As the other reviewer on here has pointed out, if you think this is another Lifetime or Hallmark romance, Christmas movie, "you are going to be bitterly disappointed". The idea for the story is a touching and welcoming one, which deals with issues around reintegration of military vets after service (and their struggles with PTSD), i.e. their transition back to civilian life. In this movie, the lead character, Nick, has returned from Afghanistan and is starting his new job at a (military aircraft) museum called the Air Zoo, and, as we learn, is struggling with PTSD. The writers draw on the Christmas Carol via Nick's Guardian Angel (named Michelle) who appears to act as Nick's Ghost of Christmas past and future, as a means of helping him with his struggles. Though the ideas behind the story/plot are noble, the acting and production of the film are not very good, I am afraid. The first 20 minutes are more like a promotional video for the museum combined with a sort of historical documentary of WW2 military aircraft and pilots. Don't get me wrong, this is the part of the movie that I enjoyed, as I learned a bit about female pilots during WW2. The main storyline, however, is not very engaging; it did not pull me in at all. I had to stop myself on multiple occasions from grabbing my iPad during this one, which is never a good sign. The script/dialogue was OK (though there were some holes), but this gets lost due to the quality of acting, and production quality in general, which makes this one difficult to watch at times. Michael Welch's portrayal of Nick is OK, overall. For the first 45 minutes or so, his performance was quite dull and stiff. The scene where he pushes his new boss away (when he is invited to their house for Christmas) is a good example of what I am talking about here; it was just awkward. I get he was portraying a vet with PTSD, but if I compare him to, e.g., Brandon Quinn in A Welcome Home Christmas (one of Lifetime's Xmas movies this year), which had a similar story, the performances are a world apart. To be fair, Welch's performance does improve considerably with the Ghost of Christmas past, about halfway into the movie; he has a couple of good scenes later in the film. Lauren Rys Martin's performance (as Michelle) was not much better. Like Welch, she had a very stiff performance overall and some awkward scenes. The supporting cast was not great, many I suspect are not actors. Overall, this is not a very good Christmas movie. If you are into WW2 history, you might check this one out. Otherwise, there is not much Christmas cheer in this one.
15 Reviews
A weak film about war-time PTSD set around Christmas
SimonJack8 December 2023
This film is about a veteran struggling with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and trying to get back to normal life after serving two years in the war in Afghanistan. He and his wife are breaking up, as he has skipped out on appointments for help from the Veterans department and groups. Now he shows up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for a new job as a tour guide in its aviation museum, called the Air Zoo.
On the first tour he leads, he notices a young observant woman, whom he also sees later around the museum. She doesn't tell him her name, and when he suggests "Michelle," she says that's a good name. As they talk, she seems to know a lot about him, and he wonders how that can be. Eventually, she tells him that she's his guardian angel.
Well, since this occurs in early December, and Nick is invited the home of the museum manager for Christmas, it becomes a Christmas movie. This isn't a star-studded cast of great actors, nor are the writers, the director and others well known or anywhere near the top of their fields. So, as one might expect, the screenplay is somewhat slow and uncertain, the acting is fairly amateurish, and it's a minor film all around. It's quite typical for these video films made just for sale or that are put out on the Internet.
In a way that's unfortunate, because the public could use at a very good film about veterans from modern warfare struggling with and recovering from PTSD. My five stars are partly for the effort to tackle this subject in a film, but more so for the very good presentation and scenes of the Air Zoo museum. It truly is a world-class aviation museum, on the order of other air and space museums I have visited - the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D. C.; the Blue Angels museum in Pensacola, Florida; the SAC Museum near Ashland, Nebraska; and the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum at Wapakoneta, Ohio.
On the first tour he leads, he notices a young observant woman, whom he also sees later around the museum. She doesn't tell him her name, and when he suggests "Michelle," she says that's a good name. As they talk, she seems to know a lot about him, and he wonders how that can be. Eventually, she tells him that she's his guardian angel.
