I expected Villa Amore to be just another ho-hum Hallmark formula flick - but the moment Liara set foot in Italy, I found myself unexpectedly connecting with her in deeply personal ways. I came for Kevin McGarry (my favorite!), but Eloise Mumford completely drew me into her character's heart and soul.
Filmed on location, Villa Amore is steeped in vibrant small-town Italian culture. The setting felt so rich and authentic, it was like getting my own mini-vacation.
I don't usually get too invested in side characters, especially when their roles are small, but here, each one added humor, warmth, and context - with satisfying, sometimes hilarious resolutions to their arcs. And that surprise twist at the end with the realtor and Leo's Nonna? Absolutely delightful. My laugh-out-loud moment: the Rome hotel concierge scrambling to erase the "honeymoon" vibe from Liara's suite!
The real surprise, though, was the love story. Sure, the bones of the plot follow the Hallmark template, but the performances, writing, and camerawork elevated everything. Leo and Liara's chemistry made it feel fresh and cinematic - many fans I've chatted with said it's worthy of a big-screen release. And let's be honest: some of the details were just straight-up clean sexy.
Villa Amore played to Kevin McGarry's strengths while giving him room to stretch - from sweet domestic moments and smoldering kisses to speaking Italian and portraying a panic attack with surprising depth. He's at his best as a romantic lead, and this film gave him plenty of chances to shine: tender gazes, hand-holding, soft touches, and yes - multiple swoon-worthy kisses.
If I were asked to come up with some criticism, I would mention the following weaknesses:
1. Although Leo is a skilled handy-man, we never actually saw him work on anything at the Villa. We would have really enjoyed some short clips of him working!
2. In regards to Liara's fiance Kyle, that relationship was so clearly over from the very first scene. It wasn't necessary to bring him back for final closure.
