Three Wiser Men and a Boy

I've been a grump lately with very little options to watch this Christmas. I ended up rewatching Klaus coz I feel like there's not much family Christmas story this year since most movies are trying so hard to be edgy and different that they mostly lost the plot on what it takes to be a Christmas story.

This movie is such a heartwarming holiday watched. It is simple, yet it showcases what it means to be a human and flawed. It also showcases the importance of family and how to be accepting of change in our lives given that change is the only thing that's constant whether that change happened very slowly or suddenly. We have to learn how to adapt and accept things as they be.

Okay, that's too dramatic. But yeah, it's a great movie to watch if you are looking for something that will make you smile this Christmas.

I have to say that I wasn't exactly harboring the biggest of expectations to the 2024 Hallmark movie "Three Wiser Men and a Boy" when I sat down to watch it. Why? Well, I assumed that it would be a generic Hallmark Christmas movie. But since I had never heard about it, and this being the season, of course I opted to check out the movie and give it a fair chance.

Writers Paul Campbell, Kimberley Sustad and Russell Hainline put together a fair enough script and storyline. It was not your average over-the-top sugarcoated sappy Christmas dribble that you usually get from Hallmark. There is actually more substance to it than just that. Sure, there is some sappy Christmas elements in here, but "Three Wiser Men and a Boy" was more than just a an average and generic Christmas movie.

I was only familiar with two performers on the cast list, and that was Christopher Shyer and Margaret Colin. However, I will say that the three leading actors Andrew W. Walker, Paul Campbell and Tyler Hynes definitely carried the movie nicely. It should be noted that the acting performances in the movie were good.

"Three Wiser Men and a Boy" is not going to become a returning Christmas classic in my household, but it definitely was an entertaining enough movie. And if you enjoy Christmas movies, then you should check out what director Terry Ingram has to offer.

My rating of "Three Wiser Men and a Boy" lands on a six out of ten stars.

This is a comedy and at times a little awkward...but in part I think that is what makes it a cute family friendly Hallmark holiday film. This story reunites the cast from 2022's Three Wise Men and a Baby...the three brothers Luke (Andrew W. Walker), Taylor (Tyler Hynes), and Stephan (Paul Campbell), their mother Barbara (Margaret Colin) and Luke's son Thomas. The cast is wonderful and clearly has fun working together which is a large part of the charm in this comedy about brotherly rivalry, family, and being their for one another.

The mom introduces the boys to her new boyfriend...the seemingly perfect pastor Roy (Christopher Shyer), which is one cause the three brothers can unite on...getting rid of Roy. And Luke asks for some help with his son Thomas as he is temporarily single parenting while his wife is out of town. This includes help bringing snacks to Thomas' play practice that ends in a school disaster and the three brothers having to be in charge of rescuing the school's Christmas show which is a play on the Grinch Who Stole Christmas called The Grump.

Lots of holiday sets and clean fun, this film surprised and delighted me in the best way. If you are looking for a lighthearted family friendly hallmark holiday film...this might just be it.

Sequels are tough.

There have been many Hallmark movies whose sequels have not worked well, but this one was awesome and didn't disappoint.

The brother's dynamic is hilarious. It's great to see their characters evolve. However, Taylor is still a bit of a dumpster fire.

Thomas is just too cute. The scene in the blanket fort between him and Taylor was just too sweet. Thomas's interaction with everyone was significant.

I love that Paul Campbell and Kimberly Sustad wrote this one as well. They rock at it. I adore every movie they have written.

This sequel hit all the right notes, and I hope there is a wedding next.

Five-ish years have passed since we last had the Brenner brother's making us laugh in Three Wisemen and a Baby. Now, the baby is a kindergarten boy starring in his school's play, which serves as the linchpin of this sequel that bests its predecessor, but not by leaps and bounds.

I'm a sucker for Paul Campbell movies, because I expect each to be as good as the 2021 film he wrote, An Unexpected Christmas, which is one of my favorites. Christmas by Starlight in 2020 was solid as well. Campbell wrote this one too, again with Kimberley Sustad.

Tyler Hynes is our bad boy gamer, Taylor. Andrew W. Walker is our dad, Luke. Campbell plays Stephan, our neurotic author/therapist.

I'm comfortable giving this movie a passing grade, but mostly for the writing and acting, not plot or emotional drive. It's not funny enough to be a comedy, but not serious enough to be dramatic. I like seeing this family together, even if it all seems a little unnecessary.

We don't have a single love story, but rather a family tale with multiple threads. Mom has a new man. Taylor is smitten with his female clone, Caroline. Paul struggles to commit to his long-time girlfriend. Luke, continues to learn about being a parent.

One lasting storyline that I would just love to see in other movies is the royalty free, no trademark play, The Grump. Don't call it the Grinch, because they didn't pay for those rights. It's the Grump, in Grumptown, complete with songs and rhymes. Pretty clever.

Measuring Christmas Magic: Paint by numbers magic, but it's certainly a Christmas movie.

Cast Kudos: Kimberley Sustad, in an on the nose cameo, discussing how difficult it is to do two shows one year after the last. Hmm, what exactly are we hinting at Kimberley?

Alternative Movie titles: The Brenner boys are back; Grumptown the Musical.