Hearts Around the Table: Jenna's First Love

I like another reviewer's comments about the continuation of the Unwrapping Christmas saga.

The story didn't flow well, but that could have been some bad acting by a fairly regular Hallmark star Steve Lund. He looked like he was suffering for playing the part. He didn't seem sincere or natural. I can't see how Jenna could love Andrew so don't even look for chemistry between Lund and Newbrough. Even right up to the climax, Andrew was acting like a loser.

Then there is Sheri. I'm sure she will turn out to be nice when it's her movie, but I thought she was beyond rude. Mostly to Andrew.

The kid, Rory, looked somewhere between asleep and comatose in early scenes at the dinner table.

I couldn't decide how Jenna felt about the way Tom was coming on to her. I wasn't sure she was picking up on it, or trying not to, but it was so obvious. Then a little later it almost seemed like she was giving him a chance, but like Lund, Newbrough didn't seem invested in her role as it related to Tom.

The whole movie felt off.

What I found most bothersome about these movies is that there is no explanation for the single, childless foster mother having an enormous mansion on a large property. Did she just do a really good job of investing her payments for being a foster parent? I mean, come on! There is nothing even slightly rational about this storyline.

I wanted to like this movie or start off the series. I'm hoping the other movies are better. This one I didn't want the main ones to get together.

He came off arrogant and dismissive towards her ideas. And when they liked her idea better he made a face.

Like typical Hallmark you have miscommunication between the leads. If she "was the love of his life" why wait till like you're all old. He could have tried harder. Who carries around the old yearbook to an event.

I'm waiting for the next one. The main guy I was not a fan of. Sheri was the best of this movie.

Until the next one. Like the concept of this 4 movie series.

The new series shows promise. A family of foster children return weekly for a meal with the woman who fostered them all played by Mindy Cohn. They share stories and updates as well as their hopes for the future. And many keep in touch like any family would advising and protecting each other. Each episode like this one will focus on the current situation one of the family members finds themselves in. There may also be a glimpse into the life of a current foster child and how the past fosters bolster and love on the current one. This episode had the usual Hallmark love story but the focus on fostering and a fundraiser for community support of families in need made it more tolerable.

Let me just start off by saying I really wanted to like this movie. But it was so difficult to watch even though the leading lady is traditionally a great actress, but every other character was just awful. The leading man was such a bad actor and lowkey looked like he was holding in a fart the entire movie. The foster mom, Angie, was so weird looking it was hard to focus. The whole "foster family" dynamic was just so strange to me, and all of her siblings were just as bad at acting as the leading man.

He was extremely condescending, childish, and dismissive of Jenna. I really didn't think they should've ended up together. I thought she deserved way better than a grown ass man who gave her the silent treatment after the tiniest most irrelevant misconception. I would not have been disappointed if she chose herself at the end. Save yourself the hour and a half and don't bother watching.