Wally Lamb's hit novel #WishinandHopin is one of those films that only comes along once in a lifetime. The 1960's tale is something everyone of all ages can identify with. It was incredible to see the young talent of Wyatt Ralff (aka Felix Funicello) playing the lead is this epic tale of a youngster coming of age during the Christmas Holiday. The entire crowd was laughing out loud which is something you rarely see in films these days. There are so many funny scenes, it's one belly laugh after another. I would say most people will want to watch this movie over and over again. It stars Wyatt Ralff, Molly Ringwald, Danny Nucci, Meatloaf and has Chevy Chase narrating as Felix's adult conscious which makes for an hysterical combination. This is a must see Film!!!

Full disclosure, have read the book by Wally Lamb - truly a great American writer - upon which the movie is based. The book is a highly entertaining, compulsively readable, heartwarming novel -- and I'm happy to report that the film actually does the book justice!Was lucky enough to attend a theatrical screening in NYC, and can definitely see this becoming one of those Christmas movies that everyone waits for, year after year, to be broadcast on TV, such as Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol starring George C. Scott and A Christmas Story...The movie evokes the era quite wonderfully, the child actors are a talented group (and actually likable) -- standouts are the kid who plays Felix, the girl who plays his love interest/arch enemy (ah puberty), the kid who delivers his "NAACP" punchline perfectly throughout, especially at the very end of the movie, and the Russian student who resembles a 13 year-old Uma Thurman. Familiar faces include Molly Ringwald and the lady from Two and Half Men, and the the criminally underemployed Annabella Sciorra (great in her short stint - one season? - on Law & Order: Criminal Intent), who is lovely as Felix's mother.An added bonus is that the movie has quite a few 'inside jokes' for anyone who has ever attended a parochial school, or who has any experience whatsoever with a "Live Nativity" or "Christmas Pageant."If you are looking to kick off the holiday season, and pretty much smile from ear-to-ear for two hours straight, be sure to check out this movie. The best new Christmas-flavored movie to come along in a very long time...

Saw the preview of WISHIN AND HOPIN in Ct, and I have to say it is absolutely wonderful! A true good old fashion family holiday movie! A movie to watch for all ages, funny, sweet and well produced a true holiday classic movie. The young actors are just amazing to watch, its like I was right there back in the 1960's with them reliving similar experiences I had as youngsters which brought many laughs!! I wish there were more movies made like this, hopefully we will have more terrific movies produced by Synthetic Cinema International and aired by Lifetime!! So glad and thankful Lifetime will be airing this wonderful movie!!!

This reminded me of The Christmas Story... Very funny, the kids outshines the adult actors. The setting was perfect... NFA school in Norwich. Molly was a little disappointing.. Hated the accent! There were several times where I was brought back to my own Catholic school experiences and the narration by Chevy Chase was perfect. I am a big fan of Wally Lamb as an author and wish they made all his books into movies. This one being the only none serious one I can see why it was chosen. Hope to see his other works on the big screen soon. The kids were the breakout stars particularly Felix's best friend. The references to Annette Funnicello as the cousin with the French kissing and confessional were hilarious!