Mix Up in the Mediterranean

OK - so let me say right away ... I do not care for Jessica Lowndes. She can't act her way out of a paper bag.

I set my DVR for this one - fully expecting to delete it after 15 minutes. Well ... it didn't happen. I put off watching it for several days - and finally watched it tonight for lack of anything better to do. I actually liked the story. It had comedic moments. It had great family moments. The LGBT aspect was not overdone (and I don't have a problem with gay people - several family members are gay). It just wasn't a focal point of the story. Henry was simply a sous chef married to Julian. They did not focus on the LGBT story.

Don't get me wrong - Jessica Lowndes is still a mediocre actor - but she was actually OK in this role. Not over the top - but the story really about her (even though there was her family turmoil incorporated into the plot). The star of the movie was Josh and Julian (played by Jeremy Jordan). Hope Hallmark uses him more - this is his second Hallmark movie (Holly and Ivy being his first) and he was great in both.

Not a movie I will watch over and over - but it was a fun watch.

I didn't care too much for this, just wasn't very interesting, but I had to ask - Did they finally get new management at Hallmark Channel? Nevermind the attempt at representation, they switched up the trope. Instead of working for the evil corporation and moving back to the small town they left because they couldn't make a living there in the first place, this guy has regrets about not going for it and decides to finally move away from the small town to start a new life. And then at the end of the movie...gasp...there is a real kiss that lasts longer than two seconds. And in this movie it actually makes sense in the story that they wouldn't kiss until the end. Just wow.

I had to laugh at some of the comments on here about her hair. 😅I don't usually comment on such things, but I've been saying that same thing about the women in my office building for a very long time now. It seems no one under 35 has heard of a salon. Rapunzel hair doesn't actually look good in real life, just lazy and unprofessional. Just cut it, what diff does extra length make if you keep it straight and away from your face, or worse, in a ponytail or granny bun? But I guess that's the issue, they don't want to pay for a cut or take care of their hair. At least Jessica's was styled nicely.

Great storyline, really nice idea, beautiful photography but the whole thing is pulled down by poor scripting and stilted acting. Could have been amazing but still fun and great.

Typical Hallmark Movie which is what I love. The scenery is worth the watch.

'Mix Up in the Mediterranean' is one of the 2021 Hallmark films seen with mixed expectations. This year saw a number of beautiful and exotic locations with Hallmark (including Hawaii and Paris), and it doesn't become more exotic than the Mediterranean. That there would be the male lead doing a dual role (not seen a lot with Hallmark these days) also interested. Am really not a fan however of Jessica Lowndes, with a couple of exceptions but she has often come over as quite limited and most of her films don't do much for me.

2021's 'Mix Up in the Mediterranean' is one of the few films of hers that did impress me, though more for most of everything else than her. It is up there with one of the better 2021 Hallmark films, which have been a bit of a mixed bag but not too bad considering these tumultuous times. Of the Love Ever After films of the year, 'Mix Up in the Mediterranean' is one of the best and by quite some way. While not loving the film, it was pretty enjoyable.

Was not too enamoured by Lowndes, she could have had a lot more fun and the character needed more charm than what she gave. Her attempts at flirtation too are pretty awkward.

Some of the story could have had more clarity and subtlety, will agree regarding the reason for Meg to get that close and will agree too that she was too oblivious to something that was blatantly obvious. The ending felt too easy and too quick, and there is no surprise what it would be.

On the other hand, a lot is good. The production values are terrific, a vast majority of 2021 Hallmark films have been remarkably well made visually and 'Mix Up in the Mediterranean' is one of the most beautiful looking. How could it not be with a setting as incredible as the Mediterranean'. The music is not overpowering or overused and the direction is indicative of someone that was at ease with the material and was having fun with it.

The script has plenty of very amusing moments, while any tender moments are not too sentimental. The story goes at a tight pace and is charming and upbeat, the content that could easily have been stereotypical or judgemental was done very tastefully and contrary to what has been said by others regarding Hallmark including more diversity the diversity was more than welcome. The supporting cast are solid, but the best thing about the film is Jeremy Jordan. Who is truly excellent in one of the most difficult roles of the 2021 Hallmark batch (playing two completely contrasting characters rather than one) and one of the standout performances of the batch too. He is clearly having fun, but he does so without mugging, overdoing any mannerisms that would have made the character in question too much of a stereotype and brings nuanced heart to both characters (doing the seeming impossible at making a jerk endearing by the end).

Summing up, not everything works but much of it does and the film is worth seeing for primarily Jordan. 7/10.