Just last night, my wife Belinda and I watched the new Netflix movie, EL CAMINO CHRISTMAS.
What an oddly enjoyable piece of film work. It felt as if a Hallmark movie had given birth to a lovechild with NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. The movie is dark and sweet and unpredictably good in spots.
High points were Tim Allen’s performance as the burnt-out alcoholic veteran who chokes you up by the end of things. I feel the character could have been better written, but Tim Allen has always had some acting skills when he isn’t just falling back on his Home Improvement shtick.
I also enjoyed Kurtwood Smith’s performance as the sheriff. You folks might remember Kurtwood as being my favorite part of THE 70’s SHOW as Red Foreman (or Forman, depending on which season you watch). Again, I felt like the character could been better developed and written and I would REALLY like to see the character in a better made movie. Kurtwood has been getting by over the years with an awful lot of cartoon voice-over work, but I always enjoy his acting as well.
So all in all I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for an oddball Christmas movie – but it isn’t for younger kids.
Yours in storytelling,
Steve Vernon
YOURS IN STORYTELLING... 