Movie Review: Christmas at the Cabin (In Theaters 11/14)

About the Movie:

Michelle and Josh are ready for a cozy Christmas at their cabin. They invite Michelle's sister Poppy to join. Simple, right?

Not quite. On the way, their car skids into a snowbank. When they finally reach the cabin, the door is wide open. Then, in true holiday chaos, they accidentally bear-spray Josh’s old college buddy, Guy — who showed up uninvited.

Michelle, who loves a good plan, struggles with Guy’s wild energy. He drives her crazy... but somehow boosts Poppy’s confidence with his charm and antics.

When a blizzard hits, tensions skyrocket. After one too many of Guy’s offhand jokes about God, Michelle snaps. She storms out into the storm — and quickly gets lost.

Enter Luke, a rugged stranger who rescues her. With his quiet wisdom, he helps Michelle realize how much her need for control is costing her.

Back at the cabin, Michelle opens up to Josh and Poppy. Old wounds heal. New laughter fills the air. As the snow clears, they leave the cabin with a stronger bond — and a Christmas they'll never forget.

Buy tickets today to see CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN in theaters starting November 14!  https://www.christmasatthecabinmovie.com/

---

Movie Trailer:

---

My Thoughts:

From watching the trailer, I expected CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN to be a humorous holiday movie about family and mess and Christmas. Largely, the story fulfilled those expectations, but Michelle (and her issues) added a sharp edge to the story that I wasn’t anticipating. Personally, I liked Michelle because I could relate to her desire for a perfect Christmas with her loved ones. I could also relate to her stress and the feeling of having to do all the things. However, Michelle could be abrasive, and I think some viewers may struggle with her if they don’t relate to her on a personal level.

As CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN progressed, its faith thread became more prominent but did not feel heavy-handed. It held reminders about multiple things (spending time with God, perfectionism, control, etc.) that are worth remembering, especially during the busyness of the holiday. I appreciated that the movie brought in a suggestion about seeking mental health counseling when needed.

CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN will likely appeal to Christian women looking for a laugh and encouragement. The movie delivers on both. Four stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Many thanks to FaithChannel for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

---

More about the Movie: 

• Buy tickets today to see CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN in theaters starting November 14!


• CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN is a feel-good Christmas movie! Starring Todd Terry, Marianne Haaland, Corey Cannon, Sharon Oliphant, and Stacey Sheffield, CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN brings together a little chaos, lots of laughter, and plenty of heart for one unforgettable holiday celebration. Stunning scenery, original music, and classic Christmas favorites combine to create a truly magical film for the whole family. Plan to watch this Christmas and visit christmasatthecabinmovie.com for more information.

• Buy tickets or learn more at: https://www.christmasatthecabinmovie.com/

---

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $10 Amazon giftcard by leaving your full name and email address. (Required for entry by Momentum Influencer Network) Contest ends Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm.

Movie Review: Journey to Bethlehem

 About the Movie:

A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. 

This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith, and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told—the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it. 

See JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM in theaters beginning November 10.

---

Watch the Trailer:

---

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed Journey to Bethlehem, a faith-based film focused on the events that preceded the birth of Jesus. As expected from the movie trailer, Journey to Bethlehem is a creative musical with characters that break into song and dance to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Whether the tracks were emotionally intense or lighter fanfare, the performers executed the songs and choreography with impressive precision and vocal quality.

The entire cast of Journey to Bethlehem performed well, but Antonio Banderas as the cruel King Herod was spot on. Fiona Palomo brought Mary’s humanity to the forefront of this story while Joel Smallbone (of the CCM band For King and Country) played the dark and unexpectedly fascinating character of Antipater (Herod’s son and heir to the throne).

Some favorite characters of mine in Journey to Bethlehem included Joseph, Aunt Elizabeth, and the three wise men. Joseph loved Mary well despite their unusual situation. Aunt Elizabeth didn’t spend much time on screen, but she spoke words of wisdom and humor. The three wise men offered comic relief with their interpersonal dynamics.

By accident or intention, Journey to Bethlehem held some 21st-century influence. On Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth, she wore an orange dress that was lovely and modest, but not true to the time. Also, “aromatherapy”, “essential oils”, and “so stinkin’ good” are words/phrases of modernity with those items and experiences being expressed differently in past times.

I have read concerns that Journey to Bethlehem does not adhere to the Biblical account of events and portrays Mary as overly rebellious. In my opinion, the plot stayed true to the major events given in Scripture but filled in the unknowns with music and a creative narrative. The film presented the characters as real people with understandable challenges and emotions. Mary struggled to accept her betrothal to Joseph and expressed her feelings of inadequacy to be mother to the Son of God. However, there is never any doubt that she will be obedient to her earthly father and Heavenly Father.  Mary’s fears, desires, and emotions added depth to the story and made her feel human.

