Finding Love in Mountain View

The acting wasn't that bad as a whole, but the directing was off. The script wasn't great either. A tragedy has happened a few days before and there's more smiling in the wrong places at the wrong time by those who would have been more affected. The lead actress was okay, the kids did well. The story's been done before much better. Raising Helen being the best example. Even Sweet Carolina was done more effectively. Very predictable; nothing memorable about this movie. Watched and deleted.

'Finding Love at Mountain View', seen as part of a newly started project of watching more non-Christmas Hallmark films, is another one of the Hallmark films where expectations were mixed. Hallmark have done many misses but also many surprising hits, so there is absolutely no bias for or against them. The premise was quite appealing and there are some good Hallmark Mystery films out there. The two leads are relatively unfamiliar to me, so this was seen with no bias.

After seeing 'Finding Love at Mountain View', it left me feeling very mixed and finding it difficult to rate and review. Which by the way is not always the best of experiences, as someone who is trying to be more decisive about opinions and everyday life. It is not one of the worst 2021 Hallmark films, as there are films that had less appealing characters, more unrealistic endings and uninvolved a lot less. It is also not one of the best, with there being nothing particularly special. Another middle of the road effort.

By all means there are things that are good. It looks good, once again the scenery is beautiful to look at. The music doesn't feel too much and doesn't feel discordant, it's pleasant on its own too. The acting is well above average, the standout being Skyler Elyse Philpot. Myko Olivier is an amiable presence too.

Did think too that there were some charming and sweet moments.

However, 'Finding Love at Mountain View' had potential to be better. Danielle C. Ryan did get better as the film went on but there was quite a lot of duration where she seemed stiff. Her and Olivier's chemistry could have been a lot stronger, it felt too low key and underdeveloped. While the characters don't bore or annoy, they are rather stock.

It is also very predictable, even when knowing what to expect from Hallmark, and emotion and substance wise there is just not enough, so it all felt bland and by the numbers. The ending is very cheesy and too tidy.

Overall, watchable but average. 5/10.

Was worried I wouldn't like this movie since I thought it would be a Sweet Carolina movie. But it was really good. Good actors, good storyline.

Not sure why some reviews have been so harsh. Hallmark movies are light fare, made for the 'faint of heart". Within this contest, it reaches its purpose of gently entertaining, with good sentiments and none of the shocking or perverted scenes that Hollywood productions hand out in spades, nowadays. Myko Olivier is good and Danielle Chuchran lovely, as always. Yes, there are some inconsistencies, but the heart of the movie is in the right place. As a notation for this and other movies, better care for details could go a long way in improving the feeling of authenticity of the production. As an example, it appears painfully obvious that Danielle C has no idea how to place her fingers on a guitar fingerboard and is not playing it in the movie.

Would be easy to teach an actor how to hold a real, simple chord on the guitar or not show the guitar, at all. This, with no intention to detract from my praises for a talented and beautiful actress that I truly love.

My suggestion is that you give a chance to this movie and enjoy just for what it wants to be.

This movie follows the same pattern that Hallmark is noted for, but the characters show their true colors from the onset. It's the interaction between these same characters that causes colors to change to fit the season of life that these characters find themselves.