This is a warm and gentle Christmas movie. It is a bit slow at times, but, overall, a decent film. It is a romance, mystery movie, which makes sense as it is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel original. The plot has been done often before: i.e., the lead or leads find love letters, photos, a ring, or some other object from a past great love, which they then try to solve. That said, there is a unique element to this story: the movie is set on an aircraft carrier (which I enjoyed). There are some very nice shots of the crafts and ship; I especially like the ship lit up in Christmas lights. I did not know what a Tiger cruise was; it is a very nice concept. Hallmark always has at least one military-focused Christmas movie each year; I read in the news that they have a good standing relationship with the military, meaning, I think, they got to use their ship in this one. As another reviewer on here discussed, this one has some similarities to those past military-focused Christmas films. The acting was good. Jen Lilley, a Hallmark regular, performs well in this genre of film. She had a very convincing performance here as Maddie. Trevor Donovan's portrayal of Lt. Billy Jenkins (aka the Grinch) was decent. To be honest, I sometimes find his performances to a bit stiff. That said, he has had some very good performances in, e.g., Love on a Limb and Love, Fall & Order. Here he was a bit stiff as well, but his character was a military man with the call-sign the Grinch. So, it worked for me. The chemistry between the two was underdeveloped, I thought. The writer could have done more in this regard; I think, Donovan too could have given a bit more, romance wise, in his performance. The scenery, props, and sets were well-polished and festive; the latter is toned down a bit in this one. Overall, it is a fairly good movie. It might not be for everyone, but fans of Hallmark's mystery movies and movie series will no doubt enjoy this new edition to the 2020 Christmas movie lineup.
35 Reviews
Hello Sailor!
adamjohns-4257522 February 2021
Although he starts out quite gruff at the beginning, it's easy to see how he mellows throughout the film, thus proving that Trevor Donovan is not only gorgeous, but a good actor too. I've seen a lot of these films lately and quite often the actors haven't been able or directed to get this change from "Grinch" to "Santa" to flow naturally and as a result they have seemed highly unlikely to have that crucial change of heart that the formula of every Made For TV Christmas Film demands and some of them are just downright horrible. She annoyed me a bit though, I'd have dragged him off to a room alone somewhere after the first meeting.
It's a cute story, although it is just a variation on the theme, but it is nice to see a different setting this time, even if they do still end up in New York. The idea of a Navy ship was clever and they didn't go over the top with the "We must honour our troops" thing.
I may be biased because Trevor looked so good in uniform and in Black Tie, but I did like this one and I look forward to watching it again next Christmas preferably before February, but there are so many to watch aren't there.
It's a cute story, although it is just a variation on the theme, but it is nice to see a different setting this time, even if they do still end up in New York. The idea of a Navy ship was clever and they didn't go over the top with the "We must honour our troops" thing.
I may be biased because Trevor looked so good in uniform and in Black Tie, but I did like this one and I look forward to watching it again next Christmas preferably before February, but there are so many to watch aren't there.
Navy, no
mbiv1 December 2020
I was in the Navy, so I noticed quite a few things that weren't exactly accurate, not the least of which was the sister Navy flyer proudly showing off her plane which clearly said "Marines" on it. Well, he did teach her to go down a ladder correctly.
The story itself was ok, if typical Hallmark. You know how it ends before it even starts, so the rest is a ride you choose to take. Always like Jen Lilley, she's very pretty, but somehow two hours of her is enough. The chemistry was a little iffy, I thought.
This is not the best Hallmark movie this year, but it's not the worst either, and anything beats the news in 2020...!
Overall a fun flick
bkrushel-6789815 December 2020
In the archive room Billy sees a photo of what I believe was the A1 Skyraider but he identifies it as a B-29. Other than that, I enjoyed this one more than most. But I'm a sucker for anything that flies. Some cool footage of the cats at work.
Finding love
TheLittleSongbird3 December 2021
Expectations were a bit mixed when sitting down to watch 'USS Christmas'. There are a fair share of good Hallmark Christmas films, and there were some surprising near-gems in 2020. The plot did sound sweet though not overly exciting. Jen Lilley and Trevor Donovan are a bit take and leave for me and it is dependent on the characters they play, Lilley in particular has had characters with very exaggerated character flaws which she can over-compensate.
