Movie Review: USS Christmas (2020)
Synopsis: Maddie, a newspaper reporter in Norfolk, is getting a bit burned out with her job and reluctantly accepts an invitation to join her Navy pilot sister and their mom on an aircraft carrier's annual holiday Tiger Cruise. After hearing the ship's captain tell a story about how he met his wife on a similar cruise, Maddie is inspired to write a story about a similar event and, with the help of the captain's son, Billy, locates a journal in the ship's archives from 1965 that may be just what she's looking for. The only problem is the journal doesn't say if the love story between a pilot, Sam, and a USO dancer, Dorothy, has a happy ending.
Who's in it? The movie stars Jen Lilley, Trevor Donovan, Barbara Niven, Stefanie Butler and Brett Rice.
Review: For a variety of reasons I won't get into, my wife and I have had a hard time getting into the holiday spirit this year and are behind on our traditional Hallmark Christmas movie watching. So, when I was looking for a movie to watch this morning and came across USS Christmas in my library, I figured I'd just watch it.
Overall, it was pretty much what you'd expect.
Woman who is successful in her career and loves Christmas? Check.
Sister (Butler) who thinks she needs to find a man to be happy? Check.
Best friend (Valerie Sue Love) who thinks she needs to find a man to be happy? Check.
Love interest (Donovan) who isn't crazy about Christmas? Check.
Wannabe love interest (Steve Alderfer) who just doesn't do it for her? Check.
But there were fighter jets!
OK, to be fair, yes it had all of that, as so many other Hallmark Christmas movies do (minus the jets). However, I'll admit it, it wasn't that bad of a film and also wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be.
For one, I do like the mystery surrounding Sam (Christopher Johnson) and the woman he fell in love with, Dorothy (Ginny MacColl). While it seemed like a love story with a lot of potential, there were also plenty of clear obstacles, ranging from Dorothy already being in a relationship and Sam being declared missing in action in Vietnam two years later. There were also plenty of obstacles for Maddie (Lilley) as she tried to find the answer, including a fire that destroyed Sam's military records.
The love story between Maddie and Billy was one that also came with complications. There was chemistry but he was a navy pilot and Maddie, who's Navy pilot dad died during a training exercise, wasn't sure she wanted a relationship. I mean, it wasn't as though I ever had a doubt they would eventually get together but unlike so many other movies from this genre, it was a reasonably legit reason for someone to want to tap the brakes on romance. I mean, being a military spouse isn't for everyone.
The ending did feel a little contrived, especially when it came to a very lucky coincidence that helped Maddie finally get an answer about Sam and Dorothy and, in turn, help her make a decision about Billy. However, it is a holiday movie and a romance movie and that comes with the territory, so I'll give it a pass and just say it ended the way a movie like this should.
Final Opinion: I'm still fighting to get back in the holiday spirit (maybe when we get closer to the Christmas holiday) but this was a reasonably decent start. I don't think I can say there was anything particularly unique about the film (other than the fighter jets) but it was still enjoyable and worth taking the time to watch.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other Hallmark Christmas movies:
Movie Review: Magical Christmas Ornaments (2017)
Movie Review: The Christmas Quest (2024)
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