A Very Quantico Christmas
In “Christmas on Obligation,” Hallmark’s newest Christmas romp, director Jake Van Wagoner takes audiences to Quantico, Virginia, for a vacation caper that tackles a topic all too acquainted to many Marines and veterans: Standing responsibility on Christmas. Whereas the comfy flick options most of the standard-issue tropes that the vacation romance style is thought for, the Marine Corps angle will make it significantly intriguing to those that have served. Inside the first jiffy, it was clear that the filmmakers possessed greater than a cursory understanding of the Marine Corps, however anybody who has served (particularly Marine officers) will discover the evident misfires to be a riot.
This isn’t the primary time Hallmark has ventured into military-themed work. Actually, it is an space they’ve said they wish to give attention to lately. So how does this one stack up? This assessment will cowl the essential plot, the army accuracy, and lastly, a suggestion on whether or not it’s best to test it out.
Bitter Rivals at The Primary Faculty
The film begins with 2nd Lieutenant Blair Birch (performed by Janel Parrish) and 2nd Lieutenant Josh Cannon (performed by Parker Younger) nearing commencement at The Primary Faculty (also referred to as “TBS,” a six-month course that every one Marine officers attend after commissioning, however earlier than their occupational faculty, supposed to arrange lieutenants to function provisional infantry platoon commanders). The Hallmark synopsis describes their background at this level as follows:
“Blair and Josh have been bitter rivals ever since they educated collectively at The Primary Faculty in Quantico, the place they had been each prime of the category, competing to be primary.”
The 2 gear as much as run the impediment course on a snowy day in “Quantico” (that appears suspiciously just like the Rocky Mountains in Utah). Whereas racing, they comment to one another about what job they’re gunning for with “choice day” looming on the horizon. They each wish to be infantry and (apparently) solely certainly one of them might be awarded this illustrious honor. An argument ensues as Josh makes it clear that he wants that infantry slot due to how a lot it’s going to imply to his household. Blair refuses to again down, nevertheless, and we’re left with the understanding that the infantry place is hers.
Quick ahead just a few years, and Blair is now a captain on the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (also referred to as “MCWL”) in Quantico, Virginia. Her time at MCWL is coming to an finish, and Blair, aggressive as ever, is lifeless set on being a Firm Commander at TBS subsequent. On the unit Christmas social gathering, she talks to her boss, Colonel Clarkin (performed by Antonio D. Charity) in hopes that he can interact her monitor (the person liable for issuing orders to follow-on assignments) on her behalf concerning the Firm Commander place. However when her former rival Josh reveals up on the social gathering, chaotic shenanigans begin.
Obligation on Christmas
Sparks fly as the 2 cross paths as soon as extra in Quantico. The following argument ends in Josh unintentionally knocking a cake into among the company, well dressed of their MARPAT camouflage (why they’re carrying this uniform at an after-hours Christmas social gathering is rarely made clear). Colonel Clarkin, enraged at his closing Christmas social gathering earlier than retirement being ruined, takes intention on the two rambunctious captains:
“Monday morning. My Workplace. Oh-Eight-Hundred.”
Monday morning rolls round, and each Blair and Josh are six-and-center in entrance of Colonel Clarkin’s desk. The punishment for wrecking the Christmas social gathering? Each of them will stand responsibility on Christmas; a accountability they need to shoulder for twenty-four hours… collectively.
Whereas each loudly groan that that they had necessary household obligations for Christmas, they finally settle for their destiny. The responsibility will go from 0900 on Christmas Eve til Christmas morning. Their households, chock stuffed with former Marines themselves, are in disbelief that the 2 couldn’t keep their aggressive natures for one evening to protect their Christmas traditions. Josh’s brother is deployed, and his nephew might be devastated that his uncle gained’t be there on Christmas Eve. Blair’s father, a retired Sergeant Main, is disillusioned that he’ll now be spending Christmas with out his daughter whereas he tries to navigate the season in retirement with out his just lately deceased spouse, who had cherished Christmas (a deceased member of the family that completely cherished Christmas will come as no shock to anybody who has seen greater than a few these kind of motion pictures). There’s a subplot within the film that follows her dad (performed by Peter Jacobson, a Hallmark staple) going by a regimented Christmas operational plan whereas Blair’s good friend, Captain Zoe Butler (performed by Aleta Myles), tries to interrupt him from his overly army fashion now that he’s retired.
The weary outgoing responsibility crew excitedly welcomes the pair to Christmas responsibility, and that is when the plot actually kicks in. A pending snowstorm has cancelled all mail supply to the bottom and… apparently, everybody in base housing had their Christmas presents slated to reach on Christmas Eve. Recognizing that Christmas is now going to be ruined for a whole lot of Quantico youngsters, Josh and Blair spring into motion. Blair and Josh march to Colonel Clarkin’s workplace (who was fortunately nonetheless at work on Christmas Eve) and pitch a plan to dispatch a 5-ton Motor Transport asset (which, in actuality, has not been in Marine Corps service in many years), abandon their submit because the Officers of the Day, after which decide up all of the toys for the households in Quantico, after which ship them to base housing earlier than the children get up on Christmas morning.
