"Finding Forgiveness on a Scenic Treasure Route"
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What You Need To Know:
A CHRISTMAS LESS TRAVELED has a strong Christian, moral worldview. It beautifully weaves a story of forgiveness and healing. Authentic performances by Candace Cameron Bure, Eric Johnson and the rest of the cast nimbly balance the humorous and heartfelt moments in the script. A CHRISTMAS LESS TRAVELED also has uplifting themes of prayer, repentance and forgiveness. Finally, a small chapel figures prominently in the story’s resolution.
Content:
More Detail:
In A CHRISTMAS LESS TRAVELED, Desi, a small-town diner owner, faces the struggle of keeping her beloved business afloat while grieving her father’s recent passing. When she discovers a tape left behind by him, it sets her on an unexpected journey with Grayson, a stranger whose hidden motives soon intertwine with her own search for closure. What begins as a road trip soon transforms into a story of healing, self-discovery and a budding romance that neither anticipated.
Candace Cameron Bure continues her tradition of delivering heartwarming Christmas tales in A CHRISTMAS LESS TRAVELED, bringing forth a sincere Christian message. The movie’s modest budget is maximized with an array of inviting sets and scenic locations, enriching Desi’s emotional journey. With a solid cast portraying both joy and sorrow, viewers remain engaged throughout this touching story. Audiences who find the holiday season difficult will resonate with Desi’s journey, which is steeped in faith, providing solace in God’s strength and freedom through forgiveness. While the movie includes occasional mature themes, it is ultimately a family-friendly experience recommended for viewers of all ages.
In A CHRISTMAS LESS TRAVELED, Desi owns a beloved small-town diner. However, she’s struggling financially, quietly falling behind on all her bills. At her aunt’s suggestion, she considers selling her father’s old car. One night, while listing the car online and reminiscing about her late father, Desi finds a hidden tape he recorded months before his passing. On the tape, her father instructs her to visit their favorite family spot, Treasure Bluff, and leaves her a map and other tapes for guidance along the way.
With encouragement from her friend, Polly, Desi embarks on the journey. She soon crosses paths with Grayson, a stranger whose spilled coffee on a lottery ticket serves as their introduction. Grayson insists on tagging along, claiming he has urgent business nearby and even offering to pay her. Short on cash, Desi hesitantly agrees.
The car ride begins awkwardly, with Grayson prying into her life while she remains guarded. Their rocky start reaches its peak turn when Grayson’s suitcase flies out of the trunk, and he spills a drink on himself. They reach a bed and breakfast just before a snowstorm, the first pitstop on her father’s map. They’re surprised to find that the owners recognize Desi’s car from her parents’ previous stay and have actually been awaiting her arrival, having been close friends of her father’s.
Desi and Grayson spend the night in the inn’s last available room, finally breaking the ice between them, sharing stories and realizing both are dealing with a recent loss. It’s here that Desi learns her father planned this trip to reveal more about himself and her mother.
The following morning, Grayson’s demeanor softens as he helps around the inn, even entertaining with guitar music. Privately, one of the owner’s speaks to Desi about how this bed and breakfast was actually the result of terrible heartbreak. Unable to conceive, God turned the couple’s pain into a place of joy and rest for many travelers, giving them the family they always desired. Even while struggling financially, the couple finds joy in what God has called them to do.
Their words encourage Desi, who’s still struggling to cope with the terrible loss of her father, which still weighs on her. Desi and Grayson bond further, decorating a Christmas tree with the owners before continuing their journey.
The innkeeper’s wife gifts Desi her father’s second tape. Listening to it, Desi she learns of a cherished tradition of her mother’s. She made red balloons at Treasure Bluff to give all her worries to God.
Their next pitstop leads to a Christmas festival and a dog rescue called Precious Paws, where they meet another friend of her father’s. Precious Paws is also result of grief turned into a ministry, as the owners felt like it was God’s purpose for their lives at a time when they felt lost. However, just like the bed and business, their business is also at risk of closing down due to a lack of funding.
Meanwhile, Grayson continues to press for information about her father, yet clearly feeling conflicted about doing so. Secretly, Grayson stows red balloons under the hood of Desi’s truck, planning to reveal his feelings for her at Treasure Bluff.
At their final stop, they visit a chapel managed by Cindy. Desi is surprised to find that Cindy was actually in a relationship with her father while Desi was away at cooking school. Cindy tells Desi how her father’s fear of loss ended their relationship, preventing her from being with him during his sickness. Desi recognizes the same fears within herself.
Cindy gives Desi the last tape from her father, which contains life-changing news. At the same time, Desi learns a secret Grayson’s been hiding from her, which shatters the trust between them.
A CHRISTMAS LESS TRAVELED has a strong Christian, moral worldview that beautifully weaves a story of forgiveness and healing from grief. The movie has authentic performances by Candace Cameron Bure, Eric Johnson and the rest of the cast that nimbly balance the humorous and heartfelt moments in the script. A CHRISTMAS LESS TRAVELED also has uplifting themes of prayer, purpose, repentance, and forgiveness. Finally, a small chapel figures prominently in the story’s resolution.
