This weekend two more new Christmas movie originals, which I enjoyed very much, premiered on Hallmark and Lifetime, one of which was “The Wishing Tree,” starring Jason Gedrick from “The Christmas Choir” Hallmark movie of 2008.
I really enjoyed this movie and from the trailers underestimated its depth. I really thought this was another romance Christmas movie surrounding a wishing tree, but it turns out it wasn’t that at all. I didn’t think that Hallmark movies could still surprise me but this one did. It was not your typical t.v Christmas movie formula but a story made to inspire. It was a movie about friendship, love, hope, letting go and believing that wishes can come true.
I thought the wishing tree was going to be the central part of the movie but instead it subtly stayed in the background. There is actually no evidence to suggest that the tree is a granter of wishes as oppose to the wishes placed on the tree simple coming true on their own.
The central character is Professor Evan Farnsworth, who teaches English at a Boarding school inMaine, and finds creative and unique ways to illustrate his lessons and inspire his students. During Christmas break, Professor Farnsworth finds himself overseer of the this year’s Christmas Orphans (children not going home for Christmas), which are three of his students; studious Albert, a very beautiful and talented Scholarship student name Juliet and a very angry and privileged student name Drew Breen, whose family’s financial contributions are an major asset to the school.
Angry and feeling abandoned and ignored by his parents this Christmas, Drew ditches class and heads to the Wishing tree, he starts yelling at the people placing their wishes on the tree and telling them they are all fools for believing in it and that wishes don’t come true. In Anger he turns over the Volunteer table and is arrested.
Madelyn Gurthrie, the Chairperson of the Wish Foundation and overseer of the Wishing Tree wants to press charges to teach him a lesson but Professor Farnsworth convince her to give him a second chance stating that is what the Wishing Tree is all about. So Drew ends up doing community service at the Wishing Tree by keeping its surroundings clean.
Upon the advice of the Professor on how he can make friends, the very intellectual Albert convinces Juliet that they should be a friend to their fellow Musketeer (Christmas Orphan) Drew and help him with his community service. This action changes everything for all involved.
Drew has a change of heart and starts to feel not so alone and by Albert’s leadership they go beyond the call of duty and even raise more money for the Wish Foundation through the revitalization of their not so enticing concession stand.
Meanwhile, Drew’s mother uses her financial clot to try to get the Professor fired ignorantly believing that it is his fault her son was arrested. This upsets the three students and they conspire to do something radical to stop this from happening. Nevertheless, the well-meaning attempt puts them in a dangerous situation and cause Drew to be injured.
While searching for the three missing teens, Drew’s mother gets to know the Professor a little more and discovers that he does have her son’s best interest at heart and that Drew’s hurt was not really caused by the Professor.
In the end, friendships and relationships bloomed, wishes came true and hearts were healed. It was a happy ending. I found this movie to a very inspirational one and not at all what I expected it to be. I’d highly recommend this heartfelt Christmas movie if you like movies that tug at your heartstrings.
It is my favorite of the four new Christmas movies I have watched so far for this holiday season. I hope you enjoy watching it and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
O love hallmark channel. It gives me something to watch when I want to look at tv. the comedies, serious movies are all good for entertainment, but I would like to see more about the real reason for the season, Jesus. Somehow you seem to have gotten away from that. You have movies about Santa being real, the spirit of Christmas, dead loveones coming back as angels and the spirit of christmas. But lately, I haven’t seen any about the miracle of Jesus, whose birthday it is all about. The reason for celebrating christmas was to show the real reason for the season, the birth of Jesus, a real spiritual gift from God to man. A Gift to man so that he can get to know the real love of God.
I’m not saying that Santa should be taken out, every child should have a reason or someone to up to as a gift giver, but it should be known that as well as the natural gifts, the real reason and gift was the baby Jesus. Sent down from heaven from God, a gift of God’s love that all men can have the right to eternal life, after he or she has lived their lives in a way that God sees fit. I know everyone don’t believe in Jesus or God, but if they can believe in Santa, they can believe in Jesus. Give them a chance as you use to. dare to do it. Ive always loved your movies, and still does, but I sure would like some of the more spiritual movies about our Lord and Savior the Greatest Gift of them all. Thanks for allowing me to express my comment.
Hi Carolyn,
Beautifully said. I totally agree. A good channel to watch those kinds of christmas movies is GMC (Gospel Music Channel), they have great christian christmas movies all December like The Perfect Gift, Christmas with a Capital C, The Heart of Christmas, Christmas Snow and more. My favorite that brings back the reason for the season is The Perfect Gift. Have you seen those movies?