Christmas in Mississippi (2017 TV Movie) User Reviews

Forgettable film

[alanfisher2001 · 5/10 · 4 January 2021]

Started off quite promising with the intro and upbeat music and drone views, then went downhill. The lead actress is a photographer coming home for Christmas with a just a small bag with her camera, no idea where she put all the false eyelashes and small branch of a makeup shop. It then drags on and on until the end, where not much happens. I am sure I could have chosen better.

I thought this was boring!

[smithduke · 5/10 · 17 December 2017]

I love Wes Brown but this movie did not capture my attention. From the beginning, I was bored. Jana Kramer barely smiled.

I felt there was no chemistry between the two actors.

I'm being honest, I skipped through most of the movie to watch the ending. I was disappointed. I guess I'm into Hallmark movies vs Lifetime. movies.

A bit cornball and sterotyped

[skpn123 · 7/10 · 15 February 2019]

Not my favourite of the holiday movies. The female lead is a little irritating, the male lead as sweet as apple crumble and together they do not gel well for me. There is a lot of fun and cheer in this film and some lovely Christmas activities for a town that has experienced a devastating natural disaster. Summary: Not my favourite but not all bad

Music Theft?

[efwdfw · 6/10 · 18 November 2020]

The movie is fine, exactly what you'd expect in a Christmas movie. But some of the soundtrack seems to be stolen directly from Ever After. Especially the last 10 minutes. Very weird.

Pants Unzipped During Speech LOL

[zwymmpd · 7/10 · 1 January 2022]

Did the editors not realize that the lead actor had his pants unzipped at 1:21:20 and 1:22:02!!! No joke! Lol. Wide open! Otherwise, pretty good and heart warming movie.

A different plot and setting provide an interesting and good Christmas movie

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 8 February 2022]

"Christmas in Mississippi" holds up well as a Christmas and holidays film. The plot is simple, but it's different enough, and with a setting and romance that are unusual enough, that one stays interested and entertained by this film. There isn't snow for a white Christmas in this TV movie set in Gulfport, Mississippi. A couple of scenes show the Gulf coast and coastal highway by the town, which is holding its first Christmas light show in five years.. That's because the town has been rebuilding from a hurricane (fictional) that devastated the town five years earlier.

Holly Logan is returning home to be with her mom, Caroline, for the first time since her dad died three years before. She has been in New York as a free-lance photographer and is in the running for a photo editor job with a major magazine. Considering that this was set in 2017, far into the electronic and computer age with the demise of many print publications, that's quite a stretch too. But, also back home the past year has been her childhood sweetheart and former boyfriend. They haven't seen each other for nearly 10 years, and she is bitter about their break-up. But neither of them have married.

And now, she finds out that Mike has been put in charge of resurrecting the city's light show and festivities. But he too had been gone, and Holly gradually learns about his background and why and how he happened to return to their hometown. Besides her mother, Caroline, there are some other key people with interesting parts of the story. One is Mike's 10-year-old nephew, Jack, who is under his care while his dad is on active Army duty overseas. Another is Mr. Kriss who is in town to play Santa Clause; Mr. McGuire is a friend of Caroline. Benny and Betty are friends of Mike and a couple who have just become engaged.

The story is pleasant, somewhat engaging, and keeps one interested in if and how Mike and Holly will get back together. The story doesn't end her though, until the light festival the following year. Most people should enjoy this as a romance and family movie for the holidays. Here are a couple favorite lines.

Holly Logan, to her mom, "I can't believe you still have this pickup." Caroline, "Of course I do. It was your father's pride and joy." Holly, "I thought I was his pride and joy." Caroline, "You were. He love you just as much as he loved this truck."

Mike, leaving with Holly for an evening date, "Uh, Caroline, I promise to have her back before Christmas."

