Plot Synopsis

Recently widowed English Professor Evan Farnsworth, still struggling to move on after the death of his wife, works tirelessly at a prestigious boarding school in Maine, dedicating all his time to helping his students believe in themselves. With no place to go, he agrees to stay with the students left behind during Christmas vacation -- including talented scholarship student Juliet, nerdy outcast Albert and privileged bad boy Drew -- and he quickly faces a challenge when Drew gets into trouble. Upset that his wealthy parents ditched him for a Paris skiing vacation, the teen takes his anger out on the neighboring town's ancient Wishing Tree, a bare tree decorated with handwritten notes containing the townspeople's greatest holiday wishes. A loved tradition, it doubles as a fundraiser for needy families, depending on donations from eager wish-makers. After spending a night in jail, Drew lets Farnsworth help him turn his negative attitude around by agreeing to volunteer with the Wishing Tree. Soon, Drew, Juliet and Albert are becoming best friends as they help make Wishing Tree a success. More trouble ensues when when Drew's icy mother arrives to make sure Farnsworth is fired, upset after Drew's stint with the law. Faced with the possibility of losing his job, he is left with nothing as he packs his bags. But with the support of the attractive young theater teacher, his dedicated students, and the spirit of his late wife, he eventually finds that with the Wishing Tree anything is possible.