Watch Wishin' and Hopin' For Free

One of my all time favorites.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Fifth-grader Felix Funicello (Ralff), the cousin of famous Mickey Mouse Club Mousekteer and teen idol/movie actress Annette Funicello, lives in the fictional small town of Three Rivers, Connecticut. In 1964, he and his classmates at St. Aloyius Gonzaga Parochial School have a momentous fall semester after lay substitute teacher Madame Frechette (Ringwald) and Zhenya, a new student from Russia, arrive. Madame Frechette implements a new concept for the school's Christmas pageant and competition for key roles ensues. The story is narrated in the present day by Felix as an adult (Chase)The cast delivers in this film. Everyone is perfectly cast. The film is also captures the feeling of America in the 1960's. I loved the fact that this film had great moments of comic relief. It is self aware not to become a film that will send you into a diabetic attack. The film has minor sexual innuendo that small children won't understand. However I think most kids under 10 won't want to watch this anyway. The film was made for Lifetime Television and when it airs watch it. Its a rare Christmas Treat and not a Christmas fruitcake

Stumbled upon this movie while movie surfing with my husband last Saturday night. We found it hilarious, true to life, especially to my husband who attended 12 years of catholic school, and it definitely had A Christmas Story feel, but much closer to my generation, so it was very easy to relate to! Family dynamics play out, adolescent issues, class dynamics, peer relationships, and oh yes, the Nuns! Molly Ringwald is perfect for the part of the long term sub, great to see her again! The blunders of puberty, and the oh so oops, shouldn't have done that childhood mistake that the community will discuss for years to come, was one that my husband and I literally felt the anxiety build prior to it happening! I want to see it again. Well done !

The best Christmas movie in more than three decades: A nun-chasing bat, a beautifully pig- tailed Russian girl who conditions with mayo and has a mean right hook, a boy straight out of a comic strip, the most formidable Miss Goody Two-Shoes since Reese Witherspoon's Tracy Flick, and the adorable Molly Ringwald -- all in one Catholic classroom during Lyndon Johnson's administration -- deliver the most joyful Christmas movie since A Christmas Story (circa 1983)! An added treat: seeing some pop culture/cinematic favorites in unexpected roles: scintillating Annabella Sciorra as a sweet suburban mom, "Bat Out of Hell" Meat Loaf as a priest, and laugh- master Cheri Oteri as a nun in need of a hair-fix. If you laughed out loud while reading the book, you'll have just as many yucks in this film version. And if you love the film, you gotta check out the book. A wonderful way to ring in Christmas 2014!

So good to finally see a movie that made me laugh-out-loud. It brought back so many wonderful memories of growing up in the early 60's!! The cast, which is mostly kids, did an outstanding job. I could see myself, and so many of my classmates in their characters. No detail was left out.I could not believe they put bells on their shoes, something I did as a young girl during the Christmas season. I felt like I was reliving every Christmas production I had been in, including the mishaps. Thanks to Wally Lamb, Cast, and Everyone involved, for bringing this story to life. I was fortunate to be able to attend the Premiere in New London, Connecticut and now I am looking forward to seeing it on the Lifetime Channel. This film will be one of those Christmas Classics that we watch with our families every year .