Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Review and Giveaway: Homeless for the Holidays

While the holidays should be a joyous occasion, I know many families are worried about tight budgets and making ends meet this year.  Our family is among those watching pennies and I'm already thinking about Christmas so I can spread out gift expenses.  However, when I look at others around us, I'm blessed to even have a budget for gift purchases.  We still have food on our table and a roof over our heads.  I can't imagine being homeless for the holidays.


I recently had the opportunity to review a new release, Homeless for the Holidays, addressing this very, and not uncommon, scenario .  This 2009 Christian production, that was previously in limited release theatrically, is now available on DVD through various Christian retailers - just in time for inspirational holiday viewing for the family.

The movie, based on a true story, is about Jack Baker, a wealthy executive who loses his job.  At first, he's confident he'll get called back to work any time. As time goes on, Jack comes to the realization that things might not be so optimistic.  In desperation, Jack eventually finds himself working at the local burger joint, further humiliated by a required penguin suit uniform. 


While now employed, it isn't enough to make ends meet and Jack and his family are faced with the real possibility of being homeless within days of Christmas.  Of course, along the way, Jack has some lessons to be learned about himself and others.

The message is so appropriate for today's time and it is no surprise it is based on a true story. While the topic is depressing, the film is not without plenty of comedy, as well as inspiration, and will be enjoyed by the whole family.  Matt Moore, who has an unreal resemblance both in looks and style to Adam Sandler, played the lead as Jack Baker and was excellent.  I later found out that all of the actors volunteered their time, which more than made up for the variances of acting ability. And for some of the cast, this storyline was all too real.  You can read more about the story behind the movie and the cast here.

As a homeschooler, Homeless for the Holidays gets bonus points for being about a homeschool family.  It isn't highlighted nor even mentioned, but confirmed with a background line of the mom ending the school day with the kids and also one mention of mom as the teacher. I liked the subtle reference, which presented homeschooling as normal enough to not be highlighted.

What I most appreciated  were some of the behind the scenes included on the DVD, like footage of the auditions and a video diary by the producer.  It confirmed for me what I already suspected - this production was created with passion and family like fellowship, unlike a Hollywood production. In fact, the producer, an unemployed father of four, took a step in faith and funded the entire project.  Through the hard work and the volunteered time of others, the entire film was shot for only $20,000. You can read more about the movie and the production at the Breathe Motion Pictures website.

For me, the background of the film more than made up for the shortcomings of not having a big Hollywood budget.  Homeless for the Holidays is inspirational not only in its message, but how it came to be.

NOW CLOSED! Now, for the exciting news!  I have an extra copy and you have an opportunity to win your own Homeless for the Holidays DVD.

There are several ways to enter.  Please leave a comment for each and make sure you give me a way to contact you if you are the winner.
  • Simply leave a comment that you'd like to win this item.
  • Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect
  • Subscribe to this blog (rss or email)
  • Post about this giveaway on your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, or others (please specify in your comment).  This will count for two entries for each! Make sure you leave two comments.
The giveaway will end on October 22nd at 6 p.m. EST and will be chosen by a random number generator.U.S. and Canada only, please.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

84 comments:

Beverly said...

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Beverly said...

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Catherine said...

I would like to enter this giveaway. I'm always looking for ways to show my boys how blessed we are. This would be a good family movie night choice.

Heather @ Marine Corps Nomads said...

It sounds like a movie that we would like to watch and support. Thank you for the giveaway.

Heather @ Marine Corps Nomads said...

I follow you on GFC. :)

Catherine said...

I follow on google Friend connect.

Heather @ Marine Corps Nomads said...

I subscribe to you blog. :)

Penny said...

Enter me, please! :)

Heather @ Marine Corps Nomads said...

I tweeted about the giveaway. #1

Heather @ Marine Corps Nomads said...

I tweeted about the giveaway. #2

Kelly said...

I would love the movie - sounds great!

JenLCB said...

This looks like a great movie! Thanks for offering the giveaway!

Our Homeschool Reviews said...

Love to win this!

Debbie said...

I think we would enjoy this movie!

Natalie said...

I subscribe to your blog. I'd like to win this so that my family can watch it and realize how blessed we are!

Anonymous said...

I'd love to see this movie ... my friend Dave is in it!

Anonymous said...

I tweeted about the giveaway, too. Thanks for offering it ... I haven't been able to find the movie around me.

Kimberly said...

I'd like to win.

Big Girl's Don't Cry said...

I'd love to check the movie out.

tara@novamommies.com

Unknown said...

Please enter me for the giveaway. Looks like a great movie for the family to watch together.
Blessings
Diane

Mama Sunshine said...

