A Very Venice Romance

Amy (Stephanie Leonidas) works for a food supplement company. They are trying to turn their non-tasty supplements into tasty meal kits. Their snotty French chef quits when Amy tries to brings up issues with the food. She has to find a new chef. She targets Italian chef Marcello Favero in Venice who promptly turns her down. She heads to Venice to convince him in person.

I love the exterior shots of Venice. There is some fine food porn. Everything else is less lovely. First, the story doesn't make sense unless he is the last chef on Earth. He is cute, but let's not be ridiculous. After he refuses so quickly, I would move on to the next person on the list. I would first make a list. Anyways, a famous name is more important in her case. There are ways around this problem. This movie isn't even trying.

"Cooking should be like love, entered into with abandon."

Packaged meals to your home that are loaded with supplements is what the company Blossom sells and Amy is tasked with finding a new chef once theirs quits. Amy has her heart set on an Italian chef named Marcelo, only he hangs up on her when she calls. Not willing to take no for an answer, Amy flies all the way to Venice and signs up for Marcelo's Italian cooking class.

Raniero Monaco Di Lapio, who plays Marcello Barone, is super handsome and has wonderful chemistry with the female lead, played by Stephanie Leonidas. He and the gorgeous Italian backdrop are the big selling points of this film, but I really enjoyed the Italian soundtrack which had some lovely pop numbers in it.

More than just one setting the footage allows you to take a mini-armchair vacation, which as the weather turns for fall is not only needed but absolutely lovely. I highly recommend this to my fellow romantics out there who might like a sunset kiss under the Bridge of Sighs, where one can be blessed with eternal love.

If you are a lover or food and travel, this is the movie for you! The movie is mainly set in Venice and beautifully shot. It is easy to fall in love with the lead characters Amy and Marcello who have terrific chemistry. The strong ensemble cast puts the movie head and shoulders above the usual Hallmark romcom, and notably includes the highly acclaimed British actress, Francis Barber. The movie is like a warm hug on a cold day. It may not be action packed but it is nothing short of charming. The characters are genuine, likeable and compelling, and the acting is superb all round. The score is also unique in that it has orchestral soundscapes as sweeping as the drone shots - again not often seen in Hallmark movies of the week. Overall, this is a feel good movie worth the watch.

The views of Venice make this movie. As for the plot, it's a typically predicable Hallmark movie plot about two people who clash a little and then find their mural attraction too much to resist. The woman works for a business that adds supplements to prepared meals. The main chef quits so she needs to hire a new chef and decides on a terrific Italian chef. When he wasn't positive to her advances over the phone, she decided that she has to fly to Venice to see him in person to make her pitch. Little things bother me and this one had the female star in NYC in the afternoon calling the man who is in Venice. She says to her father "I have to call now because it's morning in Venice". NOT. Venice is 6 hours ahead of Eastern time so afternoon in NYC is nighttime in Venice, not morning.

This romance from Hallmark is enjoyable for a variety of reasons. First of all, it is set in Venice (Italy), and it is great to see the architecture and the street scenes. Secondly, there is some very nice background music, adding to enjoyment of the scenery.

The story is not so extraordinary. A young woman goes to Venice to recruit a chef to curate a line of food products for her employer. Naturally, she "finds" herself in the Queen of the Adriatic while simultaneously finding love.

The two leads are very likable. Stephanie Leonidas is charming as Amy, the recruiter, and Raniero Monaco Di Lapio plays the chef, Marcello. I wouldn't say the romantic chemistry is off the charts, but they make a cute couple.