Operation Christmas Drop

 Last year I reviewed a movie called Holiday in the Wild with Rob Lowe and Kristin Davis and Operation Christmas Drop definitely gives the same sort of vibes. Both are set in non-traditional locations, both have women out of their comfort zones and both have an additional feel-good theme on top of the usual Christmas warmth. Operation Christmas Drop is based on the true story of an air force base that delivers medicine, supplies, book and other goods to rural islands in the South Pacific at Christmas time. 

Our movie begins with a Erica, a hard working assistant to a powerful Congresswoman. She's overworked but has a promotion in her sights and is laser focused on getting it. Right before Christmas she's sent on an assignment to the South Pacific to assess an air force base and see if it should be shut down. Scratch that, she's basically told to go and find an excuse to shut it down. With a chip on her shoulder she arrives on the tropical isle and is paired up with the perpetually positive and Christmas cheer filled Andrew. Andrew is likewise laser focused but his goal is to keep the Christmas drop happening.

With a lot of flirting, a few practical jokes, trips to neighboring islands and lots of Christmas lights Andrew helps Erica catch the vision of the Christmas drop and reignite the Christmas spirit in her heart.  But when a hurricane and the Congresswoman begin throwing wrenches in their plans can these two plucky kids find a way to save the day? 

I like this trend of having something more interesting going on in the movie aside from the two main characters stumbling through awkward conversations and miscommunications. It gives the film a little more oomph. I loved seeing the elephant sanctuary in Holiday in the Wild last year and I enjoyed seeing the  humanitarian work being done in Operation Christmas Drop. The movie also features great musical numbers and some locals who are actually involved in making the real life Christmas drop happen every year. 

If you're in the mood to pretend like the weather outside isn't so frightful, this sun-filled, tropical movie is just the ticket. Operation Christmas Drop can be streamed on Netflix.