In My Dreams

I was not looking for this movie, but only stumbled across it by accident. Once I figured out the premise, I was hooked. It's a magical fantasy, almost like a modern-day episode of Twilight Zone, yet without any of that show's morbidity. In My Dreams doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's clear that everyone involved had fun with the production.

I found all of the characters down-to-earth and sympathetic, even those who are only there to provide obstacles to the protagonists finally meeting. For instance, almost any other movie would have portrayed the two other women Nick spends time with as evil/psychotic, but this movie avoids that cliché. They're simply "the wrong person", not bad people.

In My Dreams has no heavy message, and it ends with a wide-open horizon of future possibilities. In other words, the screenwriters allow the viewers to decide for themselves just what they've witnessed and what the future might hold. The performers were all perfect for their roles. The only thing that could have made this movie better would have been a soundtrack by The Blue Nile. So to everyone involved in its creation and broadcast: Thank you for something different!

This is a different approach to bringing true loves together. A wish in a magic fountain allows Nick and Natalie to occupy each others' dreams. For three nights they blissfully fall in love yet outside their dreams they have never met. But then doubt creeps in which leads to the struggle that occurs in the rest of the movie.

I find it ironic that this story is in a Hallmark movie where no unmarried couple ever sleeps together and yet these two find themselves together while sleeping.

I find Katherine McPhee to be the most beautiful of women when her character is in love so I may be a little prejudiced.

PS after second viewing : the story is extremely sweet and sappy which is OK in my book. It is also quite simple, especially the romantic part. I think the writers had to fill it out with the stories about Nick's contest and Natalie's restaurant. McPhee when she made this movie was perfect for the sweet innocent girl part. Her later marriage to a billionaire twice her age makes that also somewhat ironic.

This is one of those Hallmark Hall of Fame movies with the great commercials. I've watched quite a few of them over the years and some are better than others. This one, not so much. I did like the premise but ultimately there was just nothing special or outstanding in this star-crossed lovers story. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with it either though, it's cute, light and will pass a couple hours without any bloodshed.

The romance follows a restaurant owner and an architect who are both unlucky in love. After they each cast a penny into a magic fountain (known for bringing lovers together) they both begin to dream of the other, falling in love in their dreams without ever meeting. However according to fountain mythology, they only have a seven day window to meet in the real world to turn those dreams into reality.

Oh and I was still brought to tears by those card ads (damn you Hallmark) -Filmed in Vancouver. 05.08.14

In My Dream is a different take on your typical romance movie. Nick is an archietect who works for a disagreeable boss but dreams to start his own firm. Natalie runs her mother's restaurant, but she is struggling to get any customers. They both make a wish in the town fountain at the same time, and that night they dream about eachother. However, they doubt each other exists aand they only have seven times to dream about each other before the magic fades. Katharine McPhee and Mike Vogel were fantastic as Natalie and Nick. I also though Jessalyn Wanlim as Natalie's coworker and Joe Massingill as Nick's co-worker were great. The movie is worth watching if you are looking for something that is a little bit different.

Katharine McPhee does a very good job. She's confident and determined and so easy to like. We want her to succeed in everything she wants to do. Plus I know her from "Smash". The one negative is her bangs. She's not Zooey Deschanel, who can make that look work. But she is pretty, and her hair looks better later on.

Mike Vogel is unfamiliar to me but likable enough. But he and McPhee are so perfect together. No other couple in the movie gets it just right. The dreams where they are together are one of the best parts of the movie, with one exception where the relationship is no longer ideal.

Jessalyn Wanlim as Sharla, Natalie's waitress and best friend also does very well. She has a great personality and makes the perfect waitress. And no, she's not merely a lowly worker but has a relationship with Natalie that makes her more like a business partner. When needed, she can be the boss.

Joe Massingill makes a real impact as Joe, Nick's best friend and co-worker, who might join him in a new architectural firm.

JoBeth Williams does a good job as Nick's meddling mom.

And Lilah Fitzgerald and Dakota Guppy are so cute as Nick's nieces.

Ealier in the movie there was opera music, including what I believe to be that song Charles Emerson Winchester was whistling while playing poker). This gets replaced with annoying music that which gets played on what are called Triple-A radio stations.

It's a worthy installment in the Hallmark Hall of Fame series.