This is a surprisingly sweet Hallmark family drama in which a reporter gets to know her biological father, who she thought abandoned her, under the guise of doing a story on him as his Louisiana town's newly appointed acting Père Noel. Jaicy Elliot as reporter Campbell Wallace, hoes to Louisiana for a Cajun Christmas to do a story on their new Père Noel and Cajun Christmas traditions like the lighting of bonfires. What the new Père Noel, Everett Bergeron (Bruce Campbell) doesn't know is that she is actually his daughter. Campbell gets to see what a wonderful man and loving father Everett is to his new family and his two other daughters...and she struggles with if or how to tell him that she is his eldest daughter. The end is excellent and well worth the watch. I really like Bruce Campbell and I loved him in Burn Notice, he is a great comedian. I enjoyed seeing him as a loving father in this film...it was also fun to see Moira Kelly (she played his wife), who I haven't seen since the film Cutting Edge (which is a guilty pleasure of mine). My one complaint is that I wish there were more actual Cajuns in this film. I appreciate their lyrical accents and missed hearing the endearing cherie (or as they say "cher"). As a big fan of Michael Doucet and BeauSoleil, I also secretly wished there was more Cajun music and traditions...like the ball of fire or boule de feu. But having said that, this is still a recommendation from me...the endearing story kind of transcends what it lacked in Cajun authenticity.

source: My Southern Family Christmas

I loved this story, it was not a typical Hallmark Christmas movie. It was a different kind of love story , the love of family. I loved it being set in my beautiful state of Louisiana. Nope not typical for a Christmas movie either but we do have our special traditions, and the bonfires on the levees is one that I have got to attend one of these days. My husband has a been Santa here in north Louisiana for 26 years so Christmas Eve we are always busy and can't make the trip down south. I am glad they did not try and throw fake Cajun French accents into the movie that ruins things if it ain't real don't do it. Louisiana at Christmas this year out Temps we're in the 20's but as the mayor says in the movies normally 50's and sometimes warmer. A few years ago we had flurries on Christmas and people were so excited we get snow late January early February if we get it.

Without Bruce Campbell, a Southern Family Christmas would have fallen flat. All the other actors felt like 2-D caricatures phoning it in compared to Campbell, who acted circles around everyone. I mean how can you not like him as Pere Noel, dressed all up and riding down the bayou on an airboat. The female lead wasn't very likable to me. She's written like a lying, stealing brat who literally gets upset and wants to call off everything because she's not included in a family photo. Girl, you wanted to tell your father he's your father but gets upset when the "step mom" doesn't correct the photographer when they insisted only on "family." I'll probably watch this one again but only to get my Bruce Campbell fix.

As an avid Hallmark fan, Christmas time is our Superbowl! So needless to say I'm just crushing content, watching Hallmark none stop. As My Southern Family Christmas began I already fell in love right from the start because the protagonist chick was a big girl and I do love me some beautiful big women! BUT then to my surprise as I peek from around my phone and on to TV screen, it's the Deadite Killing King Himself!! My heart instantaneously filled with overabundance amounts of happiness! Bruce Cambell, it fills me with great joy that you have chosen the Hallmark Family for the 3rd act of your career. Welcome home King!

Favorite scene with Campbell Wallace/Alice Bergeron (Jaicy Elliot) - Christmas Day and Finally Telling Everett (Bruce Campbell) that she's his Daughter. Beautiful Scene. I Love Jaicy Elliot!!! She is So Dang Adorable!!! She is my New Favorite Hallmark Channel Heroine! BTW #1, I Loved this Movie! BTW #2, So Dang Cool that Wes Brown (Victor) Appeared in this!!! BTW #3, I Loved Bruce Campbell (Everett Bergeron) and Moira Kelly (Jennifer Bergeron)! BTW #4, I Loved the Louisiana Settings! They Reminded me of Steel Magnolias - Minus the Gators! Yikes!!! Although, I did Love the Gators' Names! Set in Texas and Louisiana.

