The Good: Wonderful sculpts, Good coloring detail on R2-D2
The Bad: Coloring on C-3PO, Balance, Lack of feature
The Basics: The 2015 C-3PO and R2-D2 ornament is a miscalculation for Hallmark on just what Star Wars fans will buy.
Hallmark ornaments of subjects I like are not graded on a curve. As a result, the Star Trek and Star Wars ornaments that I collect do not get special treatment or consideration just because I am a fan of the franchises. This year's primary Star Wars character ornament is a flop and despite my appreciation of the sculpt, my love of the Star Wars characters does not make it better. Hallmark completely blew the coloring on the C-3PO half of this year's C-3PO and R2-D2 ornament and given that both halves of this ornament have been done before, it seems like an immediately superfluous cashgrab on the part of the company.
Pretty much anyone who knows the Star Wars Saga (reviewed here!) will recognize the two primary droids from the series. C-3PO is the gold protocol droid who reminded the Rebels of rules and regulations. His companion, R2-D2, was the non-anthropomophic droid that was known as an Astromech droid.
The 2015 Hallmark C-3PO and R2-D2 ornament presented both droids on a single ornament, connected.
Basics
The C-3PO and R2-D2 ornament recreates the two droids in solid plastic. The ornament, released in 2015, are the two sidekick droids, connected by C-3PO's hand on R2-D2's domed head. The droid pair is 4" tall by 2 1/2” wide and 2" deep. Hallmark charged $17.95 for the ornament originally and it was by no means a sell-out at that price. Unfortunately, the look of the ornament made the original release price seem overpriced.
The Hallmark C-3PO and R2-D2 ornament is made of a durable plastic and they are both sculpted wonderfully. The R2-D2 half of the ornament looks perfect for the Astromech droid, with every nook and cranny detailed accurately. C-3PO looks good, but in a very general way. The sculpted aspects are accurate, from the assembled-looking leg plating to the center stomach area having wires molded in.
Unfortunately, the coloring on C-3PO is entirely off. C-3PO is metallic and should have a reflective quality to him. He is gold. The C-3PO in this ornament is brass or bronze, dull and animated-looking.
Features
As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, the C-3PO and R2-D2 ornament could have a function like a sound chip or light effect, but does not. C-3PO and R2-D2 could light up and play dialogue between them, which would make some sense, but Hallmark did not bother with either enhancement to the basic ornament. This is C-3PO and R2-D2 and they simply hang on the tree.
Balance
As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake C-3PO and R2-D2 ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Star Wars Christmas Tree, C-3PO and R2-D2 is very much unnecessary given that Hallmark has done both C-3PO and R2-D2 separately, before. The ornament pair has the brass hook loop on C-3PO's left shoulder. From there, the ornament is heavy to the C-3PO side, making it off-balance and awkward-looking when it hangs.
Collectibility
Hallmark Keepsake began delving into the collectibles market in 1991 with Star Trek when it introduced the exceptionally limited edition original U.S.S. Enterprise ornament (reviewed here!). Since then, they have branched out into other popular franchises like Star Wars and The Wizard Of Oz. The C-3PO and R2-D2 ornament is fairly common and because both characters have been done before as part of the standard ornament line, it is unlikely this version - which is the nineteenth in the set of character ornaments - will explode, or even appreciate much, in value.
Overview
Like most Star Wars ornaments, C-3PO and R2-D2 has nothing to do with the Christmas holiday, but Star Wars fans tend not to care when collecting these ornaments. What they do care about is quality and the coloring and balance details are seriously off, making it easy to pass it by.
For other Hallmark ornaments of Star Wars characters, please check out my reviews of:
2015 Admiral Ackbar Limited Edition ornament
2014 Yoda Peekbuster Ornament
2014 Imperial Scout Trooper
2013 Jango Fett
2013 Wicket And Teebo
2013 Lego Yoda
2013 Boushh Limited Edition
2012 Lego Imperial Stormtrooper
2012 Sith Apprentice Darth Maul
2012 General Grievous
2012 Momaw Nadon Limited Edition
2011/2012 Lego Darth Vader
2011 Jedi Master Yoda
2011 Bossk Limited Edition ornament
2010 Lando Calrissian Limited Edition ornament
2010 Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot
2010 Boba Fett and Han Solo in Carbonite mini-ornament set
2009 Greedo Limited Edition ornament
2009 Han Solo As Stormtrooper
2008 Emperor Palpatine ornament
2005 Slave Leia ornament
2000 Darth Maul
1999 Max Rebo Band mini-ornament set
1998 Princess Leia
4.5/10
For other holiday ornaments, please check out the Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!
© 2015 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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