Just Add Romance

Kelly (Meghann Fahy) and Jason (Luke Macfarlane) compete on a famed cooking show for the chance to win their own restaurant, but can they find a balance between showing off their culinary skills and confronting their emerging affection for each-other?

'Just Add Romance' is perhaps not always the most exciting or fast paced of the Hallmark movies, the resolution at the end of the film is pretty easy to pick right from the start, and it even covers quite a lot of ground that all those real TV cooking shows already do! Also, frequent Hallmark junkies, you'll need to decide if you're happy with one of the regular 'no kissing before the finale' rules possibly being broken!

But even in its slowest moments, Luke Macfarlane is, of course, charming as always and really an old pro at this sort of thing now with so many HM films on his resume, and the newcoming lady Meghann Fahy (such exquisite eyes!) already shows a lovely screen presence, and she will likely get even warmer in these roles if she gets to make more HM flicks in the future.

Special mention should also go to Brittney Wilson, who plays the dorky blonde TV assistant with the glasses, as she deserves to get a lead role in her very own HM flick!

A nice film, completely held up at all times by the superior cast, and a very reliable option for those seeking an easy-going Hallmark love-fest.

Carly Benson (Meghann Fahy) and Jason Tucker (Luke Macfarlane) are friendly rivals in cooking class in Chicago. Unbeknownst to each other, they apply for TV cooking competition, Kitchen Showdown. The two resume their combative rivalry until a budding romance get in the way.

They are photogenic. They smile. They simmer but there is no explosive chemistry. This is strictly warmed up leftovers. There are no great turns or big jolts. They are doing the show and there should be cameras constantly following them around. This lacks stuff. This should be ready for some food porn but this doesn't take advantage. Even as a Hallmark romance, this is lacking.

Yet another winner from Hallmark: loved it from beginning to end!

The best thing about Just Add Romance is that it's almost a satire of Food Network's show Chopped, even down to the other contestants being familiar archetypes: one is out of their depth, one is vivacious and positive, one is cynical and jaded, and one is arrogant and self-satisfied. It's a nice touch when the contestants all end up liking and respecting each other in spite of the competition.

Also different from other Hallmark movies is that the two protagonists realize they like each other almost from the beginning, rather than finally figuring it out at the very end. The plot revolves around their efforts to keep the romance going in spite of their different cooking styles and competing against each other.

Go Hallmark Go!

Carley (Meghann Fahy) and Jason (Luke MacFarlane) went to cooking school together. Due to personal reasons, he disappeared, and it's not until three years later than the both of them reunite in a famous cooking show, whose winner gets a restaurant of their own.

While we have ENOUGH of cooking Hallmark movies, this one is a bit different. It's a different dynamic that still allows the character to spend time together while being in competition with each other.

This is my third Luke MacFarlane movie in last two weeks and I don't get tired of him. He is charming, easy to the eye, and his characters are always likeable. Meghann Fahy is new to the Hallmark scenery (a movie with Sam Page would have been so good!. If you know, you know ;) and she did great. The chemistry was amazing. I hope we get more of her.

I was so happy that some of the cliche we are so used to weren't in this movie. The less cliches, the better! This one is a must watch.

Luke MacFarlane never disappoints, he always delivers a stellar performance, Meghan Fahy was new to me, but she did a marvelous job too. Great chemistry.

Very good movie. Worth multiple viewings.

My advice - watch this movie.