Have always admired any film that explores family relationships and mature themes. Hallmark have proven more than once that they can explore family relationships and mature themes well, where there are good intentions well executed, where the results are heart-warming and heartfelt. So not all their films explore merely one formula, and 'Lead with Your Heart' is not one of the too formulaic ones. Really liked the idea for the film and the themes, so expectations were not low.
'Lead with Your Heart' is pleasant and inoffensive enough and has a lot to recommend it, with its emotion and good intentions. It is though very uneven, with some real pacing issues and one performance that didn't really pass the mustard. As far as 2015's Hallmark's films go, 'Lead with Your Heart' is not one of the best. Nor is it one of the worst. In ranking, it is probably somewhere in the middle, being a decent time passer but not an awful lot more.
There is a lot done well. Most of the performances are committed, moving and charming and the chemistry sincere. The production values are strong, with photography that is not drab or garish or static or overblown and the picturesque scenery is even better. The music isn't intrusive in placement and isn't used too much, while there is not much memorable it is easy on the ears.
Furthermore, the script flows well and doesn't go too far on the cheese or the sugar. The story isn't perfect, but is often poignant and heart warming and a nice job is done with the themes, done in a sincere way and never coming over as childish.
On the other hand, not everything works. William Baldwin spends his whole screen time looking perpetually befuddled and like he was in pain and his character annoyed rather than charmed or warmed me. His interaction with his colleagues generally is too distant feeling.
Also felt that the story execution was patchy, with a very draggy and uneventful first half an hour, too much pedestrian pacing and a serious lack of tension in the too little conflict there is. With so little conflict and how easy it is to see how things would resolve and resolved very easily the film did feel bland as a result.
In conclusion, decent time passer but not an awful lot more. 6/10.
