There’s a nice change with 2015’s A Christmas Star, a film made and set in Northern Ireland. It’s pleasant to hear some different accents after sitting through so many American films, though it’s a shame this one from Richard Mark Elson isn’t a better movie. I find it mad that this is free on Youtube already, as it’s not that old, appears to have had a bit of money thrown at it and, unlike most of these free movies, actually saw the inside of movie theatres. The poster would have us believe that it features an all-star cast of Hollywood hitters, promising Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnan, Kylie Minogue and…Dermot O’Leary? That’s a bit of a cheat, though, as those are all small cameos at best.
The real star here is newcomer Erin Galway-Kendrick as Noelle, a ten-year-old girl who’s famous for being born in a stable on Christmas day. Thing is, this was at the same time that the “Christmas Star” was in the sky and now the kid has magical powers that can help calm people down and stuff. It’s an original idea but this feels like a film made for children by people who have no clue what children want.
This being a family film, little Noelle doesn’t bother taking her magical gift to the United Nations to sort the world out - she’s content with using it to try and save her Dad’s snowglobe factory from the clutches of smarmy developer Pat McKerrod (Robert James Collier). Pat is originally from Noelle’s tiny village and still has a thing for Noelle’s mum (Bronagh Waugh). He also now talks in a crappy American accent and has a creepy ‘mini-me’ ten-year-old son Junior (John Moan) who fluctuates between being sympathetic and evil as and when the plot requires.
Since McKerrod’s arrival in town, Noelle’s powers have been on the fritz. How will she thwart his evil plans? With a little help from her friends, of course. And some Christmas magic. Noelle’s pals include charming but unfortunately named disabled lad ‘Spud-Bob’ played by little James Stockdale (Zoo) who manages to out-act James Bond himself Pierce Brosnan, cameoing as McKerrod’s snooty superior ‘Mr Shepherd’. Well done, wee man.
This one’s another treacly affair thats rather amateurishly made in places, despite evidence of a decent budget. At times, particularly during a chase scene involving a motorcycle-riding baddie, I struggle to work out what is actually going on, with the film’s direction and editing being really choppy and confusing any time the camera isn’t simply sitting still.
This has the feel of the Nativity! films but without the anarchic humour and rebellious spirit that made those films (mostly) enjoyable. What it is, though, is an unchallenging film that’s just nice and safe.
A Christmas Star has its moments and they pull out all the stops for a climactic big, bold musical number at the turning on of the Belfast Christmas lights. It’s cheesy as hell but feels very British and authentic and gets me right in the feels as I realise we won’t get to do anything like that this year. It also gets me right in the mood for this year’s Christmas. A check of my calendar shows me it’s only eleven weeks away and then this whole thing will be over. That’s early enough to get excited, yeah?
Comments