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The Christmas Train

  • TV Movie
  • 2017
  • TV-G
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
Danny Glover, Dermot Mulroney, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley in The Christmas Train (2017)
Official Trailer
Play trailer0:32
1 Video
79 Photos
Holiday RomanceDramaHolidayRomance

A cynical journalist decides to take a train from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles for Christmas to get inspiration for a story in honor of his late father. He gets to know the other passenge... Read allA cynical journalist decides to take a train from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles for Christmas to get inspiration for a story in honor of his late father. He gets to know the other passengers and runs into an old flame while aboard.A cynical journalist decides to take a train from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles for Christmas to get inspiration for a story in honor of his late father. He gets to know the other passengers and runs into an old flame while aboard.

  • Director
    • Ron Oliver
  • Writers
    • Neal H. Dobrofsky
    • Tippi Dobrofsky
    • David Baldacci
  • Stars
    • Dermot Mulroney
    • Kimberly Williams-Paisley
    • Danny Glover
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    3.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ron Oliver
    • Writers
      • Neal H. Dobrofsky
      • Tippi Dobrofsky
      • David Baldacci
    • Stars
      • Dermot Mulroney
      • Kimberly Williams-Paisley
      • Danny Glover
    • 61User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Christmas Train
    Trailer 0:32
    The Christmas Train

    Photos79

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    Top cast33

    Edit
    Dermot Mulroney
    Dermot Mulroney
    • Tom Langdon
    Kimberly Williams-Paisley
    Kimberly Williams-Paisley
    • Eleanor Carter
    Danny Glover
    Danny Glover
    • Max Powers
    Joan Cusack
    Joan Cusack
    • Agnes
    Holly Elissa
    Holly Elissa
    • Lelia
    Kirsten Zien
    Kirsten Zien
    • Julie
    Anthony Konechny
    Anthony Konechny
    • Steve
    Jill Teed
    Jill Teed
    • Roxanne
    Karen Holness
    Karen Holness
    • Misty
    Terence Kelly
    Terence Kelly
    • Higgins
    John Innes
    John Innes
    • John Kelly
    Nelson Wong
    Nelson Wong
    • Kenny
    Jesse Stanley
    Jesse Stanley
    • Regina
    Eric Gustafsson
    Eric Gustafsson
    • Davey
    Douglas Roy Dack
    • Cabbie
    • (as Douglas Dack)
    Goga Rayat
    • Choir Boy Patrick
    Iain Roberts
    • Choir Boy #2
    Gabriel Bourke
    • Choir Boy #3
    • Director
      • Ron Oliver
    • Writers
      • Neal H. Dobrofsky
      • Tippi Dobrofsky
      • David Baldacci
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews61

    6.43.7K
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    Featured reviews

    8dianamarinelli

    Great movie

    I love this movie it brings the Christmas theme without the forced romances but the twist in the end was amazing
    Kirpianuscus

    beautiful

    Many reasons for see this short film ! From story, escaping from the classic recipe of Christmas film to performances ( a nice surprise remains the role of Joan Cusack ). But the precious gift is the work of Dermot Mulroney . It is his place and the his role. And the merit- in same measure- comes from his partners, first for Danny Glover and Kimberly William- Paisley . Result - a sort of Orient Express , the crime being remplaced, in lovely manner, by love.
    6Jackbv123

    Hall of Fame???

    This was billed continuously leading up to the premiere as a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. It wasn't Hall of Fame worthy for me.

    Take how deeply I felt about it. I have watched literally dozens of Christmas movies this season and in a good percentage, still dozens of movies, I had tears in my eyes ranging from in one movie tears start to finish to other movies at least a couple times, and everywhere in between. For this movie, I had no tears, at all. Neither joy nor sadness.

    Take enjoyment. I sat through virtually the entire movie waiting to enjoy it. I think a big part of my problem was I couldn't get invested in the romantic leads. Is that because of their respective ages? I think it was more than that. Now I was attracted to Kimberly Williams-Paisley and her character, but not enough to make the whole movie fun for me.

    Take production and sets. There were lots of shots of model toy trains in the snow. One scene with everyone staring out the window at the leads had a totally cheesy appearance. All the outdoor sets were bad and the snow was fake.

    Take acting. OK here at least are a couple pluses. Danny Glover and Joan Cusack both did their parts very well. I already mentioned Williams-Paisley, but overall her acting was just OK. Dermot Mulroney lacked spark.

