My oft repeated phrase for these Christmas movies is that they are all pretty similar.  That will also probably not be the last time I say those words.  In light of this struggle, I am trying to find some little angle, anything that might make a given film stand out in some manner.  I think I may have found that with Operation Christmas Drop (2020).  Already, you might be thinking that this title sounds familiar.  It is understandable if you confuse it with Operation Dumbo Drop (1995).  Indeed, they are of the same ilk.  The United States military is involved in bringing help to those in need, though the 1995 movie takes place during the Vietnam War (1955-1975), and is based on a true story.  Operation Christmas Drop has far less action, but also has a basis in reality, being inspired by a real effort going on in the Pacific spearheaded by American, Australian, and Japanese militaries.  It is also not about war because it is a romantic comedy.  After all, it is a Christmas film.

Appropriately, it is that time of the year as Operation Christmas Drop begins.  Aspiring congressional assistant Erica (Kat Graham) is out Christmas shopping for her boss, Congresswoman Bradford (Virginia Madsen).  The politician is chairing a committee looking into base closures, and Erica’s co-worker, Sally (Aliza Vallani), sends Erica a story about a possible candidate.  The reason Guam’s Andersen Air Force Base appears likely to be shut down is because of its improbable Captain Andrew Jantz (Alexander Ludwig).  He is featured with a ukelele and wearing a Santa hat.  To Sally, he is hunky, but Erica remains focused on her job.  A meeting between Erica and Captain Jantz is arranged when Congresswoman Bradford tells her assistant she is going to Guam.  Many would be upset about being sent to the other side of the world at the holidays, but Erica has painful memories of losing her mother at this time of year.  Though her father, is sad to see her go, he understands her job.  The person who is less understanding about her arrival is Captain Jantz.  Upon being summoned to the office of Brigadier General Hatcher (Jeffrey Joseph), Captain Jantz’s commanding officer, the young pilot is told that he will be escorting Erica.  When Captain Jantz is asked why he has been chosen, his gregariousness is cited as the best way to charm their visitor from Washington so as to keep their base, and more importantly their operations, up and running.  What are those operations, you may ask?  Captain Jantz is in charge of organizing supplies for people living in remote islands and delivering them by air on Christmas.  Erica’s mission is to identify inefficiencies, and Captain Jantz’s activities are near the top of that list.  To prevent the trimming, he decides to take her on a tour of the island upon her arrival in order wow her.  It proves fruitless as she ends up leaving him stranded at the beach after taking off in his car.  At the same time, he is just as determined to show her that not only is he efficient at his job, but just how critical it is to those islanders who have come to rely on these supplies, particularly after major storms.  She agrees to go with him to one of the surrounding atolls on a visit and not only sees the need, but takes a liking to the indigenous population.  Still, she maintains that anything that happens will be out of her hands.  She is simply there to report, and everything else is out of her hands.  What changes her mind on this score is learning that everything Captain Jantz collects and distributes comes from charitable donations.  It also helps that he is easy on the eyes, and soon Erica is in his arms as they sway to the music during the inevitable Christmas party.  During that soiree, Erica misses several phone calls from Washington wondering about the status of her report.  Further, in the morning there is typhoon that has been detected on the radar, which is threatening Captain Jantz’s ability to take off and make his deliveries.  It is determined that they will work up until the last moment to do what they can, and try to send the rest later.  As Erica joins in the preparations, she is surprised to find Congresswoman Bradford in the same hangar, who orders the assistant to return immediately to the United States.  Everyone is shocked by Congresswoman Bradford’s presence, but Erica obeys.  However, as Erica is packing to leave, she gets some encouragement from Sally to stay and finish the job.  Erica is also moved by the Douglas fir tree Captain Jantz obtained for the holidays, giving her the needed boost to defy Congresswoman Bradford’s instructions when the weather miraculously clears.  Congresswoman Bradford is not pleased, but she agrees to go on an adjoining flight and is suitably pleased by the results.  We close with Captain Jantz and Erica strolling towards a party at General Hatcher’s house, Erica having arranged for Captain Jantz’s family to be present, and the two finally kiss before going inside.

Operation Christmas Drop could hardly be classified a Christmas movie without that final kiss, at least by Hollywood standards.  I chose it for different reasons.  Film producers would have the holidays as a time for falling in love, but that is my common complaint.  Instead, what drew me to this one was the idea of the deliveries.  Christmas is a time of giving, and giving is an act of selflessness.  This is not an intentionally Christian movie, and not once is there a mention of the birth of Jesus, the reason for the season.  At the same time, I appreciate when Captain Jantz gives the motto of the United States Air Force (USAF) as “service before self.”  Of course, the ultimate service was Jesus’ Passion, but there could have been no Passion without God first allowing His son to come into the world.  There are so many concomitant phrases with this time of year: God’s gift to the world, the dawn of Hope, etc.  All these can be used to describe what Captain Jantz is doing for these remote islanders.  If that is not the true Christmas spirit, then I do not know what is.

If I may be so bold, I can make the argument that Operation Christmas Drop is as good of a film to get one into the Yuletide mood as any other.  Sure, it has the requisite romance, and Guam might not be the place that comes to mind for the holidays.  Because of these factors, there is not much to say about it.  Still, it makes up for its sameness by focusing on the power of giving.