An Attractive Woman Returning to Her Hometown for Christmas

[Uriah43 · 6/10 · 17 December 2023]

This film essentially begins with an attractive photographer by the name of "Holly Logan" (Jana Kramer) returning to her hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi to visit her mother "Caroline Logan" (Faith Ford) who she hasn't seen in some time. When she gets there, she decides to volunteer to help out during Gulfport's Christmas lighting program which had been severely impacted by a horrific hurricane several years earlier. What she doesn't realize, however, is that the entire program is being led by her former boyfriend "Mike" (Wes Brown) who broke her heart a number of years earlier--to such an extent that she dislikes even being around him. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that I enjoyed this movie for the most part due in large part to the acting of Jana Kramer who dominated every scene she was in with her beauty and charm. I especially liked her radiant smile which really stood out, in my opinion. Likewise, the solid acting of Wes Brown also helped this picture to a great degree as well. Admittedly, the chemistry wasn't quite as good as it could have been but, even so, I suppose it was adequate enough for a made-for-television movie of this type, and I have rated this film accordingly. Slightly above average.

Has a Huge Heart

[neworleans-36535 · 9/10 · 15 January 2018]

I can see why the person that "Lived Near The Area" where they filmed this would like this film. If a "Christmas Films" had a check list then this film would certainly check all the boxes.

This has everything (except snow) that you would expect in a "Christmas Movie". This film a girl returns home for the holidays. She then volunteers to help get the town "Christmas Light Show" up and running. This is the 1st time in y ears that the town has done this. It had a hurricane and the town is now back on its feet.

This film is not great but it is one of those films you can't help but to like. I do also like the fact it does show the "True Spirit" of citizens of Gulfport. I did help out after Katrina and this film does show the goodness that is in all of them.

Boring

[mitchellrharl · 6/10 · 5 July 2022]

Some actors and actresses should not do Hallmark movies Jana Kramer Wes Brown Richard Karn their acting is so blah The scenery in Christmas in Mississippi is gorgeous.

Love Faith Ford Barry Bostwick.

Editing fail

[klmulready · 5/10 · 25 November 2018]

I know these Hallmark holidays movies are cheesy but when the setting, actors, and story all gel, I enjoy them. The editing in the diner scene drove me nuts. She holding the straw when camera is on her, then not when it's on him. Back and forth, back and forth. I tuned out after that

Heartwarming.

[MIssM19 · 8/10 · 11 July 2018]

I was in desperate need of a chessy movie. I was first going for a royal movie, but at the last minute I chose this and I couldn't be more happy.

It had a few really heartwarming moments, two of them, almost brought tears to my eyes, which I don't think a Hallmark/Lifetime movie has ever done (maybe once). Jana Kramer always shines on her own and she had a nice chemistry with the main lead. It really was a wonderful Christmas movie. A must watch.

Poor acting, great storyline

[nancylmarine · 5/10 · 27 October 2019]

I used to live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and loved seeing it as a setting for a movie like this. I recognized so much of the locations in the movie, and it was wonderful! The coast is my most favorite place in the world and I can't wait to retire there.

However, the lead actress, Jana Kramer, all the personality of drying paint and she is, IMHO, the reason this movie wasn't better. Every other known actor in this movie is exceptional, no matter what they do, but whenever any of them had a scene with the lead actress, it was blah, 100%. It's as though everyone was uncomfortable around her and that she brought them all down.

Throughout the movie, she was sad and depressed looking and it's as though she thought her face would crack if she smiled. And when she did smile, it didn't reach her eyes at all, which is important.

Every time someone in the movie paid her a compliment, or gave her a gift, or was kind to her, she responded in such a milquetoast way, with a limp, "Thank you." There was zero excitement in her as she played this role.

I gotta say, I don't think Jana Kramer is an actress at all. This movie would have been SO much better if they had a lead who knew how to be animated and not wooden.

I am biased. I lived in the area for years

[Christmas-Reviewer · 9/10 · 13 January 2018]

PLEASE BEWARE OF SOME REVIEWERS THAT ONLY HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE NO AGENDA! I REVIEW MOVIES & SPECIALS AS A WAY TO KEEP TRACK OF WHAT I HAVE SEEN! I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY GEMS IN MY QUEST TO SEE AS MANY " C H R I S T M A S " MOVIES AS I CAN.

Now Someone keeps reporting my reviews. I guess they are jealous because I do tell the truth. I want to point out that I never make snide remarks about actors weight or real life sexual orientation. If there acting is terrible or limited "I talk about that". If a story is bad "I will mention that" So why am I being "picked on"? IMDB? When one of my reviews gets deleted IMDB will not even tell me what someone found offensive. Well on to this review.

