Customer Reviews

Annabelle's Wish

5 star:		(61)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Well, alot of the newer Christmas specials don't have the same kind of magic that the older classics had. This is a wonderful exception. Its charming and sentimental, and full of magic. With a down home "country" feel, this special shows that christmas is about love and giving. When Annabelle is born on Christmas Eve, Santa comes and gives all the barn animals a special gift, they can talk on Christmas Day! Annabelle decides that if she is really good all year long, maybe Santa will grant her a special wish so she can fly with his reindeer! But when Billy needs her, does that mean she won't get her chance? There's a star-studded cast of voice, and the DVD contains lots of great extras (including a deleted song, a funny one which the kids might enjoy!) This movie is a total tear-jerker and great for adults and children too. Definately make this a special you watch!

The story starts off on Christmas Eve where the legend began. Santa Claus gives the animals of the barn voices for twenty four hours. Annabelle arrives this first night as shown on the video. Santa leaves a note for Billy that the calf is his Christmas present.

Billy has been unable to talk since the fire in the barn that left him in the care of his grandfather. His Aunt is the sister to his father, from what I can tell. It is love at first sight for Annabelle and Billy and off they go to play in the snow. Agnes brings Charles, the grandfather imported bon bon's from Paris for his present. Agnes and Charles go into the barn to see what Billy got from Santa Claus.

The funniest part of the movie is when Agnes steps in "kaka" and the way she says it is hysterical. They proceed back to the house and Billy is left alone in the barn. Well this is the first time Billy has wanted to stay in the barn since the tragic fire. His Aunt Agnes prefers to call him William and the clothes she wears are bright orange and go with her hair.

Annabelle makes the mistake of talking in front of Billy and the animals decide it is okay for only Billy to know about the secret that comes once a year from Santa Claus. Annabelle decides she wants to be a reindeer and be with Santa Claus. She tells Billy her dream.

There is a song by Randy Travis about changing seasons and making friends. Tears come to my eyes everytime I see the scenes with the song that show Billy, Annabelle and Emily, while Randy sings about seasons come and seasons go.

There are many lessons in this fine movie. The two neighbor boys apologize for making up stories. Gus meets Agnes and they seem made for each other. Grandpa gets his music box back, the animals get their yearly treat.

The animation and music are such added bonuses as well as the voices that I do not get to hear on sitcoms anymore. The most important thing to remember is to keep this movie in an active collection and not to be utilized only for the holiday season.

Annabelle's Wish is one of the best non-commerical and non-religious Christmas stories ever told. The ending can bring a tear to most eyes. Although it is a straight-to-video cartoon, the cast is full of big names like Jerry Van Dyke, the late Jim Varney, Frank Welker, Cloris Leachman, and Randy Travis (who also sings a few songs).

Annabelle is a calf born on Grandpa Baker's farm on Christmas Eve who wants to become one of Santa's reindeer. Struggling for money, Grandpa gives Annabelle as a Christmas gift to Billy, his orphaned grandson who lives with him. We learn that Santa Claus gives the animals the gift of speech each Christmas Day and that Billy has been mute since being caught in a barn fire when he was younger.

During the coming year Grandpa Baker tries to keep guardianship of Billy from a rich and tenacious Aunt Agnes while Billy is tormented by the bullying Holder Boys. Luckily Billy has his two best friends Annabelle and neighbor Emily to help him though it all.

Does Billy stay with his poor Grandpa on the farm or go to the city with his rich aunt? Will he ever talk again? Does Annabelle ever pull Santa's sleigh? Will the Holder Boys ever get what's coming to them?

I won't tell you, you have to watch the movie. It's worth it!

This was a fabulous little movie. My wife and I bought it to watch while we baby sat for a friend's child and were astounded at how much we loved it ourselves. By the end my wife was bawling her eyes out (which she loves to do) and even I was affected by certains scenes. A truely warm and touching story with a great message and meaning. I couldn't recommend it more.

This has become my all time favorite Christmas video.

Annabelle is a calf that is born on Christmas Eve and decides that she wants to be one of Santa's reindeer. But Annabelle's love for her owner Billy, a little boy who can't speak is more important to her than flying with Santa Claus.

This is a wonderful Christmas movie about love and giving, and is a must have.

Words cannot describe what this movie has done to my boys. I have two, ages 3 & 4. They just LOVE this movie. This is not just a Christmas video. It's good all year round. I had rented the movie first and they watched every day, 2 and 3 times a day. It has a really cute story and will hold anyone's attention for quite sometime. My husband and I really enjoyed it too. My youngest loved it so much he wants a cow so he can named it Annabelle.

A friend of mine introduced me to this movie and I'm glad she did. I'm not the kind of person who normally watches sappy movies when anyone has a chance of seeing me watch them. I am, however, a closet romantic and I must say I happily watched ANNABELLE'S WISH and unashamedly sniffled with tears in my eyes towards the end.

I think this movie ranks up with some of my all time holiday favorites like "The Year Without a Santa Clause," "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," and "Small One". In terms of length, it's a little short, certainly designed so for the younger audiences it will attract, but it's the kind of movie you'll pull out of the cabinet time and again during the holiday season simply because it will make you feel good to watch it. Cocoa or warm cider, a blanket, and a few children watching will make your viewing time that much better.

What inspired me initially to buy the video of...Annabelle's wish was the fac it was narrated by my...favorite country artist, randy Travis. I was...really not sure how much I would get out of it...because I just happen to be totally blind and not...sure how much visual would be required to truly...enjoy it.

...Not only was it easy to follow even for some-...one with out sight but I loved the story as I felt...It uplifts the spirit giving hope that miracles...really can happen and reams really do come true....

Too, I felt the acters did a tremendously...great job...in representing the characters each portrayed....Not only would I recommend it to others, I have. END

Annabelle is a calf who was given as a Christmas present to Billy, who suffers from anxiety-induced mutism. Annabelle's single dream is to be one of Santa's reindeer. Santa Claus gives animals the ability to talk each Christmas Day but Annabelle ends up working some magic to fulfill her best friend Billy's wish instead of her own, out of her pure love for the boy.

A side plot is the fight for guardianship between Billy's good, grandpa and the evil, wealthy Aunt Agnes. In the meantime, Billy is fending off two boys who constantly bully him.

Thanks to Billy's two friends, Annabelle and a neighbor girl, who would do anything for Billy he is able to overcome his disability (with Santa's help) and endure the hardships of his life.

My son was non-verbal until he was almost 3 1/2 years old. Now at age 6 years (and speaking fine!) he begs to watch this Christmas classic about a boy who is ridiculed for his anxiety-induced inability to talk. This is a great movie about hope and frienships for children with disabilites, especailly those with speech-language deficits or anxiety disorders.

This is also a great resource to teach tolerance to typically developing children.

A sure tear-jerker!

Annabelle's Wish is a heart warming tale of a young calf named Annabelle who ever so much desires to be one of Santa's reindeer. Every Christmas, Santa grants all the animals in the barn a special wish, the ability to talk on Christmas day. Anabelle, as a gift to a young mute boy from his uncle, develops a special bond with this boy(narrated by Randy Travis) and makes a truely special wish to Santa. A remarkable wish that ultimately exemplifies the essence of Christmas, "the gift of giving." Anabelle's Wish tells a beautiful story while capturing the hearts of adults and children alike. It is a must purchase for the family. END