Holiday for Heroes (2019 TV Movie) User Reviews

A heroic Christmas

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 10 August 2021]

'Holiday for Heroes' is not the only Hallmark Christmas film to have a military theme. This didn't matter to me, as the military deserve so much credit for what they do and there should be no limit to show any appreciation. Which all the Hallmark Christmas films to have this theme do, some more so though than others and shall always appreciate the good intentions those films showed (others that spring to mind being 'Christmas Homecoming' and 'Operation Christmas').

Of those three, to me 'Operation Christmas' was the better overall film as it connected with me more emotionally and the central chemistry was better. When it comes to military representation accuracy, of the three 'Holiday for Heroes' perhaps fares best with it being the most layered and human. 'Holiday for Heroes' was a nicely done and very well intentioned effort with lots of admirable things. As well as a few things that could have been done better. As far as Hallmark Christmas films go overall, this is close to being one of the better ones and is easily one of the best of the 2019 Hallmark Christmas film output.

As said, 'Holiday for Heroes' is not perfect. The pace in the first third or so is a bit erratic, sometimes it jumps about but it also takes a while to get going.

Likewise with the chemistry between Marc Blucas and Melissa Claire Egan, which seemed disconnected to begin with but did warm significantly once the relationship developed. A bit stilted in the dialogue early on too.

Conversely, Blucas and Egan are both very well cast and very good here. Blucas especially and he is wholly deserving of the universal praise he's gotten for his beautifully restrained performance. Egan has had more of a mixed reaction for understandable reasons, she does start off rocky with some of her line delivery but once she settles she is very affecting and easy to like. The two came over realistically as characters, with flaws not being taken to extremes while showing some growth. The supporting cast do very well, with the standout being Latarsha Rose.

Furthermore, 'Holiday for Heroes' 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 story is very heart-warming and moving, even if it could have been tighter, and a good job is done showing the human side of the military and its loyalty.

In conclusion, not great but well done. 7/10.

Yes Sir!

[adamjohns-42575 · 8/10 · 4 December 2020]

It's so nice to see one of these films that concentrates on the forces element, rather than the trite little references thrown in here and there in other ones.

I actually cried at the end, because it was easy to get behind the cause and I'm not usually one to get soppy about the forces, because I believe that they have chosen their job as have the tinker and the tailor, but you can really see here how important these celebrations are to those left at home and how important the homecomings are for both parties.

Marc Blucas is natural and lovely again and the female lead (Moley, moley, moley) is not one of the annoying ones.

A great cast all around really and a lovely story delivered appropriately and with style.

Riley's back and he's brought a tree!

[GavWaskett · 8/10 · 12 September 2020]

Riley Finn returns from the secret mission he left Buffy for all those years ago, to find Sunnydale much more Christmassy and Buffy to be replaced by Audrey, a local coffee shop owner and generally the nicest person on the planet!

Okay, so it is Marc Blucas but he plays Staff Sergeant Matt Evans and he still reminds me of Riley and if he appears in uniform then he is Riley and will forever be! Matt has been getting letters from one of his soldiers' sisters for the last year (not sure if his friend new about this or approved but let's not worry about that!) and when he is sent stateside, he goes to see here. Audrey(Melissa Claire Egan- an American daytime TV star turned Hallmark heroine), the letter writing sister runs a local coffeeshop and wants to expand but in the meantime she is trying to give a Happy Christmas to as many servicemen and women as she can, but is having problems getting the venue and money to do it. Her and Matt get on fantastically well, even better in person than in ink but she's busy and he's trying to decide what to do with his life, so we are going to have some bumps before the end. But it is a Hallmark movie and one that is based on returning soldiers and love and Christmas, so I'm not worried, it will all be alright in the end and Riley might not get his Buffy but honestly Audrey is nicer and less likely to stab him with a stake.

Homecoming for heroes, Christmas, love story, Hallmark you're crying, I'm not, it's you. You just think I'm crying through the tears in your own eyes!

What a great movie!!!

[aprilcarnaghi · 9/10 · 10 November 2019]

This was such a good movie!! I love the Christmas movies on Hallmark and Lifetime every year. Each year they have some hits and some duds and this one, for me, was definitely a hit. It was just the right amount of sentimental, has great chemistry between the characters, and a really good storyline. Sometimes their military movies are overly sappy, but this one was perfect. Again, in my opinion. Definitely recommend!!

Nice story, Military and Holiday themes in Connecticut.

[TxMike · 16 December 2020]

My wife and I enjoy Hallmark movies, they are predictable with clean characters and clean story lines. This one is better than most of them. The end credits have many references to places in Connecticut, so it surely was actually filmed there.

