Movie Review: A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986) directed by Henry Winkler
Lorna Davis (Dolly Parton) is a country-western singer who’s spent too long in Hollywood, and just isn’t feeling her music any more, much to the dismay of her agent (Rene Auberjonois) who has her fully booked for months to come. Wanting to reconnect with her roots, Lorna secretly arranges with a friend to use a remote mountain cabin over the Christmas season. Due to a mixup, Lorna’s agent thinks she’s been abducted, and the only Hollywood person who knows the truth is an inept paparazzi who just happened to snag a piece of paper with the location of the cabin.
While traveling to the cabin, Lorna runs into the lecherous sheriff and refuses his advances, making him annoyed at her. Unfortunately, the sheriff’s jealous ex, the witch woman Jezebel, gets more than annoyed with Lorna, mostly for existing in proximity to the sheriff.
At the cabin itself, Lorna discovers that it’s already inhabited by seven adorable orphans who’ve run away from the county workhouse. (There are bits of Snow White mixed in with the plot.) Most of the orphans take to Lorna immediately, except the eldest, who’s been burned by adults before. Not only are the children hiding from the law, but they’re afraid of grumpy hermit Mountain Dan (Lee Majors). Can a happy ending be achieved? (Well, yes, this is a Christmas movie.)
This 1986 TV movie isn’t exactly great cinema, and the general level of acting is…adequate. But as a heartwarming Christmas movie, it passes all the important goalposts.
The good people find renewed joy in life? Check. The not as good people discover there’s more to life than money and fame? Check. The bad people get their comeuppance? Check. The adorable orphans have a new family? Check. Some light slapstick comedy? Check. Dolly Parton gets to belt out a few tunes? Double check.
A bit I especially liked was how the mountain folk didn’t bat an eye when Jezebel threw a magical tantrum in the local bar and grill. They’re all resigned to the fact there’s a witch around.
One bit that did not work as well is that the “kidnapping” plotline just vanished; sure our heroes are happy, but there are a lot of police officers working overtime that are left hanging.
Generally wholesome fun for the whole family; a good movie to put on and not actually pay much attention to while everyone’s recovering from Christmas dinner.
