A Bennet Song Holiday is an inspirational movie! It is inspirational because it shows how a few kids can make a difference and it includes a character that is deaf. Also it shows how kids and teens work together to save something and that is meaningful. This movie is very fun and touching.
The story is about a mother and father and their 14 adopted children, plus one uncle who team up to stop a developer from closing down the community center.
There is a group of all girls that shows some real girl power, which is pretty cool. Also, they have a program where they teach ASL (American Sign Language). It's necessary to so that because the uncle who lives with them is deaf. Another cool thing is that the teens actually teach the various subjects such as sign language and music. My favorite part of this film is when the kids have a fundraiser and they made a song about the theme, which is quite catchy. The only thing lacking in this film is the performances of the actors. They don't seem to really embody their characters, for the most part. However, I still liked the film.
The message of this film is that when you get knocked down, get back up and keep trying. This family loves making a difference in other people's lives.
I give A Bennet Song Holiday 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 10 to 18, plus adults.
Reviewed by Saniyarain F., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
A Bennet Song Holiday is a family-friendly movie that revolves around friends and family. The movie also touches on good moral values that you should imbibe as a teenager.
This story is about a family with 14 adopted kids work together to stop a developer that wants to close down the community center and how they work together, aided by a little holiday magic to overcome the situation.
The film is a bit slow paced, but I like that it shows the importance of moral values and gives examples of how kids can take responsible actions, help each other and give back to their community. The story is a bit predictable and sometimes jumps through the scenes without much context. It takes about 30 minutes to completely understand what is going on in the film. Kids may need patience to sit through the first half hour. The screenplay just doesn't quite weave a captivating story. It does show how kids can patiently work through things and how to take responsible steps to help everyone around you. My favorite part is the acting. You can see that the actors (Corbin Bernsen, Dennis Haskins, Calhoun Koenig, Bruce Xavier and more) put in a lot of effort throughout the movie.
It also touches on the topic of racism when an elderly businessman or a couple treats some Asian Americans poorly. We see how the individual tries to tackle the problem with a smile and without retaliation. I was somewhat dissatisfied that it touches on these sensitive topics yet does not address how to deal with the problems or why it is necessary to curb such behavior.
This film definitely uses the right vocabulary for its target audience. And, the music enhances the theme of the film, which really gets to kids.
The message of the film is: Take care of your family and friends and act responsibly. P>I give A Bennet Song Holiday 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults.
Reviewed by Laxmi D., KIDS FIRST! Adult Reviewer
>A Bennett Song Holiday is a film about a multicultural family where each member has talents and stories. They come together around the holidays and face the oppression of a businessman wanting to take over the building where one of the family members works and which serves the community. Using the main story from the novella "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, this movie highlights how kindness and family can change any unexpected outcome in life.
The movie touches on so many different themes including family, racism, misogyny, pop culture, minorities (deaf, LQTBQ+, POC), adoption, non-traditional families and more. It includes so many themes without going deep into any of them. The main storyline is good and shows the importance of family and coming together in times of adversity, but it wanders.
The movie runs almost two hours, which is a bit lengthy for younger audiences. The music and dancing are definitely attractive, but it's still long. The flow of the scenes is good, but missing is back stories of all the adopted kids. Each one has their own unique qualities, but we know nothing about their past so it's difficult to get a sense of character development.
The film is all about family, togetherness and overcoming unexpected situations in life, however there are two scenes that deal with adult affairs. One turns out to be a misunderstanding, but the other is real as one man discovers his fiancé is having the affair with his brother. That, plus another scene that feels unnecessarily intimate seem unsuitable for younger children. Also, there are racist and misogynistic comments that are never addressed, which is disappointing since those could have led to great lessons.
The locations of the movie are well-chosen and art is one of the main components of the movie - music, dance, and visual artwork. The representation of different cultures and religions is featured, using words such as "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa" to show appreciation for the ways that people of different cultures celebrate the holidays. The movie does show how family is more than just blood and names and that family is defined by those who are with us when we need them most.
I give A Bennett Song Holiday 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 13 to 18, plus adults.
Reviewed by David O., KIDS FIRST! Juror
Mrs. Song is expecting a baby to add to their diverse roster of 14 adopted children and the family will team up to stop a developer who wants to close down the community center. Love, teamwork, and holiday magic are sure to save the day!