Pick meeeee! I always love to have a new movie for my once a month movie night with my hubby!

Mama Sunshine said...

I follow you on GFC
and I just realized my last comment didnt have an email listed: sunshinetostarshine@yahoo.com

The Ratcliffe Gang said...

This DVD sounds wonderful! From one "penny pinchin' this christmas" mom to another... how blessed we truly are to even have a roof over our heads! Good reminder...
Blessings!
Fellow Crewmate,
FM Shannon

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

this looks like a great movie

mar said...

I would like to view this with my family. In this day of the entitled American, this would be a good jolt of reality.

LWons@HotMail.com

Amber said...

I would love to win!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
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Amber said...

I follow your blog with google friend connect!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
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LES said...

I just wanted to thank you for your detailed review of this movie. I too have had the opportunity to see this wonderful film & have definitely added it to our family's holiday film list. It hits so close to home today, and I think it's worth your readers' time to check out! Thanks again for sharing this movie with us! It's one that doesn't need to get overlooked!

Nicole C. said...

I would love to win.

choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com

Andria said...

I would love a chance to win. Thank you.

slb3334 said...

I would like thiars

toughturtles said...

i want to win thanks

mogrill said...

I would love to win.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net

llevis4 said...

I would love to win copy of this movie. We volunteered at a Rotating Homeless shelter with our church last year which was a wonderful experience. We are truly blessed.

Denice P- doozercries said...

I would like to watch this cause as you say it's not the product of the movie but the message.

Denice P- doozercries said...

tweeted1

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Denice P- doozercries said...

tweet2
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Susan said...

We love holiday movies and this sounds like it would be really good. Would love to win.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great conversation starter. We were just in downtown Detroit discussing how people become homeless!

Rhonda said...

This is a pertinent subject and kudos for those filming it with a minimal amount of money.
I would love to see this.

rhondastruthers atyahoo.ca

Rhonda said...

Gfc follower

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Tammy said...

I'd like to win!

Sir Thrift-A-Lot said...

It'd be amazing to win! I love the holidays & always looking for new & fantastic films to watch.

Sir Thrift-A-Lot said...

I'm now one of your Google friends!

Sir Thrift-A-Lot said...

I'm a subscriber!

Daniel M said...

I'd like to win! - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

Jill Myrick (jsc123) said...

Please enter me to win.

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Jodi said...

This sounds like a great family film. Thanks for the chance.

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Anonymous said...

I would love to win this!
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Anonymous said...

Yes, I would love to win this!

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candy said...

I would really love to win this movie. Thank you for your review. Movies like this tend to escape the public knowing about it because it is not a big hollywood movie. With people like you blooging about maybe word will spread and it will get supported and recognized for the wonderful movie you have come to love.wilcarvic
[at]gmail[dotcom]

Nancy said...

I'd like to win this interesting DVD!

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

Nancy said...

I am an e-mail subscriber.

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

kerri69 said...

I would like to win this very much

kerri69 said...

GFC follower/kerri69

kerri69 said...

email subscriber

Anonymous said...

I would really enjoy watching this with the family. I follow you via google friend

waitressdani (at) hotmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

I would like this DVD for our family. We do so enjoy family friendly movies. Thank you for this special GiveAway!!


lknott@partnercom.net

Erica C. said...

I'm a GFC follower :)
I like that this is based on a true story.

Homemaker said...

This looks like a great family movie.
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Homemaker said...

I'm following your blog via GFC

sallylynnsara@hotmail.com

Homemaker said...

I'm an email subscriber.
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Amanda S. said...

Sounds like a sweet movie...I'd love to win!

tina reynolds said...

looks like a great family movie thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com

Dawn Reid said...

This would be a good family movie night choice. Thank you for the review and the giveaway.
mightynaynay(at)cs.com

Dawn Reid said...

GFC follower
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susansmoaks said...

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susansmoaks said...

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susansmoaks said...

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Unknown said...

I would like to win this DVD. Thanks. garrettsambo@aol.com

Susan said...

enter me please suelee1998@ gmail.com

Unknown said...

this would be a great gift for my sister
amy16323(at)gmail(dot)com

cman said...

I've never seen it before and would like to.

Sand said...

I would love to win this movie.

Kathy P said...

id love to see this it sounds very good i love holiday movies

Kathy P said...

google friend klp1965
kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

Kathy P said...

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Kathy P said...

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Deb K said...

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Deb K said...

Email subscriber too!

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Diana D said...

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Diana D said...

I am a new email subscriber. Thanks


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Diana D said...

I am a new GFC follower. Thanks

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