Was a bit mixed in regard to 'USS Christmas'. Hallmark did do better in 2020, both of the Christmas films and and in all their seasonal blockings combined. They also did worse on both counts, as there were a small batch of below average efforts. 2020 was a very variable year for Hallmark (not surprising) but considering the circumstances the films generally could have turned out a good deal worse than they actually did. 'USS Christmas' is worth a one time watch but not in my view enough for repeat viewings.
Did feel that the two leads were on the uneven side, both not immediately settling into their roles and taking a while to warm up. Lilley does have another one of her characters that has exaggerated character flaws, the pushiness especially is excessive, and Lilley does at first tries too hard and comes over as neurotic. Donovan does relax into his role later, but when in Grinch mode he did come over as very stiff and bland.
Although their chemistry is there eventually, it does take too long to develop and when it does start to it feels underdeveloped and underwritten. Would have liked more development to the characters in general, not enough of them feel fleshed out enough.
Both Lilley and Donovan do fare much better though later. Lilley does tone down and becomes charming and not too sugary. Donovan loosens up later too, like his character who is the most developed of the characters, and is understated and easy going enough while having the right amount of command for the job. Their chemistry becomes warmer and more natural later, just wish that it was more consistent and that it occurred earlier. The supporting cast are solid.
Furthermore, 'USS Christmas' is a pleasant looking film with the scenery standing out in particular, while the soundtrack matches the spirit of the holiday and the film's themes very well. The script is neither too corny or over-serious, and doesn't come over as muddled tonally. Really liked its sincerity and heart. The quite gentle story is very heart-warming and moving with a warm glow later, even if it could have been tighter pace wise to begin with.
Concluding, a little above average that takes a while to find its feet in some areas but becomes pleasant enough. 6/10.
Was a bit mixed in regard to 'USS Christmas'. Hallmark did do better in 2020, both of the Christmas films and and in all their seasonal blockings combined. They also did worse on both counts, as there were a small batch of below average efforts. 2020 was a very variable year for Hallmark (not surprising) but considering the circumstances the films generally could have turned out a good deal worse than they actually did. 'USS Christmas' is worth a one time watch but not in my view enough for repeat viewings.
Did feel that the two leads were on the uneven side, both not immediately settling into their roles and taking a while to warm up. Lilley does have another one of her characters that has exaggerated character flaws, the pushiness especially is excessive, and Lilley does at first tries too hard and comes over as neurotic. Donovan does relax into his role later, but when in Grinch mode he did come over as very stiff and bland.
Although their chemistry is there eventually, it does take too long to develop and when it does start to it feels underdeveloped and underwritten. Would have liked more development to the characters in general, not enough of them feel fleshed out enough.
Both Lilley and Donovan do fare much better though later. Lilley does tone down and becomes charming and not too sugary. Donovan loosens up later too, like his character who is the most developed of the characters, and is understated and easy going enough while having the right amount of command for the job. Their chemistry becomes warmer and more natural later, just wish that it was more consistent and that it occurred earlier. The supporting cast are solid.
Furthermore, 'USS Christmas' is a pleasant looking film with the scenery standing out in particular, while the soundtrack matches the spirit of the holiday and the film's themes very well. The script is neither too corny or over-serious, and doesn't come over as muddled tonally. Really liked its sincerity and heart. The quite gentle story is very heart-warming and moving with a warm glow later, even if it could have been tighter pace wise to begin with.
Concluding, a little above average that takes a while to find its feet in some areas but becomes pleasant enough. 6/10.
