Coup de foudre sous l'océan

'Hidden Gems' (2022)

Opening thoughts: When Hallmark have films set abroad (i.e. France, Italy, Belgium, Hawaii, Fiji), one is guaranteed stunning scenery which has always been the case even in the misfires. Hallmark has always varied in their films abroad when it comes to the story and characters, some are charming and light-hearted with characters worth connecting with, others have very thin and predictable stories with over flawed character writing. Some also feel like too much of a travelogue.

There is a bit of both extremes with 'Hidden Gems'. Luckily, mostly charming and light-hearted in the story even with bumps along the way, while uneven in the character writing. It is a decent start to the 2022 Summer Nights films, which was somewhat hit and miss but could have been worse (like the previous 2022 seasonal blocks). Something that was not unexpected as all the previous years' Summer Nights blocks have been variable, some faring worse than 2022's though. 'Hidden Gems' falls short of being a gem, but it is not a film to stay hidden.

Good things: 'Hidden Gems' is successful in many areas. The best aspect is the Hawaiian scenery, which is absolutely breath-taking and made me want to book tickets to go. It's beautifully shot too, underwater is so vibrant. The music is pleasant enough and fits at least. The script on the whole flows well and has a playful lightness and warm heart.

Story-wise, 'Hidden Gems' isn't perfect but on the whole it is securely paced and is cute and charming. Hunter King and Beau Mirchoff, in a refreshing change from Hallmark regular actors in the lead roles, have a witty and heartfelt chemistry together, and both give committed and appealing performances individually. Each playing with easy going charm and not overdoing any mannerisms. The supporting cast, most unknown names to me, are solid support. The character writing is flawed, but they did feel more than just mere stereotypes and do grow.

Bad things: It is a long way from perfect though. It is spoilt quite a lot by a far too unrealistically pat ending that didn't feel logical considering the way the characters behave. This reviewer also has never liked these kinds of endings and has often found them illogical and jarring, like here. Will agree that the initial attitudes between the two lead characters are very overdone in the hostility to a mean spirited degree, their chemistry to begin with as a result was a little unpleasant to watch especially with Mirchoff's character being so hard to like.

Did think that some of the conflict was low on tension and was as strained as the hostility, while the changes of heart were a bit too rushed for my liking.

Closing thoughts: Concluding, above average if inconsistent.

6/10.

What a gem of a movie! I really enjoyed the on location in Hawaii movie setting and the two new leads-this was my first time seeing Hunter and Beau. I hope we see more of them on Hallmark. They had great chemistry and are fun to watch.

Addie (Hunter King) is in Hawaii as the maid of honor and organizer of her sister's wedding. Her most important possession is a ring from her late grandmother. When she loses the ring, she needs help from chilled dive instructor Jack (Beau Mirchoff).

This is a Hallmark romance. The meet-cute has a good amount of cute and the maximum amount of conflict. These are two young beautiful people in a beautiful place. The leads have fine chemistry. The underwater stuff is pretty and it's Hawaii. The writing and the general filmmaking is all Hallmark basics. The biggest issue with the story is Addie as a master diver. If she's a skilled diver and the ring is that important, she should be spending every moment of daylight to search for the ring. She can't know how to dive for the sake of the story logic. She should be stressed. She should be desperate. She should be trying to find the ring at every hour of the day. Now maybe he could talk her down a bit but the way that he could show he truly cares is to start searching for ring excessively himself. There is also the theme of magic. The movie could do more with that. For example, Jack should give something more personal to temporarily take the place of ring. It's a talisman. I do love her playing with her finger all the time over the ring. This has a lot of good elements of a rom-com. The writing does need to expand and develop into more than what is just another Hallmark movie.

The only good point in the case of this film, for me, remains the grandmother ring. Because too many aspects are just forced, from the unplausible lost of ring and its discover on beach, to the diving certification , improvised detail for good of romance and the venerable father as pastor.

Indeed, I am crotchety but , maybe, I expected little more. The work of Hunter King is pretty and, in some measure, reminds old fashion romances in Katherine Hepburn style but her character becomes so...chaotic than nothing real convince.

The job of Beau Mirchoff is blank and reasonable. The end becomes only confirmation of easy solutions . But, sure, it is only Hallmark.

I really appreciated that this was a slow build romance...in fact it was a little bit of a hate to love, which is my favorite romantic genre. I am not the biggest fan of Hunter King who played the main character Addy, but I liked her strong character and I thought she had great chemistry with Beau Mirchoff who plays opposite her as Jack.

I am very happy to say that they didn't go with the tired romance formula where there is a misunderstanding or conflict between the two romantic leads at the three quarters point...instead the conflict occurred over Addy's career aspirations and she and Jack have not only talked it through, but he is incredibly supportive.

The backdrop is gorgeous sunny Hawaii and the story revolves around Addy's sister's destination wedding there. Right before the wedding her sister offers her a 50% stake in her fashion business...but Addy really has aspirations to be a marine biologist, an education that she gave up to help her sister. While doing paddle board yoga in the pacific...Addy looses her grandmother's priceless pearl ring, which is how she meets the hotel's dive instructor Jack...who she hires to find it.

These two were more every day people and this was an actual romantic story where effort was put into building the relationship in a believable romance. I highly recommend this film to all the romantics out there.