Tonight's Movie: Christmas Homecoming (2017) - A Hallmark DVD Review

It's "Christmas in July," and I've just watched a wonderful Hallmark film, CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING (2017).

CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING originally aired on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel. I remember it as a favorite of my late father's -- I believe the word he used to describe it was "superior" -- and as I'd not yet seen it I was happy to have the chance to review it on DVD.

The movie stars Michael Shanks, a longtime cast member of STARGATE SG-1 (1997-2007), and Julie Benz, who's had a long career in television. Her credits include starring in NO ORDINARY FAMILY (2010-11), which I particularly mention because one of our daughters was an extra on that series a number of times, appearing as a high school student.

In CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING Benz plays Amanda, an army widow of two years. She rents out a backyard apartment to Jim (Shanks), a master sergeant on leave while recovering from a serious leg injury.

As they get to know one another and develop a relationship, Jim helps Amanda embrace the Christmas season once more, while Amanda in turn helps Jim reaching out to talk to the widow (Jordana Largy) of a fellow soldier killed in combat.

This is a lovely 85 minutes start to finish, with a very good script by written by Todd Messegee, Lisa Nanni-Messegee, and Donald Martin.

The movie is sensitively and realistically acted by Shanks and Benz, who are onscreen the majority of the time. They have excellent chemistry, and the ending left a big smile on my face. It defines "feel-good movie."

I loved this one and highly recommend it. My dad was right.

CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING was directed by Paul A. Kaufman. It was filmed by Thomas M. Harting at various locations in British Columbia.

For more Hallmark Christmas movie reviews, please check out this regularly updated roundup.

Thanks to Allied Vaughn and Hallmark for providing a review copy of this DVD. CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING may be purchased from Amazon and other online retailers.

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