Frohe Weihnachten - Jetzt erst recht

This television film shows that all of us need help at one time in our lives. It also shows that "It Does Take a Village".

In this film Martha's no good husband, Cal (Bart Johnson), has left her for the last time, emptying her bank account and disappearing without a word. Hopeless, Martha takes to the road and winds up in a motel broke & homeless with 3 kids.

This film sounds like it is a downer but in reality it is a great film to watch. This is a film about how all of us can help anyone at anytime. Small things you think you did can make a huge impact on people.

This film is not far fetched. It is not just people in small towns in the United States that are like this. However in small towns word does get around fast when someone needs any type of help!

Most modern Christmas movies are either fantasies about romance found unexpectedly or about troubled families whose members discover the true meaning of Christmas. Very few have different or original plots. I can't think of another film that has focused so completely upon the plight of a single mother struggling to raise three children after her husband deserts them.

"A Christmas Wish" is a true drama that doesn't have to be set at Christmas or in any particular season. But the seasonal theme adds something to the film. That's significant in providing hope for a happy ending, where this film digs deeply into the intensity and stress of the woman giving her all so that her family can survive.

The film has some light and amusing scenes, with some witty dialog and funny moments. But it also has intense drama. There are sad scenes, depressing situations and incidents that seem almost hopeless for Martha Evans. Some people may not appreciate this as a Christmas movie to cherish and watch in succeeding years. But others may find it especially appropriate.

Evans is a very believable single parent under extreme duress. Kristy Swanson gives a superb performance in that role. It was deserving of an Emmy nomination but the Emmy's seem almost to have a bias against Christmas themed films. Perhaps it's because each year brings out one to a few movies that appear to be just slight moderations of well-worn themes. And Kirstin Dorn is tremendous as the very intelligent and wise young Mel Evans. The rest of the cast all give good performances.

This is a very good drama about a life that far too many women have experienced, and that has too seldom been shown in film. For that reason alone, this is a movie some may want to keep and replay in years to come. It's also a film about hope and perseverance and good rising from dedication, sacrifice and love for family and children. That's what makes it an especially different and memorable Christmas film.

Here are some favorite lines from the film.

Mel Evans, "Why do you call the car Jack?" Martha Evans, "Because it rhymes with Cadillac."

Joe Hopkins, "Gotta help heathens once in a while, or he wouldn't have a congregation."

Lola Metcalf, "Do you know why most women would rather have beauty than brains?" Martha Evans, "Why?" Lola, "Because most men can see better than they can think."

Martha Evans, "Okay, how do you want your eggs?" Les McCallum, "From a chicken." Martha, writing on her order pad, "Right! No fish eggs. Uh, how do you want 'em?" Les, "On a plate." Martha, "Raw?" Les, "Over, easy."

Martha Evans, "Well, being single's not so bad." Joe Hopkins: I'm not single. I'm romantically challenged."

Lola Metcalf, "Here you go (mumbling in a low tone) tall, dark and available."

Lola Metcalf, "In fact, you're the first woman I've seen him take an interest in." Martha Evans, "The destitute mother of three?" Lola, "Yeah, go figure."

Lola Metcalf, "Side of gravy's comin' up." Frank, "I need more butter." Lola, "You want some heart medicine to go with that cholesterol?"

"A Christmas Wish"

I love this film. There are granted several of plot holes but it is one of those film that as it is about service is just makes you feel good.

Kristy Swanson is fun to watch, KC Clyde is fun to watch, but the fact that Kristy is eleven years older than KC is distracting. Fortunately, the film is not really about their relationship and there is no ending big kiss or romantic resolution. I didn't think that Kristy was necessarily too old for her role, but she just didn't match with KC.

The film instead is about "Martha's" circumstances and the kids. Why did Martha leave where she was living? She at least had a roof over her head. Did I miss her being evicted? Surprising that even with kids that considering her circumstances that she hasn't been working. Bart Johnson is too nice of a guy to be playing the abusive husband. The parts of the kids were well acted. It was disappointed that they didn't do much with acting elsewhere. The girl in particular was well acted. As someone else commented, it was interesting seeing Ed Herrman with his as usual amazing acting and in a different sort of role.

Dani Cuchran in the teen part of her career was fun to see.

Things as usual in Christmas films did "wrap up" a little too nicely.

I originally saw the film under the working title "A Rootbeer Christmas." I was disappointed when I saw that the title had been changed to "A Christmas Wish" which is far from a unique name for a Christmas film. I think that I heard that it is because people in Europe don't care for the taste of rootbeer that that is the reason that it was changed.

I understand the films made by the LDS/ Mormon market that clearly take place in that market using terms such as "pastor" to make the film more accessible to other groups, but it still bothers me. Hello just say that the nice heavy set man is the bishop and not the pastor!

