Sunday, November 5, 2023

Christmas on Netflix: Angela's Christmas Wish (2020)

 


 
Angela's Christmas Wish came out in 2020 from Brown Bag Films and 9 Story Media Group, and was presented by Netflix. It is the second story with characters created by Frank McCourt. 

The story opens in Limerick, Ireland in 1913. Angela's dad takes a ship to Australia to find work. Two years later, on Christmas Eve, the family is all missing their dad, so Angela's mother tells them a story about a fat king and a skinny pauper who are each granted a wish by a genie. This gets Tom, Pat, and Angela thinking about what their mother would wish for at Christmas. 

Pat and Angela decide they must bring their father home for Christmas, which leads to several funny moments and a few disappointments. To help them with their quest is Dorothy, the wealthy daughter of the town veterinarian, who tells Angela that if she is able to bring her father home for Christmas, he will help poor McGinty's cow give birth. 

Clocking in at around 45 minutes, this animated special is as heartwarming as its prequel, Angela's Christmas. It explains why Dad is away, which I found helpful, since the one missing piece of the original film was what happened to Dad. We knew the family missed him in the first movie, but we didn't know if Dad was away, in jail, or dead. 

Like the first film, there is a subplot outside of Angela and Pat trying to bring their father home for Christmas. Well, there are a few in this one. 
  • Angela hears her mother talking to the neighbor about a Christmas surprise, so she is hoping her mother is buying her that doll in the toy store window.
  • McGinty needs a vet to help his cow give birth, but he can't afford him.
  • Dorothy wishes that her father wouldn't work so much and would have time to spend with her.

As expected, everything works out for Angela, her family, and new friend. How could it be a tale of the Christmas season without a happy ending? 

While they did work more storylines into Angela's Christmas Wish than they did the original film, I felt it all flowed nicely together to make it a delightful movie.


I watched this movie on Netflix. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

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