Katrina Law is a reporter for a gossip magazine. She winds up invading a political family in a wedding dress; since one brother is dating the ex-girlfriend of the other, she winds up pretending to be the girl friend of the ... well, it's all put together pretty well in this decently written Hallmark Channel romantic comedy.
My reviews of Hallmark romcoms frequently seem cynical. That is a reaction to the cynical manner in which they are assembled to appeal their audience. The leading ladies are all brittle, driven, unattached, beautiful professionals who need to connect to their hidden niceness. The men vary over the lot until they end up thoroughly domesticated. However, in this one, Jordan Belfi STARTS as the good-looking scion of a rich, truly decent family. He wears elk-pattern sweaters and drinks chamomile tea of his own free will. He could be a senator for the asking, but yearns to write romance novels. He almost cries a couple of times and probably likes cuddling and long, romantic walks on the beach. It's another chick flick with a Christmas background. It could have been rewritten slightly for Arbor Day.
There's nothing wrong with this particular genre of movie, no more than with a western, or a murder mystery, or a buddy picture. However, neither is it incumbent upon us to cheer wildly every time the beautiful young woman discovers happiness in the arms of the handsome young man with the assumption that this time it's for ever after. Sometimes some one puts in some extra effort or some major talent gets interesting. Sometimes you get something where you want your time back. Most of the time, however, what you get is something to kill a couple of hours; and that is okay.
And so is this one. There are a couple of nice plot twists that drive the story and which make sense because of the characters. There are the older supporting actors who perform their roles gracefully, simply and interestingly. The establishing shots up by Big Bear Lake are pretty and if the music is again too intrusive and controlling, that seems to be another aspect of this particular genre. I just wish they could change the last.