USS Hallmark
cammietime14 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Secure the riggin' sailor you are to set sail with USS Christmas! A present day United States Nimitz class aircraft carrier that is old enough to be a Kitty Hawk class carrier but looks an awful lot like a decommissioned WWII Essex class carrier, and sometimes even a Midway class carrier decks out for the annual "Christmas Tiger Cruise," which actually has nothing to do with Tigers. This is not just the annual holiday dinner that is well known in the U. S. Navy, oh no, on this ship the entire flight deck gets Christmas lights, deck crew wear Santa hats, and the Quartermaster gets to have a Christmas tree at his work station. Buffy fans will love Sarah Michelle Gellar's sister's look-a-like playing the main female lead Maddie (Jen Lilley), a hot attractive single newswoman who reluctantly goes on a free and likely illegal ride on the carrier at the personal request of the old grandpa captain...a creepy potential subplot ignored by the movie that leaves you wondering about the captain's motivations.
Maddie's more professional and naval looking sister Amelia (Stefanie Butler) is an F-18 Superhornet pilot who wants Maddie to watch her conduct flight operations on the carrier. Amelia is sadly underdeveloped and confused as she claims to be in the Navy but flies a fighter plane that says Marines on it. Technically the Marines are part of the Navy organization structure, so maybe she is not confused after all, but I digress. Carrier operations are extremely dangerous, as in a carrier flight deck is the most dangerous place to work in the world, but for some reason the USN has no problem with the Tiger Cruise and a multitude of tourists loafing about the carrier's tower and walkways as they are launching and recovering "$65 million" jets.
Begrudgingly along for the ride is buff stud muffin Lt. Billy Jenkins (Trevor Donovan) who looks like the son of Burt Lancaster and has about as much chemistry with Maddie as a trash can. He has all the hallmarks of a hallmark hunk - dull, disinterested in what is going on around him, and not even 1 dimensional, more like half dimensional. He does whatever the plot tells him to even though he disagrees with it the entire time, making us question why Maddie is so enchanted by him. Plot: Go to the Christmas archives. Billy: I dont like Christmas or archives. Plot: That's an order! Billy: Ok I will go to the Christmas archives. Rinse and repeat this sequence over, and over, and over...
With music, cinematography, and editing that switches between All My Children, Desperate Housewives, and a PBS Special, we're not quite sure what to think of what we're watching here. At least the stock grandpa character who gets lots of closeups drinking coffee knowingly is better than usual. The movie is an A+ when it comes to location and setting but execution and delivery are an annoying D+. The script is bland, the characters dull, and there are all kinds of pointless scenes about an hour in (a la model train museum), but at hey at least they are on an aircraft carrier! Most disappointing is the resolution of the main mystery - surprise nothing really interesting here and she doesn't even give Sam his diary back, probably because she doesn't want him to know she read it without his consent, and that anyone else can read it too since it is in the ship's archives room.
Worth watching once and one extra star for the jet flyover at the end.
Grade: B+, 8 out of 10 stars.
Maddie's more professional and naval looking sister Amelia (Stefanie Butler) is an F-18 Superhornet pilot who wants Maddie to watch her conduct flight operations on the carrier. Amelia is sadly underdeveloped and confused as she claims to be in the Navy but flies a fighter plane that says Marines on it. Technically the Marines are part of the Navy organization structure, so maybe she is not confused after all, but I digress. Carrier operations are extremely dangerous, as in a carrier flight deck is the most dangerous place to work in the world, but for some reason the USN has no problem with the Tiger Cruise and a multitude of tourists loafing about the carrier's tower and walkways as they are launching and recovering "$65 million" jets.
Begrudgingly along for the ride is buff stud muffin Lt. Billy Jenkins (Trevor Donovan) who looks like the son of Burt Lancaster and has about as much chemistry with Maddie as a trash can. He has all the hallmarks of a hallmark hunk - dull, disinterested in what is going on around him, and not even 1 dimensional, more like half dimensional. He does whatever the plot tells him to even though he disagrees with it the entire time, making us question why Maddie is so enchanted by him. Plot: Go to the Christmas archives. Billy: I dont like Christmas or archives. Plot: That's an order! Billy: Ok I will go to the Christmas archives. Rinse and repeat this sequence over, and over, and over...
