Marc Blucas, a real cutie pie and one of the few Hollywood-turned-Hallmark who still treats these tv movies like major motion pictures, stars in Holiday for Heroes. Remember the great premise of 2006's The Card but the terrible follow-through? This one takes up where it left off. Instead of one anonymous letter held close to his heart for a year, and instead of the lonely soldier stalking her to her hometown and not telling her who he is, Marc Blucas and Melissa Claire Egan write letters back and forth for a year. When they've already established a close relationship, then he comes to her hometown and introduces himself. Much better, isn't it?
The one fly in the ointment is Melissa. Either she really couldn't stand her costar and wasn't able to be an actress and fool the audience, or her interpretation of the character was completely lost on me. When the soldier you've been writing for a year shows up in your coffee shop, and he's good-looking and grinning like he's just got a new puppy, shouldn't you show a little enthusiasm? Melissa seems to be stifling, "Get away from me, psycho!" as she welcomes him stateside. Unfortunately, though Marc tries enough for both of them, her chemistry never improves.
Despite this little fly, the rest of the ointment is wonderful. I look forward to watching Holiday for Heroes every year. It's sweet, romantic, and features a refreshingly solid romance. Yes, parts of it are cheesy, but it's Christmas, the time of year when cheesiness gives us optimism and hope for better times. In my book, there's nothing more hopeful than a soldier getting welcomed home by his sweetheart for Christmas. Try this one and Operation Christmas for a heartwarming, tearful double feature. They'll make saps out of the biggest protestors; I guarantee you'll get a lump in your throat before the credits roll.
The one fly in the ointment is Melissa. Either she really couldn't stand her costar and wasn't able to be an actress and fool the audience, or her interpretation of the character was completely lost on me. When the soldier you've been writing for a year shows up in your coffee shop, and he's good-looking and grinning like he's just got a new puppy, shouldn't you show a little enthusiasm? Melissa seems to be stifling, "Get away from me, psycho!" as she welcomes him stateside. Unfortunately, though Marc tries enough for both of them, her chemistry never improves.
Despite this little fly, the rest of the ointment is wonderful. I look forward to watching Holiday for Heroes every year. It's sweet, romantic, and features a refreshingly solid romance. Yes, parts of it are cheesy, but it's Christmas, the time of year when cheesiness gives us optimism and hope for better times. In my book, there's nothing more hopeful than a soldier getting welcomed home by his sweetheart for Christmas. Try this one and Operation Christmas for a heartwarming, tearful double feature. They'll make saps out of the biggest protestors; I guarantee you'll get a lump in your throat before the credits roll.