    Take story. This is the biggest plus. For being a story on a train, there was a surprising amount going on. And the ending was truly interesting!!! On the other hand, the climax wasn't that great and the rest after that was not all that inspiring. Yes, it was the usual Hallmark kind of ending, but not with as much impact as I'd expect.

    Was this movie watchable. Yes, I think so. I was just expecting so much more due to the buildup. The true measure is will I watch it again. I don't think so.
    6Ed-Shullivan

    I keep telling Mrs. Shullivan we have to take a train trip sometime soon

    The Christmas Train although not a true Christmas classic, is more a drama/romance film that is still decent enough to hold most filmgoers attention for the films 99 minute duration. There is something about a bunch of strangers who meet on a train that captures one's imagination and I was asking myself (and asking Mrs. Shullivan too) wouldn't that be nice to be on that Christmas train?

    Of course a 4 day, 3,000 mile trip aboard the Christmas train that the published author Tom Langdon (Dermot Mulroney) was taking, with his seperate cabin that included a full desk and bed is not something most of us could ever afford, but eh' it's a movie so keep dreaming right?

    I digress. Tom meets quite a few eclectic characters aboard the Christmas train including a Hollywood director named Max Powers (Danny Glover) who happened to bring along his next films screen writer a woman named Eleanor Carter (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) . From this point on a story unfolds about many of the characters aboard the Christmas train including the background stories of Tom and Eleanor.

    I wouldn't say this is one of my top ten films, nor is it one of my top 100 Christmas films, because other than the train itself being called the Christmas train because it reaches its 4 day destination for Tom and Eleanor on Christmas Day, there is more a dramatic and romantic storyline than a Christmas story. Throwing in a bit of snow also doesn't make it a Christmas story. It is a decent enough film and I will rate it 6 out of 10, but I think there should be an alternate title than the Christmas Train. The title is deceiving.
    7cgvsluis

    Second chance romance with a big cast, set on the Christmas Train.

    Big names in the Hallmark Holiday romance...Joan Cusack, Dermot Mulroney, and Danny Glover star in this uplifting story about a cynical journalist, Tom, who takes the train from Washington, D. C. to Los Angeles for Christmas. It is a four day train ride and his goal is to write a story...so he starts talking to the passengers. There is an eavesdropping busy body named Agnes, a film director Max Powers who is their with a writer trying to write a script, an elder gentleman John who is reading A Christmas Carol because he promised his wife he would read more classics, Missy an intuitive passing out advice, a young couple who are going to be married on the train, an older gentleman Higgins who used to work on the train, and a bartender Kenny who serves hot cocoa with candy canes and a drink called The Grinch. As it turns out Tom knows the script writer, Elenor and they have a romantic past that didn't end well. Will Elenor be inspired to write a script and will Tom write his article? Will they heal the wounds from their old romance?

    This is a second chance romance, with a great cast, a beautiful Christmas train backdrop and some fun supporting characters. Not your usual Hallmark holiday fare...maybe a little higher quality. I highly recommend that you see this at least once.

    "Chugging down the tracks in two thousand tons of pure steel, I always hoped I'd see her again."-Tom

    "Trapped in a tin can with the one person I never wanted to see. I need to get off this train."-Elenor.

    Small things start to go missing on the train and the couple's minister has an accident and doesn't make his connection to the train...

    "No secrets on a train, especially the Christmas train."-Agnes.

    Tom's long distance girlfriend shows up, boards the train and says she wants to get married...Tom wanted to tell her he wanted to breakup! What could go wrong?

    Wonderful music and a fun plot...the best part is the side characters, and Joan Cusack really steals the show (as she often does!).

    "Happy endings are for movies, Max."-Elenor.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Heritage Hall in Vancouver, Canada was used as the interior of the train station in Washington, DC.
    • Goofs
      The first aerial shot of a city skyline outside of Washington D.C., incorrectly labels the city as Toledo, OH, when it is clearly the city of Cleveland, OH.
    • Quotes

      Tom Langdon: Maybe this is fate.

      Eleanor Carter: No, it's not. This is bad luck, that's all.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Best of the Worst: A Very Cannon Christmas II (2022)
    • Soundtracks
      Winter Wonderland
      Performed by Michael Bublé

      Courtesy of Reprise Records/Warner Bros. Records

      By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 25, 2017 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • Crown Media International Distribution (United States)
      • Hallmark Channel Press (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Christmas Express
    • Filming locations
      • Pacific Central Station - 1150 Station Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada(Chicago train station)
    • Production companies
      • Crown Media Productions
      • Front Street Pictures
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 39m(99 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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