Operation Nutcracker

Four stars: Not good. Sad face.

When a movie has the word "operation" in the title, it's usually a sure bet that it will have some sort of detailed, military-style plan at the center of its plot. Not this movie. The operation is "let's go look for a guy named Dave and keep missing him, because he has our nutcracker."

In order for a charity ball to make enough money to build a new hospital wing, the nice rich folks are auctioning off an antique nutcracker. Yes, whatever someone will bid on this nutcracker will build an entire hospital in Boston. It's so fancy in fact that it's brought to Boston in a plain-Jane carry-on bag on a commercial flight. Oh, yeah, and it's just wrapped in a towel-not locked case for protection. Oh, and our dopey leading man allows the bag to be checked and loses it. Yeah, this movie plot is not great.

A few things to watch for if you want to give it a go.

-The fake beard on our leading man in the first act of the movie -The random men (I counted three) who are dancing/swaying alone in the final dance scene -On the nose mentions of meet-cute and rom-coms -Why is Ashley Newbrough always single? She seems so nice.

Cast Kudos: Nobody really stands out, but it's interesting that Patrice Goodman and Darryl Hinds (Dave) both were secondary players in 'Twas the Date Before Christmas. Which aired on Hallmark the weekend before this nutty movie.

Alternative Titles: What happens when you don't use luggage tags; Hospital wings don't cost a thing; Where's Dave?; How to lose a Nutcracker in 7 days.

While this Hallmark Christmas story is not overly complicated, it is somewhat original. Fortunately, the two leads look like they could be paired in real life and the scripting allowed for the chemistry to be evident early on, without the usual Hallmark stand-off-ness until the magical last 5 minutes. Therefore, the final kiss was seamless and not just injected into the final minute as so often happens. The usual required conflict was minor and not overdone. I think this was my first cringe-less Hallmark movie.....Christopher Russell was not scripted to act bumbling, stupid or unmanly the entire movie. This is the first time I've watched the female lead....she is very attractive and an engaging actress. She resembled Denise Richards in quite a few scenes. I enjoyed this one from start to finish.

I found this movie delightful even though it followed similar lines to other movies where the protagonists are trying to find something throughout the story only to have many near misses. The viewer sees these misses but since it's Hallmark, we know the pieces will all fall in place eventually. I don't think it is a spoiler to say that almost too many things fall into place in happy ways.

Against the backdrop of the search we also have the very common trope of the two romantic leads thrown together to plan a big Christmas event. There is also the secret that the viewer knows will come out a bit too soon and hurt the protagonists. In many ways, this movie might have been a rehash of all the same old stuff, but it wasn't. Or maybe I should say it was so much more. It is fun to watch the near misses and start to imagine how the writers will bring it all together. I think that most viewers will start to come close to figuring it out even if only slightly before it happens.

Ashley Newbrough and Christopher Russell have chemistry and watching them together is part of the fun. The acting is all good and the dialogue has some good moments.

This is one to watch again.

It's quite tedious to have to hear this over and over again. And when that mantra isn't repeated, it's the ever-present nutcracker that causes quite the stir, but not necessarily in an interesting way .

The beginning of the film is a bit strange, the plot does not flow gracefully and several of the actors lack that little something extra.

Good thing that it is only a TV movie and not the big screen.

Lottie (Ashley Newbrough) is an asset to the movie. The character she plays is however not that interesting, even if Lottie seem to have a bit of unsorted business in her own personal life. Christopher Russell is as usual enjoyable to watch, but is a bit outshined by Ashley's part, which might be intentional.

For some reason I'd love a little more of Rhonda (Cassie Cao). A nice feature in the movie, even if it was for only a few seconds in total.

All together, the TV movie is not bad, not superb, but watchable.

The best part of this Hallmark Holiday Romance built around a charity nutcracker theme is the two leads, Ashley Newbrough and Christopher Russell. Lottie and Tristan meet accidentally in an airport and end up on the same flight...one that Tristan wasn't supposed to be on. There ends up being a three-way mix up of luggage that has Tristan loosing a priceless nutcracker set to be auctioned off at a Children's Hospital Charity that Lottie wins the right to plan for Tristan's mother. In true conspiratorial fashion, these two pair up to try and find the missing suitcase via information left in the suitcase in their possession. It does introduce us to the quirkiest character (and the one most likely to get fired) in the guise of the airport lost luggage department. Tristan and Lottie run around the city...not finding the nutcracker...but don't worry everything eventually works out.

The leads are the real treason to watch this one. Their smiles and silliness around fate and the nutcracker are somewhat heartwarming. While not the most romantic, it is filled with holiday color and cheer...and it was nice to see a nutcracker theme. I highly approve.