A Christmas Wish - Hallmark Channel Movie

MOVIE REVIEW

A Christmas Wish

Originally Titled : A Root Beer Christmas


Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: November 20, 2011

 

Click Here for DVD - Amazon

CAST:

Kristy Swanson ... Martha Evans
Tess Harper ... Trudy Willis
Edward Herrmann ... Les
Aline Andrade ... Clarice
Danielle Chuchran ... Jeanie Bullington
K.C. Clyde ... Joe Hopkins
Lilee Clyde ... Katie
Kirstin Dorn ... Mel Evans
Lloyd Eisler ... Bad Bob
Mike Hagerty ... Owen Bullington
Kevin Herring III ... Miles Evans
Star Herrmann ... Carol Bullington
Taggart Hurtubise ... Danny Park
Bart Johnson ... Cal Evans
Claudia Mejia ... Carmelita Carnes

PLOT:

Martha Evans, an attractive 28 year old shows the wear of years of working double shifts at minimum wage. Martha is close to despair when her ‘never-do-well’ husband abandons her a few days before Christmas, leaving her homeless and destitute.

With her two young daughters and stepson in tow, Martha travels cross-country looking for work, finally landing a job as a late-shift waitress at a small town diner. Still, with her car broken down and the bills piling up as fast as her troubles, it looks like it’s going to be a very bleak Christmas for the Evans family. In a desperate cry for help, Martha reaches to higher power…and her prayer seems to work a small miracle.

Unbeknownst to her, the sympathetic townsfolk and a concerned new admirer have been working behind the scenes to make her season bright. The kindness of strangers ultimately renews Martha’s faith, not only in humanity but also in the God who answered her prayer. The owner of the local diner, an attractive, no-nonsense woman in her mid to late 60s takes pity on Martha and her kids. As their bond builds, the two find unexpected comfort in the values of true friendship. Could blowing the dust off the beloved old recipe for home-made root beer be the answer to their prayers?...


Video Clip - Movie Trailer:



The movie was originally titled : A Root Beer Christmas


Movie Review:

This a touching, heartwarming movie that actually tells the true meaning of Christmas! You will adore the sweet children in this movie, and feel the real-life struggles of single mother, Martha, portrayed by Kristy Swanson. This sweet movie is certain to touch your heart!


See or Skip:

Absolutely See!



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What's on TV this Weekend - Disney Movies & More!

Disney Channel Original Movies, for me, aren't quite the same as they used to be. The movies, themselves, are mostly sweet, innocent, and age appropriate for children, however, the lifestyles of the actors and actresses who portray these squeaky clean characters, are living far from it, themselves. I could list names, but we all know them - those who have taken drugs, sold themselves in magazines, filmed rated 'R' movies, etc... It's truly unfortunate, as it makes it more and more difficult to enjoy what should be wholesome family entertainment.

ON TV, this weekend :

The Disney Channel has the trilogy of High School Musical Movies, plus the premiere of Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure.


The Hallmark Channel has a "Little House on the Prairie Marathon" on Saturday.


TCM has one of the best Christmas Movies - the 1947 version of Miracle on 34th Street.


Gospel Music Channel has the popular new inspiring movie, What If.


*See the Family TV Schedule for more details on these movies & more!







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Archive - February 2011 Family TV Schedule

FEBRUARY


February 1, 2011 - Tuesday:

The Game Plan ... Disney XD ... 1:30 PM
16 Wishes ... Disney (east) ... 8 PM
Uncorked ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 PM
16 Wishes ... Disney (west) ... 11 PM


February 2, 2011 - Wednesday:

Flower Girl ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 PM


February 3, 2011 - Thursday:

A Kiss at Midnight ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 PM


February 4, 2011 - Friday:

April Love ... Fox Movie Channel ... 10 AM
Hoot ... Disney XD ... 5 PM
Hoot ... Disney XD ... 7 PM
What If ... Gospel Music Channel ... 8 PM
A Valentine's Date ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 PM *NEW
What If ... Gospel Music Channel ... 10 PM


February 5, 2011 - Saturday:

The Santa Clause ... ABC Family ... 7 AM
The Little Rascals ... ABC Family ... 9 AM
Class ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 AM
Rookie of the Year ... ABC Family ... 11 AM
The Wishing Well ... Hallmark Channel ... 11 AM
A Valentine's Date ... Hallmark Channel ... 1 PM *NEW
Happy Feet ... ABC Family ... 1 PM
Class ... Hallmark Channel ... 3 PM
The Wishing Well ... Hallmark Channel ... 5 PM
Toy Story ... ABC Family ... 7:30 PM
Smooch ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 PM *NEW
Toy Story 2 ... ABC Family ... 9:30 PM
Smooch ... Hallmark Channel ... 11 PM *NEW
Smooch ... Hallmark Channel ... 1 AM *NEW


February 6, 2011 - Sunday:

The Little Rascals ... ABC Family ... 7 AM
Because of Winn-Dixie ... FX ... 8:30 AM
Always & Forever ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 AM
The Nanny Express ... Hallmark Channel ... 11 AM
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 ... FX ... 1 PM
Family Plan ... Hallmark Channel ... 3 PM
Alvin and the Chipmunks ... FX ... 3 PM
Toy Story ... ABC Family ... 3:30 PM
Always & Forever ... Hallmark Channel ... 5 PM
What If ... Gospel Music Channel ... 5 PM
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins ... ABC Family ... 5:30 PM
Tinker Bell ... Disney (east) ... 5:35 PM
The Nanny Express ... Hallmark Channel ... 7 PM
Toy Story 2 ... ABC Family ... 7 PM
Enchanted ... Disney (east) ... 7 PM
Tinker Bell ... Disney (west) ... 8:35 PM
Smooch ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 PM *NEW
Enchanted ... Disney (west) ... 10 PM


February 7, 2011 - Monday:

Alvin and the Chipmunks ... FX ... 8 AM
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 ... FX ... 12 PM
Backyard Wedding ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 PM *NEW


February 9, 2011 - Wednesday:

Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue ... Disney (east) ... 8 PM
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue ... Disney (west) ... 11 PM


February 10, 2011 - Thursday:

StarStruck ... Disney (east) ... 8 PM
StarStruck ... Disney (west) ... 11 PM


February 11, 2011 - Friday:

The Man from Snowy River ... Fox Movie Channel ... 4:02 PM
Our Little Girl (Shirley Temple) ... Fox Movie Channel ... 8:30 PM
Smooch ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 PM *NEW
Susannah of the Mounties (Shirley Temple) ... Fox Movie Channel ... 10 PM
Our Little Girl (Shirley Temple) ... Fox Movie Channel ... 12 AM
Susannah of the Mounties (Shirley Temple) ... Fox Movie Channel ... 1:15 AM
Love Comes Softly ... TBN ... 2 AM


February 12, 2011 - Saturday:

Ice Princess ... ABC Family ... 7:30 AM
Back To You & Me ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 AM
Dad's Home ... Hallmark Channel ... 11 AM
Smooch ... Hallmark Channel ... 3 PM *NEW
What a Girl Wants ... ABC Family ... 3:30 PM
Back To You & Me ... Hallmark Channel ... 5 PM
Belle and the Beast: A Christian Romance ... TBN ... 5 PM
Nanny McPhee ... ABC Family ... 6 PM
Elevator Girl ... Hallmark Channel ... 7 PM
The Wizard Of Oz (1939) ... TCM ... 8 PM
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) ... ABC Family ... 8 PM
Gone With the Wind (1939) ... TCM ... 8 PM (*Not for Children)
Fireproof ... INSP ... 9 PM
Accidentally in Love ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 PM *NEW
Enchanted ... ABC Family ... 10 PM
Accidentally in Love ... Hallmark Channel ... 11 PM *NEW
Facing the Giants ... INSP ... 11:30 PM
Accidentally in Love ... Hallmark Channel ... 1 AM *NEW


February 13, 2011 - Sunday:

