"Christmas in the Smokies" is a Holiday story that is appropriate for all ages. The INSP Television Network is a station you can always trust for family viewing, with touching dramas and series on their network about family, faith, and patriotism, which makes it an even greater honor for me to share and promote their film here today - with all of you! Be sure to watch the Video Clip - below!
In addition to a lovely farm setting in the Smoky Mountains, you will also recognize several well known Actors and Actresses in this new original INSP Christmas movie... which gives it that extra special sense of warm familiarity and coming home. After all, that is INSP's endearing tagline... "Welcome Home"!
MOVIE REVIEW
Movie: Christmas in the Smokies
Network: INSP
Original Air Date: November 29, 2015
CAST:
Sarah Lancaster ... Shelby Haygood
Alan Powell ... Mason Wyatt
Barry Corbin ... Wade Haygood
Jill Wagner ... Trisha Greene
Rebecca Koon ... Annie Haygood
Gregory Alan Williams ... Bud Walker
Brett Rice ... Ralph Baxter
Danny Vinson ... DJ Baley
PLOT:
via INSP PRESS RELEASE: "Christmas in the Smokies" tells the story of Shelby Haygood, a headstrong woman (Lancaster), who along with her loving and supportive parents (Corbin, and Rebecca Koon) finds herself on the verge of losing her family’s historic berry farm to an impending retail expansion. Over one eventful holiday season, she tries every avenue possible to save the farm, and her last hope is to throw a Christmas concert fundraiser, headlined by her former love, Mason Wyatt, a ne’er do well country music superstar with a track record of consistently disappointing Shelby. As the day of the concert approaches, they all must learn the value of family, faith, community and forgiveness before time runs out. INSP can be seen on Dish Network (channel 259), DirecTV (channel 364), Verizon FiOS (channel 286), AT&T U-verse (channel 564) and more than 2,800 cable systems.
Movie Review:
Christmas in the Smokies is as Americana, wholesome, and sweet as fresh baked Apple (or Blueberry!) Pie! From the very start you will be drawn into the story of the Haygood family, who is sadly on the verge of losing their farm right after Christmas. Their daughter Shelby, portrayed by actress Sarah Lancaster, is doggedly determined to do everything in her power not to let that happen. One small problem, however, has her a bit distracted and off her game, Country singing sensation Mason Wyatt, her old boyfriend who left town and broke her heart years ago, has suddenly returned. Shelby can only guess his reasons, while doing her best to guard and reason with own her heart, and focus on saving the family farm.
The casting overall for Christmas in the Smokies is top-notch terrific! The father, Wade Haygood, portrayed by actor Barry Corbin, (“Mountain Top”, “Shadow on the Mesa”) gives just the right spice of humor and realism to his boisterous character, while the Mother, Annie Haygood (actress Rebecca Coon, “The Notebook”, “A Different Kind of Christmas”) is in general soft spoken, but also resolute in protecting her family.
As I mentioned above, Sarah Lancaster (“Fir Crazy”, “Tis the Season for Love”) portrays the lead character, their daughter Shelby Haygood, who has a spark and spunk that matches her delightful best friend, Trisha Greene, (actress Jill Wagner, “Autumn Dreams”). With a little southern sass in both their voices, these two have some real fun scenes together!
Then, there is the famous country singer Mason Wyatt, portrayed by actor Alan Powell, (of “Where Hope Grows” and the TV series “Nashville”), who beautifully sings all of his character’s songs in the movie. Of course, every story must have an antagonist, a bad guy or villain, so to speak. In this instance, that character is Ralph Baxter, portrayed by actor Brett Rice (“Remember the Titans”), who is perfectly detestable and greedy in his desire to take over the Haygood farm.
Through all of the ups & downs of the Haygood’s struggles, Shelby’s father reminds her to hold tight to her faith and hope, and their belief of the child who was born in the manger.
See or Skip?:
See!
Christmas in the Smokies is an enriching story you will enjoy with your family year after year!
