Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
More Hallmark Movie Reviews
My Favorite Wedding
Theme: Go away! Oh, wait, I might be in love with you!
Title: Generic as it gets
Stars
Maggie Lawson: She’s spectacular as Tess, a caring doctor who also perfectly plays sassy and sarcastic.
Paul Greene: Right up there with Andrew Walker as a favorite Hallmark leading man, Greene completes the perfect matchup with Lawson as cynical divorce lawyer Michael.
Overall: The combination of these two makes for one of Hallmark’s most entertaining outings. Likable, watchable … these are people you want to invite over for dinner.
Must-see factor: 5 out of 5
Ending: Perfectly happy
Love Blossoms
Theme: I can’t see that my boyfriend is an idiot
Title: Appropriate
Stars
Shantel VanSanten: Playing the awkward but endearing Violet, VanSanten is a treat to watch, in spite of her devotion to her jerk boyfriend.
Victor Webster: Webster plays the charming and aloof Dec, who’s smart and doesn’t care about money or much of anything - but he does care about Violet.
Overall: These two beautiful people are engaging from the start. The only mystery is why it takes so long for them to get together.
Must-see factor: 4 out of 5
Ending: Slow-build happy
October Kiss
Theme: Success is more than work
Title: Spoiler alert!
Stars
Ashley Williams: Williams is the queen of feel-good goofiness. She nails the role of Poppy, a free spirit who also has a huge heart.
Sam Jaeger: Playing the workaholic Ryan, Jaeger brings the relatable good-guy vibe he had as Joel on the Parenthood TV series.
Overall: These two are more than just a cute couple. The Halloween theme gets a little overbearing, but we want these two to get together – and soon!
Must-see factor: 4 out of 5
Ending: Adorably happy
The Perfect Catch
Theme: You really should go home / Go away! Oh, wait, I might be in love with you!
Title: I see what you did there
Stars
Nikki DeLoach: As single-parent Jessica, DeLoach shifts easily – and quickly – from sweet mom to edgy ex-girlfriend. She is undazzled by Chase’s pro sports success and is happy to call him out on his shortcomings.
Andrew Walker: He plays pro baseball player Chase as more smarmy than charming, but he works his way out of his superior attitude. There are reasons Walker is a mainstay in Hallmark romances, but this role is more “good” than “best” for him.
Overall: Child actor Chance Hurstfield deserves a mention for being a cute kid who really is cute rather than annoying. DeLoach and Walker become irresistible as a couple as the movie progresses.
Must-see factor: 4 out of 5
Ending: Cheesily happy
Home by Spring
Theme: Old flames are the BEST! / You really should go home / Oops, I stole my boss’ identity
Title: Forgettable
Stars
Poppy Drayton: Loretta is ambitious and yet oblivious, at least when it comes to men. Her boyfriend, an over-the-top actor, is all wrong for her. In fact, it’s hard to imagine anyone more wrong for her, although her old flame Wayne gives it a run.
Steven R. McQueen: Wayne seems a little dull for Loretta but he does rock that leather jacket.
Overall: Loretta pretends to be her boss. One of my least favorite recurring Hallmark plots is the faked identity, the big lie that MUST be propped up throughout most of the movie, until suddenly it mustn’t. So this movie is harder to enjoy than most Hallmark romances. I happily suspend my disbelief in many cases, but assuming your boss’ identity is just too stupid. Apart from that, although Loretta and Wayne don’t seem like old flames, they do manage some chemistry toward the end of the movie.
Must-see factor: 3 out of 5
Ending: Last-minute happy
Harvest Love
Theme: Small town slow beats crazed city life
Title: How has "Harvest Love" not been used previously?
Stars
Jen Lilley: Lilley is so adorable that it can be hard to take her seriously, but she manages the role of a busy surgeon well. The character Luna is also a single mom and widow, so this part has more going on than some romantic leads.
Ryan Paevey: This guy! You might also know him as Hallmark’s Mr. Darcy, but there’s no snob factor in his role as farm manager Will. He’s sharp while being down to earth and likable.
Overall: Some scenes are awkward or feel contrived, but the two leads quickly win viewers over with their chemistry. We’re rooting for you, Luna and Will!
Must-see factor: 4 out of 5
Ending: Quaintly happy
Sun, Sand and Romance
Theme: Work isn’t everything / I can’t see that my boyfriend is an idiot
Title: It’s a pretty creative title, comparatively speaking
Stars
Tricia Helfer: Starring as Kate, a publishing executive with a smarmy boyfriend, Helfer manages an unwieldly plot.
Paul Campbell: As Shep, Campbell is the heart of this movie with his casual but earnest outlook on life. The best scenes involve Campbell, who seamlessly fits his character.
Overall: Storylines about careers are especially unrealistic in this Hallmark offering. Kate’s “Peg the Platypus” children’s story is not nearly as cute or inspiring as the movie wants it to be. And the writers apparently have no understanding at all of the practice of “family law.” Still, the two Canadian leads (#ThankYouCanada) are easy to watch, and they make the best of a weak subplot.
Must-see factor: 3 out of 5
Ending: Live-for-today happy
Love on the Sidelines
Theme: Success doesn’t have to make you a jerk
Title: The word “sidelines” makes it sound secondary to something more important. What’s more important than love?
Stars
Emily Kinney: I love this woman – or at least this character. She plays Laurel, who really needs her new job as an executive assistant and yet calls her new boss “chauvinistic” within moments of meeting him. Go, Laurel!
John Reardon: It’s hard to like spoiled superstar Danny Holland but Reardon eventually brings him up to a place where he might be good enough for Laurel.
Overall: This Hallmark offering has a more believable misunderstanding as an obstacle to the relationship, so the suspended disbelief is not a strain. Kinney is such a joy to watch that it’s like rooting for a baby bunny in the wild. DVR this and save half to watch later, so you have something to look forward to.
Must-see factor: 5 out of 5
Ending: Deservedly happy
The Convenient Groom
Theme: My engagement is doomed but there’s this other guy …
Title: As Hallmark titles go, this one ranks high for creativity
Stars
Vanessa Marcil: Marcil makes a great Kate, an online advice guru whose life goes haywire. She doesn’t want to be rescued, but she gets a knight in shining armor anyway.
David Sutcliffe: Playing Lucas, Sutcliffe must be spectacular because I don’t think of Gilmore Girls and his long tenure on GG, even though I’m a devoted fan. I don’t see Christopher; I see Lucas, and that’s a high compliment.
Overall: Marcil and Sutcliffe are well-matched, especially after Kate gets dumped by her fiancé in a disastrous way. Both actors are capable and believable, and together they have more than a little chemistry.
Must-see factor: 4 out of 5
Ending: Warm-fuzzy happy
Wedding March 4: Something Old, Something New
Theme: The world is imploding! Oh, never mind
Title: It’ll do
Stars
Josie Bissett: Bissett is no slouch in the acting world, but the role of uptight Olivia has never felt right for her.
Jack Wagner: As former pop star Mick, Wagner is believable enough to almost fade into the background.
Merritt Patterson: The addition of Patterson and her fiancé is a welcome way to keep this movie series moving forward.
Andrew Walker: A frequent Hallmark star, he’s an asset to any project.
Overall: Of all of the Hallmark movies that could yield a sequel – and another and another – it’s a mystery as to why this one was picked. The original was tedious, and the followups spent too much time on the annoying children of Mick and Olivia. No. 4 is the best of the lot, at least, with a more interesting focus on Patterson’s and Walker’s characters.
Must-see factor: 3 out of 5
Ending: Wait-for-it happy