Project Christmas Wish

I have never seen Amanda Schull in anything before and Travis Van Winkle isn't really my favourite actor, but the chemistry flowed easily between them and Amanda Schull had a flirtatious personality which came through really well. The dialogue flowed naturally and didn't seem contrived, one of the better movies of the genre.

Lots of detailed positive reviews, so I guess I may be missing something, but this just felt incredibly flat and lacking in emotion. No real chemistry between the two leads and Travis Van Winkle was so wooden as Lucas.

This one starts out with a Meet Cute that is anything but. In what Hallmark seems to insist, the Hero is a jerk to the Heroine the first time they meet, for no apparent reason. But of course, they wind up having to spend an inordinate amount of time together, and she realizes his cranky veneer is merely masking the pain he feels from a great personal tragedy. Inevitably, they fall in love and everything works out for everyone. A little predictable, but Amanda Schull's performance in particular was enjoyable and lifted this above many of the others in the Hallmark library.

This Hallmark holiday romance stars Amanda Schull as a small-town resident who sponsors a non-profit that attempts to grant Christmas wishes. Lucy has a regular job, but her heart belongs to her seasonal project. This year, a girl named Max (Averie Peters) becomes the focus of Lucy's efforts. Max longs for a Christmas filled with happiness and love, like when her mother was alive. Her father, Lucas (Travis Van Winkle), is rather Grinch-like, wanting to protect both of them from sad memories of better times. The beautiful Ms. Schull is always an asset, and here she shines as Lucy---both the nucleus of the story and the heart of its warmth. Miss Peters, though absent for some sections of the film, is also a standout; her character's bond with Lucy drives the narrative. A good script keeps things interesting. This is a rewarding watch for viewers who like romance and feel-good stories.

I saw the trailer for this on Hallmark and it just looked like a cookie-cutter version of so many of their films. I do enjoy Hallmark movies very much but I save them for when I just need to watch some thing that is not going to be upsetting if I'm in a bad mood, since they are a usually sugary and safe. I DVRed it anyway and pretty much forgot about it until last night. I was completely surprised at how very warm and realistic it was right from the start. I really wanted to see how things would turn out, and was most thrilled that unlike any hallmark movie I've seen, the first kiss didn't end with rolling credits!! I'm not going to add a spoiler and say what did happen, but it was such a pleasant surprise to see the movie continue for about 20 or 30 minutes after that first kiss. It made me become even more invested in the characters, and I look forward to watching it again if they repeat it next year!

This was probably my favorite hallmark Christmas movie of this season! (My first favorite ever being The Christmas Secret). This was so heartwarming and I just absolutely loved every minute of it. I know Lucy as the crazy girl from the series One Tree Hill. I didn't know what to expect of her in a serious role but she nailed it! Love this movie.

I've seen all of the Hallmark movies this year and this one is great. Acting was good and the chemistry was evident. It didn't have a lot of the contrived controversy and lame dialog that most do. The little girl is adorable.

I can see how a number of User Reviewers would have really liked this movie, as it was largely cheerful on the one hand and yet dealt meaningfully with loss on the other. However, I was put off by how manipulative the lead female character was, even if for a good cause. Ditto for the sugary sweet lead child, as well. That spoiled for me any potential charm from this movie.