I also enjoyed the romance and the film creators’ take on how Mary and Joseph might have fallen in love and created a marriage partnership while living out their extraordinary life callings. A piece of creative license at the end allows Mary to explain that this baby, Jesus, came to save the lost – of which we all are a part. I appreciated the inclusion of humanity’s need for a Savior, though some may find a certain character’s presence unlikely. I do wish that Mary’s Magnificat had been included as it’s a beautiful passage of Scripture that could have fit seamlessly into the movie.

I watched Journey to Bethlehem with my daughters (ages 11 and 8). Both girls were okay with the content even during the darker scenes. They asked questions during the movie: “Did that really happen?” “I haven’t heard that before.” Etc.… We had a good conversation regarding the film, and it helped them understand that the Bible stories they learn hold truth, but only represent chosen parts of a person’s life.

To conclude my review of Journey to Bethlehem, I will say that watching this movie brought me edification and joy. I appreciated it all: the story, the songs and choreography, the romance, the character development of Mary and Joseph, and the humor. I plan to purchase a copy when it arrives on Blu-ray/DVD.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Many thanks to AFFIRM Films, Inc. for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

---

Learn more about JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM:

• Movie Website: https://www.journeytobethlehemmovie.com/


• "Can We Make This Work" scene from the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrzOwfKkT34


• Meet Mary and Joseph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMaPEiIARKU


• Meet Antipater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1F0lfn1EwM


• Meet Fig (The Donkey!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwrBDgnQ4sI


• Meet King Herod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnrPnfeuYS4


• Meet The Wise Men: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KxvaJFzf1Q


• No Scripture Harmed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDXgMRgPEGw (Listen to the part about Antipater!)


• Discussion guides and printable pages: https://www.journeytobethlehemmovie.com/resources


• Buy tickets today to see JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM in theaters starting November 10th! Purchase at: https://tickets.journeytobethlehemmovie.com/

---

Flash Ticket Giveaway:

One reader of this post will receive two free tickets to see JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM. US only. Giveaway ends 11/13/2023 at 11:59 A. M. EST.

Enter by leaving a comment on this post that includes your full name and email address.

Movie Review: It's Christmas Again

About the Movie:

Jake Young (Lawson Touliatos) wants nothing more than to spend his Christmas vacation with his girlfriend, Abbey Walker (Leela Owen). So when Abbey volunteers for her church's Christmas play, Jake is ready to skip Christmas this year until an unexpected turn of events lands him in a field outside Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. While on his journey with the shepherds to find the promised Messiah, Jake discovers the true meaning of Christmas. Coming this Christmas season, IT'S CHRISTMAS AGAIN is a modern-day musical the whole family will love!

A magical musical adventure through time coming to theaters November 29th for ONE NIGHT ONLY!

---

Movie Trailer:

---

My Review:

A creative and fun movie, It’s Christmas Again mixes the traditional Nativity story with Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and adds lots of music. I loved all the singing and dancing! A few times the lyrics were lost to me, and my children also mentioned not understanding what the big groups were singing. However, I think we should all start blessing our family meals with song and dance the way they did in Aunt Martha’s Bethlehem house!

In addition to the musical aspect, It’s Christmas Again exercises creative liberty as Jake changes from being somewhat cynical and indifferent about Christmas to putting substantial effort into meaningful Christmas activities and loving others selflessly. The main message of Jesus’ birth as the reason for Christmas shines clearly. Other inspirational themes include helping others and how actions matter.

The Christmas season can be stressful and It’s Christmas Again felt fun and light, just what I needed at the moment I watched it. I enjoyed the occasional moments of humor and appreciated the racially diverse cast. I’d happily watch this movie again. Four stars.

Many thanks to Mapelle films for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

---

More About IT'S CHRISTMAS AGAIN:

• A film with a beautiful reminder that JESUS is the reason for the season.


• Watch a short video about The Heart Behind IT'S CHRISTMAS AGAIN at: https://youtu.be/lXEhtSzEKJ8.


• Buy your tickets TODAY to see IT'S CHRISTMAS AGAIN in theaters only on 11/29/22. Purchase at: https://itschristmasagainmovie.com/.

---

Giveaway:

One reader of this post will receive a $10 Amazon gift card. US only. Giveaway ends 12/01/2022 at 11:59 P. M. EST.

Enter by leaving a comment on this post that includes your name and email address.