Listen to the Song "Christmas Feels Like Falling in Love" from Great American Family's "I'm Glad It's Christmas"

I'm Glad It's Christmas Plot Summary

Just when an aspiring singer is about to give up on her dreams, she agrees to participate in a local production, and her career gets a big boost.  Will her success cost her a chance at love?

Starring:  Jessica Lowndes, Paul Greene, and Gladys Knight

My Movie Grade:  A

Image:  Great American Media

Stellar Musical Talent!

I'm Glad It's Christmas offers a comfortingly familiar rom-com vibe paired with an original storyline that feels fresh and hopeful.

Chloe Bose (Lowndes) has been trying to snag a leading role in a musical but has never advanced beyond the chorus line despite endless auditions.  Her dream has a deadline.  If she can't make it as a singer in five years, she's going home to Detroit.   She will become a dentist like her father and join his practice.  

With her best friend soon to be married and moving out of their shared apartment, Chloe decides it's time to move on.  Her auditions only lead to dead ends.  She's either too tall, not tall enough, or too young.  

Chloe is always bubbling with music.  She even sings at work, and her boss asks her to stop because it slows down sales when patrons stop to listen.  She later learns customers come into the gift shop just to hear her sing.  It's no wonder--she has the voice of an angel!

Chloe's voice catches the attention of Cora Lawson (Gladys Knight) who invites both her and Jason Murphy (Paul Greene), the single dad Chloe just met, to her office.  Cora is very cryptic about her intentions, so it's odd that Chloe and Jason would agree to go.

Turns out, Cora wants to bring back the annual Christmas show to Holiday Lane, an event that has died off in recent years and needs resuscitated to build community.  With Chloe's voice and Jason's jingle-writing experience, the two are expected to compose and perform an original song for the show.

The movie's conflict centers on Chloe and Jason being tempted to explore a possible relationship, but Chloe holding back because she knows she could be leaving town soon.  Things only grow more strained when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presents itself for Chloe in the form of a second call-back which is scheduled at the same time she's slated to sing with Jason during the Holiday Lane event.

Much to Jason's surprise, Chloe manages to fulfill her commitment to him AND land her dream role.  Their performance also secures a lucrative new client for Jason.

A Movie with Morals

Remember when shows used to contain a moral?  Think of the Andy Griffith Show or Little House on the Prairie--two examples of programs that managed to entertain as well as convey a virtuous principle.  I'm Glad It's Christmas contains some hidden gems, too. 

You Never Know Who's Watching You

Chloe has no idea when she's singing at work that someone who hears her has connections to help her.  We learn at the end of the movie that Cassandra Rogers, the producer who offers Chloe her dream role, knows Cora because Cora had been in her very first production.  It's a reminder not to become discouraged when life doesn't go the way we plan because you never know when your talents and character will capture the attention of the right people who can help you.  God creates Divine appointments!

Don't Give Up Before the Miracle

In the GAFamily movie, Christmas at the Drive-In, there's a family saying on a wall plaque that says, Don't Give Up Before the Miracle.  Miracles never happen according to our timetable.  God has a habit of waiting until the midnight hour to come through in order to stretch our faith.  Chloe is an immensely talented singer, but she's ready to give up on the brink of her breakthrough.  We've all been there!  When God gives us a skill, gift, or talent, He will open all the right doors for us to use it, but we have to be patient and persevere.

Use Your Talents to Glorify God

When several auditions don't pan out and Chloe ponders moving home, she muses, maybe this is the universe's way of telling me it's time to give up.

That's a pretty New Age concept, isn't it?

Don't worry.... Cora sets Chloe straight when she teaches that music is less about where it comes from (the throat versus the heart) and more about where it's going (to God).  Cora shares something her own voice coach always stressed:  Good singers perform for an audience.  Great singers perform for something greater than us all; their song goes through the audience on its way UP.  (Did you catch that GAF includes part of Gladys's name in the movie title?)

We might not all be gifted singers, but everyone has a special skill or talent attached to their personal calling.  Are you using your gifts and gearing them toward the right purpose?

What You Make Happen for Others, God Will Make Happen for You

Human beings have a tendency to be selfish.  When Chloe receives a second call-back that will impede her from singing a duet with Jason for the Holiday Lane show, both he and Cora insist she not let the opportunity pass her by.  In fact, Cora "fires" Chloe from the show to give her the "out" she needs to avoid being overwhelmed with guilt.  Jason knows he could lose a potential client by making it easy for Chloe to renege on her commitment, but he is very supportive of her dream.  Cora and Jason unselfishly do what is best for someone else, and in return, the Holiday Lane event is an exceptional success and Jason still wins the new client.

Go Tell It on the Mountain!

There's nothing wrong with Jingle Bells, Sleigh Ride, or any of the festive music rom-coms include in their movies; however, it seems many "woke" networks avoid songs with lyrics that reflect the true meaning of Christmas--the birth of Jesus!  Apparently, it's not inclusive enough for people of different faiths, including no faith at all.  Of course, this begs the question, why would someone celebrate Christmas if they aren't a Christ-follower?  Just because non-Christians love time with family, twinkling lights, fun foods, feel-good movies, and opening presents, their reasons for celebrating do NOT make Christmas about a "feeling."  It's about the birth of the Savior who came to redeem mankind from their sins.

Think about it--if you don't live in the USA, would you celebrate July 4?  Would you want to be included in Ramadan when you don't embrace Islam?

Just because people make Christmas into something secular doesn't change the truth.  Christmas is about Emmanuel--God with us!

Gladys Knight sings a soulful rendition of Go Tell it on the Mountain, and it gives one chills to hear Christ proclaimed so unabashedly when it's no longer politically correct to do so.  Way to go, GAF for sharing the true message of Christmas--Jesus Christ is born!

Christmas Feels Like Falling in Love

Falling in love is so exciting--just like Christmas!  If you enjoyed this song from the movie, you can listen to Jessica and Paul sing it again below: