A story about a magical Christmas tree who helps make people’s wishes come true? Sign me up! When I saw the trailer for this, I knew I was going to enjoy it — and I was right. The concept of this film was too cute to miss, and not just because it stars one of my favorites, Jill Wagner. The Angel Tree tells the story of Rebecca (Wagner), a writer and single mother who is desperate to uncover the identity of the person who is responsible for granting the wishes found on the Angel Tree in Pine Ridge, where she lived as a child. It is here that she runs into an old friend, Matthew, played by Lucas Bryant, who may know more about the Angel Tree than he’s willing to let on. With Christmas magic in the air, the holiday just got a whole lot more interesting, especially as Matthew and Rebecca start to fall for one another while trying not to let the Angel Tree mystery come between them.
Rebecca and Matthew’s relationship is really sweet. In fact, it’s probably the one thing that kept me invested in the movie as a whole. Matthew himself has a very funny, yet quirky personality that makes you fall in love with him instantly. As the owner of the local diner who has an affinity for giving his different flavored coffees pun-filled Christmas names, you would think that would be enough to make the audience swoon, but no, there’s more. It’s his love for his nephew, Owen, and overall affection for Rebecca that make him truly appealing. Seeing both of them reconnect was really cute, especially as both Owen and Rebecca’s daughter, Cassie, go on the hunt with Rebecca to figure out this Angel Tree mystery together.
Is there anything cuter than two childhood friends falling in love? I mean, you can throw a puppy in there for a cuter effect, but in this instance, it doesn’t even need it. Matthew and Rebecca are the epitomai of cuteness in this. Trying to keep the mystery alive and not willing to help Rebecca discover the identity she so desperately wants to write about, Matthew points out that Rebecca’s interest in finding out who this person is may be more about her job than she lets on. As a kid, she loved Pine Ridge and made a wish on the Angel Tree that she wouldn’t have to leave, only to be told that she and her family would be moving before Christmas. However, as her Aunt Mimi points out, while her wish didn’t come true then, it may just happen this time around. If Hallmark has taught us anything about favorite aunts in their movies, it’s that they’re always right…
Both my brother and I had many theories about who we thought was behind the Angel Tree mystery, and in the end, we actually both ended up being correct. We knew that Matthew was involved and I was almost positive that Aunt Mimi was too but I had an inkling that this was more of a group effort than they were letting on at the beginning (which it was). When all has been uncovered, I was left a little confused as to why this had to be a big secret? Especially if almost everyone was involved?! I understand that they may not have wanted this secret divulged in the papers, but they could’ve just told Rebecca early on and explained that they didn’t want this out there like mature adults. I'm pretty sure she would’ve understood, but hey, where’s the fun in that, right?
Confusion aside, I think that The Angel Tree lived up to the hype from the trailer. It really speaks to the meaning of Christmas and what one can do in their own community to make things better for the people around them. While it may not be a magic tree that makes these wishes come true, The Angel Tree has a magical quality about it that will make it a Hallmark Christmas favorite, as I’m sure you’ll find too. Let me know what you thought about this film in the comments below!
***I do not own this photo.
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