Touches You

Overrated and overhyped

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

"The Christmas Choir" is a 2008 TV Christmas film by Hallmark. This story is set in a big city, and was inspired by a true story. The lead is Peter Brockman, played by Jason Gedrick. He's a workaholic whose fiancé calls off their engagement just before Christmas. He meets Big Bob (played by Tyrone Benskin) in an upscale bar. Bob plays the piano and sings – but only as a hobby before the main entertainment comes on board. Peter had played and sang in his youth. Bob invites Peter to have dinner with him. He's surprised when they go to a dining hall and shelter for homeless and street people. The story develops from there, with Peter having a conversion. Rhea Perlman is Sister Agatha, "nothing like the nuns when I was growing up," says Peter. She and Bob encourage him and he eventually forms the men's Christmas Choir. The film has just the right touches of humor as well.The movie was inspired by the Accueil Bonneau Choir of Montreal, Canada. Pierre Anthian started the choir in 1996. He was a dental technician who had a denture company. He volunteered for many programs to help the down and out, and helped at the Accueil Bonneau shelter. The choir had 22 members and became successful. It gave more than 1,000 concerts in cities in the Americas and Europe. While it started with Christmas carols, it expanded to include all types of music, from popular to classical. The choir recorded six albums on CDs, but in 2003 it disbanded after many of its members found jobs. Its success led to its demise. Sister Nicole Fournier of the shelter said that Accueil Bonneau would continue to use music to help the homeless, but there were no plans for another choir. Most of the events shown in this movie actually occurred. The tragedy toward the end happened June 9, 1998, when a gas leak caused an explosion that demolished the Catholic shelter. A nun and two volunteers were killed and 16 others were injured. The choir gave performances and a campaign to rebuild the center raised more than $2 million. This is a different Christmas story but one that should bring many smiles.

The other posters seem to have missed the point that this movie was based on a true story about a group of homeless people who formed a choir. THAT'S what makes it so heartwarming, whether or not these viewers felt it was 'real' enough. Big name stars weren't needed for credible performances, as noted, and may have been detracting.The story is about forgiveness. About second chances. And about giving time and self to help others achieve their potential. Although the real-life choir wasn't named, they went on to make six CDs and performed internationally. That's the real story behind the story. And what makes this a true seasonal film, deserving of the awards it won.

This is an excellent and heartfelt Hallmark TV movie about a workaholic whose personal life has collapsed around him, who organizes and leads a Christmas choir of men living at a homeless shelter. Working my way through this intellectually, I find a lot of flaws in this picture: its episodic nature, its easy internal parallels, the cleanliness of everything and so forth, but the simplicity of the actors' performances work beautifully.There are almost no big names involved in this production -- the closest to one is probably Rhea Perlman, who plays the cranky nun who runs the shelter. But it doesn't really matter. Very much worth your while.

*May contain spoilers* I give this movie 10 stars for being realistic.This movie is a Christmas story of a different nature. It tells the tale of a group of homeless men brought together by music. They play together in a subway and earn a bit of money for Christmas. However, it is also realistic in that the second chances given to the members are contingent upon them staying sober and being on time, etc.I especially like Rhea Pearlman's character, who most definitely tells it like it is.Overall, it is a different kind of Christmas tale, told with heart, yet without being too cheesy.