Love, Fall & Order

Oh, my goodness!!! Could a Fall harvest movie be any more colorful than this one? Almost every scene is bathed in orange..leaves, trees, festival booths, and, cleverly, even the leading lady's clothing! In her first visit to her hometown in Vermont, she is shown in an orange coat, carrying a green pocketbook..again reminding us that this is a Fall movie. Other than the visual overload, this movie actually delivers a lovely story of life in a small New England town, with two families sparring over the boundaries of their farm properties. Of course, one knows a Hallmark movie will end happily with issues resolved. But the road to that resolution is well-handled in this film, with mature professional leading characters. Both are lawyers, both are extremely competitive, and both realize that their lifelong friendship is more than a casual friendship in the end. The secondary leads are quite well portrayed, especially with a mature Gregory Harrison as the heroine's father. He brings a familiar face to this lovely story. The heroine's best friend and that woman's husband are also shown as a mature, supportive couple. Their two little girls are charming, with the younger one,perhaps all of 2 or 3 years old, acting remarkably like a professional! The husband is actually depicted drinking a beer with his buddy, the leading man. Hallmark is maturing! Men do have a beer now and then. Bravo to Hallmark for this engaging film. Once the orange overload fades a bit, the story of two very likable professional adults comes through and evolves in a rational and sensible manner.

Erin Cahill is a Hallmark regular and has shown more than once her likeability, have not liked every film of hers (i.e. 'Last Vermont Christmas') but others have left me pleasantly surprised. Am a lot more mixed on Trevor Donovan, with the right material and leading lady he is charming but in colourless roles he is stiff and bland. 2019 was a hit and miss year for Hallmark, their best work being very well done and their weakest being awful, the Christmas output showing both extremes.

'Love Fall and Order' is much closer to being in the very well done category, though not quite there. It was on the whole a very enjoyable film with a nice concept, and leagues better than the previous 2019 Fall Harvest film 'Over the Moon in Love' (which to me was very weak). At least 'Love Fall and Order' felt like a Fall Harvest film, whereas that film didn't seem to belong in any seasonal blocking, without it being too rubbed in the face or heavy handed.

Is it perfect? No, it is predictable and can get too silly at times. Especially in the final quarter, which did get on the over the top side for my liking.

The backing and forthing/bickering also could have been a little less.

Unlike 'Over the Moon in Love', 'Love Fall and Order' didn't have much wrong. Cahill is immensely engaging and has such a radiant presence that is easy to endear to. Donovan's performance here is one of his most natural, easy going and sincere. Really liked the chemistry between them, it's playful but also heartfelt and it develops in a way that doesn't rush or feel aimless. The supporting cast are all fun (even KC Klyde, who shows some nice comic timing), the standout is Gregory Harrison who always does well meaning father figure very well. The chemistry between the actors never feels forced or static.

Production values are very good, the scenery is beautiful and while the colour orange is used a lot it doesn't come over as too heavy. The music at least fits and doesn't feel overused or overscored. While not always subtle, the dialogue is generally witty, flows well and has honesty. While not perfect, the story is heart-warming and light-hearted with any character conflict being more realistic and less strained than can be usually be seen with Hallmark films following similar plotlines. A good deal happens but not in a way that comes over as over-stuffed and disjointed. The characters may not be complex, not that sort of film though, but have personality and likeable ones too.

Overall, very enjoyable. 7/10.

Hallmark movies are perfect for a Saturday evening after steak and wine, you don't have to be totally alert to enjoy them.

This one involves a dispute between adjacent landowners in this small Vermont town where everyone knows everyone else. An older deed indicates the property lines might not be where they think they are. The two lawyers who get involved happen to be old high school competitors, she was the valedictorian by 0.10 point over him. In high school he was nerdy and he secretly had a crush on her all those years ago but she didn't know that. He matured into quite an attractive hunk. And kind and generous.

Hallmark veteran Erin Cahill is the New York lawyer, Claire Hart, her dad's farm is one of the disputed properties. Trevor Donovan is the Stanford lawyer Patrick Harris who came back home because he enjoyed that life more than the corporate rat race. The other property is his aunt's.

The movie is only about 80 minutes, it plays out much as one would expect. This is a good movie for anyone who wants a nice story without sex, violence, or foul language, something hard to find these days.

My wife and I enjoyed it at home on DVD from our public library.

This movie follows the typical Hallmark formula, which is fine. The two main actors aren't the best that Hallmark offers, but they're not bad, either. They're also fine. What isn't fine is the ageism in this movie. Treating elderly characters like they're slow and tech-stupid is unacceptable. The condescension displayed in this movie is appalling! I'm not a senior, but I've seen many who are more tech savvy than people half their age. Hallmark can and should be treating their watchers much better than this. Especially since senior citizens definitely are part of their target audience!

At least this one doesn't tread totally familiar ground. Plus the combination of the cast is good. Erin Cahill and Trevor Donovan lead as two former competitors in high school who reunite in small town on opposite sides of a property dispute. The pre ending drama at least isn't contrived as usual. It's actually a pivotal part of the story. The filming looks nicer than usual. Well done.