A Christmas Star *½ (2015, Rob James-Collier, Erin Galway-Kendrick, Bronagh Waugh, Richard Clements, Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson) – Movie Review

Richard Elson’s 2015 family film is a slice of good natured seasonal Irish blarney, in which Erin Galway-Kendrick stars as young Noelle, who believes she has the gift to perform miracles. She was born under the Christmas Star, you see.

Rob James-Collier plays conniving developer Pat McKerrod, whose evil plans threaten Noelle’s village’s peaceful life with her nice, tolerant parents (Bronagh Waugh, Richard Clements). So she and her young pals determine to use her miracle-performing gifts to try to thwart developer’s plans and save their village from ugly re-deveopment.

James-Collier, who was Liam Connor in Coronation Street and Thomas Barrow in Downton Abbey, gives an unconvincing, misjudged turn as the developer, with his ‘American’ accent weighing him down. But Galway-Kendrick and the other kids are pleasant company. Pierce Brosnan  as Mr Shepherd and Liam Neeson as the voice of the story’s Narrator and the Radio DJ, lend their support, but it’s hardly their finest hour in the cinema. Kylie Minogue, Julian Fellowes and Dermot O’Leary also appear in the briefest of cameos.

Maire Campbell’s shaky screenplay isn’t really up to the task in hand, but it’s nearly Christmas again, so let’s be kind. It’s short, harmless and pleasant enough old-fashioned entertainment, with plenty of good messages for youngsters.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Movie Review

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