April Love ... Fox Movie Channel ... 6 AM
What a Girl Wants ... ABC Family ... 9 AM
Meet My Mom ... Hallmark Channel ... 11 AM
Elevator Girl ... Hallmark Channel ... 1 PM
Nanny McPhee ... ABC Family ... 1:30 PM
Growing the Big One ... Hallmark Channel ... 3 PM
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) ... ABC Family ... 3:30 PM
Enchanted ... ABC Family ... 5:30 PM
Toy Story ... Disney (east) ... 6 PM
Meet My Mom ... Hallmark Channel ... 7 PM
Toy Story 2 ... Disney (east) ... 7:30 PM
Miracle On 34th Street (1947) ... TCM ... 8 PM
Accidentally in Love ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 PM *NEW
Toy Story ... Disney (west) ... 9 PM
Going My Way (1944) ... TCM ... 10 PM
Toy Story 2 ... Disney (west) ... 10:30 PM


February 14, 2011 - Monday:

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Valentine's Date ... Hallmark Channel ... 6 AM *NEW
Ice Dreams ... Hallmark Channel ... 8 AM
The Bishop's Wife (1947) ... TCM ... 2 PM
Toy Story ... Disney (east) ... 2 PM
Toy Story 2 ... Disney (east) ... 3:30 PM
A Valentine's Date ... Hallmark Channel ... 4 PM *NEW
Ice Dreams ... Hallmark Channel ... 6 PM
Enchanted ... Disney (east) ... 8 PM
Ice Castles (2010) ... Hallmark Channel ... 8 PM (*NEW Rated-PG)
Ice Castles (1978) ... Hallmark Channel ... 10 PM (*Caution: Language)
Enchanted ... Disney (west) ... 11 PM


February 16, 2011 - Wednesday:

The Game Plan ... ABC Family ... 7:30 PM


February 17, 2011 - Thursday:

The Parent Trap (1998) ... ABC Family ... 8 PM
Hannah Montana : The Movie ... Disney (east) ... 8 PM
Hannah Montana : The Movie ... Disney (west) ... 11 PM


February 18, 2011 - Friday:

What If ... Gospel Music Channel ... 11 AM
Accidentally in Love ... Hallmark Channel ... 9 PM *NEW
Marty (1955) ... TCM ... 10 PM


February 19, 2011 - Saturday:

Touched by an Angel Marathon ... Hallmark Channel ... 6 AM - 6 AM


February 20, 2011 - Sunday:

What If ... Gospel Music Channel ... 10:30 AM
April Love ... Fox Movie Channel ... 12:30 PM
Hometown Legend ... Gospel Music Channel ... 2:30 PM
Facing The Giants ... Gospel Music Channel ... 4:30 PM
Accidentally in Love ... Hallmark Channel ... 5 PM *NEW
A Kiss at Midnight ... Hallmark Channel ... 7 PM
Fireproof ... Gospel Music Channel ... 7 PM
Our Little Girl (Shirley Temple) ... Fox Movie Channel ... 8:30 PM
Fireproof ... Gospel Music Channel ... 9:30 PM
Susannah of the Mounties (Shirley Temple) ... Fox Movie Channel ... 10 PM
My Fair Lady (1964) ... TCM ... 10 PM
What If ... Gospel Music Channel ... 12 AM


February 21, 2011 - Monday:
The Parent Trap (1961) ... Hallmark Channel ... 7 AM
Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman *Marathon ... Gospel Music Channel ... 9 AM - 9 PM
Swiss Family Robinson ... Hallmark Channel ... 5 PM
The Parent Trap (1961) ... Hallmark Channel ... 8 PM
State Fair (1945) ... TCM ... 8 PM


February 24, 2011 - Thursday:

The Secret Garden (1993)... Gospel Music Channel ... 11 AM


February 25, 2011 - Friday:

Timepiece ... Gospel Music Channel ... 11 AM

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The Faith & Values Movie Awards from MOVIEGUIDE

The Winners Are In! The Oscars may be this weekend, and frankly, I must admit... most Hollywood "type" Movies that are recognized at those award events, are not my cup of tea.  However, it's great to know that we have other options and other film-makers willing to create good and wholesome movies for our family viewing.

The 19th Annual MOVIEGUIDE® Faith & Values Awards  (they are also known as the Christian Oscars) took place last weekend - February 18, 2011.

And the Winner is...

Category:
Most Inspiring Movie of 2010

Nominees:

• THE BOOK OF ELI, Warner Bros.
• GET LOW, Sony Pictures Classics
• LETTERS TO GOD, Vivendi Entertainment
• THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER from 20^th Century Fox Pictures
• THE SECRET OF KELLS, GKIDs Inc.
• TO SAVE A LIFE, Samuel Goldwyn Films
• WHAT IF. . ., PureFlix Entertainment

Winner:

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER


next....


