“Why are you showing a Christmas movie before Thanksgiving?”
Actress and executive producer Candace Cameron Bure suppressed a giggle. The question came from a military child at the premiere for “My Christmas Hero” last month, the latest holiday film from cable TV network Great American Family.
Set on and filmed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, “My Christmas Hero” stars Bure as an Army reservist on a mission to honor a fallen soldier and bring healing to her own family at Christmastime. The premiere featured Bure, co-star Gabriel Hogan and Great American Family president and CEO Bill Abbott in a special screening solely for military families, including a Q&A session afterward.
“Most of the questions were from kids, and they were so cute,” said Bure, a mother of three. “I told them that I think we can enjoy Christmas at any time of the year, and then they wanted to know how we had snow in the movie. They were so practical.”
Cast and crew filmed the movie at JBLM over a period of about three weeks earlier this year. Abbott said from the red carpet that “it’s a beautiful movie that celebrates faith, family and country.”
“The content we have created [at Great American Family] has improved so much and is high-quality,” said Abbott, flanked by both Bure and an Air Force Honor Guard. “We want to be that high-quality choice that serves the underserved audience of those in the faith and family space.”
That’s a goal that Bure, best known for her portrayal of D.J. Tanner on television’s “Full House” and “Fuller House,” supports. The fact that “My Christmas Hero” had such a strong military theme made it even better, she said, as her grandfather served in the Navy as a nurse during World War II.
“That’s partly why this script jumped out to me,” said Bure, an executive producer on the film. “My grandpa would tell us stories about being in the war, including how he wrote my grandmother letters every week and promised to marry her as soon as he got back.”
Bure’s grandparents’ actual letters make an appearance as props in “My Christmas Hero,” as well as genuine photos of her grandparents.
“I can’t wait for my parents to watch it,” Bure said. “My mom will be so proud to see her mom and dad in the movie and being honored that way.”
During the in-person premiere at the base theater, Bure exchanged a set of commemorative dog tags for a command coin presented by Air Force Col. Brandon Sokora, commander of the 627th Air Base Group.
“We had a wonderful time. So many people came out, so I was thrilled, and the movie was well-received,” Bure said. “We felt like it was a small gesture that we could give these military families for a fun movie night out.”
Bure said her family has many military friends, including some friends of her children who have attended military academies. Though making “My Christmas Hero” didn’t give her a new perspective on military life, she said the entire experience reminded her of how much she respects those who choose to serve.
“I’m very grateful for them and praying for the service members and their families all the time,” she said. “I can see what they go through and the challenges they have.”
To that end, Bure, Abbott and the rest of the Great American Family team foresee more military-themed projects in their future.
“We make these movies for all families, particularly military families, and they’re wonderful,” she said. “That’s what these movies are really all about — so families can watch together, just enjoy one another, be grateful and be entertained.”
“My Christmas Hero” is now streaming on Frndly, Fubo, Philo, Hulu, DirecTV Stream and Sling.
