My Christmas Hero

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, having read a bit about Candace Cameron Bure recently, that there are lots of overt religious mentions in this film. Can't remember many other films like this that really put it out there, even CCB's previous work.

Aside from that, there are a few historical inaccuracies. Cast seemed too young all around, but especially the actors playing WW2 veterans. Either that or those guys are going full Benjamin Button and aging backwards?

And the grandfather died near Christmas at the end of the war in Italy? The Italians were pretty much rolled up and defeated before D-Day in Europe - in June of 1944. How hard is it for people to do some research?

CCB is okay. Gabriel Hogan is pretty good as Major Ross. The PTSD plot line is to be applauded: the more this insidious condition is normalised, the better.

Some patriotic sentimentality, but, for mine, they laid it on a little thick.

Ultimately, there are better military-themed Christmas movies out there.

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.

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!

I did like the showcasing of resources, sacrifices, and honor for the military, and liked seeing Ike from Tacoma FD starring in this movie set near Tacoma.

As someone who lived in Lacey for over 40 years, and has had access to JBLM and its medical facilities (Madigan Army Medical Center and McChord Medical Clinic, this movie's location elements made me cringe. There is no JBLM Medical Center, and Madigan, and its attached clinic, looks nothing like the facility shown. Also, the view of Mt. Rainier did not seem to match that from either Lacey or Madigan.

Additionally, all the snow shown on the ground at the Lacey event was so off from our weather. There is rarely any snow on the ground in December - if it arrives at all, it comes in January or February.

There were other issues re: historical timing and uniforms that grated (the upside-down rank on a soldier at the end really bothered my husband).

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.