A Whitewater Romance

So I have watched this movie for 40mins, that's 39mims too much. I just couldn't do anymore.

The backdrop was stunning that is the only positive I have.

Hallmark generally want us to suspend belief so I did expect a ridiculous storyline BUT so many holes in this story plot - number one who goes on a wilderness trip on one day's notice! With no research! And without appropriate gear! And why would Matt find anything attractive about Maya - she's stupid judgemental and hello you are out in nature tie your hair back!!

The main problem with this film is the lead. Cindy will always only be a Hallmark actress she only has a limited range she always acts the exact same way in every role she acts in. Dull and predictable.

I am just surprised that the aggregate IMDb rating is so high. As of this writing, there are 8 other 1 star reviews and the highest review is a 2 star. It's well deserved.

I'm not a fan of Cindy Busby. She has no depth and usually seems to play the same flaky people. Interesting that the one notable exception for her is also with Benjamin Hollingsworth in Another Christmas Coincidence (aka Godwink: Meant for Love). Busby's performance here is bad even for her. She is so over the top, especially in the first few scenes.

Another reviewer noted that you don't send someone on a wilderness experience with no notice (less than a day). Then you blame her for being late when she had to fly over half the country to get there!!! And penalize her in a break-the-ice game as a result. If Busby's earlier scenes didn't already have me upset, this just adds on. The story continues to be bad for a while yet and it makes Mia into a very unlikeable character. Such a wimp. Mia is so lame that it might have been funny, but I didn't laugh at all. You know that will change as the story goes on.

So many of these movies have a boss ranging from annoyingly demanding to downright unethical. Marilyn is the latter. I found it disgusting that she suggests making one of Mia's colleagues lose his glasses in order to handicap him in the competitions.

BTW: such great cellphone service in the middle of this wilderness. And at least one key plot point is based on it.

For anyone who may be entering the workforce and getting their first corporate job - I wanted to set some expectations in case you've watched a lot of these movies. There will never be a time when you literally have a contest to get a promotion. If you do get promoted, it will never be announced in a group of people without your knowledge - especially if you are relocating to Paris or to a quaint small town. The process is much less dramatic, but at a minimum, someone will discuss your salary. You are much more likely to be assigned a cube instead of a corner office. If co-workers are involved romantically, it's probably going to be in secret and you will never kiss in front of your team.

The premise is fine, but typically formulaic. While I'm sure Cindy Busby is very nice, it seems she's caught in the same formula and it's very tiring. After a while, all I can hear is her squeaky voice whining about some challenge she's facing.

This could have been a much better movie with a different actress, hopefully, someone that displays more bravado. The writers should work to break the formula and incorporate a little less cutesy and more drama. I don't specifically dislike the happy ending, but the route to get there seems like a hike in a flat trail, whereas a good hike incorporates hills, narrow passes, and tripping hazards. Let's see more like that.

I'd give this movie zero stars, but unfortunately that's not an option, so one star it is. I watch every new Hallmark movie that comes out with my 98 year old grandmother whom I care for. So being a 41 year old man, Hallmark movies aren't so much my thing, but I've come to start enjoying them. Well, most of them. This movie without a doubt, is the most cheesy unbelievable one I've watched in years. Grandma who loves absolutely everything Hallmark and smiles the whole time she watches them hasn't even grinned once, lol. Yes, it's that bad. Busby (spelling?) is playing the same character she plays in every role she has ever played, but it's even more cringy this time some how. There's no chemistry whatsoever between her and the lead male. Her character is so unlikeable, yet he somehow falls for her, of course. The entire story line is poorly written, and the acting from the other characters matches it. I get Hallmark movies aren't always believable, that they're supposed to be kind of out there and uplifting and fairytale-ish, this one fell well short of even that. On somewhat of a separate note, Hallmark rub some dang dirt on your actors! People don't camp out in the wilderness for days at a time without a spec of dirt on them or a hair out of place. I'm basically just ranting at this point so I'll wrap it up, I wouldn't wish the viewing of this movie on my worst enemy. Save your self the time and skip this one! There are much more productive things to do like staring out the window and watching your lawn grow or watching paint dry.