Small town 30-something lady runs a small shop, which includes coffee from her own bean-roasting operation in the old family barn. She sends "care packages" to her brother stationed overseas. One 40-something, career sargent becomes the beneficiary of some of her goodies and they begin a pen pal type of letter writing habit.

As luck would have it he gets stationed to her area for his last weeks while he decides if he will re-enlist or not. Naturally they hit it off but an obstacle is his job offer to teach at a military school in Virginia, and she is attached to her home area.

Lots of other themes run through the story, most of them involving Christmas Holiday planning for the big yearly festival. The script is very well written and the actors are very authentic in their roles. This is, to us, one of the better Hallmark movies we have watched.

At home on DVD from our public library.

Holiday for Heroes

[JoBloTheMovieCritic · 6/10 · 15 November 2019]

6/10 - sweet Hallmark flick will be one to come back to in future years

Great Hallmark movie

[kejjr-27080 · 10/10 · 29 November 2019]

Hallmark movies can only be judged against other Hallmark movies. They are a special genre. I wished I lived in Hallmarkland.

Mark Blucas truly shines...

[MovieQween-33622 · 6/10 · 9 November 2019]

I usually like all of Mark Blucas' movies and especially movies with soldiers and veterans because they tend to have real heart. Mark is really amazing in the movie and acts his absolute best giving 150%. I didn't really connect with the female lead, Melissa Egan too much. She started off talking very fast and the story was also very rushed at the beginning. I wish they had stretched out the writing back and forth some more so we could connect with them. There were a few distracting extras including Patti Murin who played Anna from Frozen on Broadway. I felt like she was still acting like Her character Anna from Frozen throughout the movie with facial expressions. The toy soldier dance bit at the end made me laugh! The best moment of the movie is when of course everyone comes home for Christmas, also with good music. I wish more of the movie was like this. I agree with the other reviewer who said Operation Christmas had a stronger and more emotionally connected storyline. I also think Mark Blucas had way better chemistry with Tricia Helfer. I think for me, I couldn't connect with the story enough and it felt a little all over the place. Good idea but needed more for me.

This touched my heart ❤

[jrbusiness-64499 · 9/10 · 26 October 2020]

I really enjoyed this movie.

Being ex military and loving Christmas, I know how hard it is to be away from your loved ones. I also loved receiving and writing letters to my sister and pen pals. So this movie really touched my heart.

This was a really nice feel good movie and I'm so glad I picked it for my 100 Christmas movies challenge.

I like military movies and i love Christmas movies so this was a win win for me. I will watch it again.

Salute to the Armed Forces

[glanners-70803 · 6/10 · 3 January 2021]

Audrey (Melissa Claire Egan), a partner in running a cafe, has been exchanging letters for a year with soldier Matt (Marc Blucas). We see them finally meet and how this has an impact on both their lives and the lives of those around them. Both a romantic drama and a salute to the armed forces, you see the story play out from the perspectives of both protagonists, which is nice. It's a good production which is very engaging with great performances, especially from the two leads.

Solid Holiday Film

[doctorsmoothlove · 5/10 · 10 December 2019]

"Holiday for Heroes" is part of Hallmark Channel's 2019 Countdown to Christmas marathon. Apparently they have recently started showing military appreciation Christmas films. My worry and your worry should be that these films, including this one, would end up as a recruiting tool. Of course, it's going to be sentimental.

A coffee shop owner, Audrey Brown, from a small Minnesota town writes her brother letters and sends him care package while he serves overseas. One January, the brother gives a care package to a serviceman, Matt Evans, without a family. The two correspond during the year and you get the feeling he would like to meet her. She experiences a lot of romantic peer pressure from her co-worker about this mystery man. Of course, he is stationed there through no effort on his part.

Melissa Egan as Audrey and Marc Blucas as Matt are experienced actors you may recognize from other films and tv shows. Hallmark doesn't usually have two talented actors in the same film. It's a treat to see their interaction. She portrays Audrey as a passionate, overworked woman who is afraid to spend time on herself. Evans seems settled down into his life, disinterested in doing anything different. The interaction between these two feels natural even if it isn't well written. The actors make the most of the limited script.

The film is permeated with the sadness of separation from your loved ones. The main characters try to stage a supportive event called "Holiday for Heroes" in support of those serving overseas. The local city sponsor won't support it, but you don't get the impression that the film is making a lazy anti-corporate stance. Sometimes city council just does what it thinks it is best.

The film has a deep devotion to the human side of the military. In spite of that, people want to be with their family at Christmas. The mandatory love story ties into this as well. In final review, the film manages to be charmingly inoffensive.