I want o get this out in the way now. I lived in the area in which this film takes place. We lost our home to a hurricane. The first time in 2005 then again in 2008. So watching this film just made me very homesick. I would move back but I am just too terrified to losing my home again.

What this film is about is that photographer Holly Logan (Jana Kramer, "Country Crush") returns to her hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi for Christmas. The town is resurrecting their traditional Christmas light show for the first time since a terrible hurricane struck five years earlier. Holly volunteers to pitch in, but soon has second thoughts when she discovers the festival is run by her high school sweetheart, Mike (Wes Brown, "We Are Marshall"). Now Holly must spend the next few days with the man who broke her heart. With the help of her mother Caroline and Mr. Kriss, the kind man who will play Santa in the town's celebration.

The story is straight forward but "I could not get enough of this film". I am originally not from Mississippi but California. I am also not a Republican but very liberal. What I love what this film did was show the "True spirit" of the people that live in the Gulfport area. It did not show them as "rednecks". Trust me as someone that did live in that area "Christmas in Mississippi' was blessing to see.

Cute but tepid chemistry

[kz917-1 · 4/10 · 1 January 2018]

Cute enough for a Lifetime movie. Very little chemistry between the two leads, but a nice plot.

A feel good Christmas movie!!

[klmreview · 10/10 · 6 December 2020]

I watched this for the second time..and it checks all the boxes except..I wish Jana Kramer would have sung a Christmas song at the town festival!! I'll probably watch it again next year!!

Omg the smiling

[teebear817 · 4/10 · 18 October 2020]

So, i am into this movie 30 minutes, and i am exhausted from this lead actress smiling NONSTOP in every single scene. It is perpetual. Every single scene an ear to ear smile. Stuff like this is very unnatural and extremely irritating. 90 minutes of this is too much. Oy

It's home!

[airborne-04041 · 9/10 · 13 December 2020]

Definitely the typical Hallmark type movie but I grew up in Gulfport and it's always wonderful to see it on the screen! This movie embodies everything about the coast! Mentioning local businesses, the hurricane, and making home look so beautiful! And Jana Kramer 😍

Better acting could have saved this film : (

[geo1bea · 4/10 · 30 December 2019]

Review by "nancylmarine" is SPOT ON for this so-called romantic Christmas movie. Not just my opinion, but others have commented that "Jana Kramer is a mess" in both her professional and personal lives. Sorry to say but I believe this is true.

Look forward to this EVERY YEAR -

[brumbyrun · 8/10 · 9 December 2020]

The only disappointment is how Lifetime has 'hacked up' the original movie and does not show some of the very best parts that give it depth and introduce the concurrent stories. They have cut the light show almost completely out and it is really great. They also have removed the actual ending that wraps up the story and makes it the feel good movie it was meant to be. This is one of 2 movies that Lifetime has hacked up and remove the heart. The setting of the Gulfport recovery is a wonderful background for the secondary story line. I used to have a copy on my cable box until it went bad and Lifetime hasnt run it since then. SHAME ON LIFETIME management ...Scrooges all

This was an amazing movie

[iamclguyjsf · 10/10 · 3 November 2018]

I am probably gonna get called biased but guess what I don't care. I got the opportunity to be in this film as a background extra and when I saw the whole thing come together not only was I amazed by my appearance in the film but all my friends I made on set too. The main characters done amazing job and they are also amazing to talk to in person.

Threads woven together well

[Jackbv123 · 9/10 · 13 December 2017]

There are only so many Christmas romcom stories and plot devices. This movie uses a few of them, but weaves them together well and maybe with a new twist or two. We have the high school sweethearts, Holly and Mike, whose relationship didn't end well. There is a cute kid and in this case his Dad is in the military overseas while Mike, his uncle takes care of him. There is an important job at stake as the holiday approaches. There is the small town banding together. And probably more.

It's how you tell the story that makes it good or bad. In this case the writers put together a number of good elements and interlaced them to make special things happen. There are a few very heartwarming moments, at least one surprising, but also some that aren't. The surprising one really grabbed me leaving tears in my eyes.