With music, cinematography, and editing that switches between All My Children, Desperate Housewives, and a PBS Special, we're not quite sure what to think of what we're watching here. At least the stock grandpa character who gets lots of closeups drinking coffee knowingly is better than usual. The movie is an A+ when it comes to location and setting but execution and delivery are an annoying D+. The script is bland, the characters dull, and there are all kinds of pointless scenes about an hour in (a la model train museum), but at hey at least they are on an aircraft carrier! Most disappointing is the resolution of the main mystery - surprise nothing really interesting here and she doesn't even give Sam his diary back, probably because she doesn't want him to know she read it without his consent, and that anyone else can read it too since it is in the ship's archives room.
Worth watching once and one extra star for the jet flyover at the end.
Grade: B+, 8 out of 10 stars.
Exactly what you expect.
MIssM1911 April 2021
Maddie is tired of being the one to deliver bad news on the newspaper she works at, specially now at Christmas time. So, her sisters convinces her to go in this "Tiger Cruise" a four day cruise for military families. There, she meets Billy, a lieutenant who doesn't appreciate Christmas.
You know exactly how this goes from the first scene. Maddie and Billy embark on an adventure. She decides to pursue a story about a couple, Dorothy and Sam, a "story about love and war". They have their own problems. She doesn't want a military life and he wants her/is nick-named "the grinch". But while they are together they have a great time.
My take of both Jen Lilley and Trevor Donovan is the same. I may love their performance of a movie and hate it on the next one. But I liked both of them on this one. They had good chemistry. I found myself rooting for them.
I also liked the pace of the movie. The couple of last movies I watched were unbearable, and I kept pausing them every 10 minutes but I didn't with this one. The story grabbed me from the first moment (even knowing how it would end). Not being American has its advantages, I did not if technical/navy things were accurate or not and I didn't care either.
Overall, it's a nice movie, it's exactly what the plot promises.
You know exactly how this goes from the first scene. Maddie and Billy embark on an adventure. She decides to pursue a story about a couple, Dorothy and Sam, a "story about love and war". They have their own problems. She doesn't want a military life and he wants her/is nick-named "the grinch". But while they are together they have a great time.
My take of both Jen Lilley and Trevor Donovan is the same. I may love their performance of a movie and hate it on the next one. But I liked both of them on this one. They had good chemistry. I found myself rooting for them.
I also liked the pace of the movie. The couple of last movies I watched were unbearable, and I kept pausing them every 10 minutes but I didn't with this one. The story grabbed me from the first moment (even knowing how it would end). Not being American has its advantages, I did not if technical/navy things were accurate or not and I didn't care either.
Overall, it's a nice movie, it's exactly what the plot promises.
Hallmark Material
Cmajor128911 October 2021
It is believable that a woman can wear a good man down and this film proves it
Ed-Shullivan6 December 2020
There is a cute little Walt Disney book titled "Button Soup" It is a 1975 Disney's Wonderful World of Reading storybook featuring Daisy Duck and Scrooge McDuck. In this book, Daisy tricks her stingy Uncle Scrooge into making enough soup for the whole town -- using just one button.
Using a similar approach to the Disney book "Button Soup" a pretty writer named Maddie Contino (Jen Lilley) begrudgingly agrees to go on what's called a Tiger Cruise with her mother Elizabeth (Barbara Niven). A Tiger Cruise allows a naval officer to take their family to work and in this case Maddie's sister is stationed as a fighter pilot named Lt. Amelia Breslin (Stefanie Butler) on a ship. Lt. Amelia Breslin, her sister Maddie, and their mom Elizabeth receive a dinner invitation from the ship's captain who invites his own son, Lt. Billy Jenkins (Trevor Donovan) to join them for dinner and reminisce about Christmas's past when the ships Captain Chet Jenkins (Brett Rice) used to work alongside Maddie and Amelia's father who is now deceased. As Captain Jenkins discusses the very first Tiger Cruise he lights a spark in Maddie's desire to write about a long forgotten romance of a couple who first met on that very first Tiger cruise.
Captain Jenkins assigns his good looking fighter pilot son Billy to assist Maddie in researching her story by accessing the ships archives, and Billy initially wants nothing to do with Maddie's research or with the Christmas spirit. But as luck would have it, with every stone Maddie over turns (just like in the 1975 Disney book Button Soup) she draws the unwilling Billy closer and closer into the research and into falling in love with one another.
