The Angel Tree (2020 Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
Cast: Jill Wagner, Lucas Bryant, Clare Filipow
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Synopsis (via Hallmark)
A writer seeks the identity of the person who helps grant wishes that are placed upon an angel tree, and in the process, reconnects with her childhood friend.
Thoughts
In the small town of PineRiver, the townsfolks put their wishes on the tree every Christmas, and the wishes come true.
Writer/Widow Rebecca writes an article about her hometown and is asked to return to Pine River and sleuth out who is responsible for fulfilling the Christmas wishes. Rebecca and her daughter, Cassie, stay with her aunt Mimi. Rebecca runs into a childhood friend, Matthew, whose wish came true with the Angel Tree. Matthew runs the family diner and happens to be close with the Christmas Angel. He knows who they are and won’t share the info with Rebecca.
The angel tree is up, and Rebecca and Matthew meet up again. Rebecca begs him to tell her who is the Christmas angel. Matthew plays it cool and is actually pretty charming and punny. Rebecca tries to hide and eavesdrop on a phone conversation that Matthew has with maybe the Christmas Angel. Cassie and Matthew’s nephew Owen agree to help Rebecca investigate. Thanks, pre-teens!
Mystery lurking happens with Rebecca and the teens. Matthew isn’t worried about the secret getting out because Pine River keeps its secrets close to the chest. Owen gets down when his mother’s leave request is denied from the army for Christmas. Zoe talks on video chat with Matthew and says she is working on coming home and need him to watch over Owen. She also has some real talk with Matthew and tells him to let Rebecca in and stop being so childish. PREACH ZOE!
Rebecca’s article causes a surge in Christmas wishes, and Matthew agrees to put the word out that the Christmas angel needs help fulfilling the wishes this year. They spend the next few scenes and make wishes come true. Rebecca and Matthew almost kiss but are interrupted by a wish delivered via Owen. He wishes for his mother to come home for Christmas. They get into an argument, and the almost kiss mood is ruined.
Rebecca pulls her own Christmas magic and gets Zoe in town for the holidays. Owen and Matthew are very thankful.
On Christmas, the townfolks reveal that they are all the Christmas Angel and are organized by AUNT MIMI. Aunt Mimi asks her niece to keep the secret, and if she doesn’t, Mimi will still love her. They all laugh and drink eggnog. Rebecca is conflicted on what to do and sits down to write her article and doesn’t share who the angel is; she does share how wonderful the town is. Matthew reads the article and goes after her.
Rebecca and Matthew meet at the tree. Matthew wishes for Rebecca to stay in town and he gets his wish. Matthew kept Rebecca’s wish from when she was a kid. They kiss. The end!
Side Note
Minority Report: Boss, Liz, John,
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Overall rating
🎄🎄🎄 (3 Christmas Trees, oh sorry ANGEL TREES)
🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine required.)
*Photo Credit: © 2020 Hallmark Crown Media
