User reviews

I just finished watching the premier of Hallmark Hall of Fame​'s "The Christmas Train". It was a sweet story, with a well crafted script. The main 4 leads were perfectly cast. Joan Cusack, while always a little bit corky, had me smiling throughout the whole film. The back and forth between the films love interests (Kimberly and Dermot) was quite charming. It was fun to watch how Danny Glover brought out the best in his co-stars. While the parallel side mystery, kept me engaged.

The only real issue I had, was that this film had a tendency to cut short quite a few scenes. Which also gave way to a few pacing issues. There were a couple times I found myself wondering, "did I miss something?" and "how did we get here?" Yet, even with these flaws, I still found "The Christmas Train" to be an enjoyable ride!

Big names in the Hallmark Holiday romance...Joan Cusack, Dermot Mulroney, and Danny Glover star in this uplifting story about a cynical journalist, Tom, who takes the train from Washington, D. C. to Los Angeles for Christmas. It is a four day train ride and his goal is to write a story...so he starts talking to the passengers. There is an eavesdropping busy body named Agnes, a film director Max Powers who is their with a writer trying to write a script, an elder gentleman John who is reading A Christmas Carol because he promised his wife he would read more classics, Missy an intuitive passing out advice, a young couple who are going to be married on the train, an older gentleman Higgins who used to work on the train, and a bartender Kenny who serves hot cocoa with candy canes and a drink called The Grinch. As it turns out Tom knows the script writer, Elenor and they have a romantic past that didn't end well. Will Elenor be inspired to write a script and will Tom write his article? Will they heal the wounds from their old romance?

This is a second chance romance, with a great cast, a beautiful Christmas train backdrop and some fun supporting characters. Not your usual Hallmark holiday fare...maybe a little higher quality. I highly recommend that you see this at least once.

"Chugging down the tracks in two thousand tons of pure steel, I always hoped I'd see her again."-Tom

"Trapped in a tin can with the one person I never wanted to see. I need to get off this train."-Elenor.

Small things start to go missing on the train and the couple's minister has an accident and doesn't make his connection to the train...

"No secrets on a train, especially the Christmas train."-Agnes.

Tom's long distance girlfriend shows up, boards the train and says she wants to get married...Tom wanted to tell her he wanted to breakup! What could go wrong?

Wonderful music and a fun plot...the best part is the side characters, and Joan Cusack really steals the show (as she often does!).

"Happy endings are for movies, Max."-Elenor.

The Christmas Train although not a true Christmas classic, is more a drama/romance film that is still decent enough to hold most filmgoers attention for the films 99 minute duration. There is something about a bunch of strangers who meet on a train that captures one's imagination and I was asking myself (and asking Mrs. Shullivan too) wouldn't that be nice to be on that Christmas train?

Of course a 4 day, 3,000 mile trip aboard the Christmas train that the published author Tom Langdon (Dermot Mulroney) was taking, with his seperate cabin that included a full desk and bed is not something most of us could ever afford, but eh' it's a movie so keep dreaming right?

I digress. Tom meets quite a few eclectic characters aboard the Christmas train including a Hollywood director named Max Powers (Danny Glover) who happened to bring along his next films screen writer a woman named Eleanor Carter (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) . From this point on a story unfolds about many of the characters aboard the Christmas train including the background stories of Tom and Eleanor.

I wouldn't say this is one of my top ten films, nor is it one of my top 100 Christmas films, because other than the train itself being called the Christmas train because it reaches its 4 day destination for Tom and Eleanor on Christmas Day, there is more a dramatic and romantic storyline than a Christmas story. Throwing in a bit of snow also doesn't make it a Christmas story. It is a decent enough film and I will rate it 6 out of 10, but I think there should be an alternate title than the Christmas Train. The title is deceiving.

This was billed continuously leading up to the premiere as a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. It wasn't Hall of Fame worthy for me.

Take how deeply I felt about it. I have watched literally dozens of Christmas movies this season and in a good percentage, still dozens of movies, I had tears in my eyes ranging from in one movie tears start to finish to other movies at least a couple times, and everywhere in between. For this movie, I had no tears, at all. Neither joy nor sadness.

Take enjoyment. I sat through virtually the entire movie waiting to enjoy it. I think a big part of my problem was I couldn't get invested in the romantic leads. Is that because of their respective ages? I think it was more than that. Now I was attracted to Kimberly Williams-Paisley and her character, but not enough to make the whole movie fun for me.

