Film review: A Christmas Star

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Published on Friday, 13 November 2015 13:00

Last Updated on 12 November 2015

Monica Costa

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This Christmas’ movie A Christmas Star is a modern fairy tale with traditional family values and positive ending released by Belfast-based children’s charity Cinemagic and Signature Entertainment in UK cinemas nationwide from 13^th November 2015 and on DVD, Blu-Ray, EST and VOD from 23^rd November, 2015.

The Story

Starring film and TV’s elite, A Christmas Star tells the story of Noel, a spirited young who embarks on a magical journey to save her friends and family.

Born in dramatic circumstances under the Christmas Star, Noel believes she has the gift to perform strange miracles. When conniving developer McKerrod threatens her peaceful life she teams up with a misfit gang of local kids to save the village from demolition.  However, one by one her friends lose faith in Noelle’s abilities and she is left to fight McKerrod on her own. The town’s future hinges on a final showdown in Belfast’s historic Stormont building as Noelle implores politicians, her friends and the watching world to believe in the true meaning of Christmas…love.

 

The Cast

The innovative film production gave budding young actors the chance to star alongside movie legends. Over 40 trainee crew aged 18 – 25 were mentored by industry professionals who trained them in all aspects of filmmaking including director Richard Elson (M.I. High, Steffi), award-winning film composer Patrick Doyle (Brave, Rise of the Planet of the Apes), music supervisor Maggie Rodford, (The King’s Speech, Anna Karenina), casting director Ros Hubbard, (The Commitments, Dracula Untold), camera operator, Ian Fox, (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Amazing Spider-Man), producer Iain Smith, (Children of Men, Mad Max: Fury Road) and production manager, Terry Bamber (The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Skyfall), who all took a break from their own shooting schedules to mentor the trainees.

The list of famous performers in this film is long. Newcomer Erin Galway-Kendrick is joined by a host of actors including Pierce Brosnan (James Bond), Suranne Jones (TV’s Scott & Bailey, Doctor Foster), Robert James-Collier (TV’s Downton Abbey, Coronation Street), Bronagh Waugh (Hollyoaks, The Fall), and Richard Clements (A Belfast Story). The film is narrated by Liam Neeson (Taken, A Walk Among The Tombstones) and features a cameo from Kylie Minogue and guest appearance from Dermot O’Leary.

 

The Trailer

 

Mums’ rating: 5/10

The movie could do with a bit more magic than it actually promises. Usually movies including lots of cameos by famous actors and actresses or TV elite often lack in either storytelling or performance brilliance. This film lacks in both although children might still enjoy it.