My Christmas Hero

This won't be a movie I become obsessed with and watch a dozen times in a week. But I did really enjoy it for what it did well. It was a little clunky at parts where they tried hanging the lantern on certain topics but otherwise it was a well made film made better by the unashamed references to the real reason for Christmas which is Jesus Christ. Hallmark has gotten too comfortable claiming all these tertiary reasons on what Christmas is all about while ignoring that all those things are offshoots of the One who is truly the meaning behind Christmas. It's refreshing that Great American Family is bringing that message back.

And the cast was wonderful as well, great to see several familiar and favorite faces while adding a few new ones that also excelled. I can't remember the last time Hallmark made me cry but GAF did it with this one. No the ideas weren't 100 fresh but the way they were portrayed drew out the tenderness in my heart and I got teary eyed several times when other movies had me cringing. The character of Landon played his roll especially well and really touched my heart.

If you too are unashamed of the Savior of the world, give this one a try.,

In spite of my delight at seeing Gabe Hogan, one of my favorite actors, onscreen, I was slow to warm up to this movie, for some reason. As the story progressed, however, I was very much drawn into it. It's a lovely, warm story that conveys important messages about what the men and women of the armed services - and their families - go through both abroad and at home.

While I agree that some of the actors and actresses seem much too young, I think it must be difficult to find a capable actor in his mid- to late-nineties to play a WWII vet. Perhaps they could have "aged" those actors, but I will say that the mom of a friend was vigorous in her early nineties, and looked much younger than she was. I concede that an older actress should have been cast as Bure's mother, as the woman would have to have been 78 years old, realistically.

There is some conjecture that the movie isn't historically accurate, since it's supposed by some that there could have been no fighting in northern Italy after June, 1944. However, a quick search using the term "WWII Italy December 1944" instantly turned up the battle that is referenced in the movie. It was the Battle of Garfagnana, Italy which took place in very late December, 1944 and was devastating to the allied forces that were there. So, the creators of this story did, in fact, do their homework.

As I mentioned, I always love Gabriel Hogan's work, and the presence of Robin Dunne was an added treat. Unless someone has such an aversion to Christian references that they couldn't stand two or three, I recommend this well-acted and meaningful movie.

7.4 stars.

'My Christmas Hero' is another spin on the same theme, which is a mystery about how a WWII soldier died. I see some good chemistry between the leads, both of which are in so many films. He's been in a hodge podge of stuff ranging from two-bit parts in major shows and films, but what I remember the most by far is 'Heartland'. Candace is probably the family Christmas queen of, although half the people feel that Chabert wears the crown. I'd like to say they share it, but now to the movie.

I like the story, it's very inspiring, about a female doctor who is struck by love at first sight for a major in the army. She is also a major. He was also struck by the love fairy, but we don't realize this for several minutes (although we assume it). They work together to solve a WWII mystery of sorts, how did her Grandfather die in the war etc. I feel this theme has been done a few times, but it's still intriguing. It is a stretch finding actors who appear 95 years or older, because at this point anyone who was in that war would be.

The setting is a town I lived in for 30 years: Lacey, Wa. Interesting for me. They work at JBLM, which is only 20 minutes from Lacey and Olympia, Wa, so there is a bit of misinformation with the distances. I noticed that she tells him she might accept a job in Olympia and he responds by asking if she's willing to move that far, but it's literally 20 minutes at the most, so I'm not sure why he says that.

This is a Christian themed story and this station is not afraid to talk about it, unlike Hallmark.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, having read a bit about Candace Cameron Bure recently, that there are lots of overt religious mentions in this film. Can't remember many other films like this that really put it out there, even CCB's previous work.

Aside from that, there are a few historical inaccuracies. Cast seemed too young all around, but especially the actors playing WW2 veterans. Either that or those guys are going full Benjamin Button and aging backwards?

And the grandfather died near Christmas at the end of the war in Italy? The Italians were pretty much rolled up and defeated before D-Day in Europe - in June of 1944. How hard is it for people to do some research?

CCB is okay. Gabriel Hogan is pretty good as Major Ross. The PTSD plot line is to be applauded: the more this insidious condition is normalised, the better.

Some patriotic sentimentality, but, for mine, they laid it on a little thick.

Ultimately, there are better military-themed Christmas movies out there.

Great cast but sadly that's about it. And even that is wrong since the age gap between actresses playing mother and daughter is just too small. Ok, kudos to the set design, music, costumes and makeup... Military references sound like written by somebody who doesn't understand a thing about war and soldiers.

There are meta references trying to make fun of the Christmas movie genre, but they just miss the point/are not funny enough to justify some stereotypical plot decisions. (Ok, maybe the one when they walk in the snow wearing just thin jackets, no hats, scarves or gloves and he asks her if she isn't cold and she says that yeah, she is very warm was a bit funny).

And even their Jesus references are so pompous and stiff that they didn't manage to tie him to Christmas!

And how come we're supposed to believe that American soldiers who fought in WWII are still out and about.

No real feelings, no reflection, just reciting stereotypical lines - I know that plenty of people, especially religious and military related use those ready-scripts in their real life but that works only in the inner circle, not when you're trying to make your 'cause' interesting to the outside world.

The cherry on the top: there is absolutely no romance chemistry between the main characters. I wonder if that's the main actress just holding back because she wants to be seen as a good christian wife in her private life.

So yeah, despite the dialogues being so full of moral righteousness, everyone in the movie seems to be selfish, focused on their own agenda, manipulative or calculated...