"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.
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.