Faithful Friday: Candace Cameron Bure in “A Christmas Less Traveled.”
By: Debbie Waltz
The endless parade of cliché Christmas romances on Hallmark has worn me down; Christmas is less than a week away, and I’m desperate for something different. Great American Family’s movie “A Christmas Less Traveled” gently reminds viewers that the holidays are more than romantic relationships; it’s about cherished moments, laughter shared with loved ones, and the comforting feeling of togetherness. Candace Cameron Bure portrays Desi, a down-on-her-luck diner owner in this movie, with the weight of her father’s death still heavy on her shoulders, which is evident in the slump of her posture and the weariness of her gaze. Despite all this, she still manages to put on a brave face and help anyone in need.
With finances tighter than usual this year, the thought of selling her father’s beloved, mint-conditioned 1964 Ford F-100—a classic truck that still smells faintly of leather and engine grease—weighs heavily on her.
However, before she can act, Desi stumbles upon an audiotape; her father’s voice, crackling with love and nostalgia, encourages one last adventure with their trusty, old vehicle “Red.” There are no further instructions- except a road map highlighting a specific route, including pit stops along the way to their favorite spot in “Treasure Bluff.” On the day she plans to leave, Greyson (Eric Johnson) approaches Desi with a unique proposal. He claims he has an important meeting to get to, so he offers her $3,000 to hitch a ride with her. Relieved at the prospect of keeping her beloved truck, she agreed to explore this new financial opportunity.
But there’s something she didn’t know: Grayson had ulterior motives.
The trip doesn’t exactly start on the right foot, with his suitcase flying off the back of the truck’s bed; he doesn’t check to make sure it is secure. As a result, he is left with nothing different to wear for the remainder of the journey.
The first stop is The Cozy Cliffside Inn, where they meet Betty and Ezra (played by Jennifer Higgin, Frank Crudele.) They are a cute elderly couple holding down the inn with joy and laughter despite their struggle with medical bills. During their conversation, they reminisce about her parent’s yearly stay there before her mother’s passing. After she died, her father began shutting down, unable to share his emotions with anyone. He doesn’t wasn’t her to make the same mistakes. Because of an impending storm, the two are forced to share a room- her on the bed and him on the couch.
As Grayson and Desi settle in for the night, he tries to get more information from her about her father and the reason for the trip. She tells him she honestly doesn’t know herself, just that it’s her father’s trip and his rules. She’s just along for the ride. Grayson opens up a little, telling her that he’s supposed to inherit his mother’s business soon. But he isn’t sure he’s up for the task.
On the second day, Grayson and Desi decide to help out around the house. Grayson helps cut down a Christmas tree while Desi helps with baking. While speaking privately with Betty, it was revealed that before its current use, the bed and breakfast had been intended to serve as an idyllic nursery for Betty and her partner, Ezra. After years of being unsuccessful, the two gave up deciding to fill the house with the smiles and laughter about the people; those people eventually became “their family.” In the other room, Ezra and Grayson are setting up the Christmas tree. He sees Grayson eyeing the unused guitar in the corner. He urges him to pick it up and play for them, saying he’ll never know the difference with his bad hearing.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s never to take a single moment for granted. If you see a beautiful instrument, you play it, if you see a beautiful woman, you say it.” he said
When Desi enters the room, he begins strumming the cords to the old classic “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” and the elderly couple begins to dance. Watching them, Desi begins to see things from a different perspective. Maybe there’s more to Grayson then meets the eye and she should be more open with those around her. Just before they go, Betty hands her next audiotape.
On the road to their next stop, Desi listens to her father recall about the tradition of releasing red balloons up on Treasure Bluff. They came to the spot on their honeymoon and she said this would be a perfect place to release her worries and stresses to God; so she rummaged around in her purse and found a leftover balloon from one of Betty and Ezra’s Christmas parties and the tradition of releasing red balloons was born. John admits that maybe if he had continued the tradition maybe it would’ve hoped from be a better father- allowing him to let go of the guilt of the past for things he should’ve done.
A drowsy Grayson wakes up and inquires more about the “red balloon” tradition; surprisingly, she acquiesces deciding to give him the cliff notes version about when the tradition first started. His curiosity is piqued and he inquires as to if she is aware of anything in John’s past he might have regretted. Taken aback, Desi replies she thinks her father might have had some, but nothing big.
There next to stop is the Annual Winter Bazaar where they meet up with Big Mike and Gary (Danny Wattley and Carlo Fortin) -business partners of Precious Paws. This shelter, which Big Mike originally established after he found a group of wolf cubs huddled under his car one night, aims to give dogs another chance to find their forever homes. Not only that, but it also provided him with a renewed sense of purpose during a difficult time in his life. Gary says they’ve come on the perfect day; not only are to of their dogs getting adopted, but a drive in movie is being played in the words across the way if they’d like to help out and groom the dogs as well as stay and watch watch the movie.
Grayson wonders about the rest of her trip, but Desi assures him they are under no particular time crunch. While grooming the dogs, the 2 of them grow closer and he begins to doubt the purpose of his mission. No longer is he concerned about where half of his inheritance is going, but the kind and generous lady it’s going to. ( I know I just gave a spoiler alert to those who intend on watching the movie. But trust me, it doesn’t end there)
I could go on and on about the movie and it’s plot. But the thing I like most is that this movie doesn’t shy away from the hard parts of the holidays. There’s the overwhelming feeling of grief over not having the presence of loved ones (because of death or other circumstances) around during the holidays. But let’s not forget those that are single and wishing for a change in relationship status as well. For a holiday that is relationship centered, not everyone is that lucky. Some have been forced to grow up and support themselves because of their upbringing and/or life circumstances. In other cases, people hold onto the regrets too long and find it hard to forgive.
That’s why I implore us as Christians, to look within our circles and reach out to those in need. That’s one important thing you could do this Christmas
God bless you all
Debbie