'Love on the Slopes' is not just the first Winterfest film of 2018, it is also the film that started off the 2018 Hallmark batch. Haven't seen all four of the 2018 Winterfest films yet, the other one already seen being 'One Winter Weekend' which for me was rather average. Was not familiar really with the cast, so there was no overall opinion of the actors prior to watching. The premise didn't sound anything special, typical Hallmark really, but the Hallmark formula has worked quite a number of times.
It does have moments where that formula does in 'Love on the Slopes' and of this and 'One Winter Weekend' for me this was the better film. Yet a good deal more could have been done with it and it doesn't completely come together. 'Love on the Slopes' is not a bad film by all means and it has a number of things in its favour. It also though falls short of being great, and has some significant debits that bring it down. Not one of the best 2018 Hallmark films, also not one of the worst.
Am going to begin with the good things. The production values are beautiful, especially the scenery which is magical at its best and the photography does nothing to trivialise it. A big asset as well is Katrina Bowden, who is likeable and acts with charm and spirit like her role needs. Her character was luckily not one of the personality free or overacted ones, coming over as neither too perfect or over negative. The supporting cast are solid with no exception.
There are enough moments of charm and heart and some of the script is not too cheesy or schmaltzy. There is the right amount of light hearted-ness.
Was a lot less keen though on the incredibly uncomfortable looking Thomas Beaudoin, the uptightness is taken to extremes and neither he or his character loosen up enough. A lot more chemistry between him and Bowden was needed, any charm comes in small spurts too late and it just felt bland, too hesitant and under-rehearsed. The romance itself could have been better written, there is not much of one, it takes too long to develop and then it rushes unrealistically.
Despite finding the story not too bad on the whole, it's just too safe and predictable with some draggy pacing here and there and a far too convenient and over sappy ending. The music score is overbearing and is used too much.
Overall, decent but not great. 6/10.
