'Don't Forget I Love You', listed as part of the 2022 New Year New Movies seasonal block elsewhere (although it feels more like a Hallmark Movies and Mysteries film), did sound promising. Emilie Ullerup has impressed me numerous times before and the concept was very relatable, as somebody with severe anxiety myself. Hallmark have done quite a number of misfires, but also many good and even very good ones which is what keeps me watching and enough to continue seeing them.
The good intentions were admirable, and really did appreciate the more dramatic, sombre tone in addressing a serious issue that affects so many. And Hallmark have proven many times they can do more serious stories very well, including in 2022. 'Don't Forget I Love You' though is uneven and didn't quite live up to its promising potential. There are plenty of things that it does very well, but there are some elements where it falls short upon and not by a little.
Am going to start with the good things. Ullerup is endearing and heartfelt in her role, and personally really related to her character and saw a lot of myself in her. Clayton James as an individual performance is charming and didn't see any stiffness. There is great support from likeable, compassionate Robert Wisden, reminding me of my parents, and very cute Teagan Vinzce. Did care for the characters on the whole and the film did do well with showing how anxiety affects not just the sufferer but also those around them.
Mostly the production values are nice, it's a well shot film and enough of the scenery is lovely. The music at least fits and didn't feel melodramatic or too much. The film is well meaning and sweet, with some parts really touching me. Such as the ending, which is not as pat as most Hallmark films. The scavenger hunt aspect was done well, as was the effortlessly rootable family relationships.
However, 'Don't Forget I Love You' could have been better than it was. The story is very uneven, it is not as formulaic as most Hallmark films and does try to do something different like the portrayal of anxiety and the time capsule idea. To me though, it tended to be too contrived and too coincidence heavy. While the family stuff was convincing, the romance was not. To me it was much too rushed, with too much of an abrupt shift in how the relationship progresses, and forced, with too much of the interaction veering on goofy and excessively so. Ullerup and James are also awkward together and too much of a mismatch personality-wise.
While the production values generally are solid, the film is hampered by the truly distracting and amateurish green screen that sticks out like a sore thumb whenever it appears. The writing is well intentioned but is too often heavy handed, with both the quirkiness (which became increasingly goofy and forced) and the sentimentality being overkill. And yes, everything with the engagement ring was beyond unrealistic and silly.
Overall, decent and really appreciated what it set out to do though not everything works. 6/10.
