Cupid & Cate

OK, I admit, I DESPISED the first hour or so of this film. I taped the movie because I'm a sucker for romantic movies and I watched it later. The girl is loved by a handsome stranger, who is her true love, yet she's going out with a louse, she can't get along with her father, etc, etc, etc. Nothing we've never seen before, in other words.

But the film really starts to get good at about the midway point. Peter Gallagher, a very good actor from Hollywood, is absolutely charming in a role that might be a little bit of a departure for him. HE is everything good about the movie.

Unfortunately, Mary-Louise Parker (who was phenomenal in Fried Green Tomatoes) lacks charisma at times as his leading lady, but she, like the film, does seem to get better as the film goes on. I think a Kellie Martin or even a Melina Kanakaredes would've filled the role better. Mr. Gallagher and Ms. Parker have very little chemistry here. Supporting actors Philip Bosco, Joanna Going and Bebe Neuwirth all do an admirable job.

Not a bad telefilm, but Hallmark did better with Saint Maybe a couple of years back.

I like this movie because everyone in life sometime could relate to it. It's a typical story about being with someone you're trying to tolerate versus being with someone who's more alive(like her sister in the movie quoted). I can relate being in a relationship where the parents didn't think I was good enough either because I wasn't prosperous or I couldn't do anything for them, and this is what Cate went through with Philip. He was okay but kind of starchy, but Harry comes along and make everything better. With all happy relationships there's adversities, which is what happens with Harry. A good film which makes your heart go out to them both. A little slow in the beginning, and it could have had a better ending but how much can you expect from a tv movie?

Besides having an irrelevant title, this Hallmark television movie suffers from bad structure. In the beginning, it feels like the traditional Hallmark romance story. Mary-Louise Parker plays Cate DeAngelo, a likable owner of a vintage clothing shop. Her committed relationship seems to be headed nowhere, so we expect this film will be about her journey to find real love.

But the story splinters into a few offshoots that concern more serious issues, effectively leaving the viewer with a narrative chaos.

Worst of all, there are sudden transitions and jarring changes in story that suggest bad editing. Unfortunately, this undermines some good acting. It feels like the integrity of the film was destroyed by some bad choices in post production. Perhaps these were made to reduce the running time, but the final version is no better than average.

How very thoughtful of CBS to finally create a masterpiece that comes very close to the standard set by 'Titanic'. Not only were each and every one of the cast extremely well acted, but there was not a single thing that I didn't like about the film. Funny, sentimental, heart warming and most of all, reflecting the values of human emotions, I can vouch that this beautiful film should have been given more justice by having it made to the cinemas.

Cate is the second youngest daughter of a family of four women, a deceased mother and a father whom Cate would love to do without. Engaged to a bubbling, almost clumsy, fellow born from an arrogant family, Cate faces the dilemma of the possibility of having to spend the rest of her life with someone whom she "might" not love. Cate has three problems; her father (whom she despises), her fiancee (whom she likes, but doesn't really love) and her in laws (arrogant, old farts). How wonderful it would be to just eliminate one of her problems...and that's when a young man (Peter Gallaghan) steps into her life and not only does he solve one of her problems, he washes the others away as well!

Not only are the emotions so well portrayed, but the reality of the film is so real, that you can almost feel as if you're part of the film. The emotions, the feelings and the themes are just so real, one that will never cease to amaze audiences just how true they are. Definitely one of the greatest romance films of the entire history of film and drama. That's the greatest praise any film (at least Romance ones) can receive...and you can judge for yourself how great an achievement that is!

Another reviewer said that those searching for a romantic comedy would only be half satisfied. From what I saw, no one will be satisfied that this is a romantic comedy, not even halfway. This is a family story. There is a very quick rivalry for the lead woman between two men, along with an equally quick whirlwind romance. I'm not sure why the writers bothered with the rivalry. The romance was to enhance other elements that followed.

There are at least two intense plot lines. As that other reviewer also said, one is never completely resolved. The other is probably the more significant one and it is family drama. There are some ugly moments in the family. The apparent resolution was abrupt. In fact, it is unlikely that the resolution shown at the end of the movie would last. It could, but there would need to be more work and more healing. Both of the big plot lines would need more healing after the final credits.

The acting is good. The dialogue is good. The story is fast paced and has a lot of elements. I think the script tried to do too much. I would like to have seen some of the minor elements dropped and more effort put into the conclusion including building up to it.