L'étoile de mon cœur

This charming Hallmark film is a romcom about a ballet instructor named Jenna (Alexa PenaVega) and a professional hockey player named Ryan (Luke Macfarlane). It deserves higher marks than most because the chemistry between the two is off the charts.

Because Ryan is injured, he is referred to Jenna for rehab via ballet exercises. This fish-out-of-water scenario gives the film most of its comic relief.

Along the way, the film provides plenty of simple lessons about living life. In the end, both parties are changed through their interactions. If you like Hallmark romances, you will probably like this one.

Pleasantly surprised by this movie! The story kept me interested and great acting by the cast. There were a lot of "ideas" the characters each gave one another on how to improve their lives which past hallmark movies used as the entire plot but they didn't go through with any of them leading to an ending I didn't expect. It was crazy that the lead is having financial trouble and has such a big property! Big house, rental unit, and an unused barn?! They made a rainstorm seem like an ice storm and clearly overreacted by how dangerous it was. Overall enjoyed the movie.

Hallmark movies are a...lets go with special, kind of movies. Often way too cheesy and and gooey. Although this one does have one of the classic Hallmark-plots the chemistry and acting between Alexa and Luke are amazing.

Surprisingly great romcom.

The professional athlete getting help with rehab from a romantic opposite is not the most common trope. It's also a nice touch to make it a pro from a tough guy sport being put with children to learn ballet. Despite the first blush impression of ballet, those people are every bit as athletic as any pro athlete in a major sport and it is especially torturous for the dancer's feet. But after the set up, things go pretty much as you'd expect. The teacher's studio is in trouble and you just know the celebrity athlete is going to do something to help. There are different possibilities as to what that might be, however. One minor twist in the story is that there's another potential pro hockey player that comes into play.

Jenna's backstory is revealed a little at a time and it is a sympathetic one. What I liked about Jenna is that she was always even tempered, even cheerful. You can see how this character would be an inspiration.

I had mixed reactions to Alexa Penavega's Hallmark performances in the past, some very negative. But in this movie I found her character very appealing and her acting decent, if a bit restrained. I love Luke Macfarlane and he fits the hockey player role very well. Together they had very good chemistry, but not quite sizzling.

The climax and ending are sappy and predictable in general terms. As I mentioned, there were maybe a couple of other possibilities. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.

I love Luke MacFarlane! He gives his best in every movie, he is charming, into the character, emotional and his acting is shinny and balanced! Well done in this movie too. Alexa is not my taste (overacting, too dramatic) but in this one she was good, in her character and cool... The story was well developed, the dancers amazing and the cast all very good! Give us more movies with Luke MacFarlane please!