Operation Christmas Drop

This movie wants to come off as a Christmas Romance movie, but it never really gives time to develop the two main characters "relationship", until the very end with a stereotypical kiss ending which feels weird because to the audience the two main characters just feel like new friends instead of love interests. It seems to develop a good friendship between an Air Force Captain and a Congress Aid/Assistant. Together they spread the Christmas spirit and generosity with the help of the service men and woman of the American Air Force. The movie is slow and predictable and feels like it wants to be a lifetime movie or a Christian movie. The "lovers plot" is uninteresting.

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.

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.

I really dug this movie for a myriad of reasons. The leads had great chemistry with each, the scenery of Guam was beyond gorgeous and it was something genuinely pleasant to watch. 2020 been stressful enough and sometimes you just want to enjoy a movie that doesn't require you to be invested. Hopefully, this draws more attention to the beautiful territory of Guam and it's people.

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.