Sand Dollar Cove

I hate that movies based on this premise start out with 15-20 minutes of the boss promising the lead negotiator a promotion and drilling into her how important the deal is. This movie opens with a scene of a storm destroying the pier which is the lynchpin of the plot and the next thing we see is the negotiator driving into town. We get to skip 19 minutes of boring threats mixed with promises. (Unfortunately there are still plenty of those spread out later.)

BUT. Then we get about 45-50 minutes (commercial run time) of business negotiations combined with some banter between the leads, but mostly negotiations. I think this is part of what turned so many reviewers off Aly Michalka, but it's not all of it. She's just too stiff throughout. If there's chemistry with Chad Michael Murray, it's hard to find. Meanwhile, Murray is too laid back.

Michalka lightens up a little with Lily Jane, as Milly, the kid.

The overall story is a common one. The Developer wants to destroy town history and nostalgia. As the business progresses, the negotiator takes part helping with the local Jamboree. And she enters a contest. There's an adorable kid. The story is thin.

Almost exactly 3/4 mark (commercial run time) something happens that I didn't expect because it was earlier than usual. After that the movie stalls until the moment of truth after which the story runs to the usual conclusion in the usual way. Actually, thinking about it, the whole movie drags. Usually, the relationship picks up the slack, but there wasn't enough spark between these leads.

Usually Hallmark movies have some great scenery. This one had nothing really spectacular. One thing about Michalka did stand out and that was her wardrobe.

I liked the lead female. She is beautiful and was chill, so that appealed to me. It's a light feel good movie to pass some time, was fine.

Was a nice movie but the pick for female main character don't was right. She was flat no connection with the character, no passion, expression, was so vanilla.

The premise was quite nice, the formula is not too different from usual but the setting was a change from the usual settings. Chad Michael Murray has generally come on quite a long way as an actor and generally doesn't seem too taxed by the more mature roles and he has always been at ease as a romantic lead when the material is good. There have been some good 2021 Hallmark films this year as well as some misfires.

'Sand Dollar Cove' sadly to me is one of the misfires, which was pretty much feared when reading the reviews. It is better than 'Beverly Hills Wedding' and 'One Perfect Wedding', but it is around the same level as 'The Baker's Son' and one of the weaker Summer Nights Hallmark films from 2021. It has its moments and has a decent supporting cast, but is primarily let down by a terrible female lead, lack of chemistry and the story. Not a terrible film but really not good either.

As said, the supporting cast do well. Glynnis O'Connor being a joy to watch. Lily Jane is also adorable without being cloying and really did wish that Clare Bowen was the female lead instead. She plays her role with the required charm and has a look and presence that would have fitted so much better. Murray has a likeable charisma about him.

The opening was promising while the production values are great, 2021's Hallmark films have really delivered when it comes to the production values with particularly the scenery.

Unfortunately, Aly Michalka is a disaster in the female lead role, she does not look comfortable at all and has no emotional range, seeming very indifferent throughout. Just as disastrous is the complete lack of chemistry between her and Murray, it was like they didn't get along during filming, and it doesn't help that the relationship doesn't really go very far and is somewhat under-utilised in the film. None of the characters are that well developed and are little more than Hallmark cliches.

When it comes to the script, that came over as very stilted and also quite random and too talky. The middle act really rambles and is particularly near-uneventful story wise. The story is very tired, from following an old hat formula with nothing new, and drags badly. Of the 2021 Hallmark films, 'Sand Dollar Cove' is one of the dullest. The music is forgettable at best and the direction is routine.

Concluding, lacklustre. 4/10.

Any Hallmark film that is said to take place in Connecticut (or anyplace) and is actually filmed there (as opposed to Vancouver) gets a few stars from me. Aly Michalka is also charming, and even seems to be a real estate developer. She has backbone. And having the female lead be something other than a baker or writer or some such is a plus. Nice job.