Take production and sets. There were lots of shots of model toy trains in the snow. One scene with everyone staring out the window at the leads had a totally cheesy appearance. All the outdoor sets were bad and the snow was fake.

Take acting. OK here at least are a couple pluses. Danny Glover and Joan Cusack both did their parts very well. I already mentioned Williams-Paisley, but overall her acting was just OK. Dermot Mulroney lacked spark.

Take story. This is the biggest plus. For being a story on a train, there was a surprising amount going on. And the ending was truly interesting!!! On the other hand, the climax wasn't that great and the rest after that was not all that inspiring. Yes, it was the usual Hallmark kind of ending, but not with as much impact as I'd expect.

Was this movie watchable. Yes, I think so. I was just expecting so much more due to the buildup. The true measure is will I watch it again. I don't think so.

This made-for-television film tells the story of former lovers who find themselves traveling cross country on the same train during Christmas week.

Dermot Mulroney plays Tom Langdon, a former war correspondent who now writes pedestrian newspaper features for housewives. Kimberly Williams-Paisley plays Eleanor Carter, a screenwriter who is making the journey at the insistence of film director Max Powers (Danny Glover), who hopes she will pen his next film success.

Along the way, they get to know a colorful cast of fellow passengers who might inspire them both to write something meaningful. Or to embrace the Christmas messages of brotherly love and forgiveness.

Besides the required love story, there is a mystery that revolves around the disappearance of some belongings. And suspense when the train might be snowbound in the Rockies. The close quarters require that everyone on board becomes acquainted and involved in the lives of their fellow travelers. And unseen forces seem to be directing the destinies of Tom and Eleanor.

---------*spoilers ahead* --------- I found the movie very heartwarming and enjoyable. Like most decent christmas movies it had a magical vibe, but when the twist at the end was revealed, the magic was shattered. It seems like the main moral was to focus on the journey, not the destination, yet the main characters' journey was straight up planned out. - Seems a bit ironic to me... Christmas movies often revolve around authenticity too, so it seems odd to end the movie by showing how inauthentic the trip was. I did really enjoy the movie, but I don't think I could rewatch it, simply because the ending kinda ruined it for me. It's sad, because it was such a wholesome story!

Compared to all movies: 6.3. Compared to Hallmark movies: 8.0.

Ok, so this is not a steam engine train, but the what I'm saying is this movie started out super duper great for the first hour. Enthralling, mysterious, good side stories, skilled known actors with a variety of characters.

Everything was great, smooth, without a hitch, then plummeted.

The leads don't fail to entertain, seen them in a plethora of films. Unfortunately there is a strange lack of chemistry and I can't put a finger on it. At times it's present, at times it's not. The other characters are endearing, and the sub-plots, although very shallow and small, added to the whole atmosphere.

Darn, I really loved the first half of this, then it starts to deflate. The last 15 minutes is just awful, not even worthy of mention. First half: 8 stars, last 15 minutes: 4 stars. I'm guessing the budget ran dry and they realized on the cutting room floor they didn't have enough footage to keep this one on the tracks.

The film is full of some great actors, most of whom usually play a supporting part and in an ensemble piece like this they are perfect.

It has everything you could need, romance, comedy, mystery and twists as well as snow and Christmas Carol's. It's well put together and a very interesting story that is really quite different from most films with the word Christmas in their title.

It's perfect for watching on a Sunday afternoon during the festive season, with a hot chocolate and a blanket and someone you love. It has an appeal that isn't necessarily restricted to the usual follower of the Christmas film. Heck even my Gruncle liked it.

A Christmas story on a train!

Tom Langdon, tired and cynical journalist, travels by train so as to get story ideas for a book. He meets up with Eleanor Carter, his ex-lover and partner, who left him long ago in another country when they were covering a war. One thing leads to another, and they end up about to get married. What else? This is a Hallmark movie, the video version of Harlequin Romance. Like any such romance, it focuses almost entirely on the character's feelings, which are sketched in with cliched dialogue, portentous glances, one world-weary sigh after another, and so on. These books and movies are designed to enable the audience to fantasise a life- and love-style. I recorded it last December for later viewing because it was set on a train. The movie's adapted from a novel by David Baldacci, a shlock writer of considerable skill. He has the formulas down pat, and knows how to plot the story so that it's just over the line of reality, which makes suspension of disbelief easier. Unless, like me, you happen to have technical knowledge that spoils the illusion. There were too many small inconsistencies in the railroad setting, along with a major plot-flaw involving an avalanche and an inability to radio the dispatcher. At that point, the train mysteriously morphed from a streamliner to a short string of BC Rail Budd RDCs. I have a copy of Baldacci's book. It begins, "Tom Langdon was a journalist, a globe-trotting one, because it was in his blood to roam widely." That vapid sentence captures the tone of the movie perfectly. I enjoyed the silliness of it, and was, I confess, hard put to resist the mawkish sentimentality of its Christmas spirit. Nevertheless, I rate it only *½ (6/10)

Review Date 7/15/2019

I have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films, & Christmas Television Movies , & Television Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare. I am on a mission to watch every Christmas Movie ever produced. Since 2014 I average 100 a year.

In this film From Hallmark Hall of Fame comes a story about the journalist who embarks on a cross-country train ride at Christmas, having no idea this journey will take him into the rugged terrain of his own heart. He sees has past present and future in the eyes of his fellow passengers. Add a little Christmas Magic and you got a film worth seeing. The film is full of nice & clever surprises.

See it. It is one of the Best Hallmark Movies Made.

'The Christmas Train', in short: Strong cast, lame plot. I did enjoy those onscreen, but I just didn't find any entertainment with the story - which, due to the ending (which I did see coming, but was hoping I was wrong), only gets less and less watchable. If you are wanting an Xmas train film, much better ones are out there - I'm looking at you, 'The Polar Express' or even 'Last Train to Christmas'.

Kimberly Williams-Paisley gives a positive showing, I'd say this is the best I've seen from her in the Hallmark world thus far. Dermot Mulroney and Danny Glover are good as well, though the latter's character is very dull. Joan Cusack is involved too. The support cast are decent too, usually in these sorta films the acting level is relatively low but here it's solid.

Unfortunately for those mentioned, the plot they are portraying just didn't hold my attention and I was rather bored; even if it isn't anything wholly 'bad', per se.

Many reasons for see this short film ! From story, escaping from the classic recipe of Christmas film to performances ( a nice surprise remains the role of Joan Cusack ). But the precious gift is the work of Dermot Mulroney . It is his place and the his role. And the merit- in same measure- comes from his partners, first for Danny Glover and Kimberly William- Paisley . Result - a sort of Orient Express , the crime being remplaced, in lovely manner, by love.

A lower tier Hall of Fame caliber movie, but Hall of Fame worthy none the less. The cast was strong and the main actors well known and respected. Dermot Mulroney and Kimberly Williams Paisley made an attractive and likable couple. I personally find Danny Glover incredibly annoying, but I love Joan Cusack and enjoyed her role in this movie. The setting on the train to California? I loved it, but I'm prejudiced. I was lucky enough as a teen to travel from Chicago to Los Angeles on the El Capitan and The City of Los Angeles and back again during the Christmas Season. The plot was OK and benefited from being based on a David Baldacci book. The twist at the end really saved the story, though. After reading another reviewers comparison to the book, I really am considering reading the book upon which this was based.

Reviewing Hallmark Christmas movies are kind of a stupid hobby of mine, and I like to review the dreadful ones and the enjoyable ones or if I think I have something valuable to point out. I am jotting down a little review of this one because it's a cut above the usual.

I have enjoyed this each time I watched it. Better than some Emmy winners!

I love this movie it brings the Christmas theme without the forced romances but the twist in the end was amazing

Little tid bits in the beginning seemed familiar, then we realized we have already seen it, but decided to watch it again.

Glad we did.

A pleasant and enjoyable Christmas movie which had us smiling from beginning to end.

And then there was the ending which we totally forgot about.

No spoilers here. See The Christmas Train.

Also, when I saw the book was written by David Baldacci, I realized why it was such a well crafted story.

It was definitely a breath of fresh air from the typical Hallmark plot lines but felt so contrived. Some scenes just unbelievable. There was a lot of cgi/green screen that I did not care for. At one point I kind of got annoyed with the movie and then the next scene, they pulled me back in. It's an interesting story to watch. I did not realize it was based on a book. It seems that all is well that ends well at the ending. At least you think it's the ending. Then, Bam! They hit you with something else. There are hints along the way, mostly toward the end but you don't realize they are hints. It is definitely unexpected and I can understand why some people said it ruined the whole movie for them. I'm kind of on the fence with it. If you want to be left with just a happy ending, stop it when you see her pull the script out of the trashcan. You will know what I mean. If you watch it, it's still a happy ending but not as happy as you thought it was.