Most of the 2021 Hallmark Summer Nights films didn't do much for me, and most of them for reasons that are quite similar. Of course, not all of them were average or less, 'The 27 Hour Day' for example had a lot of good things and 'Her Pen Pal' also had much to recommend. A few had some standout performances in a bad way, like the female lead in 'Sand Dollar Cove'. 'Sweet Pecan Summer' was not seen with high expectations, but was still seen because of liking Wes Brown's acting regardless of his filmography.
'Sweet Pecan Summer' is sadly yet another 2021 Summer Nights film that doesn't hit the mark. To me it is actually one of the worst of the seasonal block. It isn't terrible and Hallmark did do worse that year, but it also could have been much better and one of Hallmark's best and most consistent regular actors deserved much better than this. There were actually quite a lot of surprisingly good and even good films from Hallmark in 2021, especially in the latter parts of the year, but 'Sweet Pecan Summer' isn't one those.
There are things that come over well. The best thing about it is Brown, who has a very easy going charm and subtle charisma that has been present in all his performances without coming over as over-typecast. Am less familiar with Christine Ko, but thought that she also excelled in being likeable and warm hearted without overacting or trying too hard in bringing emotion.
Did also thought the film looked good, some lovely scenery here and the photography complements it well. Some pleasant moments in the music.
For me though, the supporting cast did not work. Lauren Tom fails in particular, she both mugs and is robotic and it made her character very annoying. Actually did find the supporting characters on the annoying side and while the lead characters are more interesting and likeable, the chemistry between them is not there. Too cautious and underdeveloped for it to make much impact. The direction never rises above routine.
Moreover, the script is too cheesy and schmaltzy (even for the setting, the writing felt too sweet) and also very awkward. The story is very predictable and is slow moving and too flimsy, also with a contrived final act that finishes on a too tidy note. While Ko and Brown are fine individually, the relationship between their characters is too underwritten for their relationship to be interesting or investable, the spark is never there.
Concluding, lacklustre. 4/10.
Sweet Pecan Summer
2021
Action / Comedy / Drama / Family / Romance
Sweet Pecan Summer
2021
Action / Comedy / Drama / Family / Romance
6.2Plot summary
As a product developer for Atlanta-based Winsome Cosmetics, Amanda Lin is frustrated in her cutting-edge ideas being passed over for safer, more conservative ideas. After the latest such pass over, Amanda believes it's a good time to take a vacation, and accepts her widowed Aunt Carol's offer to come for a visit to help on her pecan farm in Pecan Hill, Georgia, where Amanda grew up. While she used the guise of a sprained wrist and the need of some temporary assistance to bring Amanda back at this time, Carol really had bigger news she wanted to share, that she is planning on selling the farm to be closer to her boyfriend living on the coast, news that is understandable but nonetheless bittersweet for Amanda in Aunt Carol and the farm being her last touchstone to her hometown in her own parents long having moved away. What is more contentious however is that Aunt Carol had already chosen J.P. Milligan as the real estate broker to handle the sale, he Amanda's high school sweetheart who returned to Pecan Hill three years ago following the end of his baseball career since having fallen into taking over the family business, and the two who had a less than smooth break-up. Amanda and J.P. end up butting heads in the process of the sale, Amanda and Carol who specifically want to sell it to someone who would retain it as a working family farm rather than use it as a property development. If they allow themselves to open up, Amanda and J.P., in truly wanting the same thing for the farm, could both admit to themselves that a romantic spark still exists. Beyond the issue of their respective current living and work situations, a second chance for Amanda and J.P. could be affected by what happens with the farm.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
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Not much spark here
Too bubbly. Omg
15minutes and I want to scream. So bad, I had to pause it I was getting so annoyed. Severe over acting from all secondary characters. Way too over bubbly. Like watching cheerleaders. Every scene is overblown. Overblown acting, smiling, laughing, it's maddening, like eating sugar. Absurd teaming up of 2 leads. Crapolla.
Very Good
This is a very good movie that I think the whole family can watch and enjoy, The acting was good. And the script was well written. Yes, I HIGHLY recommend it. James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas. 1/18/2022.