The Wishing Tree - Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie

MOVIE REVIEW

The Wishing Tree

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: November 10, 2012

CAST:

Jason Gedrick ... Professor Evan Farnsworth
Emmalyn Estrada ... Juliet
Amitai Marmorstein ... Albert
Richard Harmon ... Drew
Teryl Rothery ... Chairperson Madelyn
Erica Cerra ... Theater Teacher

PLOT:

Dennis Farnsworth, a talented, young professor who hasn't been able to put the past behind him, agrees to supervise a group of "orphan" students who have no place to go for the holidays. He brings the students together in a way they never thought imaginable through The Wishing Tree - a Christmas-themed tree decorated with handwritten wishes. The connection and sense of family they draw from one another help Dennis and his students move forward in life and believe again that wishes really do come true.

More Plot Details:

Professor Evan Farnsworth (Gedrick) works tirelessly at a prestigious boarding school in Maine, dedicating all his time to helping his students believe in themselves - even when he doesn't have any hope left after the death of his wife two years earlier. Accepting a job to teach the students left behind during Christmas vacation, including talented scholarship student Juliet (singer Emmalyn Estrada), nerdy outcast Albert (Amitai Marmorstein, "50/50") and privileged bad boy Drew (Harmon), Farnsworth quickly faces a challenge when Drew gets into trouble. Upset his wealthy parents ditched him for a Paris skiing vacation, he takes his anger out on the neighboring town's ancient Wishing Tree, a bare tree decorated with handwritten notes containing the townspeople's greatest holiday wishes. A loved tradition, it doubles as a fundraiser for needy families, depending on donations from eager wish-makers.

After spending a night in jail, Drew lets Farnsworth help him turn his negative attitude around by agreeing to volunteer with the Wishing Tree. Soon, Drew, Juliet and Albert are becoming best friends as they help make Wishing Tree a success, under the thankful watch of

Chairperson Madelyn (Rothery). Then everyone, including Farnsworth, is blindsided when Drew's icy mother arrives to make sure Farnsworth is fired, upset after Drew's stint with the law. Faced with the possibility of losing his job, Farnsworth is left with nothing as he packs his bags. But with the support of the attractive young theater teacher (Cerra), his dedicated students, and the spirit of his late wife, Farnsworth eventually finds that with the Wishing Tree, anything is possible.

Movie Review:

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The Santa Switch - Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie

MOVIE REVIEW

The Santa Switch

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: December 7, 2013

CAST:

Ethan Erickson ... Dan Ryebeck
Anne Dudek ... Linda Ryebeck
Annie Thurman ... Sally Ryebeck
Griffin Cleveland ... Joe Ryebeck
Tiffany Adams ... Veterinarian Elf
John Balma ... Maitre d'
Julia Cho ... Elf Ronnie
Meg Cionni ... Gracie
Madison Dae Clarion ... Christmas Shopper- Child
Kayla Drew ... Girlfriend
Kate Gilligan ... Parent
Michael Lanahan ... Supervisor
Adam Lieberman ... Bartender
David Buehrle ... Boyfriend
Gabriel Suttle ... Young Dan Ryebeck

PLOT:


When Santa decides it's time for a vacation, he hands over the reins to his reindeer to an unassuming dad who needs more than a little Christmas magic to give his kids and soon-to-be ex-wife the best holiday yet.

More from Hallmark press release:
As the Christmas season approaches, Dan Ryebeck (Erickson) is facing unemployment, and struggling to pay for the gifts he thinks will impress his two kids, Sally (Thurman) and Joe (Cleveland). Always chasing a new business idea, Dan hasn't had time for family, including his wife Linda (Dudek), who is finally fed up and filing divorce papers. Threatened by Linda's handsome and successful young boss, Trevor (Steve Valentine, "Crossing Jordan"), Dan knows he must make this Christmas the best one yet to win his family back. But after auditioning for a mall Santa job and quickly losing his cool, Dan is frustrated and broke, blaming the holidays for his troubles. Little does he know his luck is about to turn around when the real Kris Kringle (Donovan Scott, "Matchmaker Santa") pays him a visit from the North Pole. Deciding to take a vacation and leave Dan in charge, Kris sends his hard-working elf assistant Eddie (Astin) to guide Dan as the new Santa Claus, hoping he'll learn a lesson in Christmas spirit. With the sudden power to impress Linda and the kids by making every wild Christmas wish come true, Dan soon gets carried away. As the fate of the whole world's Christmas rests in his hands, can Dan focus on what his family really needs without flubbing his greatest gig yet?

