Operation Christmas Drop is like a cross between The Knight Before Christmas and Holiday in the Wild. The movie introduces viewers to Erica Miller (Kat Graham), a young woman who works as a political aide for a high-profile congresswoman. Think of her as an up-and-coming Olivia Pope (sophisticated fashion included), who does everything from handling scandals to saving her boss from boring conversations.
Erica’s job takes a predictable turn when she’s tasked with traveling to Guam to visit the Andersen Air Force Base. The congresswoman is skeptical about the annual holiday tradition, dubbed Operation Christmas Drop, after one of the pilots, Andrew Jantz (Alexander Ludwig), posts a racy photo on social media. Now, it’s Erica’s job to determine if the program should get cut.
Background information: Operation Christmas Drop is a real-life military mission that’s been around since 1952, when an American aircrew wanted to spread holiday cheer to the small island of Kapingamarangi. Every year, the base has worked diligently to airdrop medicine, toys and supplies to thousands of people living in Micronesia.
When Erica arrives at the base, she’s picked up by—drumroll, please—Andrew, who shows her around. They butt heads at first (like every fictional Hallmark couple), but after spending time together, they grow fond of each other. Erica even realizes that Operation Christmas Drop isn’t a waste of money, it’s a donation-based tradition that benefits hundreds of families during the holidays.
We don’t want to spoil the ending. But if you think you can guess what happens next, you’re probably wrong. In particular, what will Erica’s boss do when she finds her aide supporting Operation Christmas Drop instead of abolishing it? There’s only one way to find out…
