Dolly Parton seems to be everywhere recently. This also includes in one of Netflix’s new holiday films Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square”. In it she plays a guardian angel seeking to change someone’s heart. That someone is Regina Fuller (Christine Baranski). Regina has recently acquired the deed to a small town after her father’s death and intent on selling it she gives the townsfolk until Christmas Eve to vacate.
The film is full of good cheer, but it’s also rather odd. While Dolly Parton is charming she sticks out in her bedazzled outfits and even the fact that she’s an angel doesn’t keep her from feeling out of place. This is not a good film. It is a musical and the song and dance numbers come out of nowhere without flowing seamlessly into the narrative.
The film opens with Dolly Parton disguised as a beggar. She is the most expensive looking beggar I have ever seen. The townspeople sing about their troubles. They also sing about how much Regina is despised in the town. It is soon after that Regina discovers she might be dying of a brain tumor.
The film tries hard to borrow from “A Christmas Carol” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” amongst others. Yet, Dolly Parton’s charisma and the feel good moments are hard to ignore.
There is also a good Christian message written it. Regina’s biggest secret is kept in a Bible after all. The message is harmless and it’s obvious that we’re meant to root for Regina to feel all the good in the world. Ultimately, you finish Dolly’s film with a smile on your face and some Christmas spirit.
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