The overall set up/plot, location and secondary characters are fine but the main four roles are too whingey and annoying. For a teacher, the lead female is irritatingly out of touch with kids / teaching - and seems to have no concept of her son's age at all. Plus it would be great if teachers really could plan lessons up to retirement, however that's impossible in the modern constantly changing world/curriculum. Danica McKeller and Paul Greene are ok together - try 'Perfect Match' movie if you want to see them paired again.
Campfire Kiss
2017
Action / Comedy / Romance
Campfire Kiss
2017
Action / Comedy / Romance
38% - Audience
6.3Plot summary
Denver. Long divorced Dana Henderson feels her thirteen year old son Arthur Henderson is pulling away from her. It neither helps that Dana is a math teacher at the same middle school Arthur attends, or that regimented Dana is overprotective of her son, she not even allowing him to walk to school, she projecting her own fears on his life in what she will or not allow him to do. Meanwhile, Steve Reynolds, divorced now for one year, is also having problems with his daughter Lacey Reynolds, those problems which started with the divorce and which coincided with her starting high school. Once diligent about school work, Lacey now places no effort in school work which is reflected in her grades and her attitude. Despite Dana having no experience whatsoever with the great outdoors, she and Steve both make the decision to take their respective offspring to an organized four day camp in the mountains for spring break, Dana in an effort to bond with Arthur, and Steve in wanting to do something with Lacey to keep her happy and keep her mind off of potentially painful things like the divorce. Upon their respective arrivals, Dana is dismayed to see Steve, she only knowing him as the outdoor gear store owner with who she had an antagonistic meeting when she was shopping for camping equipment. In spending time together, Dana and Steve discover they are like night and day: Dana is predictable in planning every aspect of life, while Steve is more spontaneous and seemingly naturally nonchalant, he who doesn't sweat what he considers the small stuff. Their differences don't stop them from starting to fall for each other, which is only supported by Dana helping Lacey deal with her true issues which she has not told her father, and Steve helping Arthur come out of his shell. A fifth party and both Dana and Steve's possible reluctance to open themselves up to another potentially painful heartache in a failed relationship are obstacles to anything happening between the two, either at the camp or afterward back in Denver.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Danica McKellar as Dana Henderson
Barbara Niven as Beverly Gowers
Dylan Kingwell as Arthur Henderson
Whitney Peak as Gillian
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 771.6 MB
1280*714
English 2.0
NR
Movie Reviews
Reviewed by
All age friendly movie but not a favourite of mine
Reviewed by
Typical love story
Well me and the wife watched this and thought it to be very good. Yes I will Recommend it. James Welch Henderson Arkansas. 11/16/2020
Reviewed by
Love around the campfire
While not being overly excited about the premise, which is typical Hallmark with a different setting, there were a number of Hallmark films from 2017 that did pleasantly surprise me. Paul Greene is always worth watching and while Danica McKellar is less consistent performances-wise and tends to be typecast and to a variable degree in success she is good when the material and such are good. The setting seemed really lovely and there was potential for a charming film.
The charm comes in spurts but it to me didn't come consistently. 'Campfire Kiss' is watchable and is worth a one time watch, especially if you like the two leads, but it is nothing particularly special and doesn't have enough to make it stand out. As far as the 2017 Hallmark films go, 'Campfire Kiss' is not one of the best. But it is also not one of the worst. Very middle of the pack if anything and a rather mixed bag, with the good things being very good and the bad things being quite rough.
'Campfire Kiss' is nicely made, the campfire setting is very nostalgic and picturesque with lovely scenery which the film makes the absolute most of. Complemented lovingly by the photography. Hallmark films can be intrusively and too constantly scored, especially in the Christmas output, it was not a problem here. While not memorable as such, it didn't jar and was pleasant enough.
Greene is easy going and has a natural subtle charisma. The children are very charming and aren't cutesy or too bratty. Some very sweet scenes with them. The supporting cast do well with the little they have, Barbara Niven particularly. There are playful and sweet moments.
McKellar however was less good. She does try her best, sometimes too much so, but she is undone by her character being so hard to like. Far too severe and her constant anger was too often irrational. There are glimpses of chemistry between her and Greene, but it lacks development from taking too long to go anywhere and generally is far too low key. Would have liked more development to the characters as well and with both lead characters being easy to root for rather than just one.
Did find the script not always flowing and too heavy on the cheese or froth. It does try to have some depth with the ex, but as that subplot didn't work that attempt didn't either. The story is formulaic and could have had a tighter pace, the conflict is also not done well and comes over as too anaemic and shoe-horned in. Everything with the ex didn't feel necessary and the film does too little with it. The ending is too tidy, easily foreseeable and didn't feel earned.
In summary, another watchable but little special film from Hallmark. 5/10.