While 2021 was a very uneven year for Hallmark (not unexpected, all the previous years saw lack of consistency in quality as well), it could have a lot worse in quality considering how the pandemic would have affected costs and time constraints. There were some very good Hallmark films in 2021, a few of which shouldn't have worked when they had such unappealing premises. 'Love on the Wings of Eagles' didn't sound all that special on paper, and most of the 2021 Summer Nights films did not impress me.
'Love on the Wings of Eagles' was yet another 2021 Summer Nights film to not impress me at all. For me it is the worst of the block, which is not a good sign considering how mediocre the Summer Nights block was. It is a shame that one of the best looking 2021 Hallmark films is also one of their worst written and acted from that year. As one can guess, 'Love on the Wings of Eagles' is definitely down there with the worst 2021 Hallmark films that does nothing with an already eh premise.
It is saved from total doom by the absolutely magical scenery and photography, hence what is meant by it being one of the best looking 2021 Hallmark films.
Did like the charming music score too, which had a nice subtle character and didn't intrude.
The acting unfortunately is lacklustre at best and truly atrocious at worst, with an incredibly stiff and wooden Darien Martin getting the dubious dishonour of giving the worst performance of the film. Rhiannon Fish fares better and it does look as if she was trying, but she did get blander the more pronounced her characters flaws became. The two don't have any chemistry whatsoever and the supporting cast are pretty non descript in nothing roles. Didn't find myself connecting with any of the characters, with Martin's character's perpetual excessive jerkish-ness and uptightness being incredibly hard to take. Fish's silliness and naivety later are taken to extremes.
Furthermore, the story is derivative (could also see a close indebting to the superior, but far from perfect, 'Chasing Waterfalls') and truly ridiculous to the point one cannot take it seriously. The pacing is off too, with a lot of dragging. The ending is one of those easily foreseeable ones that one hopes would not happen, and it is executed in an over tidy cop-out way and yet another unwarranted outcome in a year full of them. The dialogue is on the most part embarrassing, easily some of the worst of the year, especially for Martin's character.
Overall, really weak despite looking fabulous. 3/10.
