Un Noël tombé du ciel

This is my first Christmas movie of the 2020 holiday season and what a great way to kick the festivities off.

It wasn't as corny/sappy as the usual Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movies tend to be (which I love) but instead had a slightly more realistic feel to it. I didn't feel amazing heat between Eri and Klaws and I believe that was intentional because the primary focus was the Christmas drop. I could have used a little more spice between them but overall the movie was solid and predictable.

I am giving it a 6.5 on my Lifetime/Hallmark/Holiday movie scale.

Operation Christmas Drop is a 2020 American Christmas romantic comedy based on true events, starring Kat Graham and Alexander Ludwig as the main characters. So it's January a little late for a Christmas film but I wanted something that was a feel good film and it certainly was that. The storyline was really good it had comedy, romance, sadness and happiness in it. The film started off good and got even better as it went along with some lovely beautiful scenery in it. The acting was good from all the cast especially from Kat and Alexander, there played the characters really well and certainly had good chemistry and was very believable. I really enjoyed this film you don't get many good Christmas films these days but this one was great, it even bought a tear to my eye which don't normally happen. Not like your normal Christmas movies but still a really good light hearted film to watch. So if it's a winters day sit in front of the fire with snacks and enjoy this lovely beautiful romance movie you certainly won't be disappointed. Don't leave it to late it's currently streaming on Netflix right now get watching, surprisingly really good. 😊

Initial Thoughts: In the age old war of Netflix's quantity vs quality. I feel like this film fell on the quality side. Based on the real life, OPERATION CHRISTMAS DROP, this film is definitely a feel good, heart-warming movie that can be enjoyed by the entire family as a month before Christmas, Christmas movie. Though the acting and chemistry between actors seemed almost fake, or forced, they were still able to bring about a decent movie.

Pros: The story, for me, is incredible as it uses the real life OPERATION CHRISTMAS DROP as the inspiration for the movie. Emotions were strong with regards to the Christmas spirit and trying look out for those who struggle, especially around the Christmas season. Though the acting wasn't outstanding, it was just strong enough to bring this one home to a happy ending.

Cons: There was hardly any CGI used in this film, but the little that was is enough to mention. The gecko they used for the film should've been real as opposed to the awkward VR looking one they had. Besides bad CGI the chemistry between actors was weak. On their own they seemed to be great, but the romantic interaction they should've had was not. Any time they were together it felt awkward, forced, and uncomfortable the entire time.

Overall: I'd say if you're looking for a decent quality, family movie that doesn't have a bunch of romance in it, than this one would be for you. Would I recommend watching this film specifically as a Christmas movie? No, I wouldn't, but the story is great as it speaks about being selfless and doing what you can, and what makes you happy, to bringing joy to those around you.

It was good enough that I watched it all the way through. Cute moments between characters. Good background that the movie was based on. I just wish it spent more time on the people they were helping and less on the 2 main characters side story.

I try to rate/assess movies against other movies in the genre as opposed to comparing them to movies in general. So, how did this film compare to other Christmas romance films? It was...OK. I mean, it was a decent film, not the best I have seen nor the worst. It was a nice story, a caring story. And the script/dialogue was not bad. The acting was pretty good too. I am a fan of the Vampire Diaries and Vikings, the TV series that the two leads are known for. Kat Graham's performance was strong; she does a good job in such roles. Alexander Ludwig was not bad. To be honest, it was a bit strange seeing him in this genre of film after watching him for years in Vikings. But he did OK, though I am not sure this is the genre for him. The chemistry between them (the leads) was pretty good as well, which is important in a romance film. The supporting cast was strong. Fans of Battlestar Galactica will be happy (and maybe surprised) to see Aaron Douglas (as the Mayor) in the film. The scenery (filming location) was quite beautiful. I especially enjoyed the drop from the cargo plane at the end of the film. It was a nice scene. Overall, it was a decent film that Netflix has added to its original Christmas movie collection. Worth a watch if you want to get in the Christmas spirit.