Before I watched the movie I read an interview with the writer/director, Adam White, and was curious to see if he pulled off creating a Hallmark-esque movie that men could enjoy. I also read reviews highlighting good points and some negative ones too. In short, I enjoyed the movie quite a bit and certainly feel it's worthy of re-watching.
I honestly thought the cast was pretty great. The acting talents of the adult characters kept me engaged in the story and everyone seemed natural cohesive. Everyone felt well-casted, although I would have liked to see more diversity in the main characters. Summer Bellessa did an admirable job leading the story, while Kevan Moezzi and Jason Gray played their roles quite well.
The story was relatable and interesting. Strangely, one bad review I read claimed the opposite, but after seeing the movie, I can only deduce that the reviewer must have been reviewing the trailer, not the movie. The movie laid-out everything; the background stories are well-established and the motives and conflicts are clearly reasonable.
I enjoyed the characters and performances of many of the supporting characters. Jon Heder's (Samantha's brother) hilarious post credit scene may be missed by some who didn't stay for the credits. Pat Finn (Samantha's father) was consistently funny and enjoyable. Every scene with Grandpa Joe, Barry Corbin, was enjoyable and often hilarious.
Adam White delivered on his promise to create a Hallmark-esque movie that all can enjoy. I laughed often and I was touched by the serious moments as well. I'm certain I will re-watch this film over the years.
