Love in Whitbrooke

Again Hallmark dropped the ball on this movie. The daughter is a clutz for a person who is supposed to be a highly respected project manager. The story lines are always predictable. Hallmark has made excellent murder mystery series, perhaps they should continue along that genre.

The script and acting were not good. Everything from the word choice to the fake delivery to the lack of conversation flow felt completely unnatural. Even something as silly as every character referring to their own sister as "Sis" just felt off.

And the nephew -- I just can't with the nephew! "My aunt Amber's pretty, ISN'T SHE??????" Please, all future Hallmark movie writers, just stop it with the awkward kid moments. No one is watching these movies for them.

And for good measure, Hallmark included their usual whimsical music to drive every viewer crazy within the first 20 minutes. If you can watch this entire movie then you're a true diehard!

The movie had so much going on. In the course of one week Amber is offered a promotion to become a director even though she babbles like a ninny and can't make a decision, she returns to her hometown to help her parents run their cafe but has no experience as a barista, design and paint a mural because she's an artist who hasn't painted in a while, design and paint a shirt, sell one of her paintings, travel to a nearby city to fight the rent increase for the cafe, babysit her nephew, go on several outings with the leading man including a visit to her grandmother's home, and fall in love. Enter her counterpart who is a Jack-of-all-trades and helps everyone for free and even though he is a descendant of the Founders of Whitbrooke, he didn't grow up there. So I have to wonder if the writer(s) spun a wheel of cliches and then said "we should give these characters speed so that they are always happy, take on more responsibilities than humanly possible, and everybody is so nice to one another...but we'll take out the part where she has perform an emergency tracheotomy because THAT might be unrealistic."

There is a lot of the usual formula stuff in this movie. Woman goes home to help family with dad's injury, sister's imminent childbirth and broke family cafe. Meanwhile she considers a job promotion in far away London. Of course she meets a guy and has to work closely with him for a Founder's Day event. The misunderstanding that creates friction at the climax is slightly unusual but only in the details. Put it all together and the story has no great highs or lows or surprises.

I like Brittany Bristow. She is good with the role of winsome young woman. Amber has limited talents especially in traditional female roles, but her personality is appealing. I thought Bristow and Corey Sevier connected with quiet chemistry supported by a good amount of screen time. So I was content to enjoy their relationship despite a lackluster story.

Several reviewers (dis)credit Hallmark but Reel One Entertainment supports Lifetime and Hallmark. I saw this on UpTV and I think I would have noticed if it was aired on Hallmark.

I think this is a good movie. Having been made during the pandemic makes it even better! I thought the stars were very good together. The fall scenery was beautiful and I always like movies that are made in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I think you should watch and decide for yourself if you enjoy it.