Like lots of other husbands I have to watch too many Hallmark movies each winter, this was the worst one. I thought it was a story about a guy who puts his daughter up for adoption and the inevitable reconciliation. However to discover the guy simply abandoned his family and never reconnected in any manner, emotionally or financially was a shock. He clearly had the financial ability to live up to his responsibility but chose not to. The first Hallmark movie to actually make me angry. How can you glorify a deadbeat dad? I prefer the typical big city girl who opens a bookstore or bookstore to trying to apologize for deadbeat dads.

My wife conscripts me to watch at least 6 or 8 Hallmark Christmas movies every year. I do it because I like my wife a whole lot more than the movies. But I can't remember the last time enjoyed one of these hallmark shows as much as this one. It's unique for its central focus on a father-daughter relationship and that it's a very believable and touching story. The romance plot was a bit clunky compared to the standard for Hallmark and similar holiday movies. I didn't find that distracting and if someone would say it's a trade off, it's well worth it. Alright, maybe I was ripe for a new take on a holiday tradition. I think anyone that enjoys these holiday shows much more than me will also appreciate this one for being new and genuine. And thank God for a cast and setting that is relatable. I'm halfway through the 2022 tour of duty and what is distracting is the portrayal of characters better suited for royalty in cartoon fairytales but pretending to live ordinary lives and every day jobs. I really didn't get that vibe from this movie and that was a nice touch as well.

I loved that the movie taught us about Louisiana traditions, especially Pere Noel! Jaicy Elliot is an understated actress that handles the strong, complicated emotions of abandonment. 6/10 because the romance was not good at all, but still a high score for lovely family sentiments and lots of Christmas festivities! "Sometimes the stuff that scares you the most ends up being the best thing that ever happened." -Campbell Summary: Campbell travels to Louisiana to write a Christmas traditions article about the Pere Noel Christmas Celebration, where the Cajun version of Santa Claus lights the bayou to guide Pere Noel to their homes. Writing this Christmas traditions story is a ruse to get to know her birth father, this year's Pere Noel. Campbell hides her identity towards her birth father as she gets to know him, his new wife and her half-sisters. Setting: Sorrento, Lousiana The town is decorated with a Louisiana-Christmas flair and fun, whimsical décor all around town. Campbell's Dad's house is super festive-garland and giant ornaments everywhere! MeetCute: Campbell's hands are full of meat pie deliveries when she runs right into Jackson, who is carrying stacked presents. He says she has broken a Christmas present because she's a tourist who does not know the flow of the town. His glasses mess up and Campbell tells him his glasses "look cute" then changes to "distinguished, smart." A few minutes later, the mayor introduces Jackson to Campbell saying he is an excellent resource for her article as he keeps town records. Christmas Festivities: Making Christmas Wreaths Campbells places first Ornament on the Town Christmas Tree Town Decorating the Tree Christmas Festival Cajun Storytime Christmas Sleepover Addressing Christmas Cards Wrapping Gifts Christmas Movie Night Pere Noel Premiere Night! Sleigh Ride on the Bayou Opening Presents Christmas Morning. Ending Scene: Christmas morning, Campbell surprises the family for breakfast and brings lots of Christmas presents. Campbell, Jackson, and the family open Christmas presents together on Christmas morning. Campbell gifts Everett, her Dad, a picture of the two of them young. Everett leaves the room. Campbell thinks her Dad has rejected her, but instead, he left to bring her the letters he's been trying to send her and a notebook filled with his feelings of regret, sorrow and his love for her. He tells her he is so sorry and that he loves her. Everett shares the meat pies' secret family ingredient with her. Jackson takes a selfie with the whole family! We see picture frames of Campbell with her new family, her mom and step-dad, and Jackson and Campbell in Morocco.

In today's world of shows and movies it is a bright spot to find these story gems in the fray. The story line and flow was spot on, and the characters were convincing. I really enjoyed the setting, all be it, I am from Baton Rouge and a bit bias. The story line is one that hits home with adopted children and the care that was given to the script to not over sensationalize it, while still providing a plot with "stickshun" (staying tuned in) was expert. Almost every parish in Louisiana has some form of festival throughout the year. I think the festival that was portrait in the movie reflects the family lifestyle that still exist in Louisiana. Hope to see more work like this in the future.