Les 12 Vœux de Noël

The main actress reminds you of Amy Adams and the guy of Patrick Dempsey so you feel like you recognize them from high ticket movies.

She has a good streak in her and tries to help then messes everything up and fixes it. It's not a rollicking rise but it's fun and sweet.

'12 Wishes for Christmas' (2011)

Opening thoughts: Have seen quite a few films in the past few years with this type of story, which has been familiar territory for most holidays (all holidays not just Christmas) for a while now, and they have varied in success, some are very charming, sweet and engaging while others are too simplistic, dull and silly. '12 Wishes for Christmas' has elements of both extremes, leaning sadly more towards the more negative category though for other reasons. It is not a terrible film and is semi watchable, but it really did have potential to be a cute and charming film, even with some potential cheesiness, but both only come in spurts in '12 Wishes for Christmas'. Which turned out to be rather mediocre despite a few quite major good things, sadly outweighed by numerous big flaws.

Good things: There are good things. Fred Willard and especially Michael Gross give good performances, Gross being in a role that really plays to his strengths that he brings amusement and charm to. Willard relishes his character's meanness without being too one dimensional. The best performance comes from the absolutely adorable dog, who is immensely rootable throughout.

Did also think that the production values were at least professional and easy on the eye.

Bad things; However, a lot is done wrong. Personally found the main character too self-absorbed and selfish, with her wishes not showing much consideration for others. Elisa Donovan does try hard, but it did feel at times like she was trying harder than she needed to and it came over as mannered. The other characters are thinly sketched and are not much better when it comes to lack of likeability, the treatment of the main character at times is too excessively nasty. The only really likeable character is the dog. The music does not fit, with it being more suited to an action thriller-comedy or something, and is too over bearing.

Furthermore, the script never really sounds natural and has too much cheese and schmaltz. There is nothing surprising about the story, it needed a lot more energy and the charm only comes in spurts (shining only properly with the dog). Really didn't care for the dog subplot, which is not just predictable but also not very realistic and quite mean spirited.

Closing thoughts: Concluding, mediocre but with moments.

4/10.

I just watched it and liked the movie somewhat, especially the beginning. A bit corny which I expected. Through the entire movie I kept waiting for her to get her poor dog out of the (dog-friendly) shelter. Of course it eventually happens but it wasn't even one of her regrets or bad choices, which is what the movie was about. She loved the dog so much, was granted 12 wishes and didn't even wish to have her dog back. That would have been my 1st wish. If you watch it, I'm sure you will agree. She won a car, got a new wardrobe and even won the lottery and still stayed in the rented apt that did not allow dogs. Maybe I missed something, since I was not paying 100% attention to the movie .... if so, someone please let me know. It could have been a great Christmas movie if written a little better. It was okay ... I would watch it again.

This is not one of the best productions I have seen. It's lacking a final polish, but the idea is at least a bit different. However I think it needed a bit more focus on the romance element, as the gorgeous David O'Donnell was hardly even in it.

I have to say I did complete a jigsaw puzzle while I watched it, so it didn't completely grab my attention, but I wouldn't turn it off if I saw it on again.

It's a typical film in the genre of "Careful what you wish for". Every action, has a consequence and you should think before you act. It's a good message for any time of the year, but I think that the Christmas message got a bit lost in the process along with the romance.

It does have cute dogs in it though!

I can say that Andy is the type boyfriend everyone who watches this type of movie wants the girl to end up with, and Morgan is not

There seems to be an epidemic of movies where Elisa Donovan has a dog and doesn't want to spend Christmas with her mother, in which Michael Gross plays a Scrooge. Keep in mind, though, how Scrooge turned out. Gross is very good here, and we really find out why his character has developed such a negative attitude.

This is by far the better of the movies with Donovan and Gross, though. Donovan actually does better in the other one, but she is quite charming and appealing here too, and not overly perky, not to mention pretty. And I do like her clothes. Well, of course if she works in fashion she'll have pretty clothes. They are clothes normal people would wear, though, not the FABulous stuff you see in New York.

This movie has a lot of good writing and acting, even if it does stick to a formula. But it's a very good formula, with a lot of lessons about responsibility and making your own dreams come true.

I didn't recognize Gabrielle Carteris, but she does a good job with a role that turns out to be a challenge. I mean for this type of movie.

Most of the other leading actors do a good job. Fred Willard is, of course, Fred Willard. There's no one better. He can do nice and mean both. He's mostly mean.

This is a family movie, even if it has a few minor curse words and some dialogue about adult issues. It would be fine for kids to watch, though I doubt they'd be that interested.

About the music: it doesn't make me happy for the most part. Loud rock with lyrics that happen to be about Christmas does not qualify in my book as Christmas music. Classic holiday songs, even celebrating the real meaning, do not work if they are even louder rock. Or even if they are soft and sound like they are being sung by a robot. And of course there is the fashion show, with fashion show music (for lack of a better word), and not a hint of the holiday that I am aware of.

I did mention the holiday's real meaning is celebrated, and Noel makes a point of saying who her boss is. And Faith only believes in things she can see, though she DOES go to church ...

We do get to see Laura's family celebrating with her mother when she calls. But Laura doesn't want to be there. I can say she has the family she needs where she is.

This is really worth seeing.