A logistically difficult endeavor that may put Santa himself to disgrace!
Colonel Clarkin approves the plan on the situation that in addition they decide up a selected pink skateboard for his granddaughter. The stakes are excessive sufficient as it’s, however they’re compounded by the inference that Blair’s dream project as a TBS Firm Commander might be pulled if she fails to return by.
The 2 put their variations apart to work collectively to supply a merry Christmas for the children in base housing. In doing so, they go to a number of off-base toy shops, of their camouflage uniform besides (this isn’t approved by Marine Corps requirements, however this emergency requires all suspension of disbelief to be thrown out the window). Their aggressive natures flare all through the journey, however by all of it, they study that they make a superb staff. Their 5-ton breaks down as a result of snowstorm, they usually find yourself lacking their time hack. They finally find yourself on Colonel Clarkin’s “good checklist”, nevertheless, by finishing the supply dressed as Santa and an elf, and thereby saving Christmas. The 2 embrace and kiss, in costume, because the feel-good film ends on a excessive word.
What the Film Will get Mistaken about Marine Life
Whereas there doesn’t appear to have been any official cooperation with the Marine Corps and Hallmark, there are a variety of issues within the film that point out an understanding of Marine Corps life. Not stunning provided that the chief producer, Ryan Murphy, is himself a Marine Corps veteran.
Nevertheless there are a variety of artistic selections that aren’t according to the truth of Corps life. A few of which had been caught in stride throughout the assessment.
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For starters, the setting is meant to be Quantico, however the snowy Rocky Mountain backdrop is in stark distinction to the truth of the “Quantico highlands” (as TBS alumni jokingly name it). The film was truly filmed in Utah, making for a stupendous Christmas aesthetic, however not life like for the supposed setting of the film. Moreover, it’s unusual for Quantico to get snow in December; a lot much less snowstorms that may forestall Christmas deliveries.
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Whereas at TBS, Josh says that after TBS, he plans to go to IOC (Infantry Officers Course) in “Washington, D.C.,” which doesn’t make sense since IOC is actually co-located with TBS at Camp Barrett, in Quantico.
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The “Firm Commander” billet at TBS that Blair is so determined to win is definitely a billet for a Main, not a Captain. Realistically, as a Captain, she may hunt down a place as a Workers Platoon Commander (or “SPC” as they’re known as) – although doing this following a tour at MCWL would point out an excessive amount of day out of the Fleet Marine Pressure to be fascinating for her profession development.
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Officers driving tactical autos? Neglect about it! Marine Corps Order 11240.66D (licensing coverage for army motor autos) stipulates that officers should not allowed to function these autos besides in sure circumstances (which weren’t met within the film). To not point out that substituting a 7-ton for a 5-ton was an fascinating alternative provided that the 5-ton was phased out in favor of the Medium Tactical Automobile Substitute (“MTVR”) twenty years in the past.
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Your entire premise of the film can also be comparatively unhinged from a Marine Corps perspective. 1) Obligation can’t be assigned a punishment as depicted within the film. I’m keen to droop my disbelief a bit right here, nevertheless, once I contemplate that maybe Colonel Clarkin was making an attempt to be a matchmaker for these two younger officers. 2) The responsibility officers leaving their submit to ship toys for Christmas, whereas heartwarming, utterly defeats the aim of getting officers stand responsibility to start with. What if one thing occurred on base? Who had the watch?!
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Uniforms. Josh and Blair each put on their MARPAT camouflage out within the civilian neighborhood, which is an enormous no-no for Marines. However they principally put on their uniform with delight; each Josh and Blair appear like prototypical Marine Corps officers. If I noticed both of them in uniform on base, I most likely wouldn’t query it. Blair’s eight-point cowl, nevertheless, seems prefer it’s recent from the Marine Corps Trade and never correctly damaged in. It is not an unusual search for a boot, maybe, however definitely unbecoming of a rock-star Captain.
Wrapping Up – Ought to You Watch “Christmas on Obligation”?
Sure! Should you love the standard fare of Hallmark Christmas motion pictures, then this one will scratch that itch. Or – in case you are within the army and in search of one thing to cringe watch, then you’ll not be disillusioned. The film is enjoyable, heartwarming, and offers the followers what they need. And it would not be a Hallmark Christmas film if we did not all study just a little bit concerning the magic of Christmas ourselves by the top. Extremely really helpful for any Marines standing responsibility this vacation season.
Christmas on Obligation is airing on the Hallmark community and is accessible for streaming on Hallmark+.
