A Dog Named Christmas
on CBS
By Ally Matteodo
The
Hallmark Hall of Fame movie A Dog Named Christmas outstrips all
competitors in this week’s search for Best TV Show of the Week.
Aired on CBS Sunday, November 29th at 9:00 p.m. ET, this television
film heralded the holiday season with warmth and joy. Set in Crossing Trails,
Kansas, the story centers around the McCray family and their farm. George and
Mary Anne, the patriarch and matriarch, have raised four children, three of them
now full-grown and living away from home. Their developmentally-challenged
20-year-old son Todd remains at home with them and fosters a deep love of all
animals. In the beginning of the film he heals a hawk and then sets it free,
although it pains him to see his friend fly away. Near mid-December, Todd and
the family listen to the radio and hear about an adopt-a-dog program from the
local shelter. The point of the program is to give orphaned dogs an opportunity
to be out of their cages and with a family for Christmas. The dogs may be
returned the day after Christmas, but of course the shelter hopes that families
will fall in love with the animals and want to keep them for good. Todd jumps
at this opportunity and begs for the chance to take a dog home. George McCray
balks at the idea, but eventually accedes, yet he makes Todd promise he will
return the dog without moaning and groaning. Todd accepts this stipulation and
names the yellow lab he picks out Christmas. In addition, Todd’s enthusiasm
leads him to find homes for every single dog at the shelter. In flashbacks we
learn why George McCray exhibits a hesitancy to take a dog in: during his youth
he had a dog named Tucker that went with him everywhere, and it pained him
sorely to lose his best friend. He learned about this loss while fighting in
Vietnam, and during this time he found another four-legged friend whom he named
Charlie. Charlie became the camp mascot and faithfully followed George
everywhere. During a raid, shrapnel wounded George’s leg, and although he cried
for his dog, George never saw him again, and was instead taken away in a
helicopter and sent home. These two incidents of loss are more then George can
bear, and he closes himself off to becoming attached to another dog. However,
when Christmas defends the family against a mountain lion and after a
heart-to-heart talk with a friend, George changes his mentality and the McCray
family welcomes the special dog Christmas into their fold. In addition, due to
his exceptional work with animals, Todd is given a position at the shelter.
There are
so many beautiful things about this movie. Todd’s love of all animals and his
urge to help and heal them is touching. George and Mary Anne’s marriage and
their close-knit family is another admirable quality. Around every corner of
their beautiful home fires are roaring, tinsel and pine garnish the walls, and
delicious treats are set out. This is surely the embodiment of holiday cheer
and good will. Furthermore, we learn that while away in Vietnam Mary Anne wrote
to George every day. In a tender moment on the porch he asks her if he ever
told her how much her letters meant to him. She replies: “Only a thousand
times.” He responds, “I should have told you a million times.” This kind of
devotion and sentiment touches the heart in a simple and genuine way. In
addition, man’s desire to help animals is reciprocated in dog’s desire to help
man. When Christmas defends the family unflinchingly against the mountain lion
and then finds his way back to the McCray farm after escaping the shelter, we
see how truly brave and selfless animals can be. This movie explores the
beneficence and love that are inherent in all creatures, makes us want to
become a better person and live in a world where our neighbors are the McCrays.
Best TV Show
of the Week
The Parents
Television Council -
www.parentstv.org
