The Christmas Wish Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
THE CHRISTMAS WISH stars Neil Patrick Harris as an orphan who returns to his grandparents' home after the death of his grandfather. He and his grandmother (played by Debbie Reynolds) begin to uncover some mysteries about the man's life that lead them both to a fresh understanding of the Christmas season.
| Neil Patrick Harris | Will Martin |
| Debbie Reynolds | Ruth |
| Naomi Watts | Renee |
| Alexandra Wilson | Julia |
| Beverly Archer | Miss Enid Cook |
| Ian Meltzer | Justin |
| Gary Bayer | |
| James Greene | |
| Jerry Douglas | |
| Michael Fairman | |
| Adilah Barnes | Mary |
| Frank Birney | Ray Spellman |
| Ismael 'East' Carlo | Jose Rivera |
| Jan Hoag | Mrs. Baker |
| Stuart Mitchell | Mr. Quinn |
| Ian Barry |
7.00 out of 10 (211 votes)
Visitor Reviews
A pleasant surprise
posted on 17 Apr 2009This is a movie I switched onto by accident,and then really enjoyed it.OK so the storyline was predictable and provided an excuse for the viewers to feel sad and shed a few tears.It is one of those movies that has no violence or sex and can be enjoyed by the whole family.Maybe I am too sentimental but I gave it 9/10.
An intimate, heartfelt Christmas movie
posted on 04 Apr 2007This is one of my favorite Christmas movies. It is slow, to be sure, but the whole feel of it and the ambiance created are beautiful. It is such a heartfelt story and the cast is excellent. Neil Patrick Harris still comes off very young, but his work as Will is multi faceted. Debbie Reynolds is, as always, a joy to watch, and her restrained performance helps anchor the story. I usually can figure out plot twists from the get-go, but the final revelation of who Lillian is was a complete surprise--heart wrenching and uplifting all at once. If you want an intimate, heartfelt holiday movie don't miss THE Christmas WISH.
Excellent film - entire family would enjoy.
posted on 02 Dec 2006This movie is one of the very best Christmas movies around. It has a good mystery along with a good lesson to be learned regarding the important things in life. Also, the love between the grandparents and grandson is very moving. Highly recommend this movie.
The Christmas Wish...the TRUE spirit of Christmas
posted on 09 Oct 2006Having watched this movie for the umpteenth time, it still retains its freshness and charm. Neil Patrick Harris is perfect as the grandson intent on fulfilling his grandmother's Christmas wish...to discover who the woman Lillian was that her husband wrote about in his journals. Harris comes home to arrange for a long-distance management of his grandfather's real estate business, and discovers along the way that there is more to life than business. He discovers that loyalty, friendship, kindness, and compassion are still values worth embracing. Naomi Watts is perfect as Harris's love interest, and Debbie Reynolds lends charm and dignity to the role of Ruth. The movie could be maudlin, but avoids the syrupy sweet moments that often wreck Christmas movies. Since forgiveness is the true spirit of Christmas, The Christmas Wish delivers. This movie is worth the time invested in watching it. I never leave it feeling empty.
a great great movie
posted on 08 Apr 2005chased this little gem down, had to buy it on DVD and closest place to purchase was America. lovely film.. saw it years ago on TV and always wanted to share the experience with friends that never got an opportunity to watch it themselves.never have i forgotten the story or the film's name , waited years to see would it appear on TV again. i honestly never considered buying it on DVD. have a packet of hankies ready as even a brute like me shed a tear at the twist in the story line. a real Christmas story, very true to life with a lesson for everyone. you would never catch the twist near the end. being placed in a similar situation to the characters in the movie it is easy to see how quick it would be to pre-judge somebody without knowing all the facts.this film first appeared in 1988 (ian Barry), be careful there are similarly named movies out there.....
