Love, Romance, & Chocolate

Solid script writing and beautiful location photography would usually get this a seven, but with the extra interest in the chocolate making and also strong romantic themes I have to rate this an 8.

An on location shoot in Europe helps to elevate this Hallmark romance above the average. Bruges is overpriced and beautiful and this movie captures it. A silly chocolate theme is the plot.

Will Kemp and Lace Chabert are well paired.

Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp are two of my favourite Hallmark regulars, so it was lovely to see them teamed here.

I thought this was a great Hallmark, with a lovely story being told, and two good performances from the leads. Chabert is always warm and charming, with I enjoy Kemp's dry delivery.

I was a bit sceptical about the premise initially, but it won me over, proving very enjoyable.

I gave the movie 8 stars because they did a great job capturing Bruges on film. How beautiful. I'd love to go there after watching this movie. The story featured a chocolate competition which added to the dramatic tension...but Will was so dour and overly serious. He looked handsome but not much fun. The scene when the prince and princess told how they met was so charming. The script could've used the same touch in scenes with Will and Lacey.

Emma Colvin (Lacey Chabert) breaks up with her boyfriend who is moving away for his job. She goes to Bruges by herself for a chocolatier vacation. She finds new inspiration and new love in Luc Simon (Will Kemp). Luc's chocolate shop is in financial trouble but he has great hopes for his chances at the Belgium's Royal Chocolatier. He reluctantly accepts help from the American who has different ideas about chocolate.

The meet-cute is paramount in a romance. This one has some good potential but one needs to know the language. That's where funny subtitles would be really effective. The location is basically stuck in a shop with no customers. As for the exterior shots, the Belgium locations should be better. The camera work doesn't do the place justice. It's not just about the locations. It needs an imaginative vision to bring out the exotic Europe. It does have a boat ride montage but that's really the pinnacle. It helps to be a nighttime ride. This Hallmark romance relies heavily on the bubbly Chabert and she is exactly that. I like the triangle although the opposition should be more villainous throughout the movie. This is a fine standard Hallmark romance.