This is such an under rated film that I just do not understand why so little attention has been given to Christmas of Many Colors. Maybe today's society is so tied up in social media and taking selfies that inspirational films such as Dolly Parton's latest production that reflect a very strong family bond and selflessness are considered passe?
Heck, we are well past the Christmas season but I just watched this film for the first time and now I wished I had watched it sometime in December as I am sure it would have motivated me even more so to spend more time with my own family and close friends.
The little girl who plays the pre-teen Dolly Parton, Alyvia Alyn Lind is an amazing actress. There are a handful of people blessed with the God-given talent who shine in front of the camera and Alyvia Alyn Lind is most certainly one of those brightest of today's stars and she will continue to shine brightly for many, many years to come. She reminds me a lot of both a young Shirley Temple and Jodie Foster. Dolly herself has always said she liked to perform from a very young age and that she loved to be the center of attention. Alyvia Alyn Lind who plays young Dolly wants so badly to star in her 1955 Christmas pageant in the starring role as the virgin Mother Mary that she prays to God for the opportunity and she sucks up big time to her teacher Miss Moody, played to perfection by Mary Lane Haskell. There is a few scenes where the interaction between young Dolly and her teacher made me cry with tears of joy.
I know this film is loosely based on Dolly Parton's own family life and I assume that Dolly took many liberties in embellishing some of the mini-miracles that are reflected in Christmas Of Many Colors but if you take the time "as a family" to sit down together and watch this film you will see why these mini-miracles are key to this inspirational story.
Dolly's parents Robert Lee Parton (Ricky Schroder) and Avie Lee Parton (Jennifer Nettles) are back again for this film sequel to the 2015 film Coat of Many Colors. Who would not want Robert Lee and Avie Lee to be their parents? They emit love and kindness even with a house full of wall to wall children and little money to spare. The entire cast including Reverend Jake Jones played by Gerald McRaney who plays Avie Lee's father and Dolly's grandfather, and her Uncle Billy played by Cameron Jones are all well cast. Heck, even Dolly Parton has a few cameo appearances in this sequel that are inspirational and I believe Dolly included these scenes as her dream did come true.
So this film encompasses the Christmas spirit at its best, from the Christmas pageant, to the power of prayer, to the gift of giving being so much more inspirational than the gift of receiving. I believe this film, The Christmas of Many Colors will become a family tradition in the vein of the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.
I really enjoyed The Christmas of Many Colors: the Circle of Love and it will be on Mrs. Shullivan's and especially my must watch Christmas season watch list for many years to come. It is a Christmas classic!
I give it 10 for 10 shiny Christmas ornaments and a must add to our Christmas tree watch list.
