My Christmas Hero

As the daughter of a WW II B-17 pilot/Captain I was especially touched by this wonderful movie. Loved it from beginning to end. When we honor our military we acknowledge the great freedom they provide. Enjoyed the actors and script. Wasn't overly "sappy" but there were heartfelt moments throughout. Touched on PTSD issues our brave men and women face. Thought there was really good chemistry between all the characters. Of course, there was predictability as the story develops but it was still well done as it unfolded. Even my husband who is not normally drawn to these movies was drawn in. If you want a feel good patriotic Christmas movie this is it.

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.

I wanted to like this movie but my head was busy most of the time trying to get it around the fact that a woman born near the end of WW11 looked not a day over 60 when in fact she would be nearer 80 than 70. Then the granddaughter portrayed as in her 30s would in real life be closer to, if not already 50. The 'saved' soldier Chris at least used a walking stick but he too would be in fact be almost 100 and this gentleman wasn't near that. The premise was good but I found all these casting errors way too distracting and it puzzles me that the people putting this movie together didn't do the math. Perhaps if they had added another generation it could have worked a whole lot better.

I did like the showcasing of resources, sacrifices, and honor for the military, and liked seeing Ike from Tacoma FD starring in this movie set near Tacoma.

As someone who lived in Lacey for over 40 years, and has had access to JBLM and its medical facilities (Madigan Army Medical Center and McChord Medical Clinic, this movie's location elements made me cringe. There is no JBLM Medical Center, and Madigan, and its attached clinic, looks nothing like the facility shown. Also, the view of Mt. Rainier did not seem to match that from either Lacey or Madigan.

Additionally, all the snow shown on the ground at the Lacey event was so off from our weather. There is rarely any snow on the ground in December - if it arrives at all, it comes in January or February.

There were other issues re: historical timing and uniforms that grated (the upside-down rank on a soldier at the end really bothered my husband).

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.