Love in Glacier National: A National Park Romance

I'll admit, I watch at least 90% of Hallmark's movies. This was unfortunately just so-so for many reasons already pointed out in other reviews.

My main objection, though, was that despite the title, the movie had nothing to do with Glacier NP. In fact, they made it quite clear in the movie that they were at Fernie Alpine Resort in Canada, 150 miles north of Glacier. Since there is no downhill skiing in Glacier, it makes since that a movie about skiing had to be filmed elsewhere. But still, why lie about it? Heck, they weren't even in the U. S.

Oh, well. Sorry for the rant. Yes, the puppies were cute and the scenery was great. Just wish it had been the scenery I'd been hoping for.

That's how I feel about 99% of everything Hallmark makes today these days. Well, no most of it is bad but a few are lost potential. This was did a bit better. I enjoyed it for the most part but it always comes back to these days that no matter the disagreement the girl is never as wrong as the guy. Which is just tired and boring. Watching an imperfect man next to a supposedly perfect woman is so fake and obnoxious. I know people will disagree with me but I can't I see what do much if media is trying to push.

So for this movie the chemistry wasn't bad. I don't normally like this actor but he's growing on me a little. I've always liked her but this wasn't her best performance, or rather her character was a bit off putting. Arrogance isn't any more attractive in women than it is in men.

I liked the fresh take on the professions of the leads. Also, always good to have dogs. The young lady who played Samantha was exceptional. They kinda dropped the Sonia storyline which on one level was fine but for that reason it was pointless to have it to begin with. And the story line with her sister was removed but unresolved. You'll understand when you see it. Sonia and the sister's story lines had so much focus that it was weird to realize they fizzled pretty quickly.

Anyway, I give it a six overall.

It was good enough to watch at least once.

1. The lead man was so cold. Pitbulls are friendlier than he was at the start of this movie. I'm not sure why anyone would want to be around him.

2. The lead woman was better, but everything about her felt contrived -- especially her attraction to the distant guy.

3. The sister was so corny and was uncomfortably pushy about hooking up her sister.

4. The redhead masseuse was a mustache-twirling villain who of course came across as pathetic.

The writing and production was too unnatural. People don't act like this -- ever. And I can't buy into a "romance" story when the first 45 mintues are spent watching the guy be a stiff robot while the couple demonstrates zero compatibility. Hallmark has much better movies out there where the characters are easy to cheer for.

Great cinematography, actors, and an actual location shoot. Was this even filmed at Glacier National Park?? Unfortunately, the script wasn't the greatest. It was completely predictable which is fine but the ending was a abrupt and underwhelming. These movies typically are dependent on a disagreement to get the couple together but in this case, that disagreement basically went on for the entire movie. Chris was disrespectful of Heather's career until he suddenly wasn't. So while Heather tries to come off as a knowledgeable professional, her sticking with Chris for so long while he puts down her work kind of negates that.

And what was the deal with Riley and IVF treatments? No real resolution there either. Not all endings have to be super happy but this is Hallmark Channel. We watch the network to escape from reality, not to see it thrown in our faces. Where was Riley's happy ending? Or in her case, her Plan B? It was also odd that Riley was going through all this without her husband present. Why wasn't he cast? I kept thinking he'd show up at the lodge and surprise her. It was just such an unnecessary addition to the script.

This movie was also oddly sexual for a Hallmark movie. Some of the skimpiest bathing suits I've ever seen on the network--compare this with last year's Groundswell where Lacey Chabert wouldn't even expose her legs on the beach. And we get a shirtless Stephen Huszar which is fine but the close-ups of Ashley Newbrough with her hands on his chest are not what you usually see on this network. And we get 2 characters openly talking to and about sperm, in a public restaurant no less. I don't have a problem with this stuff but at the same time I'm not really sure what they're going for here. Who are scenes like this targeting? None of these scenes were in the trailer so you've got existing network viewers suddenly watching a movie with a more sexual tone than usual. It just makes no sense.

I visited Juneau AK in 1988 and was up in the snowpack along the Perseverance Trail, mostly in the rain, and I was advised about avalanches in the area from time to time, and being a little too old to repeat that feat, the scenery was the main star of this movie - it was beautifully filmed in British Columbia, not Montana, but that was just fine with me.

Both the screenplay and direction were in the top tier of Hallmark movies from the last few years; Ashley Newbrough as Heather and Stephen Huszar as Chris had believable chemistry - first professional, then awkwardly romantic, then the "Hallmark Breakup", then reconciliation.

The cast seemed to really enjoy working on this, although it was really more of a drama than romance or comedy. Sure, as others have observed, there were times when the acting was a little stiff and signs of a low budget abounded, but I had no problem putting such issues aside, and the remembrance at the close of the movie perfectly fit the serious spirit of this story. Hallmark can really tell some wonderful stories at times, and this one bears repeated watching. I would love to see Hallmark put the whole company behind this effort into more movies, or even a series.