This movie is actually worth watching, probably because it wasn't actually produced by Hallmark. Good acting. Nice witty dialog. Yeah the plot is not original like most of these movies, but the good acting / directing / writing make it very watchable as a romcom.
Of particular note is the male lead actor (Canadian) who can actually act, unlike many of the male actors in this type of movie. In fact the chemistry between the male and female lead is also very good. They do a great job playing off each other.
As what I call a "Hallmarkish" movie this is a cut above most of them.
Plot summary
Charlotte Meyers is a Chicago-based author and relationship guru, whose just launched latest book is about how she and her fiancé Doug Forth rediscovered love after working through their problems, the book a springboard to a talked-about network talk show. Her brand takes a hit when on the day of the book launch, Doug announces that he wants out of the relationship. Needing to reinvent herself as her publisher Jane will no longer publish any of her books on relationships because of this setback, Charlotte comes up with an idea for her next book that Jane loves: a city girl's guide to wilderness survival. She plans to go through three weeks of wilderness training followed by a one-week canoeing trip to use those skills. She came up with the idea following an antagonistic encounter with wilderness guide Rob Wilson, who agrees to be her dedicated trainer solely in the need for a quick influx of cash. Rob, who co-owns and operates a Northern Minnesota wilderness business with his friends, married couple Mike and Tina Abbott, hates Charlotte's type - privileged urbanites who have no real interest in experiencing the great outdoors beyond taking selfies in it - despite they being the business' bread and butter. Getting over that initial antagonism, both Charlotte and Rob end up being surprised by the other in their inherent being, so much so that they start to fall for each other if they are willing to open themselves up. A happy ending for them and Charlotte's newfound friendship with the Abbotts are jeopardized by her professional obligations in how Jane and the network plan to market her new brand.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Better Than Average Hallmarkish Movie
fine TV romance
Charlotte Meyers is a successful writer of relationship books. Her new book is about salvaging her relationship and getting engaged. She is blindsided when her boyfriend dumps her. Her whole career is put in doubt. Wilderness guide Rob Wilson is tired of his clueless city dwelling clients. They are two very different people and they get stuck together in an elevator. Despite hating him, she has an idea to rejuvenate her career and he needs the money for his father's medical bills.
The premise is fine especially for a TV romance movie. It's not anything great but at least, it's quick. It basically boils down to the two leads. They are relative nobody actors. They do have functional chemistry after a fun meet-cute. She's better than him. They're both fairly fine. She just seems more comedic or at least, she's trying harder to be comedic. More could be done with the style. It's not just about the money but imagination. This is fine.
Half baked
Start with the unoriginal failed-relationship-author premise. Add a totally unlikeable, make that hateable, woman. She's an arrogant,, self-absorbed, know-it-all who can't see the plain reality around her. Then she throws a tantrum stuck in an elevator and tops that off insulting the guy who keeps his cool to get them out. What a great start, but stick with it. It gets slightly better.
He's a little self-absorbed and arrogant himself, but much more quiet about it although he throws an insult or two at her. And a lot of secondary characters are pretty unlikeable.
Of course the two leads' ugly personalities don't last and they change completely. Trouble is, it's hard to believe a person like Charlotte can really change that much.
The middle is mostly about Charlotte being coached in the Wilderness. Sounds like a great opportunity of some breathtaking scenery. Nope. Most of the Wilderness stuff is shot either in the same spot on a lake, or the same clearing in the woods. You don't even get much look at what she can see off the deck of her cabin.
The conflict was predictable, although it has some twists too. Trouble is the twists are ridiculous and the way the conflict blows up is ridiculous too. No one is as stupid as what Charlotte does to make everything go bad.
Kimberly-Sue Murray and Steve Lund have chemistry. The acting is spotty. At times it seems half hearted, or like the actors are uncertain. The story is clumsy especially when it goes off the rails with the silly plot lines. That's not referring to a couple of funny moments which depend a little on the ridiculous like when Rob meets Charlotte's ex, or when he's teaching her to start a fire.
Technical point - a J-stroke does not mean constantly switching sides.