It would be a shame if only Dolly Parton fans saw this movie. They will like it, of course, but anyone who likes wholesome family feel-good movies will like it too. Dolly has one week to bring a hurt and alienated family back together again, and this father, son and daughter are a challenge even to a good-hearted infectious spirit like Dolly. The set-backs are believable, and how she finally does it is believable.
I wish I could give the movie a perfect score, and the rest of the movie is so good, it almost deserves it. But if you're NOT a fan, the first scene is likely to dampen your response to most of the rest of the movie (until you realize that the rest of the movie is not at all like the first scene). I urge you to skip this scene on your first viewing. The story does not start until scene 2 anyway, so you're not missing any story. On the Image DVD, you can just start with track 2. If you don't, you'll feel that this is a three-star movie and you'll be sure that your friendly reviewer is totally besotted to think that merely cutting the first scene would make any difference.
The end too is regretable--not the end of the story, that ends beautifully and credibly. But the movie doesn't stop. It keeps going, and the audience is treated to a rock-country version of (I'm afraid to say it) the Hallelujah Chorus. Now, this may be some viewers' cup of beer, but others will throw up. So, depending on your taste, stop the movie when the story is wrapped up. Don't sour your experience by sitting through that musical atrocity.
If you make these two cuts, you'll be giving this movie 5-plus stars and wondering what is wrong with your friendly reviewer that he couldn't see it that way. And one final tip: if you like this type of story, check out Little House on the Prairie Christmas edition, Mary Christmas, and I'll Be Home for Christmas(1997). And if you read books, try A Thanksgiving Miracle. Other movies and books of this type, I'm sure you're already familiar with.
If you're a student of film or a screenwriter, watch the movie both ways (with the cuts and without) to discover the enormous effects that a bad scene can have on the REST OF the movie. It will astound you!
A Great Holiday Movie! Dolly Parton is Great!
This made-for-TV movie is a wonderful film that your entire family would enjoy watching together. I teach high school students and showed them this movie close to Christmas and they really enjoyed watching it. Dolly does a great job of portraying Ruby Diamond, an outspoken lounge singer who dies in a car accident but gets a second chance at life so that she may enter the gates of heaven. She has to work with a strict deadline but she manages to pull back together a very dysfunctional family. Dolly wrote two original songs for the movie, including the title track, that aren't currently available on any other DVD or CD. This movie seems to be one that is often overlooked, when in fact it is Dolly at her best. Be sure to purchase a copy while you can - they tend to release this movie for a while and then abruptly remove it from the shelves!
This thoroughly enjoyable 1999 television movie is an appropriately understated vehicle for country superstar Dolly Parton. Though a limited actress, Parton's key role as a saloon singer with suppressed ambitions makes for a perfect fit, neither overextending her lean thespian gifts nor inadvertently mocking her range. Parton sings, of course, yet even the hillbilly angel within yields to the script's focused tale of a love triangle involving underrated singer-songwriter Leanna (Parton), her longtime manager and boyfriend Hank (an outstanding performance by John Terry), and a restless musician (Billy Dean). Veteran director Richard A. Colla (Fuzz, Battlestar Galactica) approaches the material with grown-up sensitivity and understanding. As Jean Renoir said,... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Richard A. Colla DVD Release Date: Released the 03 July 2001 Usually ships in 6 to 10 days
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I previously owned Rhinestone on a vhs. I love the music, I think Stallone was the perfect male to choose for this part, I loved him in the scene where he was wearing the pink shirt. Not all men can wear a pink shirt. Dolly is the best when it comes to country music. If you are a country music fan you must see this movie. It'll knock your socks off. It'll have you dancing in your seat. You'll laugh till your sides hurt. What more can I say its a great movie. I have watched it at least 20 times. DVD makes the sound and picture so much better. Everytime I watch it I get lost in the movie. If Iam having a bad day this movie will brighten you day. Try it I think you'll like it. Thanks Linda More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Sylvester Stallone - Dolly Parton Director(s): Bob Clark (III) DVD Release Date: Released the 22 March 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This is a great holiday movie for the whole family. All of my kids enjoyed it as much as I did! It was great to see Crystal Bernard back in a "fun" role and with the old Helen from Wings look back again!!
There is a sequel to this movie coming out this year. On Dec 17th Hallmark will premire 'Meet The Santas'. Should be another good movie!! More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Steve Guttenberg DVD Release Date: Released the 08 November 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This movie is absolutely fabulous - the DVD does not come in Widescreen and there are no extras, but if you can get past that then you will love the plot of this movie about a very independent woman who loves being able to give advice. Dolly plays a very open, honest, wise-cracking, independent radio advisor who ends up having to decide what to do when given the chance to come clean about a misunderstanding that got her the job in the first place or enjoy her celebrity and own up to some other mistakes she has made along the way. More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Dolly Parton - James Woods Director(s): Barnet Kellman DVD Release Date: Released the 06 May 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This was such a cute story. When I saw it on TV, I had to have it. As a young girl, Holly Grant asks Santa for a boyfriend. Now, 20 years later and with a failed romance in her past, Holly is wondering why Santa never gave her that perfect guy he promised. When Holly meets the same Santa again, she asks him. Santa sends "Doug Firwood" over to be her "boyfriend for Christmas" and the movie takes off.
Charles Durning is fantastic as Santa. Holly Grant and Doug Firwood make such a cute couple. It's a great "feel good" light-hearted romance and Christmas story and worth watching over and over again. If I tell you any more, I would have to tell the story.
Yes. This IS a chick-flick, sooooo, if you are an insensitive, belching, beer-breath, and otherwise gassy... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Kevin Connor DVD Release Date: Released the 08 November 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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