The Wishing Tree

What do you expect from the Hallmark Channel, originality? Is there any originality in a single Hallmark card? Probably not. So here is yet another cliché-filled, ultra cheesy Made-for-TV Christmas movie from them. But it's a Christmas movie, it needs to be able to tug at heart strings and be sappy. How do you accomplish that? With clichés and cheese. Fortunately this one works. What we have is a teacher looking after three kids and we get to see how they all come together as friends and better people at Christmas. It's definitely not the normal "awwww so sweet" chick flick romance blah blah blahbiddy blah. There is romance involved but it doesn't come together until the end and it's not the main focus of the story. This is actually some decent holiday goodness for a change with a feel good message. If maybe 1 out of every 20 made-for-TV Christmas movies is honestly truly worth seeing, this is one of those.

6.4 / 10 stars

--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener

This movie delivers exactly what sappy Christmas movies are supposed to! It has all the ingredients to raise your spirits, life your hopes and make you want to enjoy the Season by being more loving, caring and giving. That's why it's an 8 in my world.

The classic formula in constructed here. Good guy, victim kids and antagonist parent who eventually "sees the light" and gives her wayward son the love and attention he needs.

There is one musical number that is done well. The romance component is in place. And truth wins over deception and love over hate.

It's a good way to spend a couple hours.

We enjoyed this film very much. Particularly liked Jason Gedrick! Would like to see more of him.

I like Jason Gedric as an actor but starring in this made for TV film he plays a sombre teacher who lost his wife so he buries his emotions and focuses on three students who won't get to go home over the Christmas holidays. It's a cheap and sobby drama/romance with a supposedly "feel-good" ending which I didn't get and the story line has been done a hundred times before but the other versions must be better than this one because it was quite frankly lousy.

I know, I know, it's a somewhat Christmas themed story so I may end up with coal in my Christmas stocking for writing a negative review but I call them like I see them.

I rate it a low 3 out of 10 rating.

I was happy discovering this Halmark film. Maybe, because I am teacher , too, maybe because it is a joy to discover new idea for collaboration with students, maybe for Jason Gedrick new role , preserving memories about his work in different other films. It is a good Christmas film and this fact is the most significant thing to tell about it. The rest - pieces from Halmark universe.