Category:
Most Inspiring TV Program of 2010

Nominees:

• AMISH GRACE, telecast on Lifetime Television
• CHRISTMAS WITH A CAPITAL C, GMC
• ICE DREAMS, The Hallmark Channel
• NOVEMBER CHRISTMAS, Hallmark Hall of Fame
• THE WAY HOME, GMC
• WHEN LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH: THE LOIS WILSON STORY, Hallmark Hall of Fame

Winner:

AMISH GRACE, telecast on Lifetime Television



next....



DVD



Category:
Most Inspiring TV Performance in Movies in 2010



Nominees:

• Georgie Henley from CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF TREADER
• Tanner Maguire from LETTERS TO GOD,
• Kevin Sorbo from WHAT IF. . .
• John Ratzenberger from WHAT IF. . .
• Kristy Swanson from WHAT IF. . .
• Denzel Washington from THE BOOK OF ELI
• Randy Wayne from TO SAVE A LIFE
• Joshua Weigel from TO SAVE A LIFE

Winner:

Kevin Sorbo for WHAT IF. . .

next....

Category:
Most Inspiring Performance in Television in 2010

Nominees:

• Dean Cain from THE WAY HOME,
• Matt Letscher from AMISH GRACE,
• Madison Mason from AMISH GRACE,
• Barry Pepper from WHEN LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH: THE LOIS WILSON STORY,
• Winona Ryder from WHEN LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH: THE LOIS WILSON STORY,
• Sonny Shroyer from THE WAY HOME,
• Nancy Stafford from CHRISTMAS WITH A CAPITAL C,
• Brad Stine from CHRISTMAS WITH A CAPITAL C.

Winner:Madison Mason from AMISH GRACE, Lifetime Television.

next....

Category: 
Best Movie for Families –


Nominees:


. 1. TOY STORY 3
. 2. DESPICABLE ME
. 3. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER
. 4. LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE
. 5. SHREK FOREVER AFTER
. 6. TANGLED
. 7. WHAT IF. . ..
. 8. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.
. 9. LETTERS TO GOD.
. 10. MEGAMIND


Winner:

TOY STORY 3 from Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures

next....

Category: 
Best Movie for Mature Audiences –


Nominees:

. 1. SECRETARIAT
. 2. THE BOOK OF ELI
. 3. THE KING’S SPEECH
. 4. TRUE GRIT
. 5. LETTERS TO JULIET
. 6. MAO’S LAST DANCER
. 7. IRON MAN 2
. 8. PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME
. 9. ALICE IN WONDERLAND
. 10. GET LOW



Winner:

SECRETARIAT from Walt Disney Pictures

next....

Category:
The Faith and Freedom Awards for Promoting Positive American Values in 2010...

Winner for Movies –

Nominees:

HUBBLE 3D from Warner Bros. Pictures,
I WANT YOUR MONEY from RG Entertainment,
IRON MAN 2 from Paramount Pictures,
LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE from Warner Bros. Pictures,
MAO’S LAST DANCER from Samuel Goldwyn Films
TOY STORY 3 from Walt Disney Pictures,
WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” from Paramount Vantage
THE WAY BACK from Newmarket Films.


Winner:

MAO’S LAST DANCER from Samuel Goldwyn Films




DVD

 Winner for TV –

Nominees:

• AMISH GRACE from Lifetime Television,
• CHRISTMAS WITH A CAPITAL C from Pure Flix and GMC
• SARAH PALIN’S ALASKA: EPISODE ONE from The Learning Channel,
• THE WAY HOME from The GMC,
• WWII IN HD: THE AIR WAR from The History Channel.

Winner:

CHRISTMAS WITH A CAPITAL C from Pure Flix and GMC


Please Visit the MOVIEGUIDE Awards Page for more details.


For more details on the movies mentioned above, you can visit their pages here, on my blog:

What If
Amish Grace
Christmas with a Capital C
Ice Dreams
When Love is not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story
The November Christmas

These are all of the types of Movies I enjoy best - Family Friendly and Inspirational!

I hope you enjoy them, too!