''The National Tree'' is a 2009 American-Canadian

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

by Graeme Campbell. It features

Andrew McCarthy Andrew Thomas McCarthy (born November 29, 1962) is an American actor, travel writer, and television director. He is most known as a member of the Brat Pack, with roles in 1980s films such as '' St. Elmo's Fire'', ''Pretty in Pink'', ''Mannequi ...

and Evan Williams as father and son on a road-trip from

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

transporting their own

Sitka Spruce ''Picea sitchensis'', the Sitka spruce, is a large, coniferous, evergreen tree growing to just over tall, with a trunk diameter at breast height that can exceed 5 m (16 ft). It is by far the largest species of spruce and the fifth- ...

tree on a truck to be planted across from the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory ...

. The film was produced and aired by

Hallmark Channel Hallmark Channel is an American cable television network owned by Hallmark Media, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. The channel broadcasts family-oriented general entertainment programming, including television series and made-for-TV movies. ...

Plot

Seventeen-year-old Rock Burdock wins a nationwide contest for his tree to be planted across the White House. Faith Russell, marketing representative of the company Box of Toys who is in charge of the project, visits Rock and his father Corey. Corey planted the tree in their garden when Rock was born. He has reservations about the idea of transporting his tree cross country, but agrees under the condition that they deliver the tree themselves. While father and son drive the truck, Faith follows them most of the time in her car. Father and son are unable to strengthen their bonding and further dissensions arise along the way. However, Rock films the entire trip on camera and posts it on his

vlog A vlog (), also known as a video blog or video log, is a form of blog for which the medium is video. Vlog entries often combine embedded video (or a video link) with supporting text, images, and other metadata. Entries can be recorded in one ta ...

. This gathers more and more fans on the internet and on the road and even causes some media coverage. Rock's internet acquaintance and love interest Katie joins Rock on the way. Together they reach Washington, D.C. on Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Faith's boss secretly changed the plan. He wants to repeat the contest every year and therefore decides to erect the tree rather than planting it. After Faith's attempts to persuade her boss fail, the team now cuffs Rock to the tree and protest against its destruction. Using their media attention soon more people support their protest. Finally the President of the United States calls the park ranger on his cell phone and tells him to plant the tree. Later Rock, Corey, Faith and Katie are invited to attend the Christmas lighting of the tree by the President.

Cast

as Corey Burdock * Evan Williams as Rock Burdock *

Kari Matchett Kari Matchett is a Canadian actress. She is known for her roles as Colleen Blessed on ''Power Play'', Joan Campbell on ''Covert Affairs'', Kate Filmore in the science fiction movie '' Cube 2: Hypercube'', and U.S. president Michelle Travers on '' ...

as Faith Russell *

Paula Brancati Paula Brancati (born June 6, 1989) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her work on Canadian television, including roles on ''Being Erica'', '' Slasher'', ''Dark Oracle'', and most notably for playing Jane Vaughn on '' Degrassi: The Next Gene ...

as Katie *

Jayne Eastwood Jayne Eastwood (born December 17, 1946), also credited as Jane Easton or Jane Eastwood, is a Canadian actress and comedian. She is best known for her film roles as Anna-Marie Biddlecoff in '' Finders Keepers'' (1984), Judy the Waitress in '' The ...

as Lana *

Ted Atherton Ted Atherton is a Canadian television and film actor, as well as an accomplished stage actor. His list of stage credits include major roles in Death of a Salesman and The Lion King at the Royal Alexandra, The Cryptogram at the Tarragon Theatre, H ...

as Aaron * Craig Eldridge as Jim * Trent McMullen as Hank * Vas Saranga as Ash * Amanda Joy Lim as Ming * Kristina Nicoll as Belinda * Jean Daigle as Eddie * B.J. McQueen as Trucker * Bubba as DC Police Officer * Joanne Reece as Secretary

Production

The film was produced on locations in the United States and Canada.

Reception

The Dove Foundation The Dove Foundation is an American non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon, that issues film reviews, ratings and endorsements of movies that it considers suitable for family audiences, and that bases said reviews on their Christian v ...

'' gave the film a negative rating.

References

External links

Official website
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:National Tree, The 2009 television films 2009 films Canadian drama television films Christmas television films English-language Canadian films Films set in Oregon Films set in Idaho Films set in Nebraska Films set in Chicago Films set in Washington, D.C. Films about trees Hallmark Channel original films Films directed by Graeme Campbell (director) 2000s Canadian films