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Runaway Princess - Hallmark Channel Movie

MOVIE REVIEW

Runaway Princess

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: ?



CAST:




PLOT:

A Royal Princess runs away from her obligations and duties for a few days and ends up falling in love.



Movie Review:

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The Memory Book - Hallmark Movie Channel

MOVIE REVIEW

The Memory Book

Network: Hallmark Movie Channel

Original Air Date: July 26, 2014

CAST:

Meghan Ory ... Chloe Davenport
Luke Macfarlane ... Gabe Sinclair
John Cassini ... Vito Marino
Adrienne Barbeau ... Sarah
Art Hindle ... Jonathan / Jack
Kat de Lieva ... Young Sarah
Mike Coleman ... Pastor Reynolds
Lisa MacFadden ... Realtor Shirley Jensen
Ryan Bruce ... Young Jonathan
David Longworth ... Ranger Stan
Karolina Anna Sabat ... Loving Girl

 

PLOT:

(see my Movie Review, below...)

A female photographer who no longer believes in the possibility of True Love discovers a swap-meet scrapbook documenting the seemingly-perfect courtship of a couple forty years earlier. Hoping to find the pair and return it, she enlists the help of a one-time boyfriend to track them down through clues in the photos, cards, ticket stubs, and love letters in the book. In the process, she not only reunites the long-ago couple who had since drifted apart, but finds an ideal romance of her own when she gives herself over to the magic of love.


More via Hallmark:

Intrigued by the love of a young couple found in an old photo album, a tenacious, up-and- coming photographer makes it her mission to find the couple to figure out if true love exists in “The Memory Book,” a Hallmark Movie Channel Original World Premiere Summer 2014. Meghan Ory (“Intelligence,” “Once Upon A Time”) stars in this heartwarming romantic dramedy. A budding photographer Chloe (Ory) comes from a family of failed romances. However, at a local flea market, she stumbles upon an old photo album from the 1970s chronicling the ideal romance of a happy couple. Unable to find her own “true love,” she sets out to find the couple in the album to prove to herself that true love does exist.

Along the way she meets Gabe Sinclair a mysterious, but charming bartender who works near the gallery where her pictures are showcased. Gabe seizes the opportunity to join Chloe’s mission and soon finds himself falling in love with her. With limited resources, the two go on an adventure together to search for clues that will lead them to the couple, and hopefully true love. As the search continues, Chloe sees a different side of Gabe, but doesn’t allow her feelings for him to distract her from her mission to find the couple. However, Chloe must learn to give up her fear of falling in love if she is to truly find happiness.

“The Memory Book” is an Entertainment One Television Production. Ira Pincus, Joey Plager and Paul A. Kaufman are the executive producers. Jonathan I. Schwartz is the supervising producer. Robert Lee is the producer. Paul A. Kaufman also directed from a script by Duane Poole.

 

 

Movie Review:


Mysterious old photos. Secrets from the past. A budding Romance. And, Memories in the making. You will Love seeing what ‘develops’ next in “The Memory Book”!

Chloe Davenport is an up and coming photographer who is struggling to find the meaning in the photos she takes. Everyone is a critic, including Gabe Sinclair, who, just happens to come in one evening during one of her art showings and tells Chloe – her pictures are “nice”. Clearly, she was aiming higher and is disappointed in his reaction and her work.

At first, Chloe feels pretty low and cynical about life, photography, and relationships. However, things begin to change when she purchases an old “Memory Book” album at a swap meet, and she finally sees the beauty in these old photographs, in the images of a young couple who are dating and very much in love.

As she looks through the old photographs, seeing the love in their eyes, picture after picture, Chloe becomes increasingly more intrigued by them. She then, sees it as her goal to seek out this couple, whoever they are, and learn their secret, the secret of finding a lasting love like theirs.

Along the way, Chloe visits the restaurant where Gabe is a local bartender. They have old pictures featured on their walls there and she hopes one of them might give her a clue. As she is there, she shares the memory book with Gabe and his curiosity is peaked to the point of helping her with the research.

