Review by Lisa Payne
Scott (RJ Mitte) hates Christmas and birthdays. This dismays both his heavily-pregnant wife, Karen (Yuly Mireles) and his young son, Jeremy (Elijah Maximus – great name). The family always spends the Christmas holidays with Karen’s parents, Jackie (Donna Pescow – I haven’t seen her since her TV show Angie) and Don (Del Zamora).
When Karen asks Scott about $3,000 missing from the company accounts, it transpires that Scott has been looking for his biological mother, Carol (Andrea F. Friedman). He goes to see Carol, discovers she is developmentally disabled and is unable to process this information. As a result, he sits in his car outside. When Scott returns home, he tells Karen he went to see Carol, however, neglects to tell her about Carol’s disability.
Scott is very reticent to go and see Carol again, so Karen goes instead to see Carol. Karen is captivated by Carol, and Carol becomes very attached. Carol is still grieving over the son taken from her when he was a baby.
Karen specifically visiting Carol attracts the attention of Lilliane (Lee Purcell), who in turn informs, Carol’s mom, Helen Harris (Donna Mills, seriously long time no see).
After a meeting between Helen, Scott, and Karen, promises are made to not see Carol again. Of course, this is very short-lived. Carol plays the bells (hence the title) very well. During a Christmas performance, she is visited by her son and his family.
Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films’ production crew featured 70% of people with developmental disabilities.
The performances are universally excellent. Carol Of The Bells caught me completely off-guard. It was charming and heartwarming. There was so much dust in my eyes, I couldn’t keep them dry.
It is the perfect Christmas movie.