Military centric bring families together for holidays

[bmiller59 · 10/10 · 10 November 2019]

What in this movie is there not to like. Military, Christmas, family,...we really enjoyed it. Being a Vietnam Nam Era Vet, I felt the emotion of sending to Armed Forces overseas care packages. Well done movie. Oh yea, being a SF 49r fan it was great to see Dwight Hicks in this movie.

Didn't like the actress

[rebekahrox · 6/10 · 26 January 2021]

Unlike most most here, I was not a fan of this one. Marc Blucas was well cast as the military man. But I didn't care for the actress who played the female lead, Audrey Brown. She reminded me very forcefully of Denise Brown, the late Nicole Simpson's sister. It was just very distracting. Also all of the servicemen coming home for Christmas was way over the top.

Extremely Sappy Movie

[bachristoferson · 5/10 · 28 November 2019]

About half way through I seriously considered turning this movie off. I kept asking myself where is the crisis? There's got to be something to keep me watching. Fortunately there's lots of commercials so it ended pretty quickly. Really no plot. Just a sappy love story.

I marked this spoiler even if the only thing I spoiled was obvious from early on

[Jackbv123 · 9/10 · 9 November 2019]

I enjoyed this movie. To be fair, I like romance movies with soldiers and/or veterans. I also like Mark Blucas. I don't know Melissa Claire Egan and it is usually the female lead that I gravitate towards, but not here. However, she and Blucas had great chemistry. Their relationship was the hook in this movie and for me that is what makes a good rom/con - screen time developing the leads' relationship.

I like that Blucas can play reserved without being cold. I think he was just right. He was a normally lonely soldier who was brought out by Egan's Audrey. Maybe I attached too much weight to his early portrayal because the lonely and reserve image kind of fell apart with the way he connected with the hockey kids, but I still think that image can apply to his experience with women.

One thing that always bothers me a little, but I give it some leeway in rom/cons, especially Hallmark, is how neatly everything wraps up. It is cliche with soldier-at-Christmas movies that everyone makes it home for Christmas. That trope was stretched as far as could be in this one. It still spawned a few tears. The story is pretty simple and obvious.

I couldn't help but think of Operation Christmas as I watched this. Blucas played much the same role in that too. As much as I liked this one, Op Xmas set the standard in my mind for this type of movie.

touching

[Kirpianuscus · 4 November 2020]

It is just one of very good Hallmark Christmas films. Because it propose more than the nice story, the familiar actors, the sweet humor and the chaines of cliches. A good story about militaries on operational fronts, comunity, siblings, small business, coffee and a story of love wise crafted. A real special film from Hallmark because it ignores some borders, defines a not easy theme and gives a decent , in delicate manner, portrait of the characters.

Well acted, restrained, and accurate.

[Beoduck2 · 7/10 · 30 December 2022]

The military stuff is accurate to a point.

Maybe Hallmark did not intend to make a movie about the National Guard, or possibly Army Reserve, but they seem to have done so. Of course the reenlistment options seem to be for active duty assignments but they were available to Reservists during the war.

If the 1SG is a National Guard or Army Reserve soldier he could be stationed in Connecticut. However, he would have to be on active duty status to get terminal leave. So, the military stuff is accurate to a point. He is wearing a Reserve overseas training ribbon so the military advisor in this film knew their stuff.

Leaving the service, even for a Reservist, is terrifying and there should be a lot of reticence about the choice. This movie captures that well.

I'll Be Home For Christmas

[parksidedrive · 10/10 · 9 November 2019]

Wow! Hallmark scored a hit with Holiday for Heroes. The beautiful chemistry between Egan and Blucas was so genuine. The acting was superbly balanced with a heartfelt Christmas story of support of our military theme. It was a perfect movie for the season- sacrifice and love. People came together to solve problems.

Outstanding holiday sets and lovely music featuring many holiday favorites was a plus in the movie. Your senses were filled with the sights, sounds and hopefully the importance of being with friends and family during the holidays.

A great cast, a great story and for anyone that has welcomed home someone from the military on Christmas Eve- you know this is a special movie.

Great military Christmas movie

[patmoore-89051 · 7/10 · 25 November 2021]

"Holiday For Heroes," movie is great to remind all that our military sacrifice time away from their families at Christmas. I loved the story line. Matt's character well portrayed. However, Audrey wasn't believeable. I think another actress would have been better suited as a couple. Hallmark has many other's that have made the movie more enjoyable for me. I think casting was off with Melissa Claire. The story line puts me in mind of how I met my husband. My parents brought us girls boxes of. Christmas cards and we sent them out. My husband returned, we met and the rest is history to a story book ending. I don't want to seem overly critical but casting is important. I hope this could be remade with another actress. I love Christmas movies to open our hearts especially for remembering our military is never forgotten. Send your cards to those who serve us. Merry Christmas to all our military, thank each for your service 24/7/365.