Maddie and Billy's research leads to good things happening which I don't want to divulge and ruin it for any interested viewers but suffice to say the story took a lot of hard work, push and pull, and convincing but all works out in the end for all parties.
I give USS Christmas a decent 7 out of 10 IMDB rating.
Using a similar approach to the Disney book "Button Soup" a pretty writer named Maddie Contino (Jen Lilley) begrudgingly agrees to go on what's called a Tiger Cruise with her mother Elizabeth (Barbara Niven). A Tiger Cruise allows a naval officer to take their family to work and in this case Maddie's sister is stationed as a fighter pilot named Lt. Amelia Breslin (Stefanie Butler) on a ship. Lt. Amelia Breslin, her sister Maddie, and their mom Elizabeth receive a dinner invitation from the ship's captain who invites his own son, Lt. Billy Jenkins (Trevor Donovan) to join them for dinner and reminisce about Christmas's past when the ships Captain Chet Jenkins (Brett Rice) used to work alongside Maddie and Amelia's father who is now deceased. As Captain Jenkins discusses the very first Tiger Cruise he lights a spark in Maddie's desire to write about a long forgotten romance of a couple who first met on that very first Tiger cruise.
Captain Jenkins assigns his good looking fighter pilot son Billy to assist Maddie in researching her story by accessing the ships archives, and Billy initially wants nothing to do with Maddie's research or with the Christmas spirit. But as luck would have it, with every stone Maddie over turns (just like in the 1975 Disney book Button Soup) she draws the unwilling Billy closer and closer into the research and into falling in love with one another.
Maddie and Billy's research leads to good things happening which I don't want to divulge and ruin it for any interested viewers but suffice to say the story took a lot of hard work, push and pull, and convincing but all works out in the end for all parties.
I give USS Christmas a decent 7 out of 10 IMDB rating.
Didn't work for me. It might for you I guess, but I wouldn't bet on it.
nemman6318 December 2020
Being an old Navy man I thought this looked interesting. I record about 20 Hallmark Christmas movies a year and usually have maybe 2 I really like, around 5 that are good, and some that are ok, and about 9-10 that I don't even finish.
I only got about 20 minutes into this one before I ejected (get it?)
I didn't really get the lead actress and what she was trying to do. Also the voice fry she was doing with her voice was very off putting. I found some of her lines completely unintelligible because of it. If it were a good movie I would have had to rewind and listen again, but since I was losing interest with each passing minute I didn't have to.
I found myself rooting for the leading man Naval aviator's current GF. I think it would have been better with them swapping roles, or having the sister, or even the waitress take over the leading lady role.
oh well, one down and 19 to go for 2020!
Enjoyable
Jackbv12329 November 2020
There are some typical themes in this story but also some fresh angles. An investigative reporter has a dream to do a human interest story so we have a fairly usual quest for the story. But the setting is a Navy carrier and her personal backstory as a Navy brat folds into the larger story. There are echoes of the earlier Christmas movie "Operation Christmas" which is one of my all time favorite Christmas movies. Maddie faces similar concerns as Olivia did in the other movie, but for Maddie the concerns are more first hand.
Jen Lilly and Trevor Donavan have chemistry from the first wine spill. Even as each of their characters hesitates, they are still comfortable with each other. The obligatory sparring is never mean spirited. Maddie and Billy's relationship is fun as they chase a mystery together.
The mystery is never really one for the viewer to solve because the details have to be pursued by the reporter and her helpers. But that story folds into Maddie and Billy's story in a heartwarming way. There are several other heartwarming moments even before we learn the outcome of the story.
A little like the old JAG TV show, military honor and service are idealized, but not overly so.
Please, if you found discrepancies in military protocol or other factual issues, remember that this is not a documentary and it doesn't seem like rigid accuracy was the goal of the people making the movie. These movies are only a few steps removed from Fantasy or SciFi in terms of realism.
Jen Lilly and Trevor Donavan have chemistry from the first wine spill. Even as each of their characters hesitates, they are still comfortable with each other. The obligatory sparring is never mean spirited. Maddie and Billy's relationship is fun as they chase a mystery together.
