Parents' Guide to

Holiday Harmony

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Singer seeks fame, finds family in gentle holiday tale.

Movie PG 2022 110 minutes
Holiday Harmony Movie

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Holiday Harmony Movie: Scene # 2
  • Holiday Harmony Movie: Scene # 3
  • Holiday Harmony Movie: Scene # 4

Community Reviews

See all
age 8+

Based on 6 parent reviews

JodyMarie
JodyMarie Parent of 14 and 16-year-old
December 4, 2022
age 8+

A New Holiday Tradition

Holiday Harmony is quickly becoming a movie we, as a family, can watch together. The song - This is Christmas - is an instant classic. The kids and I played the song in our holiday music rotation while decorating the tree. Good for kids in 4-5 grade+. Some adult humor and romance. Lots of feel good moments. We will watch it again and again!
cindy piccinino
cindy piccinino Adult
December 4, 2022
age 8+

A Place to Call Home🏠

This is a cheerful holiday movie with gorgeous singing, wonderful acting, humor, deeper, meaning, and a happy ending love story. The leads are marvelous, Annalise can sing her curly locks off, Jeremy is fun to watch, and I do believe that Brook Shields turned in her BEST performance to date! The world needs these movies that spread love, family, togetherness, and speaks to those who have never experienced such joy. Everyone needs a place to call home! I loved every second of this movie. I read it 100 hearts.♥️X100
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In HOLIDAY HARMONY, Gail (Annelise Cepero), who grew up in foster homes and now, at 24, lives in her van, is traveling from club to club, singing her way to hoped-for fame. She's heading for Los Angeles to be a contestant in a potentially career-making iHeart Radio competition. When an accident damages her van in Oklahoma, she's taken in by mechanics Van (Brooke Shields) and her son, Jeremy (Jeremy Stumpter). If Gail helps the town's music students prepare for their Christmas show, the local principal will pay for her van repairs. She and the students fall in love with each other. So do Gail and Jeremy, who, because of a tragic loss, is determined not to keep Gail from following her dreams. Eventually Gail finds family in a small town and realizes that what Los Angeles offers isn't really what she wants.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Much of Holiday Harmony feels stiff and pre-programmed at first, adhering to the expected themes that many modern winter holiday-focused movies rely on. It's time to retire the overused scene in which a new love interest leaps to the wrong conclusions while eavesdropping. Beyond the use of such lazy plot devices, able performances by Annelise Cepero and Brooke Shields, as well as tear-inducing moments that dwell on the meaning of home and family, ultimately redeem this as sweet family holiday entertainment.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the meaning of "home." How does Gail decide that being with her new friends feels like home?

  • Why do you think the iHeart Radio people didn't accept Gail as she was?

  • Why do you think people seek fame? What did Gail learn about the love of friends and family versus the adulation of strangers?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate