Christmas On The Square (2020)

Set during Christmas time, a wealthy but embittered woman (Christine Baranski) returns to the small town where she grew up. But it's not to celebrate the season but to evict the townspeople so she can sell the town to a corporation who wants to build a mega mall. Enter an angel (Dolly Parton) who hopes to change the woman's mind. Based on the musical play by Dolly Parton and choreographed and directed by actress turned director Debbie Allen. This variant on Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL is about as fresh as a community theatre's annual Christmas play. But like (most) community theater, it's not very good but its earnestness and eagerness to please makes one overlook a lot of things. It's lucky to have Baranski as the central protagonist as she miraculously manages to cut through the treacle, others aren't so fortunate. Dolly Parton's songs are often quite lovely (especially when sung by her) but the less said about Debbie Allen's choreography the better. Still, if you're in the mood for a family friendly Christmas movie, you could do worse. It won the Emmy for best television movie so someone liked it. With Treat Williams, Jenifer Lewis, Josh Segarra and Jeannine Mason.