The Heart of Christmas

The Heart of Christmas is a 2011 American Christian drama feature film directed by Gary Wheeler. It stars Candace Cameron Bure, Erin Bethea, Jeanne Neilson, Eric Jay Beck, George Newbern, and Matthew West. Based on a true story, the film involves a woman’s encounter with a family caring for a child with acute leukemia and how it transforms her faith and her attitude about her own family.
Plot.
Megan Walsh is a successful businesswoman who does not seem to have enough time for her husband and two children. While taking her children trick-or-treating during Halloween, she encounters a confusing situation in which many families are decorating for Christmas (which is nearly two months away). Their explanation is that they are trying to provide one last Christmas for Dax Locke, a toddler in their neighborhood who is dying of a rare form of leukemia. Curious, Megan reads Dax's mother Julie's blog and learns about the Lockes' journey. Inspired, Megan examines her own life and priorities.
Reception.
The film does not appear to have received reviews by any major professional film critics. Rotten Tomatoes has no rating for the movie. Metacritic does not even have a listing of the film. Scott Rolfe at The Dove Foundation website assigns the film 5 stars out of 5, although this may reflect its acceptability for the foundation's wholesomeness for family viewing. The film rates 7.1/10 at the Internet Movie Database, based on 865 user ratings, as of February 6, 2019. The website for Gospel Music Channel, which promoted the broadcast of the film, collected 211 ratings for the film, averaging 4.8/10.
Release.
The film was released in the US on November 7, 2011. It received a worldwide TV premiere on December 7, 2012 on Gospel Music Channel (GMC).