Jana Kramer was delightful and her Holly even had a funny embarrassing moment or two. But her chemistry with Wes Brown's Mike was fun to watch. They worked through past hurts, endured a fresh misunderstanding and then went on to redevelop their friendship and more. Trace Masters did his job as Jack pulling on our heartstrings. Faith Ford was also solid as Holly's mom.

As usual with Christmas romcoms things get sappy and maybe stretch credulity a little, but for lovers of this kind of story, this is a good one. I recommend it even for the casual Christmas romantic.

Good movie

[dianamarinelli · 9/10 · 10 December 2020]

This movie is amazing Jana Kramer and the lead were both good in their roles and it can be a predictable movie

Charming Christmas in Mississippi

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 18 May 2021]

'Christmas in Mississippi' on paper didn't overly excite me. The title is fairly uninspired and the story formulaic-sounding. Yet my love of Christmas, the positive reviews and having seen a lot of films and television episodes that sound nothing special on paper but manage to be executed quite beautifully in a way that was quite unexpected. Haven't seen enough of Jana Kramer's filmography to judge her properly but have liked Wes Brown and Barry Bostwick in other things, even the bad stuff.

To my relief, 'Christmas in Mississippi' was a lot better than anticipated and was utterly charming and lovely to watch. It is a lot more interesting than the title suggests and the story synopsis in my mind doesn't do enough justice to the feels felt watching. That's of course from my experience and not everybody will agree. 'Christmas in Mississippi' thankfully does not try to do too much or bite off more than it could chew, but a lot of effort clearly went into the film and there is a lot to like.

Am going to mention those things first. One of the best aspects was the scenery, which looks stunning and captured in its full glory by the always attractive photography, courtesy of a crew that clearly loved the setting. The music is not overused or overbearing, have seen this with a lot of Christmas films (Hallmark have a reputation for too loud and intrusive music in their festive output). The direction is sympathetic but never routine. The performances are all great.

Brown is a very charming and always natural leading man and Bostwick steals his screen time. Kramer's performance has gotten a more mixed response, personally found her very winning in her role and didn't find her bland at all. Her chemistry with Brown felt genuine and the relationship itself didn't feel rushed or stuck in a rut. The writing on the whole didn't feel mushy and never had too much of the cheese factor. Loved the portrayal of the community and its spirit, a lovely touch and realistic. The story may not do much new, but it has a nice light-hearted energy, is heart-warming and has an immense amount of charm.

It's not perfect. It does sappy at times in the middle act.

Some suspension of disbelief is also needed towards the end.

Otherwise, surprisingly good. 8/10.

Wonderful, Excellent and Sweet Holiday Movie! Solid 8 Stars from me!

[huggibear · 8/10 · 11 December 2017]

I missed it on premiere night, but I caught it tonight, which is only two days afterward. And I guess I'm the first one to give it a bit more than a rating. So here's my review: OK, so maybe I'm a little bit over zealous, stoked and biased for sure because of Jana Kramer being one of the stars in this movie. I've loved her since One Tree Hill and then I found out she's a country singer too as of 2012. To top it all off, I watched her in Dancing with the Stars as well and she performed a water dance that I will never forget on that show. I try not to miss anything that has anything to do with her. She's like a princess in shining armor to me. Her soul deserves pure love because she's awesome. I'd go after her if I ever had the chance and give her the love she'd never forget. I hope her career takes off and she gets into the big screen movies. She's worth it. This movie is awesome for a made-for-TV movie, played on the lifetime channel. And the plot is dreamy and the outcome predictable, but Jana Kramer makes this one worth watching. Wes Ford, the love interest, does a great job in this one as well. Good match-up! I cannot get enough of Jana though. She's pure eye candy and I love her kind of charming personality. It's a darn good movie and definitely would watch it again next year during the holidays.

Way better than I thought it would be

[kellyjeanne-66859 · 8/10 · 7 July 2022]

This is a great Christmas movie! I really loved it and all the characters, but Jack stole the movie. He is so sweet and kind. I loved seeing Faith Ford again and her character is adorable. Going on my list of must watch Christmas movies.