The film made me wish to live in a small town like Mapleton, Utah where the film takes place and to work in a diner such as "The Rootbeer." Evidently, at one time it was an actual diner, but is now an insurance office or something. I was disappointed to learn that it is no longer a real diner. I keep meaning to drive passed it, but I haven't.

"A Christmas Wish" I love this film. There are granted several of plot holes but it is one of those film that as it is about service is just makes you feel good.

Kristy Swanson is fun to watch, KC Clyde is fun to watch, but the fact that Kristy is eleven years older than KC is distracting. Fortunately, the film is not really about their relationship and there is no ending big kiss or romantic resolution. I didn't think that Kristy was necessarily too old for her role, but she just didn't match with KC.

The film instead is about "Martha's" circumstances and the kids. Why did Martha leave where she was living? She at least had a roof over her head. Did I miss her being evicted? Surprising that even with kids that considering her circumstances that she hasn't been working. Bart Johnson is too nice of a guy to be playing the abusive husband. The parts of the kids were well acted. It was disappointed that they didn't do much with acting elsewhere. The girl in particular was well acted. As someone else commented, it was interesting seeing Ed Herrman with his as usual amazing acting and in a different sort of role.

Dani Cuchran in the teen part of her career was fun to see.

Things as usual in Christmas films did "wrap up" a little too nicely.

I originally saw the film under the working title "A Rootbeer Christmas." I was disappointed when I saw that the title had been changed to "A Christmas Wish" which is far from a unique name for a Christmas film. I think that I heard that it is because people in Europe don't care for the taste of rootbeer that that is the reason that it was changed.

I understand the films made by the LDS/ Mormon market that clearly take place in that market using terms such as "pastor" to make the film more accessible to other groups, but it still bothers me. Hello just say that the nice heavy set man is the bishop and not the pastor!

The film made me wish to live in a small town like Mapleton, Utah where the film takes place and to work in a diner such as "The Rootbeer." Evidently, at one time it was an actual diner, but is now an insurance office or something. I was disappointed to learn that it is no longer a real diner. I keep meaning to drive passed it, but I haven't.

My Christmas film viewings over-time have been a very mixed bag. With some surprisingly good hits, where regardless of how predictable they are succeed in being full of charm, warmth and heart so succeeding in being light-hearted and undemanding fun. But also some quite big misses, where the characters are not likeable, everything is forced and shallow with implausibility too in some of the worst cases, the acting and writing being weak and basically with just nothing to them.

Despite being a long way from perfect or being a complete hit, 'A Christmas Wish' is thankfully closer to the former category. It is the second Kristy Swanson Christmas film seen back to back (the other being 'Angels in the Snow') and is the infinitely superior one, with it actually being a good film and Swanson is also much better here. Although the story execution is not perfect, 'A Christmas Wish' is still sincere and moving and is worth seeing for primarily the cast.

'A Christmas Wish' isn't perfect. It takes a bit of time to find its footing pace-wise with it being a bit thin and draggy story-wise at times. Not all the script is there, with moments of awkwardness and sugar heaviness.

The messaging is well-intentioned but features too much and is on the heavy-handed side.

However, there is a lot to like about 'A Christmas Wish'. It looks attractive enough. The scenery is both rustic and festive and the photography doesn't look rushed or drab, quite beautiful actually. The music doesn't come over as too melodramatic while still having some presence. The direction is suitably sympathetic on the most part while taking a little time to find its feet. The dialogue is not perfect either but the cheese and sentiment don't go overboard and it generally doesn't come over as stilted.

Furthermore, the story, despite its imperfections, is warm hearted and has a lot of well meaning heart, without taking itself too seriously. The film did leave me feeling very moved. The characters interest and are worth investing in, not being too perfect or having flaws too exaggerated, which was refreshing after seeing a few films with distastefully over the top unpleasant characters that you are meant to root for. Swanson's performance is deeply felt and doesn't get melodramatic. Kirstin Dorn is a charmer and similarly moving and Edward Hermann once again plays the type of role he played so well beautifully.

Overall, not great but well done in a lot of areas. 7/10.

This is a very watchable movie, very typical of the Hallmark Channel Christmas movies, which my wife and I love to watch to get us in the holiday spirit. As is typical, we find a woman whose rodeo cowboy husband has abandoned her; leaving her broke and with three kids to care for. Things go from bad to worse as she battles a series of mishaps trying to find a new home for herself and her children. If you ever think that you've had a bad day or week, you've never gone through anything like this woman faces! The acting is, however, very good, from a variety of veterans, like Edward Hermann, Tess Harper, and others. Ultimately, as with all Hallmark movies, things are resolved in the final six minutes.

This is a very enjoyable movie, and I was especially surprised and impressed with the plot theme of showing the true meaning of Christmas, and the power of prayer, something which most modern movies avoid. It definitely is a "feel good" movie, and one which teaches strong family values. Despite the predicable, and somewhat thin plot, and several loose ends being hastily tied up at the end, it is worth the watch.