7, 2011. It received a worldwide TV premiere on December 7, 2012 on Gospel Music Channel (GMC).[6]

References
  1. Wheeler, Angela. ""The Heart of Christmas" Will Warm Your Heart". ChristianCinema.com. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  2. The Heart Of Christmas at Rotten Tomatoes
  3. Rolfe, Scott. "Heart of Christmas, the Review by The Dove Foundation". The Dove Foundation. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  4. The Heart of Christmas at IMDb
  5. "gmc World Premiere Movie: The Heart of Christmas". Gospel Music Channel. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  6. The Heart of Christmas at DaxLocke.org
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