The mystery is never really one for the viewer to solve because the details have to be pursued by the reporter and her helpers. But that story folds into Maddie and Billy's story in a heartwarming way. There are several other heartwarming moments even before we learn the outcome of the story.
A little like the old JAG TV show, military honor and service are idealized, but not overly so.
Please, if you found discrepancies in military protocol or other factual issues, remember that this is not a documentary and it doesn't seem like rigid accuracy was the goal of the people making the movie. These movies are only a few steps removed from Fantasy or SciFi in terms of realism.
It produces what it intended to
r96sk12 December 2020
Pleasant viewing.
'USS Christmas' isn't anything extraordinary, but it produces what it intended to - a cutesy Xmas story. It's well set up, with the naval surroundings adding a touch of freshness to the usual festive film formula. Jen Lilley and Trevor Donovan have satisfactory chemistry, with the likes of Brett Rice and Keith Flippen support adequately.
'USS Christmas' isn't anything extraordinary, but it produces what it intended to - a cutesy Xmas story. It's well set up, with the naval surroundings adding a touch of freshness to the usual festive film formula. Jen Lilley and Trevor Donovan have satisfactory chemistry, with the likes of Brett Rice and Keith Flippen support adequately.
Boring, slow and meandering
dja-118 December 2020
Honestly, it's just drivel, even by Hallmark holiday movie standards. Not a conflict in sight, the chemistry is completely missing - I think the leads will likely determine that they are best off friends based on what is shown on screen and they try making it interesting by having three plot lines all take pace in the movie, with none of them getting enough attention.
USS Christmas
JoBloTheMovieCritic9 December 2020
Good Movie
aliyahrocks4 December 2020
Great Holiday Movie. I found it a little strange that the main character who was a reporter only wanted to do fluff/soft news stories. Heartwarming news pieces don't win you those awards. The chemistry between the leads could have been better.
Worthy addition to the Christmas movies gallery
florin-radu-343-90009413 December 2020
Hallmark are making poor Christmas cards, but they deserve a huge round of applause for this Christmas movie. Based on the same old cliches, the whole bunch of them, but cleverly embroidered around a great story. We are used with Christmas movies to be heartwarming but predictable, this one will up the game . Fresh an unexpected, just when we thought that we have seen them all. I guess that the retro touch is intentional, some sort of a hint that this movie aspires to sit at the table with the big classics. It does stand out of the crowd after all.
Enjoyable movie
mvisser-4838431 December 2020
Enjoyable
MyTinderbox10 December 2020
I like it
Kirpianuscus17 October 2022
It is a pure Hallmark Christmas film, with the familiar romance as basic ingredient but it has the precious gift to offer more. Sure, the story of an old beginning of love story, later marriage is not original. But the fire just works in this case an the entire story becomes, scene by scene, comfortable, pleasant and just seductive.
The place, the old couple, the stories about navy life and lives of the relatives, the old photos, the diary and the hand - made Christmas tree star are just inspired used, making a nice , in profound sense, film.
Sure, few holes and predictable end. But nothing new or wrong. Correct work of Jen Lilley and the same Trevor Donovan and good steps of relation between them characters.
The supporting actors are workers of a decent acting and the Christmas show, like the emotion of search about informations for article, the confessions about divorce of parents and the scenes in New York are good points for a Hallmark who just I like.
The place, the old couple, the stories about navy life and lives of the relatives, the old photos, the diary and the hand - made Christmas tree star are just inspired used, making a nice , in profound sense, film.
Sure, few holes and predictable end. But nothing new or wrong. Correct work of Jen Lilley and the same Trevor Donovan and good steps of relation between them characters.
The supporting actors are workers of a decent acting and the Christmas show, like the emotion of search about informations for article, the confessions about divorce of parents and the scenes in New York are good points for a Hallmark who just I like.
A nice idea that could've been better executed.
savethewatchmaker1 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is an enjoyable movie, thanks to a likeable cast and some refreshing angles. The concept of a Tiger Cruise, like other reviewers, was new to me, and despite not usually caring for Hallmark's military-themed films, I enjoyed learning more about the Navy here. Jen Lilley and Trevor Donovan as leads Maddie and Billy both did a great job (Jen Lilley in particular always brings authentic emotions to the table).
