I Would Like A Different "Wish For Christmas"

Wish For Christmas (2016)  

Rated PG

Starring Anna Fricks, Joey Lawrence, Leigh-Allyn Baker, Bill Engvall,

Directed by John K.D. Graham

The Story:

Anna (Fricks) finds out that the Christmas dance at school has been moved to Christmas Eve. When she tells her parents (Lawrence & Baker), they tell her sorry, that's when they go to Christmas Eve service at church, and she won't be attending the dance. That night, she wishes that her parents didn't have such a strong faith in God. The next morning, her wish comes true. What begins as a cool dream come true for Anna, the scope of what she's done begins affecting more and more people in the community.

Just to be clear, don't confuse this one with A Wish For Christmas, A Christmas Wish, or The Christmas Wish.

This movie is completely different, I would assume, except for the whole making a wish, and it being Christmas time.

: )

Except I haven't seen any of those yet, and now I want to!

Much like I do every year, while watching our ever-growing list of holiday favorites over and over (and over!) again, I try and sample some of the new offerings, because you just never know when you'll find one that is good enough to add to the list.

Since I don't have cable, I don't get a chance to just turn on Hallmark, Lifetime or Free Form (formerly ABC Family) and get sucked in to their annual marathons of new films and old favorites.

This is probably a good thing.

: )

So I find new ones from Netflix and add them to the pile, and here we are.

Speaking of piles...

;)

It's not...bad...but it's far from good.

Anna is a spoiled brat, so it's really hard to sympathize with her at any point in the movie.

Her parents go from Bible-thumping to Bible-dumping overnight, literally, and the dialogue and interaction between the characters is less than stellar.

The script needed some overhauling, because aside from a strangely out-of-place Santa (Engvall) who exists for the sole reason to remind Anna that life isn't awesome for everyone in the world, most of the characters are one dimensional and hard for the audience to warm up to.

The ending seems forced, as does the reaction of the participants.

Unlike last year's attempts (Christmas Town, A Christmas Eve Miracle) however, I'm not going to put this one on the naughty list.

It's heart was in the right place, and the story could have been punched up and made much better.

Especially considering how talented at least half the cast has been in other things they've done.

Final Grade: C-

It's Great To Be "Hitched For The Holidays"

Hitched For The Holidays (2012)

TV-PG

Starring Joey Lawrence, Emily Hampshire, Marilu Henner, Serge Houde, Linda Darlow

Directed by Michael Scott

The Story:

Rob (Lawrence) promises his dying grandmother that he will bring the girl he's going to marry to see her before Christmas. Emily (Hampshire) is trying to get away from the boys that he mom is trying to set her up with over the holidays. They both turn to an online "Craigslist-Type-Service" and select each other to help get them through the holiday obligations with no strings attached.

And it's all going so well until they actually begin to fall for one another.

It's a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie that has been done before.

And I'm fairly certain it will be done again.

And again.

But that's okay, the premise works, and while not quite as great as previous takes on this story, including Lawrence's own My Fake Fiance or the underrated gem Holiday in Handcuffs, there is enough to the story and the characters to make for a pleasant 90 minutes this holiday season.

The most fun aspect is the Hanukkah vs. Catholic traditions between the two families, especially when they meet for dinner for the first time.

While this one won't likely become an annual tradition, it was enjoyable to see this year.

Final Grade: C+

Get Away From Your Troubles At A "Summer Rental"

Summer Rental (1985)

Rated PG-13

Starring John Candy, Karen Austin, Kerri Green, Joey Lawrence, Richard Crenna, Rip Torn

Directed by Carl Reiner

The Story:

Jack Chester (Candy) is an air-traffic controller who is burned out at his job. He takes his wife (Austin) and kids (Green and Lawrence) on a mandated vacation to rest and relax. Naturally, if it could go wrong for Jack, it will. He runs into (literally) the wealthiest man (Crenna) in the area, which sets up the finale of a regatta race for pride and money.  May the best man win.

Well, it definitely wasn't worth the wait.

:)

I had seen this poster in video store walls and windows in 1985, and I've never bothered to watch the film... until now!

Nothing ever really grabbed me that this would be a great film with John Candy.

The verdict?

It wasn't.

It also wasn't horrible.

It was average.

The jokes. The situations.  We've seen it all before. We've seen it all since.

