‘Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas’: A stocking filled with tedium

For longer than most of us can likely recall, the old argument about Christmas becoming too commercial has been debated over, and over, and over again. Especially as retailers have begun selling holiday merchandise earlier and earlier — seemingly right after Labor Day — the purists’ complains get louder.

With his film “Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas,” the actor who entered our consciousness as the star of TV’s long-running sitcom “Growing Pains” gives us his take on the issue. Unfortunately, this clumsy film is really more like a home movie, set in Cameron’s own house, and cast with his family members and friends.

We start with an overlong fireside chat by Cameron, who wants us to know that there’s nothing wrong with loving decorations, stockings, presents, Christmas cookies and cocoa — because that does not preclude us from remembering the TRUE meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus.

Related: Kirk Cameron says it’s OK to blend faith and fun in Christmas

We then have to suffer through 90 minutes of Cameron in conversation with his Scrooge-like brother-in-law Christian (yes, that’s really his name here), as the actor tries to convince his sister’s husband that you CAN have it both ways.

This may be one of the least artful holiday films ever made. Even devout born-again Christians will find this hard to stomach.

[s3r star=1/4]

Provident Films presents a film directed by Darren Doane and written by Doane and Cheston Hervey. Running time: 100 minutes. Rated PG (for some thematic elements). Opens Friday at local theaters.