You're Bacon Me Crazy

I don't understand all the moaning about this film, I actually thought it was one of the better Hallmark films, with characters who seemed vaguely normal.

Yes, they all very much follow a format, but this was well-played out and good fun.

While there are a number of establishing shots of Portland, mostly from overhead, the locations for filming are in Canada, which is common for Hallmark movies.

A young lady operating a very popular sandwich food truck gets some competition from a new truck in town, one that specializes in bacon. There isn't much friction, but some, so you know what the story love arc will be. And the story involves a competition, if she can win the $100,000 then she can re-open her grandfather's old restaurant.

My wife and I enjoy the occasional Hallmark movie, they are always pleasant as this one is. This one is part of a two-movie set on a DVD from our public library.

The movie was filmed in February 2020, just before the COVID pandemic became widespread. There is a late scene, supposedly on May 8, 2020, with people gathered in a group to hear results of the competition. Ironically it turned out in May 2020 you could not have had that scene without face coverings.

Cleo has a successful foodtruck. Gabe comes back home for his brother's birthday, and he also happens to have a truck. They meet while buying in the farmer's market and there, Gabe learns about her foodtruck. Later, we see him parking his in front of hers. So, it begins: a little friendly competition, they hang out, they really get along. Until, the real competition arrives: whose food is the best.

I'm not gonna lie, it didn't get my attention the first 20 minutes or so. But then when it did, I actually enjoyed it. It was cute. Natalie was so much better in this movie as an actress than the previous one I saw (A Winter Princess). Michael Rady is great, I really like him. There was a good thing going on between them. At least, they didn't seem indifferent to the other. Likeable secondary cast. . What made me really happy was the "pre-ending" drama: it was explained from both point of views and both of them had good reasons. And they talked about it later like adults! No ignoring, no assuming something they shouldn't, no leaving town!

I see this movie takes place on May 8th, so it's good to see there is a world where is no Coronavirus. If you are in quarantine and enjoy these movies, you will like it. Is it the best? Will you want to watch in a year when you see Michael Rady in another Hallmark movie. Ha, no. It's perfect to have it in the background while you do something.

Despite liking Michael Rady a lot, even in the films of his that are not good (where he has nearly always been a redeeming quality), the groan-worthy title that takes corn and cringe to a whole new level dampened things. Am also not a big fan of Natalie Hall and have been unimpressed by too many of her performances. Still saw 'You're Bacon Me Crazy' as somebody who is on a Hallmark completest binge and who has liked enough of their 2020 output.

'You're Bacon Me Crazy', the second Spring Fling film from 2020 (the first being 'Just My Type'), is better than the title suggests, and is a tolerable effort. It to me is still not particularly good, a case of starting off quite well but running out of steam in most areas later on. It is not one of the best 2020 Hallmark films, but a lot worse was done that year as well. 'You're Bacon Me Crazy' is somewhere around low middle and one of those films that doesn't offend but also doesn't wow in most areas.

Rady is the best thing about 'You're Bacon Me Crazy'. He is such a natural on screen and is a charmer, also looking very relaxed. Liked his character too, the only one to not feel one-dimensional and the only one one warms to straight away. The supporting cast are solid too, everybody gives their all without going too broad.

The production values are decent too, with the scenery being especially lovely. The first half is very pleasant, it has energy, amusing comic timing and is cute without going over the top on that.

However, Hall, apart from relaxing a little later, comes over as immature and overacts. Or at least she over-exaggerates her already exaggerated in writing character's flaws, not much here is done making the female lead character easy to like. The characters generally weren't developed well and were typical Hallmark cliches. Typical Hallmark sums up the plot very well too, which is pretty formulaic. Especially the too pat final quarter, which can be seen a mile away.

Despite starting off well, as said 'You're Bacon Me Crazy' runs out of steam. The momentum goes, in pacing (where it gets dull) and the writing (which gets perfunctory at best), the plotting thins out and becomes increasingly predictable and contrived. While the chemistry is there in spades, the relationship feels rushed and not focused upon enough. The script is too heavy on the cheese and the direction and music are routine.

In summary, tolerable but not particularly good. 5/10.

This Hallmark romance features two main characters that are very likable, making this an enjoyable film to watch. Natalie Hall plays Cleo, a chef who owns a food truck in Portland. Michael Rady is Gabe, a chef who drives his food truck around the country, enjoying new places and new people. When he comes back to Portland for his brother's birthday, he meets Cleo. From the start there is attraction, especially on his part.

When he parks his food truck near hers, a friendship develops that has an element of competition. He is such a nice guy, he goes out of his way to help her. When he discovers she plans to enter a cooking competition in hopes of winning the big prize and financing her dream, he helps her conceptualize her strategies and think outside the box.

She, in turn, treats him somewhat shabbily, but she realizes Gabe is on her side. It's a nice romance that develops organically, without benefit of dates or romantic scheming.

The entire cast is enjoyable, really. And this film rates as one of the better Hallmark stories.