Gone Direct-to-DVD: December 2008
By Robert Sims, Special to Hollywood.com
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008
9. Thomas Kinkade's The Christmas Cottage
Cast: Jared Padalecki, Marcia Gay Harden, Peter O'Toole
The Verdict: O'Toole’s hardly the picture of good health in this sickly sweet yuletide yarn that immortalizes painter Thomas Kinkade’s artistic awakening and renewed community spirit. As Kinkade’s mentor, O'Toole could pass as the Ghost of Christmas Past. No wonder he’s always seated while speechifying. Still, his ramblings about being true to your art are more enjoyable than witnessing bland Kinkade stand-in Padalecki struggle to find the inspiration to create his most famous work of chocolate box art. Not to mention all the Hallmark-ish clichés boasting the joys of small-town living. By the time Padalecki puts down his brush, you’re left with the impression that The Christmas Cottage is less Kinkade’s gift to his undemanding fans than to himself.
DVD Features: Commentary with director Michael Campus and Thomas Kinkade; Deleted Scenes; and Building the Christmas Cottage, Home for Christmas: A Conversation with Thomas Kinkade and On the Set with Thomas Kinkade features.
Stars: 2 out of 5 stars
KEEP READING: See No. 8 ...
Photo(s) by Firm Films- © 2008- All Rights Reserved