The relationship between the two of them, however, was on shakier ground for me. The timing of this film was essentially on light speed. Maddie and Billy spend a few days together and suddenly (after initially being rejected by her, no less), Billy's tracking Maddie down at her work and telling her that their whole lives have led to them meeting, that fate wants them to be together, etcetera, etcetera. It was honestly a bit cringeworthy for me, especially considering that the first few meetings between the two of them were unbelievably awkward with no palpable romantic tension.
Once they fall for each other, though, Maddie has reservations about the relationship because of Billy's involvement in the Navy and fears living a life like her mother's, who married a military man and lost him when her children were still young. By the end of the movie, however, Maddie magically has no hang-ups about this issue anymore. She speaks to a few people who they both make arguments that I found less than compelling (essentially that loves matters more than anything else), and suddenly changes her mind completely about being with a Navy man. (Funny enough, Billy himself resents his military father for not being more present in his life; he makes a stiff remark during dinner about always getting his Christmas presents in the mail and never getting to see his father in person. Nothing suggests, however, that he would be any different as a father to his own family).
Also a disappointment to me was the mystery of the couple Maddie chases throughout the movie. I was expecting something intriguing and surprising, but in the end, the mystery truly is that there is no mystery. The couple is just that -- a married couple! In the end, nothing stood in the way of their relationship at all. They're honestly as boring as two people could be, yet Maddie works a front-page story out of them for the paper she works at.
In the end, this movie is sweet and certainly will squeeze the hearts of a patriotic audience. It could have used a bit more polishing around the edges, though.
The relationship between the two of them, however, was on shakier ground for me. The timing of this film was essentially on light speed. Maddie and Billy spend a few days together and suddenly (after initially being rejected by her, no less), Billy's tracking Maddie down at her work and telling her that their whole lives have led to them meeting, that fate wants them to be together, etcetera, etcetera. It was honestly a bit cringeworthy for me, especially considering that the first few meetings between the two of them were unbelievably awkward with no palpable romantic tension.
Once they fall for each other, though, Maddie has reservations about the relationship because of Billy's involvement in the Navy and fears living a life like her mother's, who married a military man and lost him when her children were still young. By the end of the movie, however, Maddie magically has no hang-ups about this issue anymore. She speaks to a few people who they both make arguments that I found less than compelling (essentially that loves matters more than anything else), and suddenly changes her mind completely about being with a Navy man. (Funny enough, Billy himself resents his military father for not being more present in his life; he makes a stiff remark during dinner about always getting his Christmas presents in the mail and never getting to see his father in person. Nothing suggests, however, that he would be any different as a father to his own family).
Also a disappointment to me was the mystery of the couple Maddie chases throughout the movie. I was expecting something intriguing and surprising, but in the end, the mystery truly is that there is no mystery. The couple is just that -- a married couple! In the end, nothing stood in the way of their relationship at all. They're honestly as boring as two people could be, yet Maddie works a front-page story out of them for the paper she works at.
In the end, this movie is sweet and certainly will squeeze the hearts of a patriotic audience. It could have used a bit more polishing around the edges, though.
Uss Christmas blunder
ubileonisoosu12 December 2020
Great Movie
pattersonjamie-120791 December 2020
Loved this movie from start to finish. Jenn Lily and Trevor Donovan have good chemistry. Warm, sweet story and even the drama was reasonable. I would have rated the movie a 10, but not all of the military scenes are reaslitic.
Not in my top 10, but satisfactory
MickyG33327 November 2022
6.7 stars.
I like the fact this story takes place on an aircraft carrier, a definite change of scenery for Hallmark Christmas. A Naval pilot and a writer fall in love over Christmas. Same Hallmark formula, same careers showcased, same story of searching the past, and finding love through a minor mystery sub-plot. All been done a dozen times. Same story of a grinch and a person to reverse the grinchery. Same story of a story within the story, a writer writing an article for a newspaper of Christmas. Same story of candy canes, hot chocolate, and snow.
Has a wee bit of a Titanic movie feeling. You'll see.
