Just the Way You Are

Not one of the best I ever saw, but it was still well worth watching, Yes I will recommend it. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 1/28/2021

A couple (Candace Cameron Bure, Ty Olsson) married for fifteen years struggle to put the spark back in their marriage. Unfortunately, they also struggle to put some spark into this movie. I usually enjoy Candace Cameron Bure's TV movies a lot. But this one was just so blah. The leads have very weak chemistry. Candace does a decent job but she's better in lighter, more comedic roles. She's gorgeous though and when the movie does lighten up she shines. The highlight of the entire movie is the batting scene. There is the charm and adorableness that I watch a CCB movie for. She's really the only reason to recommend this, although I think it will test the patience of even her biggest fans. Ty Olsson is more of a problem. I know him from a variety of guest appearances on TV shows. He's not a bad actor but honestly, and this will sound like more of a slam than it's intended to be, he's just not leading man material. I'm baffled as to why he was cast in this part.

To be fair to Olsson, I doubt even a stronger leading man would have saved this. It's just very clichéd material that fails to connect with its audience. Perhaps if the characters weren't so successful and perfect I might have cared more about them and their ONE problem. I mean, really, I rolled my eyes at these two so much while watching. "Oh no my life is only 85% perfect instead of 100. Woe is me." The biggest drawback to the movie is that it's so dull. I will give props to them for using the original Billy Joel song instead of some generic knock-off by a no-name singer, which is what I tend to expect from these things. Yeah they let the girl sing it in the end but there was an in-story reason for that. Prior to that every time they play it, it's Joel.

I've read that Candace thinks this is the best TV movie she's done yet. Just goes to show how actors and viewers aren't always on the same page because I think this was one of her worst. It's not a romantic comedy, as IMDb has it listed currently. It does have some light parts but it's really a romantic drama and not a particularly original or interesting one.

Both the wife and the husband had their hearts in the right place which can be a rarity nowadays. Families stick together in tough times. I don't know why the rating is so low here but the movie is done well. Old school, a true spouse supports the other and not create more problems. Even during their fights, there was no shouting. I think this is how a marriage should be and not what's shown in "A Marriage story".

It's a yo-yo story about recreating love in an aging relationship. Two people are wrapped in their careers and have forgotten the importance of family and dedication to keeping love vital. Kinda hokey and Slow.

2015 did see some good and more Hallmark films, such as 'Surprised by Love', 'A Country Wedding' and 'All of My Heart'. It did also see some duds, like 'Merry Matrimony', 'Love by the Book' and 'Portrait of Love'. 'Just the Way You Are' has a premise that is not a novel one by any stretch of the imagination, have seen it a number of times with Hallmark since (although seeing those prior to this) with varied success, and it is one that can go on either way of charming and fun or dull and cheesy.

Despite the presence of the more watchable than not Candace Cameron Bure in the female lead role, 'Just the Way You Are' didn't connect with me or come together that well, so closer to the latter category. There are certainly far worse films out there, it has its good things (including Bure) and it is not quite down there with the worst 2015 Hallmark films. As well as nowhere near one of their worst overall. 'Just the Way You Are just has too many flaws, is not particularly good and does not do a good job at all bringing something new or interesting to a premise that isn't really all that great.

Am going to start with the good. Bure is indeed the best thing about 'Just the Way You Are', in a charming and heartfelt performances that shines when the film doesn't take itself too seriously. The supporting cast do acceptably, despite not having much to work with.

The production values are always lovely to watch and the film does start off promisingly. Did like the use of Billy Joel.

'Just the Way You Are' doesn't come together however, despite this reviewer really wanting it to. The story is very formulaic with no surprises, and is also too slow. Especially later on when the storytelling becomes thinner to the point of having very little plot and the number of overlong draggy scenes increased. On the whole, there is no tension, the drama comes over as dull and over serious and the film is too sugary sweet and too sentimental.

Furthermore, the conflict is forced and severely under-developed, also didn't buy how far too easily and hastily it was resolved. The dialogue is full of cheese and sudsy schmaltz with nothing sounding natural or like everyday conversation. Bure and Ty Olsson have very weak chemistry, didn't detect much as a matter of fact and what there was didn't go very far. It doesn't help that Olsson is very out of his depth here and proves himself too lightweight in leading roles, his character is a personality free cipher as well.

On the whole, pretty lacklustre that is made semi-watchable by Bure. 4/10.