While seeking out clues, hidden within the pictures, Gabe and Chloe are led to various people and places… skating rinks, Yosemite Park, Bingo Night at Church, a Florist Shop, the old Vito’s Restaurant, and so on… as they hope anything or anyone will uncover the true identity of Sarah and Jonathon, the young couple in love, in the photos.

There’s a growing attraction between Gabe and Chloe and Gabe is first to admit and share his feelings, but Chloe is reluctant. She wishes to be careful, to play it safe. She thinks they are too different.

Can discovering the truth behind the mystery of Sarah and Jonathon bring Gabe and Chloe together?

Some Memories are cherished, some are better left in the past, and some are blank pages in photo albums… waiting to be filled!




Review by: Net, It's a Wonderful Movie




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See! Very Sweet! And, Yes, there's a Happy Ending!



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"Looking for Mr. Right", a Hallmark Channel movie, starring Sarah Lancaster, Kip Pardue, and Vivica A. Fox

MOVIE REVIEW

Looking for Mr. Right

Previously Known As: My George

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: June 7, 2014

CAST:

Sarah Lancaster ... Annie Butler
Kip Pardue ... George Munroe
Vivica A. Fox ... Della Hendershot
Marcia Strassman ... Opal
Katy Stoll ... Kate
Oscar Nunez ... Frank
Brandon Quinn ... Henry

PLOT:

Annie Butler finds huge success in her best-selling novel, but when her editor finds out that the very man she gushes about in the non-fiction story, does not actually exist, she flips out and gives Annie a week to find him before she hires an actor to play the part.

More, from Hallmark Press Release:

An author’s fictionalized fairy tale debut suddenly becomes an imperfect real-world romance when Vivica A. Fox (“Independence Day,” “Kill Bill”) and Sarah Lancaster (“Chuck”) star in “My George,” a Hallmark Movie Channel Original World Premiere Saturday, June 21 (9p.m. ET/PT, 8C). Fox and Lancaster star beside Marcia Strassman (“Welcome Back, Kotter,” “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”), Oscar Nuñez (“The Office”), Kip Pardue (“Remember the Titans”), Brandon Quinn (“The Vampire Diaries,” “The OC” ) and Katy Stoll (“The Seven Year Hitch”) in this heartwarming romantic tale about a struggling writer who is forced to fake a relationship to save her career, while overlooking the love of a longtime friend.

Writer Annie Butler (Lancaster) is miserable after she suffers a bad breakup while facing her dead-end job writing user manuals instead of manuscripts. Deciding to envision the life she wants in hopes of making it a reality, Annie writes My George , a fiction novel depicting her dream romance with a perfect imaginary guy named George. She is stunned to receive a letter from high-powered literary agent Della Hendershot (Fox), who wants to publish the book and promote Annie as a debut author at a huge bookseller’s expo—alongside George. When Annie admits there is no George, Della, furiously trying to get her way, decides to hire an actor to pose as Annie’s boyfriend, much to the dismay of Annie and her family, sister Kate (Stoll) and mom Opal (Strassman).

Upset she has to lie about her love life, Annie is relieved when she meets George Munroe (Pardue), the handsome and driven realtor selling Opal’s house. Desperate to spark a romance with George to bring the pages of her bestselling novel to life before the expo, Annie discovers her attempts at real-world romance fall flat as she tries to recreate the perfect moments from her book. Meanwhile, Annie is reconnecting with high school pal Henry (Quinn), now a plant nursery owner who she’s hired to help spruce up Opal’s yard for the sale. It is clear Henry’s teenage crush on her has resurfaced, especially to his co-worker Frank (Nuñez), who encourages him to make a move. As Henry and Annie start spending more time together, Annie soon finds she may be forcing the love she thought she always wanted—without realizing her true fairy tale ending has been waiting for her all along.

“Looking for Mr.Right” is a Mediapool Production in association with Larry Levinson Productions. Larry Levinson is the executive producer. Amanda Phillips Atkins is co-executive producer. Lincoln Lageson is the producer. Kevin Connor directed from a script written by John Donovan & Deborah Gaughan and Jennifer Notas.

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