Wish Upon a Christmas (2015) Reviews

• Charming Fantasy

  rebekahrox2015-12-16

  A widower's son asks Santa in a letter for someone special for his dad. Meanwhile, his Dad's old high school sweetheart, now a successful corporate actuary, comes to town to shut down his factory and the major employer in the charming old-fashioned town. With a little help from a distinguished old man with a white beard mysteriously come to town looking for a lost bauble, everyone gets their happy ending. this is one of the better entries of the season, thanks to some charming performances by the main actors. Aaron Ashmore and the young actor who plays his son are particularly winning. Amelia is well played as well, as is Mr. Tomptey (alias Santa Claus). The only weak link is Allan Thicke who has an unnecessary role as her father. He delivers his lines like he has been nipping at the eggnog one too many times.

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• When You Believe

  Christmas-Reviewer2016-09-26

  BEWARE OF FALSE REVIEWS & REVIEWERS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW TO THEIR NAME. NOW WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE MOVIE. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THE FILM . NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 300 HOLIDAY FILMS & SPECIALS. I HAVE NO AGENDA. In the Lifetime TV movie Wish Upon a Christmas, tough-as-nails business exec Amelia returns home for the holidays. Not to celebrate Christmas but to help a family business from going under. Her initial plan is to fire people. But as she spends more time at the ornament company, she grows close to the people who work there including the company's owner, Jesse, her old high school boyfriend. This film hits all the right marks and it does deliver. It is very charming. The only minor gripe I have is that the part of Ben was most likely written for a 7 year old. The part however is played by a child of 11 or more. He is a good actor but again it should of been played by a younger child. The film is family safe. Kids might not like it but for fans of Christmas films this is a must see. I am glad I saw this one. .

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• Does Amanda come to save or liquidate her old boyfriend's business?

  hsolaf2015-12-23

  Amanda (Larisa Oleynik) a corporate analyst who's sent from Washington to ailing businesses to "cut the fat" which means firing employees and often closing them. This time it so happens it's a Christmas ornament factory (which is more like a family of artisans in which objects are lovingly handmade)in her old home town which her old high school boyfriend Jesse(Aaron Ashmore) has inherited and runs. As often in Lifetime Christmas movies, Jesse's a sad young widower with a loving bond to his son Danny (Dylan Kingwell). Danny's a big Santa fan, and has written Santa for someone special for his lonely dad. Amanda rekindles her old flame for Jesse and vice versa, and figures out a plan to save the ornament factory without layoffs. However, her Washington bosses reject it. Amanda quickly loses her popularity with Jesse's employees and alienates Jesse as she starts firing half the work force right before Christmas. Meantime, a charming and distinguished man with a beard, Mr. Tomley (Kevin McNulty) has been looking all over town for a trinket valuable to him. Danny has found it. He thinks it's a magical charm or amulet of Santa's sled operation without which there won't be a Christmas. When Amanda and Jesse take Mr Tomley to Danny to return it, Danny is convinced Mr. Tomley is Santa. But the "amulet" has been lost! In looking for the lost charm , events happen which eventually unite all three Amanda, Jesse and Danny. Plus, do you think the factory is saved, and all come back to work? One hint: It's a Christmas movie! Yes, "Wish Upon a Christmas" is loaded with clichés and predictable situations. It pretty much adheres to Lifetime Christmas formulas. it's awash with romantic fantasy. That said,it's gratifying that the plot has been artfully woven to have both natural and supernatural explanations. Fantasy is not just rammed down our throats. Children and romantics can delight in the magic, skeptics can find credibility in this pleasant tale. It's a predictable tale but sweetly told. The actors are engaging and attractive. Larisa Oleynik plays Amanda with easy charm and humor, and is credible as a corporate executive. Aaron Ashmore (Jesse)is a great dad and idealistic factory owner. He's very likable and persuasive. He looks a bit, and has a vibe similar to Neil Patrick Harris. Dylan Kingwell as the boy Danny, has just the right dewy-eyed look of winsome innocence to effectively deliver some really fanciful lines. Delightful Dylan is a central character and does a splendid job. The small-town setting is charming, with great wooded areas and beautiful old homes.There a great supporting cast. Alan Thicke plays Amanda's retired jovial dad, who phones her periodically to give her advice. The factory artisans who interact with Jesse and each other in a folksy, family way.There's a cranky old sculptor,and a sweet matronly supervisor who passes around pecan candy during work hours. All in all, "Wish Upon a Christmas" is a very pleasant Christmas film that will make you warm all over, like hot chocolate or spiked eggnog. Food for your heart, not your mind. It may usher in your Christmas spirit.

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• A Southern Romance

  TeamRocket_Jessie2016-01-11

  The best thing about this movie is that it's not entirely clear whether the twists of fate are supernatural (magic, Santa, or an angel) or a mix of coincidence, good timing, and trying over and over until getting the desired result. For instance, there is a part where the man who may or may not be supernatural is gone when the kid turns around, but they're in a wooded area so this doesn't 'prove' that the man really disappeared. Accordingly, the leads are played by seasoned fantasy/sci-fi actors Larisa Oleynik (The Secret World of Alex Mack, 3rd Rock From The Sun, & Pretty Little Liars), Aaron Ashmore (Smallville, Warehouse 13, & Killjoys) and Christie Laing (Once Upon A Time & Arrow). They successfully act down to earth in odd situations. Another nice element is the Southern setting. There is the subtlety of rustic decorations and Spanish moss without exaggerating the setting (i.e. no swamps or pick-up trucks). This makes for outdoor shots that are lush with greenery. If I've left you wondering what the point of the movie is, it's this: "some of the best things in life start with a simple act of kindness."

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• Christmas spirit

  Kirpianuscus2016-12-23

  one of films who preserve and use it in decent manner. a story about hope and miracle and happiness, broken stuffs and feelings and fragments of past. Aaron Ashmore remembering a soft Kellan Lutz, Larisa Oleynik remembering Jennifer Morrison and Dylan Kingwell who seems, in the first scenes, more too old for the role of Ben but becoming the pillar of this comfortable story of Christmas. so, a film who can be criticized. because it its purpose is not exactly to be great or unique but a good, modest soup for soul. because all is soft and nice and the exact mix of honey, cinnamon and gingerbread. so, a nice film.as package for the Christmas spirit.

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