This film, co-produced by Thomas Kinkade, is as beautiful, natural, and true-to-life as his paintings. Michael Campus, the director provides a breathtaking and memorable reminder of the Christmases of old. This, in addition to the capable writing of Ken LaZebnik, adds to the color of the Christmas story. Jared Padalecki (Thomas Kinkade), who provided a great deal of the emotion and feel of the movie, is a gifted actor. He shows much promise, and it is hoped that a brilliant and long acting career is in his future. Peter O'Toole (Glen Wessler), another gifted and sensitive actor, provides 'the light' for this and many superb performances. Mr. O'Toole is probably best remembered for his award- winning performance in "Lawrence of Arabia". And, it is always good to see Charlotte Rae and Ed Asner, who greatly add to this and many winning performances. Marcia Gay Harden's inner beauty, and outer loveliness, come through in this film. This is a feel-good movie, which does present like a Hallmark Christmas card, but I think that this quality only adds to the presentation. Thomas Kinkade has his own unique style, a brilliance that increasingly illuminates his work. This, along with the spirit of Christmas, makes this film worth seeing. There is empowerment in the story--which, in my opinion, makes this movie deserving of no less than a 10 out of 10. Enjoy the film, and see it with someone you love. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Warmhearted drama with sentimental undertones, mild comedy akin to more boisterous star-powered Christmas farces, and a large cast with several very recognizable names and still more familiar faces: There's nothing especially remarkable about 'Thomas Kinkade's Christmas cottage.' In many ways, it feels like the exact sort of picture that gets made at least once every couple years, whether it's an adaptation or original screenplay, biopic or straight fiction, holiday-themed or otherwise, or possibly flavored with other genres. We've all seen at least a few such films at one point or another: saturated with charm, feeling, tragedy, heart, diverse characters and personalities, and varying notes of feel-good kitsch and down-note sorrow. It's the type of film that's earnest, in which the cast put in solid performances full of all the range, personality, and poise that they're able, and that tells a modestly compelling story - but in which all its most stand-out elements are nonetheless somewhat subsumed within the slightly ham-handed rise and fall of emotion that characterizes the tableau.

It's not at all bad. It's enjoyable, and well-made; genuinely heartfelt, and touching. But it's definitely not going to be for everyone, nor is it necessarily essential for anyone except the utmost fans of the impressive assemblage of actors. The style the picture adopts, all the ups and downs and melodrama, is more than a little overbearing, bordering on maudlin and overdone. Themes are both admirable in their rendering, and heavy-handed in their presentation: despair, hope, loneliness, companionship, honesty, community, loss, love. At some times one may well wonder how so-and-so was reduced to such a base level of acting, only to then be gratified by how strong their display of skills is. That certainly goes not least of all for the most prominent stars - Jared Padalecki, Marcia Gay Harden, and Peter O'Toole. There's a lot going on here.

The film walks a fine line, and ever risks losing balancing and falling into pedestrian pablum. However, at length, I think the capable cast, heartwarming sincerity, and otherwise strengths the feature possesses manage to outweigh the indelicate hand that paints a bit too much of this portrait. There was no small stretch of 'Thomas Kinkade's Christmas cottage' during which I had my doubts, but by the time the ending rolled around, I found it to be roundly engaging, endearing, satisfying, and even rewarding. I wouldn't begrudge anyone who finds that this isn't to their liking; to each their own. But sometimes a stirring, gently uplifting picture is just what is called for, and I think this is one slice of cinema that manages to avoid the pitfalls that often claim so many of its would-be brethren.

Only for audiences open to the earnest human drama the feature represents, perhaps, and maybe not a movie you need to go out of your way to see. But if you have the opportunity, this is, to my pleasant surprise, rather well worth 100 minutes.

This biographical TV movie takes a look at artist Thomas Kinkade (played by 'Supernatural''s Jared Padalecki) and how he was inspired to paint his most famous piece: The Christmas Cottage.

While not a fan of Thomas Kinkade myself, I am a fan of Jared Padalecki and thought this looked like an interested piece of work to see him in. It's a rare time to not see Padalecki fighting demons or serial killers, so it'd be good to see him trying something new. While Padalecki did a fairly good job, the film was simply mediocre. The narration was annoying and trite and the overall story was far too hokey and cheesy to be taken seriously. It will work well with fans of Hallmark Movie-of-the-Weeks and the like, but anyone looking for some quality, illuminating cinema. . . move on, this one isn't for you.

Final verdict: 6/10.