Un amour hors du temps

Really enjoyed this. It was engaging & nicely written. It was not the usual Hallmark formula and I think it gave Niall Matter a chance to really shine & stretch his talent.

I had very high hopes for this one, and I was not disappointed. It was written by C. J. Cox who penned one the best Hallmarks in recent years, Love Strikes twice, as well as the Reese Witherspoon favorite Sweet Home Alabama and Rene Zellweger's New in Town. It starred Niall Matter as Rip Van Winkle's estranged son who travels from his time to ours and meets single mother Torrey de Vito, and her son and father who are the current owners of the old Van Winkle property. Time Travel stories are always a safe bet and Niall Matter is a favorite of mine. Torrey Devito, not so much, but she was fine in this. Niall seems to have an air of melancholy behind his eyes, which was perfect for this role.

Most of the movie is relationship building with Rip helping Torrey's bullied son, dealing with the jealous suspicion of his rival for Torrey's affection, a police deputy, and of course the slow burn romance.

The writing was full of authentic details, bringing in Washington Irving's tale and farm machinery of the era for example. Flax Breaks--Who Knew? Not to mention Ben Wilkinson attempting to explain the science behind time travel to a stunned Torrey and a bewildered Rip.

The romantic conclusion was a little too pat, with lots of future challenges remaining unaddressed. But the reach across time, by means of a backpack, provided a reconciliation between Rip and his misunderstood father that was touching and satisfying.

Rip in Time felt like a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie from years ago. C. Jay Cox wrote a wonderful script directed beautifully by Jessica Harmon. The casting was perfect. Niall Matter gave a very nuanced performance as Rip and his chemistry with Torrey Devitto felt natural as did his chemistry with Eric Keenleyside and Joshua Black.

They even filmed part of the movie in New York-how great is that!

Loved it so much I actually didn't want it to end-haven't had that happen with a Hallmark movie in a while.

8.0 stars.

I've seen a few fantastic time travel movies by Hallmark so far, and this is one. I'd say Hallmark has the time travel concept ironed out and I don't have to cross my fingers every time one pops up in my DVR. That being said, I really enjoyed this movie, so much that I strongly recommend it.

The story is about a soldier from 250 years ago who fought in the revolutionary war and is mysteriously transported through time to 2022. He brings an authentic representation of a man from that era. There are very few inconsistencies as far as I can see. I am a stickler for the details, and for that aspect "Rip in Time" meets my approval. Yes, there are times after the mid point that Rip seems to be familiar with current jargon and slang, but maybe he is a quick study. I was entertained non-stop with his portrayal of the man being introduced to a world where electricity, tractors, and skyscrapers are commonplace, but to him seem apocalyptic.

A psychiatrist examines him and her professional opinion is intriguing, and I'd like to believe that would be the case in the real world. Most likely her opinion would be ignored and he would just be shrugged off as a delusional man needing medication.

What I found most appealing about this film is the chemistry between the leads, and how her son and father fit seamlessly into the plot. There are many opportunities to expand this story and make a sequel if Hallmark wants.

Sarah Majors (Torrey DeVitto) is a single mother and runs the family farm with her father Calvin Majors (Eric Keenleyside). They find a homeless guy hiding in their barn. He has spotty memory and the name Rip (Niall Matter). He seems to be from the past and a fish out of water.

This is a fun concept for Hallmark but it does need better writers than their standard level. I would have liked him asking the year much earlier and go down the road of his sanity. That's a more fertile and reasonable path. I can do with much less sci-fi exposition and going to the big city. I don't want the magic to be explained away. I like the suspicious cop and the small town rumor mill. That's a great second half story arc. This starts off well but it doesn't develop well. There are elements that I like. I even like the ending but the writing needs a few improvements.