It's an attempted cross between Vacation and the Great Outdoors, both of which were better than this one.

Glad I finally can scratch it off the list of films I've never seen, but when going for a great John Candy film, may I recommend Uncle Buck instead?

Available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C / C+ range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I waited this long to see it, I'm pretty sure at least 30 more years will slip by before I ever really think about watching it again.

Tuesday's Streaming TV Show..."Melissa and Joey"

Melissa & Joey (2010)
TV-14

Starring: Melissa Joan Hart, Joseph Lawrence

Airs on ABC Family

The Story:

Melissa Burke (Hart) is a successful city council member who winds up as the legal guardian of her teenage niece and nephew when their parents wind up in jail and on the lam for embezzlement.  She's barely able to keep head above water with the two new kids in tow, and decides to hire a nanny.  Before she gets the chance, Joe (Lawrence) a disgruntled former co-worker of her brother in law comes looking for the money he is owed and offers to be the nanny as he is desperate for a job.  When he actually does a good job, Mel decides to keep him on for the time being.

Say, this sounds like Who's the Boss?

:)

That's okay, I liked that show back in the day.

So where was I?

Oh yes, so previously reviewed was My Fake Fiance ( My Fake Review! ), which starred both of our leads and aired on ABC Family.  As I commented, the two had a nice chemistry together.

Apparently I wasn't the only one that noticed, and shortly after that film aired, ta-da, a brand new sitcom starring them both is on the air, and beginning their 4th season.

Looking to watch something funny the other night, ran across this and figured, why not, 21 minutes never killed anyone.

21 minutes later, I let the next episode play.

Yep, it's a pretty cute show.  Melissa and Joe (am I referring to the character or the actor?!?) have the same chemistry and it makes for an enjoyable experience as they are clearly having fun with the show they are working on.

At Least One Chicken Was Harmed In the Making of This Episode

I am sure that someday the show will naturally force these 2 to become a couple, but for now, it will retain the chemistry and magic of the early Who's the Boss, Cheers, Moonlighting, Friends, etc. etc. of two lead characters who so belong together but instead create great sparks by getting on each other's nerves.

Therefore for now, I'm happy.

The writing is crisp and fast and works well for the duo to bounce off one another.

Not going to marathon this (30 episodes a season!), but whenever I have an hour or less to kill at night, an episode or 2 will do the trick nicely.

Available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor  So far, I see no reason not to watch it again.  I've enjoyed each of the episodes that I've viewed thus far.  I'm now up into the 20s on Season One.  As for a purchase?  Probably not, I've found that aside from Psych, I just don't buy a whole lot of television shows anymore. 

How To Get A New Toaster..."My Fake Fiance"

They're in it for the money!

The Story:

Jennifer (Melissa Joan Hart) meets Vince (Joey Lawrence) at a wedding.  The two loathe each other from the get-go.  However, fate conspires to draw them together when Jennifer loses all of her worldly possessions as she prepares to move into her new house, and Vince is up to his eyeballs in gambling debts.  The two strike a deal to pretend to get engaged.  She'll keep the gifts, he gets the cash.  It's a win-win for them both.

Ah, but a funny thing happens on the way to the fake altar...

Premiering in 2009 on ABC Family, this is your standard tv movie romantic comedy.

The good thing, it is romantic: the two leads share a wonderful chemistry with one another.  So much so, that ABC Family was wise enough to turn to the duo a year later and give them a sitcom together.  Plus, it is also a comedy.  While not a gut-buster, it is charming fun throughout that will keep you smiling and make an enjoyable date night with your significant other that you should both enjoy.

I am amused that ABC Family has almost pigeon-holed Hart into the "fake boyfriend" girl.  Her Christmas movie, Holiday in Handcuffs,  is now a holiday staple in our house, and guess what the plot is?  Girl is going to bring a boyfriend to meet the family, gets dumped, and kidnaps another guy (Mario Lopez) to be the beau.

And just like in that movie...

Vince is so awesome, naturally the in-laws love, love, love him to pieces!

Ah, but with this type of story, naturally, eventually, the two antagonists fall in love.

It's inevitable.

But that's why we watch.

And I have to admit, it's quite the touching ceremony at the end, both sweet yet funny.

Enjoyable movie, well worth your time.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I've watched it twice in the last year or two.  It's still streaming on Netflix so I don't need to purchase it... but would with little hesitation.