DOLLY PARTON'S MOUNTAIN MAGIC CHRISTMAS
US, 2022, 85 minutes, Colour.
Dolly Parton, Tom Everett Scott, Angel Parker, Mary Lane Haskell, Jimmy Fallon, Willie Nelson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jimmy Allen, Zach Williams, Miley Cyrus, Cassie Parton Griffiths, Rachel Parton George.
Directed by Joe Lazarov.
Everybody knows Dolly Parton. Most audiences love Dolly Parton. At the opening of this television special, she sings I will always love you and 9 to 5 as an encore. She is in Tahoe, looking at the snow, getting a bright idea that she should do a special Christmas program at Dollywood.
So, this is a film of putting on a show. Tom Everett Scott is her producer, looking very uneasy at times, clashing with the substitute choreographer, Angel Parker (though reconciling with her, brought up an orphan, inviting her to Christmas with his family). There are scenes with agents, with producers, with screenwriters, choreographers. And, there is the tension of not being ready, especially on the day of the show, rehearsals and getting further and further behind in time. And some squabbles. And Dolly intervening.
However, scattered throughout this brief narrative is a huge range of songs.
Dolly Parton emerges as a strongly committed Christian, appealing to her audiences, to evangelical Christians throughout the US and the world. There is a crib sequence, Mary dancing, there is a vigorous rendition of Go Tell it on the Mountain, a song about Jesus, He is Here, a song about talking to God, its lyrics gently expressing many God questions, and, with a threat by an evil spirit destroying the spirit of Christmas, and in appearance of Satan and Dolly’s stance song, Go to Hell.
This bringing of the devil into the Christmas story upset many devout Christian audiences.
There are a number of fantasy sequences, especially when her grandnephew appears. And she has apparitions from wise singing advisers who accompany her in song, especially Willie Nelson, a duet with Jimmy Fallon, with Billy Ray Cyrus, and, a song with his daughter, Miley Cyrus.
Obviously, all’s well that ends well, and there is a spectacular finale.
This is a film for all Dolly Parton’s fans – with the caution of those who didn’t like the devil song.
