Love on the Air

I like Allison Sweeney. She's a quality actress. I knew her more from her Day of Our Lives tenure, than I did with Hallmark, but I'm watching her in more Hallmark films now these days. I had fun watching this movie. Crawling through the dog door, lol! I've done that before after being locked out of my house. What else can I say? It's worthy of watching over and over again.

This movie is all about the banter back and forth between Alison Sweeney and Jonathan Scarfe. In this movie, the adversarial banter goes on longer than in a lot of movies of this type.

Both characters have very tough exteriors which are difficult to like. And it's a little more than just being tough on the outside. Both are stubborn advocates for their own gender and both exhibit some of those gender mid twentieth century stereotypes. There's a nice touch there in that each also one has at least one major characteristic opposite to those stereotypes.

Nick's softer side starts showing up before Sonia's, but they both have one. Nick also starts to show that inside he respects the opposite sex more than his reputation allows.

The story follows a predictable pattern with some well used plot devices like the misunderstood overheard conversation. But the strength of this movie isn't the story. It's in the relationships and the chemistry between the two leads.

I give this an 8 out of 10, on my "hallmark movie scale". That is, sure, it's no Gone With the Wind. But relative to other HMM movies, this was really enjoyable. Even my husband, who is usually beside me napping/browsing the web, piped up that it was a whole lot better than my usual Sunday afternoon light fare.....

Anyhow, Alison Sweeney has got a real HMM thing going on, and is usually pretty charming and likable -as she is in this one. The lead guy is equally likable, and unlike most HMM movies, does not come across as gay (which, as an aside, is a major problem with this channel's movies - it's hard to get into the chemistry of a budding romance when the lead males are all so painfully, painfully gay. I don't know why HMM does this -- maybe they've tested their audiences and found out that they are drawn to this? But i digress....). The characters here have real chemistry, and great that, unlike so many HMM movies the lead woman actually has a real, successful career - and not just as a ubiquitous "event planner" or "marketing woman" or "wedding coordinator". And nice that she didn't quit said job at the end of the movie, as so many of these leads are inclined to do. Anyhow, just a cute fun movie, well acted, well-written, and pretty much lacking the painful awkward script moments that these movies usually have.

Sonia Mayerick (Alison Sweeney) has her own female empowerment radio show in Chicago. Her selfish boyfriend Scott Ryder ends their engagement on the air after listening to the popular man-cave show hosted by Nick Linden (Jonathan Scarfe). Sonia is substituting for a radio psychiatrist. She and Nick have an encounter. When Nick starts talking about her in his show, she is shocked to discover that she has been talking to the caveman himself. She barges into his show and chemical reaction occurs.

At the start, these are two annoying personalities. They are both know-it-alls. Her boyfriend does humanize her and his history does show more sides later on. I do see what the movie is setting up. Obviously, this is a meeting of combative opposites. It's a classic romantic trope although it's a little more edgy than the usual Hallmark fare. It boils down to the likeability of the two lead actors and the speed of their characters' growth. The explosive meet-hate of the first studio booth encounter piques my interest. They soften quite nicely. The reintroduction of Scott is good although he needs a more compelling actor. Without a better Scott, the triangle isn't strong enough. This is a solid Hallmark with a little spice.

Love on the Air is one of my favorite Hallmark movies! It's one of those rare gems that if you keep watching enough movies, one will eventually make the cut. I loved it when I first saw it 5 years ago and the love remains after seeing it again in 2020. I give high marks to the casting with Alison Sweeney and Jonathan Scarfe who have wonderful chemistry and fun banter. Also, the script was well done from start to finish with the perfect ending! They don't seem to be making them like this anymore, so rediscovering a classic Hallmark was a welcome delight. Highly recommend!