Definitely a feel-good movie
posted on 30 Jan 2002Although the stars of this movie are known for a lot of comedy, this is a very serious and heartwarming film.Will Martin, (Neil Patrick Harris), is a young man rising up the corporate ladder in New York when he is called home to settle his recently deceased grandfather's estate. The grandfather owned a real estate business and now it belongs to Will. Will's parents were killed in an auto accident when he was a child and he was raised by his grandparents. Ruth, (Debbie Reynolds), is Will Martin's grandmother. Julia, (Alexandra Wilson), is a young divorcée with a son about 10 years old. Miss Enid Cook, (Beverly Archer of Mama's Family), is an accountant in the real estate company.Ruth surprises Will with his grandfather's diary, which she only discovered after his death. It is mostly the mundane stuff of day to day life. The big surprise to Ruth and Will is the grandfather's frequent references to a mysterious female named Lillian. Will promises his grandmother that he will discover the truth about Lillian by Christmas Day. Both greatly loved the grandfather and give him the benefit of the doubt - up to a point. The nagging mystery is troubling. Will begins a search via old photos, old friends and employees of the real estate business. It leads Will to learn a lot about himself, as well as his grandfather.The movie includes side plots of problems for the Alexandra Wilson and Beverly Archer characters.No spoiler here. Trust that all mysteries are resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned, not least the viewer. The Christmas Wish has a pip ending. Some might consider it slightly schmaltzy. If so, it is very high quality schmaltz. I was engrossed from beginning to end. Get out your handkerchiefs.
Great heart-warming Christmas movie, we enjoyed it immensely!
posted on 01 Oct 2000This is the second time my wife and I have viewed this film and we think it's a perfect Christmas film. It's heart-warming and can be viewed by the whole family. I hope in the near future that it is released on video as I would love to purchase a copy for my very own (that's my Christmas Wish).
Enjoyed this movie very much.
posted on 25 May 2000I have seen this film twice and liked it even more the second time around. With so much commercialism of the Christmas holiday, this film promotes all that the season is supposed to be about, that people are more important than money, compassion for others in difficult situations, and finally, the ultimate and hardest lesson, that of true forgiveness. Many films have great scripts or excellent acting but this film was about the story and the lessons to be learned. I hope that it will become available for purchase in the near future.
Heart-warming, Touching and eventually Satisfying!
posted on 16 May 1999I liked this TV movie very much; it has touches of Mystery, Suspense and Drama all enveloped with Christmas and Family.Neil Patrick Harris does an excellent job and shows that he has surpassed Doogie Howser's shadow.Extremely heart-warming throughout, the interaction between characters is real, the writing and acting are all of top Quality.The mystery aspect that is the backbone of the story is well thought out.Possible Spoiler, sorry- fair warning!!!! Neil's character Will Martin, in his trying to discover the mysterious Lilly's identity by tracking down people listed in his Grandfathers journal's leads the viewer on an entertaining and heart-felt tour of small town middle America at it's best.This TV movie will leave you feeling satisfied and contemplating friends and family.I wish this title were available on DVD!
Nice cast, dull movie
posted on 11 Mar 1999Even as tv christmas fare goes, this one's a snoozer. I usually adore the leads in this but could they possibly have had a more plodding vehicle? There were no surprises, nothing refreshing; in fact, the story line was so tepid and ridiculously drawn that I hated it. I simply hated it. The one shining spot in it all was Naomi Watts' performance as the single mom / love interest. Even Debbie Reynolds' typically vibrant self couldn't pull this one off the pillow. I'm glad I saw it once, but once was quite enough for me.
A wholesome Christmas movie
posted on 16 Jul 2009I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. The story, although predictable, is interesting enough to keep one's attention. This is good wholesome entertainment, something you aren't afraid to let the kids watch. These types of movies tend to be few and far between. But we must remember that this is a made-for-TV movie, and therefore, it is unfair to compare it to classical holiday theatrical releases such as It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street. Nevertheless, it is a good Christmas story that bears repeat viewing.Neil Patrick Harris is the main reason this is a good movie. He tackles the rather lackluster script, bringing life to the whole film. He also out acts his poor supporting cast. One notable exception is Beverly Archer as the loyal employee Mrs Cook, who doesn't like Harris's plans for his grandfather's business. Harris, however, has obviously matured - in more ways than one - since his days as Doogie Howser. He brings a depth to his character, that is lacking in so many TV movies. I can only hope he will take his talent to the big screen more often in the future. Harris proves that not all child stars have to pass by the wayside the minute they reached adulthood.The combination of Harris' commanding performance and his urgency to find out the identity of the mysterious woman his grandfather visited every Christmas Eve, make the movie enjoyable. Perhaps it is a bit overly sentimental, but after all it is a Christmas story.