Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A high-heeled Scrooge tries to evict an entire town for a mall, only to be visited by a rhinestone-clad angel (who sings A LOT) and learns the true meaning of Christmas (and tenant rights).

🍿 Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Town Threatened Before Christmas

The story centers on Regina Fuller, a wealthy and embittered woman who inherits her small hometown. With Christmas fast approaching, Regina announces her ruthless plan to sell the entire town to a large corporation, which intends to build a mall, effectively evicting all the residents just before the holidays. This news devastates the townspeople, who rely on their homes and businesses. Led by the kindhearted Pastor Christian Hathaway, they organize a meeting to resist Regina’s plans, hoping to appeal to her or find a way to save their community.

An Angel’s Intervention

As Regina begins delivering eviction notices, she encounters various townsfolk, including her former high school sweetheart, Carl Pellam. Her cold demeanor is challenged, but her resolve remains firm. Suddenly, a mysterious figure appears – an angel, played by Dolly Parton. This angelic being begins to guide Regina, hoping to show her the error of her ways and the impact of her actions on the lives of the people in the town, much like the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Regina (Christine Baranski): A wealthy, embittered woman planning to evict all the residents of her small hometown right before Christmas.
• Angel (Dolly Parton): A kindhearted heavenly being who appears to Regina to guide her towards redemption.
• Carl Pellam (Treat Williams): Regina’s high school sweetheart and a prominent townsperson facing eviction.
• Pastor Christian Hathaway (Josh Segarra): The town’s minister who helps rally the community against Regina’s plans.
• Margeline (Jenifer Lewis): A spirited townswoman who is a key member of the community resisting Regina.
• Violet (Selah Kimbro Jones): A young girl in town who shares a meaningful interaction with Regina.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Regina: “The town of Fullerville is mine. I’m shutting it down.” – Regina coldly announces her intention to sell the town and evict its residents, establishing her Scrooge-like persona.
• Violet: “You’re the meanest woman in the world!” – A young girl confronts Regina directly with a simple, harsh truth about her actions.
• Angel: “A heart’s a muscle, and it’s gotta be exercised.” – The Angel offers Regina cryptic but encouraging advice about opening herself up to feelings and connection.
• Carl Pellam: “There’s good in her. I know it.” – Carl, Regina’s former love, expresses his enduring belief that she is capable of kindness and change despite her current behavior.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I watched *Christmas on the Square* and buckle up, it’s a wild ride! It’s basically *A Christmas Carol* but with way more glitter and musical numbers that feel straight out of a high school play. Christine Baranski is absolutely hilarious as the Grinchy lady trying to sell the town; she totally commits to the bit. And then Dolly Parton shows up as an angel! I mean, come on, that’s peak Christmas. Her songs are lovely and bring some genuine warmth. Yeah, some of the other acting and dancing is… questionable, and the sets are pretty theatrical, but honestly, it made me smile. If you can embrace the absolute corniness and just go with it, it’s a fun, feel-good escape, especially during the holidays.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Christmas movies and holiday specials”
  • “Viewers who enjoy musicals”
  • “Fans of Dolly Parton and Christine Baranski”
  • “Families looking for festive viewing”
  • “Audiences who appreciate heartwarming, albeit sometimes campy, stories”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Contains strong religious themes and messaging”
  • “Production design and choreography are sometimes described as feeling like a stage play or being overly campy”
  • “Plot is highly predictable and derivative of ‘A Christmas Carol'”

Professional Reviews

• Holiday Film Review: “Dolly Parton’s ‘Christmas on the Square’ delivers exactly what it promises: a campy, over-the-top Christmas musical. Christine Baranski is a delight as the villainous Regina, anchoring the film with theatrical flair. While the story is predictable and some musical numbers feel more like a stage play captured on film than cinematic moments, the sheer festive spirit and earnest performances from the leads, particularly Baranski and Dolly herself, make it a watchable, if divisive, holiday romp.
• The Yuletide Times: “This musical leans heavily into holiday cheese, potentially alienating those not fully committed to the genre. Baranski is captivating, but the ensemble cast’s performances are uneven, and the pacing occasionally drags between the numerous song and dance numbers. While the underlying message is sweet and Dolly Parton shines in her limited, ethereal role, ‘Christmas on the Square’ struggles to find a consistent tone, veering wildly from genuinely heartfelt to laughably amateurish. Best viewed with low expectations and high tolerance for camp.

Audience Reactions

Christine Baranski’s performance as Regina is a standout for many.: Most viewers agree that the movie is incredibly cheesy and campy, but many found it charming, uplifting, and enjoyable if you don’t take it too seriously.

Dolly Parton’s appearance and songs bring magical moments and emotional depth.: The musical numbers are a major focus, with opinions split between those who loved the energetic performances and those who found them overwhelming or poorly executed.

Overall Consensus: A divisive but ultimately heartwarming holiday musical that charms viewers willing to embrace its extreme campiness and theatrical style, buoyed by strong performances from its lead stars, particularly Christine Baranski and Dolly Parton.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Dolly Parton wrote all twelve of the original songs featured in the movie’s soundtrack.”
• “The film was directed and choreographed by Debbie Allen, known for her work on ‘Fame’ and Broadway productions.”
• “Many scenes were deliberately staged and filmed to resemble a theatrical production rather than a typical movie, utilizing specific lighting and set design choices.”
• “Filming took place in Atlanta, Georgia, with the historic Beath-Dickey House serving as a prominent location.”

🖥️ How to Watch Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square?

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square is primarily available for streaming on Netflix, as it is a Netflix original film. As a popular holiday movie, it may also be available for digital purchase or rental through platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu, offering flexibility for viewers who wish to own or rent the movie.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, you might like these similar films:

• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): A beloved musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic ‘A Christmas Carol’, featuring a similarly structured redemption story.
• It’s a Wonderful Life (1946): Shares the core thematic element of a character needing angelic intervention to see the value of life and community, though with a different starting point.
• Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020): Another vibrant, original Christmas musical released by Netflix around the same time, featuring elaborate song and dance numbers.
• Spirited (2022): A modern, comedic musical retelling of ‘A Christmas Carol’ from the perspective of the Ghost of Christmas Present, starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds.
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975): Appeals to viewers who enjoy over-the-top, theatrical, and campy musical performances and production design, which some reviews noted in ‘Christmas on the Square’.

🛒 Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square Related Products

• Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square [Blu-ray]: Own the festive musical event on high-definition Blu-ray. Experience the songs, dancing, and heartwarming story with superior picture and sound quality at home.
• Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Relive the magic of the movie’s songs with the official soundtrack album. Features all the original recordings from the film.
• Dolly Parton ‘A Holly Dolly Christmas’ Album: A popular Christmas album by Dolly Parton, featuring a mix of holiday classics and original songs. While not the movie soundtrack, it captures Dolly’s signature festive spirit.
• Christmas on the Square Town Square Collectible Ornament: A detailed Christmas ornament inspired by the charming town square setting featured prominently in the film’s musical numbers.

🎧 Soundtrack

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Christmas on the Square” – performed by Dolly Parton, Christine Baranski, Amick Byram, Alvin Chea, LC Powell, Ayana Haviv, Clydene Jackson, David Loucks, Baraka May, Christina Saffran, Fletcher Sheridan
• “Dolly’s Fill in the Blanks” – performed by Dolly Parton
• “Cinnamon Sweet” – performed by Dolly Parton
• “Christmas Where We Are” – performed by Dolly Parton
• “A Smoky Mountain Christmas” – performed by Dolly Parton
• “Wicked Witch of the Middle” – performed by Christine Baranski

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

9-Year-Old’s Life Saved By Dolly Parton on Movie Set

Okay, you HAVE to hear this wild and heartwarming story! Apparently, Dolly Parton actually saved a child actor’s life on the set of ‘Christmas On The Square’ – how incredible is that?

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