After being underwhelmed by Hallmark Christmas movies this year, I wasn't expecting much out of their first post-Christmas movie. I was wrong. Very wrong. This movie was well written, acted, and directed. It was thoughtful and never over the top and kept my attention for two hours. I thought the lead actress, Rebecca Dalton, did an especially good job in this very likable movie. Come to find out, she is the wife of one of my favorite Indy Car drivers, James Hinchcliffe. I think it was a very watchable movie that any dog lover will find enjoyment. Hallmark really did a nice job on this movie and I look forward to other new movies in 2023.
The Dog Lover's Guide to Dating
2023
Romance
The Dog Lover's Guide to Dating
2023
Romance
6.3Plot summary
Alex, a dog trainer, considers dogs, her trusted companions, more reliable than people, a belief largely shaped by her father having abandoned her and her younger sister Sarah when they were children. Thus she chooses not to see that veterinarian Jacob, with who she volunteers at a dog shelter, is interested in her romantically, as she is not at all in the dating scene. Although initially reluctant due to the reason for the job, Alex is hired by advertising executive Simon who wants to become an instant dog person to impress his wannabe girlfriend, successful fashion designer Chloe, who dotes on her very anxious pet dog, also named Simon, who hasn't bonded with his human namesake. Alex is convinced by Sarah to take the job not so much to help a human but to help a dog, Simon the dog who probably has underlying reasons created by diva-ish Chloe as to his anxiousness. As Alex and Simon spend more and more time together, they start to form a bond, potentially romantic, which is only strengthened when Simon plays an active role in saving the shelter when it becomes threatened. In addition to Alex needing to get out of her mistrust of people, they may not be able to overcome the hurdles to that romantic relationship, either breaking out from the professional reason that brought them together in the first place, and/or getting over their respective perception of another more suitable person as a romantic partner in the other's life, namely Jacob and Chloe.
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720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 755.78 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Movie Reviews
Reviewed by
Best Hallmark Movie of the Season!
Reviewed by
Low expectations, but high results! 10/10
Listen, I'll be honest and say the previews for this movie did not excite me; however, both my husband and I ended up loving it! It premiered on January 1st, and was fun, playful, lighthearted, had great banter and chemistry between the leads, was energetic and entertaining, and was the perfect movie to jump start the new year. I don't typically enjoy dog training movies, but this one worked for me.
At one point, it looked like it was about to go deep into some family drama, but they only used that information to explain a reaction to something else, and kept it moving. It did not bring down the mood of the movie, which often times can happen.
I would say this movie is best to watch when you are needing a break from the heaviness of life.
It was such a wonderful pick-me-up!
Reviewed by
OK
I really like watching Rebecca Dalton and this is a good role for her. She is always upbeat. She is very easy to look at. She and Corey Sevier have decent chemistry if not sparkling.
One of the first scenes is Sevier's Simon chasing Simon the dog as the dog wrecks havoc with picnics in the park. Sevier tries to channel Dick Van Dyke's comedy by clumsiness and does an ok job.
Simon is rather a sad excuse and needs Dalton's Alex to show him to man up in life both with dogs and girlfriends. Meanwhile Alex is obsessed with her father's abandonment to the point to hiding in her dog world. As so often the case in rom/coms, the two romantic leads help each other change their lives.
Throw in a charity gala to save the dog rescue center (didn't I just watch that movie before Countdown to Christmas or that was probably another channel). Meanwhile the obviously appealing Alex has attracted the attention of a local veterinarian who helps with the gala. Things progress about how you'd expect. No great highs or lows or surprises. One aspect that might set these characters apart is how directly they confront each other with honest evaluations, but only in terms of degree.
This was a nice break from Christmas movies, but other than Dalton's charm, nothing to stand out.