Rent-a-Groom

I don't think I've ever seen such a hideous wardrobe on a show before. I was literally distracted and shocked by how horrible these characters were dressed. As others have already said, this trope has been beat to a pulp. That said it was a cute idea, but I couldn't finish the movie because it was basically lame. I mean come on, the grandma, miraculously gets better, just because the granddaughter says she's engaged. And if the granddaughter and the grandma were so close, I'm pretty sure the grandma would've known if her granddaughter was dating someone serious enough to become engaged with. It sounds like they speak to each other every day. So when the fake groom was telling the grandma, the story of how the two of them met on a ski slope, you would think that the granddaughter had already told the grandma the story of meeting some guy in the manner in which he described. Because if anything else, it's a good story, right?

This is not a Hallmark movie but it follows the Hallmark formula pretty closely. Two single adults are brought together for a job, they become attracted to each other, then some misunderstanding causes a rift, only to be mended and with one minute left they kiss the first time.

The "job" is a bit unusual, SHE wants to give her sickly grandma, a very successful romance novelist, some hope so she contacts a "rent a groom" agency to hire a fellow to pretend to be her fiancee. This involves visiting grandma but then much more. The people at work get involved, what started out as a simple ruse develops into something different with a life of its own.

For the most part the three lead roles are interesting and handled well by the actors. A few of the friends and co-workers are more that a bit annoying, but in the end don't distract too much. Overall just a pleasant entertainment, much like standard Hallmark movies are.

It was filmed in Alberta, Canada, my wife and I watched it at home, streaming on Amazon Prime.

Typical Hallmark style movie but with better acting. A plot that has been used and abused far two many times. Girl needs to get married because of grandmother's mandate. No boyfriend, so she hires one. You can guess what the outcome will be.

Unfortunately, scriptwriters lack creativity and originality and resort to the also used and abused misunderstanding. Girl hears part of a conversation and assumes things, runs away and cries. Why would she ask for an explanation? Well, because that is the only conflict the writer could come up with. Of course, all's well that ends well.

The male lead was not very plausible at the beginning of the movie. The character became more solid towards the middle of the movie. The plump, long haired coworker was surreal and obnoxious.

Again, the acting, with a few exceptions, exceeds the average Hallmark movie.

Stafford Perry carried this film. His acting was delightful, as was the backstory and transition of his character. Kylee Bush is undoubtedly pretty but could have benefited from a tighter script and direction. Jessy Schram or Jen Lilley might have fit the role better and might have had greater chemistry with the lead actor.

The film could be better (e.g., fewer caricatures and incredible events or situations; tighter script and direction). Still, I'm giving it ten stars because, firstly, its visual and aural simplicity is refreshing compared to typical Hallmarkian romcoms and, secondly, its current IMDB rating (5.1) needs to be higher.

This movie is yet another in the well-populated category of "2 people thrown together at the beginning out of necessity, fear of ridicule or happenstance who fall in love by the end." That's quite okay. There's nothing wrong with yet another one. But their sheer number means that any such movie must live up to the standards of the genre or it's a failure. We know the starting point and the destination going in; what we're looking for is an entertaining journey. Well, not here, folks. The script is lackluster, the dialogue tries way too hard but is still lame, the directing is flat-footed and clumsy, and the acting is forgettable. Kylee Bush is attractive and with better direction might do a better job; but her acting talents fail to carry this film. And Stafford Perry is either appallingly miscast or seriously badly directed. Worst of all, the two leads have absolutely no on-screen chemistry. (Think Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal. This isn't that movie.)

This one is strictly desperation time for insomniacs. That's a disappointment for all of us who are softies at heart.