I'm actually watching this right now, and I've been literally face- palming as I watch it. At one point, Jesus (represented by the drifter "Jess" in the film) works on building a Nativity display for a church's Christmas celebration. The pastor of the church is visited by members of an organization, the "National Civil Freedom Coalition" that's meant to be a very-thinly-disguised version of the ACLU. They explain to the pastor that due to a new city law prohibiting displays of religious symbols in the business district, they would no longer be permitted to have the crèche on their property. It seems the road in front of the church has been deemed to be part of the business district. "But we're a church!" protests the pastor. The "NCFC" fellows tell him almost gleefully that they'll be fined $5000.00 if they don't take it down, which they do, all leading up to a very "It's a Wonderful Life" ending. Throughout it all, the ACLU-stand-ins are practically sneering and twirling their mustaches as they contemplate the church losing this battle.
The funny thing is that no city would ever be permitted to disallow a Nativity scene or any other religious symbol on church property, regardless of whether it can be viewed from the road. In fact, that's usually the purpose.
Also, if such a law had been passed, the ACLU (or equivalent) would have been at the forefront in the defense of the civil liberties and constitutional rights of the church, as they have often defended churches and Christian causes in the past.
It's because of these extraordinarily implausible and unrealistic plot devices that I just had to practically bang my head against my desk.
I have no problem with the deeper message of kindness touching the heart of the outcast, disaffected or bitter, or that of a town coming together to right a wrong; indeed, these have been constant ideas since the invention of film, and in plays before that. However, it seems that the filmmakers either had little or no knowledge of how their conflict would play out in the real world, or have a very biased and unrealistic view of it.
The acting was fair enough, and the scenic work was fine, which gave it the stars it got from me. I could think of better Christmas films to watch, and unless you want to give warped ideas to your church youth groups, I'd find another movie for them.
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