After all is said and done, it comes down to how much we love the main characters, and if necessary, how likable are the secondary cast.
This is the first time I recall seeing the female lead, and she does not disappoint. She is in my top 10 Hallmark female leads. I would watch anything with her in it. Though not my favorite, probably she's about #6 or #7, if I'm thinking of my favorites right now, I can picture a few that top the list, and a couple more just below that, and she is in the next bunch.
Male lead, I don't have to imagine all the women are swooning for him. Tall, handsome, rugged, chiseled, good voice, nice guy, and in this film he's a pilot. What, what, what?? Nuff said.
I'd recommend this one, but it's not in my top ten, and I've watched about 26 Hallmark Christmas flicks so far.
I like the fact this story takes place on an aircraft carrier, a definite change of scenery for Hallmark Christmas. A Naval pilot and a writer fall in love over Christmas. Same Hallmark formula, same careers showcased, same story of searching the past, and finding love through a minor mystery sub-plot. All been done a dozen times. Same story of a grinch and a person to reverse the grinchery. Same story of a story within the story, a writer writing an article for a newspaper of Christmas. Same story of candy canes, hot chocolate, and snow.
Has a wee bit of a Titanic movie feeling. You'll see.
After all is said and done, it comes down to how much we love the main characters, and if necessary, how likable are the secondary cast.
This is the first time I recall seeing the female lead, and she does not disappoint. She is in my top 10 Hallmark female leads. I would watch anything with her in it. Though not my favorite, probably she's about #6 or #7, if I'm thinking of my favorites right now, I can picture a few that top the list, and a couple more just below that, and she is in the next bunch.
Male lead, I don't have to imagine all the women are swooning for him. Tall, handsome, rugged, chiseled, good voice, nice guy, and in this film he's a pilot. What, what, what?? Nuff said.
I'd recommend this one, but it's not in my top ten, and I've watched about 26 Hallmark Christmas flicks so far.
Total cheese
dragonsngunz30 November 2020
This was the worst movie I've ever watched with a military backdrop... what was your budget? 100 bucks.....
Try not using the same background vehicles. I saw the same police car driving back and forth in every shore scene... and the acting was terrible
Interesting premise
HotToastyRag14 December 2021
Anyone want to see Robert Redford in a Hallmark Christmas movie? Well, he never made one, but you can see a good impersonator in Trevor Donovan, the tough, no-nonsense soldier in USS Christmas. Filmed almost entirely on a real aircraft carrier, this military-themed Christmas special has an interesting premise but not much follow-through. But if you like the genre, you'll probably want to check it out.
The beautiful Jen Lilley is a journalist who takes a vacation with her mother, military widow Barbara Niven, and sister, pilot Stefanie Butler. It's a cruise for military families, but since Jen's had enough of the uniformed life, she's not interested when she meets the equally beautiful Trevor Donovan. They're continually thrown together, and they soon unearth a diary from the 1970s (oh, so long ago!) about a romance that happened on a similar cruise. Do you think reading about someone else will spark feelings in themselves?
Yes, I thought that plot point was a bit reaching, too. And as pretty as both leads were to look at, they didn't seem to like each other. Their banter was full of sarcasm and put-downs, which doesn't make the audience feel warm and fuzzy. And why wasn't Barbara Niven, a Hallmark veteran, given more to do, or at least more screen time?
The beautiful Jen Lilley is a journalist who takes a vacation with her mother, military widow Barbara Niven, and sister, pilot Stefanie Butler. It's a cruise for military families, but since Jen's had enough of the uniformed life, she's not interested when she meets the equally beautiful Trevor Donovan. They're continually thrown together, and they soon unearth a diary from the 1970s (oh, so long ago!) about a romance that happened on a similar cruise. Do you think reading about someone else will spark feelings in themselves?
Yes, I thought that plot point was a bit reaching, too. And as pretty as both leads were to look at, they didn't seem to like each other. Their banter was full of sarcasm and put-downs, which doesn't make the audience feel warm and fuzzy. And why wasn't Barbara Niven, a Hallmark veteran, given more to do, or at least more screen time?
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