Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas” was no doubt a wonderful holiday film. And definitely makes my top 5 list for holiday telefilms that I watched this year! Recommended!
Click here to watch “Christmas Mail” on Amazon
TITLE: Christmas Mail
FILM YEAR: 2010
DURATION: 90 Minutes
COMPANY: MarVista
Directed by John Murlowski
Screenplay by Lorene Lacey, Steven Palmer Peterson
Producer: John Murlowski, Tom Shell
Executive Producer: Michael Jacobs, Fernando Szew
Co-Executive PRoducer: Sharon Bordas, Robyn Snyder
Associate Producer: Michael Roddy
Cinematography by Justin Duval
Edited by Joy Zimmerman
Casting by Ricki Maslar
Production Design by Kirsten Larsen
Costume Design by Annie Rothschild
Starring:
Ashley Scott as Kristi North
A.J. Buckley as Matt Sanders
Lochlyn Munro as Richard Fuller
Rolonda Watts as Sally Covington
Vanessa Evigan as Heather
Piper Mackenzie Harris as Emily
Ron Rogge as Hunt
Lisa Long as Lana
In this holiday romantic comedy, a mysterious woman who works at the post office answering Santa’s mail captures the heart of a disillusioned postal carrier.
To kick off this year’s “Christmas Film Marathon”, we start with the 2010 film “Christmas Mail” starring Ashley Scott (“Into the Blue”, “Birds of Prey”, “A.I. Artificial Intelligence”) and A.J. Buckley (“SEAL Team”, “Rabbit”, “Pure”).
For the most part, it was interesting to see these two, as Ashley Scott is known for her work with darker hair (Scott who played Helena Kyle/The Huntress in the “Birds of Prey” DC live action series) but for this film is a blonde and A.J. Buckley (before he became super buff).
But together they star in this John Murlowski (“Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish”, “Black Cadillac”, “Assimilate”) film.
A.J. Buckley plays the character of Matt Sanders, a postal service employee who is busy during the holiday season and raises his sister’s child, Emily (portrayed by Piper Mackenzie Harris). Piper wants to celebrate the Christmas holiday but Matt is often busy. Matt used to have an exciting life of being in a band but now he focuses on work and raising his niece.
Ashley Scott plays the role of Kristi North, who loves Christmas and is sent by corporate to the postal service and is trying to bring some Christmas cheer, to the chagrin of Richard Fuller (portrayed by Lochlyn Munro), the boss of the location who feels that corporate sent a spy to the worksite. Also, because Richard is not a big fan of Christmas and can’t stand the Christmas direction that the postal service has went towards.
But as these two meet, they start to become interested in each other, but with Matt being promoted because he would be a spy on Kristi for his demanding and jerk boss Richard and throw in the usual Christmas misunderstandings, you have what is needed in Christmas romantic dramas.
Although, I often wonder if the film was shot during the summer (which many holiday telefilms tend to do, shooting with long overcoats in hot weather). The only thing that I find very peculiar how they used the US Postal Service instead of a make believe delivery business. Considering the antagonist is a boss at USPS, who is looking to further himself up like it’s a corporate job (for anyone who worked in the USPS, the USPS does not even operate that way), I think that made my eyes roll (considering I worked in the USPS during my college years). Also, Christmas bliss at the USPS, I could only wish. My memories of Christmas working at the USPS was work and more work and the feeling that you couldn’t wait until Christmas was over.
If anything, it’s a fun Christmas film made back in 2010. Not the greatest holiday film, nor is it the best, in fact, it’s more average if anything. But it’s still something to entertain viewers looking for a fun holiday film!