Well, since this occurs in early December, and Nick is invited the home of the museum manager for Christmas, it becomes a Christmas movie. This isn't a star-studded cast of great actors, nor are the writers, the director and others well known or anywhere near the top of their fields. So, as one might expect, the screenplay is somewhat slow and uncertain, the acting is fairly amateurish, and it's a minor film all around. It's quite typical for these video films made just for sale or that are put out on the Internet.
In a way that's unfortunate, because the public could use at a very good film about veterans from modern warfare struggling with and recovering from PTSD. My five stars are partly for the effort to tackle this subject in a film, but more so for the very good presentation and scenes of the Air Zoo museum. It truly is a world-class aviation museum, on the order of other air and space museums I have visited - the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D. C.; the Blue Angels museum in Pensacola, Florida; the SAC Museum near Ashland, Nebraska; and the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum at Wapakoneta, Ohio.
So depressing.
alettawelensky7 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
If you look at the poster and think this is going to be a typical Christmas romance movie, you are going to be bitterly disappointed.
It's a PTSD version of Christmas Carol, the main character is back from Afghanistan and struggling with his mental health. He has pushed away everyone who cares for him, including his wife & new boss. When he reaches his lowest point, his guardian Angel steps in to give him a glimpse of his past & future.
The movie was clearly made on a budget of about $8 & I suspect most of the actors are friends & family, or real staff members of the air museum the lead works at, they fluff their lines and seem very awkward through out.
The lead is a good actor, but the plot doesn't give him much to work with.
All in all I would say this movie is best avoided if you are looking for anything joyful.
It's a PTSD version of Christmas Carol, the main character is back from Afghanistan and struggling with his mental health. He has pushed away everyone who cares for him, including his wife & new boss. When he reaches his lowest point, his guardian Angel steps in to give him a glimpse of his past & future.
The movie was clearly made on a budget of about $8 & I suspect most of the actors are friends & family, or real staff members of the air museum the lead works at, they fluff their lines and seem very awkward through out.
The lead is a good actor, but the plot doesn't give him much to work with.
All in all I would say this movie is best avoided if you are looking for anything joyful.
More like "A Christmas Disaster"
cls19542 December 2021
This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. If I'd been in a theater I would have walked out 10 mins in. The acting was stilted, clearly not actors, but maybe a bunch of drama club members who thought it was a good idea to make a video mashup of A Christmas Carol, It's A Wonderful Life, and other really good Christmas movies with a nod to vets reintegrating into society. They should have done their homework. What a mess they made! If I were a vet I'd be offended at this futile attempt at...whatever this was. I'm only sorry I wasted as much time on it as I did.
Ugh
pastordopey-2416329 November 2021
Clunky
simhedges-53-45079020 December 2020
Started interestingly, and I could believe Welch as the repressed guy at the start, but I couldn't buy into his rages (I kept imagining the director offstage saying "Emote, darling, emote!). It was good as an advert for the air museum (which I googled while the movie was on), and if I'm ever back in Michigan (near Kalamazoo) I'll visit.
Waste of time
erinnickless25 December 2021
No one expects good acting in a Christmas movie, and even with that low bar, the acting was disappointing, flat and not genuine. The actor of the main character seemed like he had no desire to be in the film at all. The unsteady camerawork and awful lighting gave the film a feel like this was a teen's low-budget high school project using his classmates and teachers as the cast, and not a professional film. Don't watch this film if you get motion sickness from jumpy films. Better yet, don't watch this at all.
Not even really a movie
TheBeardedWonder21 December 2021
This is mostly just someone's home made love letter to some airplane museum in their home town. They clearly just hired two people to be the main actors and the rest are the actual workers and guests. The main plot doesn't even come into play till about half way through, and the whole thing is shot on shaky cam because they have no tripods or steady cam.
It's essentially a long tourism ad for this museum nobody has ever heard of or will ever go to. The movie has a $0 budget but also no heart of effort behind it either. It barely qualifies as a movie and is honestly pretty insulting to veterans.
And it being Xmas has nothing to do with anything! You could have set this in literally any time of year and it would still be the same piece of unwatchable garbage it is now...
