My Christmas Hero

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.

This was a mostly enjoyable Christmas movie, with a military theme. Candace Cameron Bure is in the leading role as well as being an executive producer in this movie made for Great American Family. The movie centres on military personnel, their sacrifices and how their life may be affected as a PTSD survivor.

Although I enjoyed this movie, I feel like Bure needs to start acting a little less like an ingenue in her roles. The scene when she went for a hot cocoa date and ended up with whipped cream on her face was a little too cutesy for someone of her age, unless she's determined to be cast as a perennial thirty-something actress forever. As a side note, Teryl Rothery who plays her mother in this movie is only fourteen years older than Bure.

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.,

As others here have mentioned, how could the writers not have considered the proper ages of the characters?? As an example, if this movie was meant to have taken place 10 years ago (in 2013), it would have been much more convincing... the main character's mom would have been 69, which may have been more believable than 79! The WWII veterans also appeared to be too young... they would have to have been at least 97 in reality; they looked more like 80 tops. Other than that distracting bit of oversight, the movie was a delight, and very uplifting. I'm not currently associated with the military, but my grandfather was a flight engineer in WWII... and as an American, I appreciate greatly, and honor, those who served and serve. Oh, and I also thought the chemistry between the main characters was wonderful!