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catherinewaters-91738
Reviews
Color My World with Love (2022)
Uplifting, Touching with Great Acting
Wow, this is now my favorite ever Hallmark movie. The core story is universal: a devoted mom struggling to truly let go and let her daughter use her own wings. The daughter is 22, in love and wants to marry her boyfriend. The young couple both have Downs Syndrome. Their chemistry is lovely and genuine and their acting is excellent. Their relationship and potential wedding plans are filled with pure love, sweetness, delight and a few struggles. As the bride's mom rides the waves of change, it is believable and touching. The mom is also an excellent actor. Supporting cast is terrific too. I loved the feisty, up-for-anything grandmother, the mom's own steady love interest and the friends of the young couple. This is a story of pure young love, later in life love, devotion to family. The bride guides everyone in such a genuine, uplifting way. This movie is a jewel.
Wedding of a Lifetime (2022)
Fun & light-hearted yet sweet
First, let me qualify: 9/10 on The Scale of Hallmark. Haha! Wedding of a Lifetime has a different & fun premise. It's a refreshing change. It takes place during an intentionally cheesy reality tv show competition where a broken-up couple end up trying to win an all-expense paid wedding. Brook and Jonathan were super cute together-I found their chemistry and acting believable and was pulling for them. The plot and the many other characters of tv production staff, family members and other competitors held together well enough to keep my attention. The ridiculous competitions were kind of funny. And the musical montage of trying on of dresses and tuxes & the tasting cakes, etc was cute. This is a light-hearted movie yet the characters still do some heartfelt self-reflection and figure out what they want. No surprises. A fresh premise with that inevitable and always welcome Hallmark happy ending.
Valentine Ever After (2016)
Some unexpected comedy with good characters
I had not read any info about this one when it came on so I was happily surprised by the detour the plot took. An unsure engagement leads 1 new fiancée' to escape with her silly best friend on an adventure. The two gal pals have fun banter and land themselves in silly situations. Certain "souvenir photos" made me laugh. They end up on a ranch and of course there is a Hallmark-esque fundraiser. This has more comedy than most and the two lead actresses are believable friends and funny together. Autumn Reeser is perfect in her role as is Vanessa Matsui. Autumn's character has her choice of two very different men and definitely makes the right decision, of course. I enjoyed watching their sweet romance develop and the beautiful scenery.
A Very Merry Bridesmaid (2021)
Actually Develops Romance!!
What stands out is that this movie actually develops the relationship & romance on screen during the movie. No one was clueless or unrequited or playing the hating game. It was believable and sweet. This was such a refreshing change! Second, I was expecting Hallmark to drag out the "No Birthday celebration" for the bridesmaid, cramming it on at the end. Instead, her love interest celebrates her Birthday as the movie goes along with cute and fun surprises. One drawback is it's a "low vibe"movie. It moves slowly and it has kind of a melancholy mood. (Bride misses her parents who passed away, main character is down on herself and disappointed that her life has been different than she dreamed, her love interest misses his Nana). That being said, the losses and regrets are relatable and there were many cute and happy moments, too.
The Santa Stakeout (2021)
Fun Warm & Different Christmas story
A very festive group of neighbors celebrating the Christmas season many different ways sets the scene as mismatched police detectives work together to capture an art thief. The banter and comedy between the two leads is fun as they work undercover together, pretending to be newlyweds. When they are put on the spot to tell how they met, they both try to embarrass each other. It made me laugh. Rapport and connection slowly develop as they learn about each other and romance follows. Cast is engaging and play well-off each other. The main suspect has immense Christmas spirit and such kindness and warmth. I absolutely did not want him to be guilty! This was filled with holiday cheer, entertaining and unexpected sweet moments.
Write Before Christmas (2019)
Fun & Fresh
Fun to watch! Great chemistry and natural dialogue. Some parts made me laugh aloud. I liked all the characters and the actors who played them including the dog. Chad Michael Murray (He was in Hillary Duff's A Cinderella Story) is still super cute! His love interest is a darling character-she loves the people in her life, loves Christmas, has a big heart and an adorable personality. They were SO cute and fun together whenever on screen. There is the one main romance story interspersed with two smaller storyline romances that I also enjoyed. Way to go Hallmark. This one stands out. My new fave.