It's essentially a long tourism ad for this museum nobody has ever heard of or will ever go to. The movie has a $0 budget but also no heart of effort behind it either. It barely qualifies as a movie and is honestly pretty insulting to veterans.
And it being Xmas has nothing to do with anything! You could have set this in literally any time of year and it would still be the same piece of unwatchable garbage it is now...
Not Even A Fun Christmas Movie
kevinwaczek21 December 2021
I sought out to watch a "bad" Christmas movie as a drinking game with my wife. At least no matter what we chose we would have a good time. I thought wrong.
First off, this movie isn't a Christmas movie. It's a sad bore.
With a quarter of the movie out of focus and the rest pure cringe this was a difficult movie to watch.
I appreciate the effort to highlight veterans and the sacrifices they make but this movie was below par and lazy.
They could have used more than three locations for the entirety of the film.
There's a lot more I could say on the storyline of this film but it's not worth the time.
First off, this movie isn't a Christmas movie. It's a sad bore.
With a quarter of the movie out of focus and the rest pure cringe this was a difficult movie to watch.
I appreciate the effort to highlight veterans and the sacrifices they make but this movie was below par and lazy.
They could have used more than three locations for the entirety of the film.
There's a lot more I could say on the storyline of this film but it's not worth the time.
Thoughtful and good
rosalindsmith-8503631 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Not the usual Christmas movie but thought provoking and presents a real tone to war against the grandiose pretentious bugle blaring and remembers the true heroes who sacrificed themselves for the good of the nation. Very good musuem. A nice modern touch on the Christmas Carol story theme.
The actors played their parts well. I enjoyed the film.
Ok, nice tribute to veterans
toni2000621 September 2021
It pays to read info. The fact that many id The across were former veterans make sense that it wasn't polished. Some of the acting was a little clunky, It was apparent lead, which plays Nick is a more experienced actor. It was sort of a take on A Christmas Carol or It's A Wonderful Life. The message was appreciated.
Not worth watching.
suehird5127 January 2022
This movie had the longest, most boring intro I have ever seen, never want to hear "God rest ye merry gentlemen" again.
Past the intro, the movie was slow to really get into the story and the music was too prominent.
This is not what I would call a Christmas film.
Past the intro, the movie was slow to really get into the story and the music was too prominent.
This is not what I would call a Christmas film.
Not what you think
thatmoose2 December 2021
This is not one of those sappy Christmas movies...it's more about forgiving yourself and accepting help. It's kinda dark and painful. Some say the acting is bad, but they used veterans and real people. It was an insightful look into returning veterans dealing with their service and finding a life when home.
A Christmas Story with a twist..
suprrevrb-22-81537023 September 2023
I won't say to much so I don't give it away for those who haven't seen it but I was very impressed by the story. I'm sure this was a low budget film set in Kalamazoo MI at the air museum which was worth watching just to see the planes. From what I've read half of the cast are professional actors along with many local residents of the Kalamazoo area. So was the cast a high dollar one no but they did a very good job. This story contains the elements of our Armed Services and set during Christmas. It started off a little slow for me but I'm glad I stuck with it because it turned out I really enjoyed this movie . Give it a try ...it's worth a look ππΌππΌ
Captures real Vet's emotions
amy-nicole62430 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Not a big Hollywood budgeted movie, as it was not meant to be, coming from a military family and having many friends who have served and currently are in service, I enjoyed the (what I am assuming by the passion in their voices and acting) actual Vets' acting to what amounted to be a pretty good job! That's probably not what any of them thought they would be doing when they signed up willingly to serve our great country!!
A good adaptation on A Christmas Carole from a very real situation that many of Americans have experienced.
I have witnessed many of the same horrors with friends and family of my own and know these emotions, good and bad, to be all too real!
Cudos to everyone involved in this film and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!! πΊπΈ
A good adaptation on A Christmas Carole from a very real situation that many of Americans have experienced.
I have witnessed many of the same horrors with friends and family of my own and know these emotions, good and bad, to be all too real!
Cudos to everyone involved in this film and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!! πΊπΈ
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