Christmas Homecoming

Christmas Homecoming is a heartwarming family drama movie from 2017, directed by Paul A. Kaufman. The movie stars Julie Benz as a military captain, Amanda Benton, who comes back home for the holidays after serving her country abroad. Michael Shanks plays her former high school sweetheart, Jim Mullins, who now works as a firefighter in their hometown of Cloverdale. Lauren K. Robek portrays Amanda's younger sister, Lucy, who is excited to have her big sister home for Christmas.

The movie begins with Amanda returning home to Cloverdale, where she is greeted warmly by her family and friends. However, as she tries to adjust to civilian life, she finds it difficult to reconnect with her loved ones. She struggles with PTSD and survivor's guilt, experiencing flashbacks and nightmares of her time in the military. She also faces challenges with her family, particularly her father, who is a war veteran himself and cannot understand why Amanda chose to serve her country instead of settling down and starting a family.

As Amanda tries to find her footing, she reconnects with Jim, who still harbors feelings for her after all these years. The two begin to spend time together, reminiscing about old times and catching up on each other's lives. Meanwhile, Lucy is busy planning a special Christmas gala to celebrate Amanda's homecoming. However, things don't go as planned when Amanda's PTSD symptoms flare up during the event, leading to a dramatic confrontation with her family.

Despite the challenges she faces, Amanda begins to find her sense of purpose when she discovers a local charity that helps military families in need. She volunteers her time and uses her military connections to help the charity establish a program that supports soldiers returning from overseas. With the help of her friends, family, and Jim, Amanda is able to overcome her struggles and find true meaning in the holiday season.

Christmas Homecoming is a poignant and heartwarming movie that explores the challenges faced by military veterans when they return home. The movie tackles important themes such as post-traumatic stress disorder, survivor's guilt, and family dynamics in a thoughtful and sensitive manner. The performances by Julie Benz, Michael Shanks, and Lauren K. Robek are outstanding, bringing depth and authenticity to their characters. The movie is an excellent addition to any holiday movie marathon, offering a message of hope, love, and resilience that transcends the season.