People complain of Hallmark's lack of originality, then complain when a sequel throws a curve ball. In this sequel, instead of finding Zach and Maralee planning their wedding (like every Hallmark sequel) we find that Maralee chose to complete her vet residency (not change vet schools as several others mentioned) across the country after Zach exhibits a bout of cold feet when she pushes for more in their relationship and he "doesn't want to mess up what they have".
In real life, this would not be an atypical response for someone like Zach who watched his parents' disaster of a marriage. Real life is fraught with fear and mistakes, and Zach makes what he later calls the biggest mistake of his life by letting Maralee go and not going after her. This is actually where the plot of a lot Hallmark movies pick up - AFTER a couple that has sworn their undying love for each other has broken up over one of them leaving to for a school/job then suddenly find themselves thrown together for Christmas. Viewers just aren't invested in the old relationship because they didn't witness it and can flow with the magic of the renewed relationship.
That said, I loved watching Zach and Marilee reconnecting over 9 abandoned kittens, each pretending it was just for the sake of finding the kittens homes. In a way, the roles are reversed . In the first movie, Zach was the unattainable ladies' man that Marilee had a crush on and whose heart she finally wins. In this one, Maralee is the successfully business owner, confident and sure of herself, and Zach is the one who, having messed up before, has to show her he's changed and work to win her back. Their first onscreen kiss is passionate and uninhibited, and you feel the heat of two people who know deep down that the love is still most definitely there.
And then there's the kittens, Ambrose (adorable as ever) and Maralee's new cat, Duchess. Zach and Maralee still talk to their kitties and the cats still play a part in bringing them together. I thought the movie was great and found it refreshing to see a little bit of a shakeup in the plot.
In real life, this would not be an atypical response for someone like Zach who watched his parents' disaster of a marriage. Real life is fraught with fear and mistakes, and Zach makes what he later calls the biggest mistake of his life by letting Maralee go and not going after her. This is actually where the plot of a lot Hallmark movies pick up - AFTER a couple that has sworn their undying love for each other has broken up over one of them leaving to for a school/job then suddenly find themselves thrown together for Christmas. Viewers just aren't invested in the old relationship because they didn't witness it and can flow with the magic of the renewed relationship.
That said, I loved watching Zach and Marilee reconnecting over 9 abandoned kittens, each pretending it was just for the sake of finding the kittens homes. In a way, the roles are reversed . In the first movie, Zach was the unattainable ladies' man that Marilee had a crush on and whose heart she finally wins. In this one, Maralee is the successfully business owner, confident and sure of herself, and Zach is the one who, having messed up before, has to show her he's changed and work to win her back. Their first onscreen kiss is passionate and uninhibited, and you feel the heat of two people who know deep down that the love is still most definitely there.
And then there's the kittens, Ambrose (adorable as ever) and Maralee's new cat, Duchess. Zach and Maralee still talk to their kitties and the cats still play a part in bringing them together. I thought the movie was great and found it refreshing to see a little bit of a shakeup in the plot.