Tonight's Movie: My Southern Family Christmas (2022)

MY SOUTHERN FAMILY CHRISTMAS (2022), the most recent Hallmark Channel holiday film I've viewed, also turned out to be one of my favorites.

It's a well-written film coauthored by Alys Murray and director Emily Moss Wilson, based on Murray's story.

Magazine writer Campbell Wallace (Jaicy Elliot), whose birth name was Alice Bergeron, was happily raised by her mother (Katie Hughey) and stepfather (Brian McNamara), but she's always wondered about her birth father, Everett Bergeron (Bruce Campbell, BURN NOTICE). Everett left home when she was young and they've never had a relationship.

The opportunity to learn more presents itself when Campbell receives a letter from Jennifer (Moira Kelly), Everett's wife, who would like to smooth the way for a reunion between father and daughter. Campbell comes up with a plan to visit Sorrento, Louisiana, where Everett has just been named that year's "Pere Noel." While covering this unique Louisiana tradition Campbell has the opportunity to get to know Everett and his family without disclosing her true identity.

Campbell loves her half sisters Amelia (Anniston Almond) and Mary-Margaret (Adeleine Whittle), and she also develops a relation with Jackson (Ryan Rottman), the town archivist who shares her "nerdy" inclinations. Campbell comes to better understand her father's past demons and why he never contacted her, and she ultimately must decide whether or not to tell Everett that she's his daughter.

The "hidden identity" plot could be tricky, as a story based on a lie has the potential to be exasperating, but it plays out almost unexpectedly well here thanks to both a good script and fine, particularly natural acting.

I thought that Elliott, who appeared earlier this year in Hallmark's ROMANCE IN STYLE (2022), has a unique personality as Campbell; she comes across as both authentic and sympathetic. I very much liked the low-key development of her friendship and then attraction with Jackson and their bantering relationship; their love story develops out of common interests and personalities and struck me as quite realistic.

Character actor Campbell, who last year appeared in Hallmark's ONE DECEMBER NIGHT (2021), has a big fan following, and it's easy to see why; he's excellent here as a man with a past who's reformed and has a great life, except for one large "missing piece."

I didn't particularly care for Kelly when she played Mandy on THE WEST WING way back when, but again she's quite wonderful and natural in this as Everett's wife. I also found the performances of the young actresses playing Campbell's half-sisters to be quite believable; they are charming without being overly cutesy.

Over the last couple years Hallmark stars have periodically turned up in the channel's films in cameo appearances, and in this case Hallmark leading man Wes Brown has a brief role as Campbell's editor. Brown stars opposite Lacey Chabert in this year's HAUL OUT THE HOLLY (2022) which I've heard is fun and hope to watch soon.

MY SOUTHERN FAMILY CHRISTMAS was filmed by Matt Bell on location in Louisiana. It runs 84 minutes.

I don't believe Hallmark has awarded one of their films the Hallmark Hall of Fame designation in the last couple years, but as far as I'm concerned MY SOUTHERN FAMILY CHRISTMAS qualifies. Recommended.

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