-Net, It’s a Wonderful Movie
Video Clip:
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This one looks real good - especially great cast here. Welcome to the movie making business INSP! If they all look as good as this one, then you've won me over!
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly! INSP has stepped out of the gate with a must-see compelling first film! I hope many of us here will watch and be supportive. It's a great network, and this will surely be a truly successful launch into movie making business for them!
DeleteIs this the mystery movie you've been waiting to share?
ReplyDeleteMarking my calendar now as this is definitely one I will be watching this Christmas.
YES, it is!!! I've been working with INSP - and this is officially movie reveal day for them - and I'm just as thrilled to share this movie today, too!
DeleteI'm sure this is the first of many great ones to come for INSP!
Is this a MYSTERY movie?
DeleteNo, Christmas in the Smokies is not a Mystery type movie... The reference above about it being THE mystery film meant that it was the movie I was previously being mysterious about because I was waiting for INSPs official movie release date to share it.
DeleteI recognize the main actress, but who is the other girl?
ReplyDeleteJill Wagner was just in the recent Hallmark movie (for their Fall Harvest event), "Autumn Dreams."
DeleteWill this be available on DVD later? We don't get INSP.
ReplyDeleteTJ
Looks great; love Sarah and love those country themes!!
ReplyDeleteI'm grateful for the shared info but can you PLEASE turn auto-play off on this video?! Very, very annoying website behavior.
ReplyDeleteI found out about this movie totally separate from Net, as I was searching for something else online. I posted a comment about it here (because I hadn't seen anything mentioned here), which Net did not post as she wanted to keep it a secret until the official info was out. The showtime/premiere date of this movie was actually up on the INSP website last week, and I posted about it on another forum/site. But I think it was a few weeks ago when I first read about it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I saw a totally different person mention this movie on Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas Facebook page last week or the week before. The movie was premiered in a theater, and it appeared that the person who mentioned it had seen it there. She was asking Hallmark if the movie was going to air on their channel, so I am guessing it was not clear to the audience that it was a movie destined for the INSP network? Not long after I read her comment I saw the movie listed/scheduled on the INSP website.
So Sarah Lancaster will be in two all new Christmas movies this year with this one and Hallmark's Tis the Season for Love and then she has that movie from a couple years ago Fir Crazy. She is catching up quickly to Candace and Lacey!
ReplyDeleteI like the looks of this one. I wish they didn't have to all premiere at the exact same time on all the networks. Not everyone has a DVR that can tape all these shows at once so we have to choose and when it's Christmas it's very hard but this one I'm thinking will beat anything they others plan to air that night on other channels.
ReplyDeleteAgree! I'm going to be making some hard choices. :(
DeleteMisty
It looks like it going to be a wonderful movie. Its on my list!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
WHEN will this be released for purchase on DVD???? I SO want to buy it?
ReplyDeleteI know it has been on dvd for a couple of years, but "Call me Mrs. Miracle " is different on the dvd than what was aired. It includes the real meaning of Christmas and I recommend to everyone who loves the meaning of Christmas to get the dvd. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. RG
ReplyDeleteGreat Review! I'll be watching tonight. Don't think I'll have to beg for the remote from my husband for this one as he's a country music fan like me.
ReplyDeleteAlan Powell has a great voice so I'm excited to see him sing in this movie. He and Sarah look like a great match. Enjoyed your review, so I'm sure I'll enjoy the movie, too! Thanks for all the updates you do here. I'd be lost without you!
ReplyDeleteINSP is not a station I typically watch so this movie completely skipped my notice. Thanks to you I have it scheduled in now to watch tonight at 10. I'll probably watch some and record the rest as these movies carry over fairly late sometimes and work comes early Monday morning. James
ReplyDeleteIt was one of the ones I watched on Sunday. Thankfully, it was repeated right after the first showing.
ReplyDeleteMisty
It's a nice Christmas movie.
ReplyDeleteLove this movie so so much!:)
ReplyDelete