DUELING CHRISTMAS WAR MOVIES

 

Christmas Homecoming (2017)

               I have an expansive definition for war movies, so I include military movies in the genre. As you can tell from the title, there is no combat in this movie. And you might guess that it is a Hallmark movie. If you have seen even a few Hallmark Christmas movies, you know the formula that is used. Hallmark does not believe in revisionism. Its huge catalogue of Christmas movies includes few that would be considered very good. They are all comforting and mildly entertaining. And very family friendly. There are over 450 Hallmark Christmas movies so there has to be a few war movies in there.

               Amanda (Julie Benz) is a war widow who is the curator for the town’s war museum. Her husband was killed two years ago, but she still has not recovered completely. She is sour on Christmas and can’t get into the spirit. A wounded Master Sergeant Jim Mullins rents a room from her. Jim is fully into Christmas. Will he melt Amanda’s heart and restore her love of the season? If you don’t know the answer to that question, you have never seen a Hallmark movie or a Hallmark card. By the way, Amanda and Jim send out Hallmark cards in one scene. I would say that is acceptable product placement.

               Would you believe Amanda has a boyfriend? Craig (Toby Levins) has never seen a Hallmark movie so he has no idea that he is heartbreak bait. Because he is your usual clueless beau who is the last person in the cast and all the viewers to know he’s a sap. However, he is Type A of Hallmark jilted third legs which means he takes it well. He is not Type B which is the villainous boyfriend who deserves to be crushed.

               Jim warms up Amanda by being relentlessly giddy about Christmas. He is like a big teddy bear of a kid. “This is going to sound corny, but I believe in the Christmas spirit.” Is this the first time “corny” has been mentioned in a Hallmark Christmas movie? The word would fit every one of them. The one fairly novel element of the plot (but the opposite of novel for a war movie) is that Jim is being torn by his growing affection for Amanda and his affection for his mates. It’s coin toss in war movies whether the character will choose bros over hos. Guess what wins out in this movie. Jim seals the deal and completes his spiritifiction of Amanda by  helping her with a fundraiser to save the museum. He literally outbids Craig for her hand.

               I have seen a few Hallmark Christmas movies (and zero other Hallmark movies) and “Christmas Homecoming” is better than average. The leads are appealing, of course. There is some chemistry. The evolution of their relationship makes sense. You do feel sorry for Craig. He doesn’t deserve the jilting, but he takes it like a man. Plus, Amanda had not committed to him so it’s not like she left him at the altar. The movie is not smarmy. Before you say that it can’t be a war movie just because one of the cast is a veteran, the inclusion of the museum subplot puts it more comfortably in the genre. But feel free to say “bah, humbug” to that.

GRADE  =  C

Operation Christmas (2016)

               “Operation Christmas” is one of the over 450 Hallmark Christmas movies. It is one of a few Hallmark War Christmas movies along with “Operation Christmas Drop” and “Christmas Homecoming”. It should not be confused with the Colombian army’s operation against guerrillas. This is a fictional story of love set in the Christmas season in America.

               Olivia (Tricia Helfer – Cyborg “Number 6” in “Battlestar Galactica”) meets Scott (Marc Blucas – Riley in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) on a ski slope. Scott is an Army sergeant. They are both single. She’s divorced and he’s a widow. But any possibility for romance is ruined by the fact that she is Kings fan and he’s an Islanders fan. (Why didn’t the screenwriters choose a real rivalry like Rangers and Islanders?)  He’s an optimist and she’s a cynic. But wait, this is a Hallmark movie, so there is still hope. And when you factor in their adorable kids becoming friends any doubt is removed.

               Just when things are warming up, prodded by the kids, he is called back to duty right before Christmas and can’t make a date. Naturally, his message does not get to her. She knew Christmas sucks! BUMP #1  Eleven months later, Scott shows up as her liaison for her Toys for Tots drive. This is his first opportunity to explain what happened, charmingly. Apparently, he was so busy killing terrorists that he could not correspond with her to offer numerous apologies. She’s not buying his very late explanation, but she has to work with him. Awkward!  He takes her to church and they have their first kiss. Relationship sailing smoothly, right? BUMP #2 Army life doesn’t fit civilian life very well. There are more bumps to come, but love will conquer. Duh!

               “Operation Christmas” is a typical Hallmark Christmas movie. Or a typical rom-com without the com. It does differ from most Hallmark movies because there is no love triangle. There is no villain. As usual, we have a cynical woman who needs melting. And since this woman is played by Tricia Helfer, there’s your lure, guys. Tell your wife or girlfriend (or both) that you will watch a Hallmark Christmas movie because you love her so  much. And for the females in the audience, you have Marc Blucas. (He also starred in “Holiday for Heroes”.) Call it a tie. And thrown in some cute kids with acting chops who do the matchmaking scheming. Throw in beautiful, very white scenery provided by British Columbia. And add TEN songs. You end up with a nice, comforting Christmas flick.  

GRADE  =  C