Summer of Dreams

I missed this movie when it first came out. I never was a Debbie Gibson fan. And I agree with several of the things the other reviewer said. Plus I really don't think Debbie Gibson is all that pretty (Pascele Hutton is very pretty), she is not a great singer or actor. But she was perfect for this part. I agree that the good story was the renewed friendship between the sisters, but the love story was pretty good too. I also disagree that it is unrealistic that Debbie can develop into a good teacher in one day. No matter what the politicians say, good teachers are born, not created in a college. My wife and daughter were born to teach. I found out I was not, though I had a master's degree in the subject. When I did finally find my calling, I inspected schools. We had a governor who actually said, "anyone can teach". I saw many people come out of industry and the military who could not. A few could. So to me, the real story was her love for her students and how she found her true calling, to teach.

The casting was well above average for a Hallmark movie, except the record label exec was way too young. Maybe it can't be a Hallmark movie unless casting completely blows it somewhere? The story is a bit slow to start but the pace does improve. The initial awkwardness and renewed relationship between sisters was very well done. The movie ends well but seemed abbreviated.

The 2016 Summer Nights block was a mixed bag but mostly actually in retrospect pretty good. Certainly much better than the June Weddings output that year especially, where there was only one good film. While liking 'Summer Villa' and 'Summer Love' a lot, 'My Summer Prince' did very little for me. Have liked Pascale Hutton in other things and she is the most familiar name to me actually, am aware that for many others it would be Debbie Gibson and fair enough.

'Summer of Dreams' is pleasant enough and is better than its follow up, 2018's 'Wedding of Dreams'. It is though a bit half and half as a film and not particularly great, a good number of good things are here but also some not so good things too big to overlook. As far as the 2016 Summer Nights films go, 'Summer of Dreams' is possibly second weakest, though a lot better than 'My Summer Prince'. While not being either among the best or worst films for Hallmark that year.

As said, there are good things. The scenery is lovely and photographed lovingly. Hutton has the most likeable and real character and gives a very honest and charming performance, her dialogue is the best in the film too with the advice being relatable and well intentioned. Some of the music is also quite pleasant.

Robert Gant is also charming and looks very natural in front of the camera, his smile is lovely and more natural than Gibson's, and does have some decent chemistry with Gibson. Enough of the story is light hearted, heart-warming and sincere.

Having said all of this, 'Summer of Dreams' is not great. Did find Gibson rather wooden and she could have had a wider variety of emotions and less of the slightly too forced smiling. While there is chemistry between her and Gant, the relationship itself is not developed very well (her chemistry with Hutton actually has more heart) and could have been warmer. The music has pleasant moments as said, but too much of it also sounds dated within the film and Gibson's singing at times sounds tired.

Did find the dialogue too stilted too often and too heavy on the sentimentality, while the story is predictable and unevenly paced, with some dragging going on in the second half where the story got thinner. The ending is too neat, but that's not uncommon for Hallmark.

In summary, not a great film but not bad either. 6/10.

Surprising for me, I liked it. Just very much, against the absence of my taste for the Hallmark productions. I liked for the beautiful job of Debbie Gibson, charming of realistic. For the simple motif than I am teacher . For the gentle - precise portrait of middle age romance. For cliches and their smart use, too. For something easy to define as refreshing. And, no doubts, for the end.

The first V is for "V"egetarians only. Why? Because this made for TV movie is oh so CORNY.

The second V is for you over the hill, past your prime time "V"ain people who can't help yourselves and just want to live in your past.

Debbis Gibson, singer, songwriter/actress agreed to this vanity project because it allowed her to re-live some of her past stardom, but she is not relevant today, nor are her songs.

This made for TV film high school redemption of a former teen singing star is "ALL ABOUT DEBBIE GIBSON" and I gave it a 2/10 just so some people who watch it and want to live their own dream may feel there is at least a sliver of a chance of living your own dream.