More Egan please

[texasfolk · 10/10 · 7 November 2020]

I've read all the reviews. Agree with most. Some are just plain self absorbed. This movie is well written, very well acted and sappy as molasses. Yes, not a "white" Christmas movie. A lot of diverse characters. They can all act and are all integral to the plot. Egan is a great actress and yes, she has a mole, but damn is she great in this role. Hallmark should use these two leads more often. Another great Hallmark sappy movie. Isn't that why you tuned in? Inaccurate? Sure. As professional race car driver, pilot, athlete, ghost writer and more (I love my life), I can usually tear up most movies to shreds when it comes to accuracy. Who cares what mistakes were made (32) if you don't know they existed in your own life experiences. My only criticism is that there should have been more of an explosion of TRUE emotion in the last 2:21 of the movie. We've seen these scenes on the internet. They make you quit breathing and your eyes need windshield wipers. They could have done better by watching some of the true life scenes. (Can't spoil the terrific ending). Still overall a great heartwarming sappy Hallmark movie. Just what you've been waiting for. Still good the second time around.

Heartwarming romance for our heroes

[HotToastyRag · 7/10 · 5 December 2023]

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.

Lack of chemistry

[phd_travel · 4/10 · 13 December 2019]

This well meaning military Christmas movie is full of good deeds and caring for others. But there is something missing. There is a lack of chemistry between the lead actors. The actress seems high strung and uninvolved in the romance. The guy seems sincere but it's one sided.

Good one

[sfranks-24486 · 10/10 · 29 December 2019]

This was a good story. Different from the usual Hallmark storyline and no one was dead that they were mourning. The lead actress was a new face and she was good. I really enjoyed this one

Not too shabby for a Hallmark Christmas movie...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 11 December 2021]

Sir, merry Christmas, Sir.

Another Hallmark Christmas movie, yes Sir indeed.

I had the opportunity to sit down here in 2021 and watch the 2019 Hallmark Christmas movie titled "Holiday for Heroes". Sure, I hadn't even heard about it prior to watching it. But then again, prior to 2021 then my Christmas movie needs were fulfilled by just watching "National Lampoons Christmas Vacation". But this year I went all in, and dove into a Christmas movie frenzy, watching as many as I possibly can. And thus it came to be that I stumbled upon the 2019 "Holiday for Heroes".

I have to say that writers Todd Messegee, Lisa Nanni-Messegee and Andrea Gyertson Nasfell actually managed to put together a wholesome and entertaining storyline for this movie, and giving director Claire Niederpruem something solid to work with. How so? Well, sure with this being a Hallmark Christmas movie you have the traditional and archetypical Christmas cheese, but actually it was toned down and "Holiday for Heroes" turned out to be more than just your average Hallmark Christmas movie.

The aspect with the soldiers and the care-packages to those in the armed forces abroad was actually nice. Sure, I am not an American, so I am not well-traversed in the customs and such of the American army and their relatives, but I certainly found this to be a nice touch to the movie. It added more than just your stereotypical girl dislikes boy, but having to work together towards a common goal and falls in love, type of Christmas movie.

"Holiday for Heroes" does have a good cast, and lead actress Melissa Claire Egan and lead actor Marc Blucas actually carried the movie quite well, and they had good on-screen chemistry together.

If you want a Christmas movie with a bit more contents to it than your average sugar-coated romance, then give "Holiday for Heroes" a chance. For me, this is not going to become a Christmas classic, but it certainly was watchable.

I am rating "Holiday for Heroes" a six out of ten stars.

A well meaning Christmas blur

[juneebuggy · 4/10 · 19 February 2020]

Hallmark Christmas movie, what can I say... it's well meaning but the "Christmas" point is rammed down your throat here with a vague story attached and zero chemistry between our couple. Follows Audrey, a frantic, busybody & coffee shop owner in some non descript American town and Matt a soldier stationed overseas who exchange letters over the course of a year. Matt conveniently gets stationed in said small town over Christmas where the two meet and their "worlds collide" in a Christmas Blur.

I did enjoy Mark Blucas as Matt, he made this watchable but there's no real story here just one heavily decorated Christmas themed event after another. No conflict, no chemistry. The story would have benefitted with some more time spent with our couple getting to now each other through the letters. I think the correspondence year passed in about 20 seconds of screen time. Maybe to allow more screen time for carolling.