Love on the Menu

Any film and television series etc centered around food immediately has me sold. The culinary/restaurant setting has been done to death before and has been a common setting since, but anybody that loves food and loves to cook and always finds themselves salivating at different dishes on cookery competitions may find that that doesn't matter. Whenever Hallmark do this setting, it does vary in quality. Particularly in the storytelling and whether the characters are any good.

'Love on the Menu' is one of the food-centered Hallmark films that works and up there with the best of them. Have seen some food-centered Hallmark and Lifetime films over the past few months, especially the Christmas films, that have really not worked for reasons other than setting, but this felt like a refreshment in comparison to those. It is a treat for anybody that loves food and loves to cook and is not only a menu worth trying out but it is a tasty one. As far as 2019 Hallmark films go, 'Love on the Menu' is one of the better ones.

It is not perfect, have yet to see a Hallmark film that's perfect (even the best ones). The gourmet breakfast stuff was over-egged and did make me cringe a bit.

Do agree too that the ending felt rushed and abrupt.

Otherwise, 'Love on the Menu' is a winner. Autumn Reeser is endlessly engaging and has a lot of perky charm about her. Kavan Smith is very comfortable and easy going in his likeable role. Their chemistry is very genuine and never felt false or bland. It was great that it was not underused and didn't play fiddle to any conflict concerning the restaurant. Jordyn Ashley Olson is very charming and is not cutesy or bratty, actually thought she brought a good deal of heart to the film.

The restaurant setting is portrayed in a very affectionate way and the passion for food was clear, it is really made the most of and what happens behind the scenes is realistic. Any conflict is unforced and has some uncertainty that makes one root for things to be okay. The script is a mix of amusingly light hearted and heart warming sentiment, without being juvenile or too sentimental. The story is not an original one, but it has a lively energy, doesn't take itself too seriously while not treating it as joke and is cute. The characters are ones worth caring for and the film looks very nice and isn't over-scored.

Concluding, very tasty and fullfilling. 8/10.

The movie, at least for me, is beautiful. I won't go into the technical stuff, because I have no right to do that, but as a foodie, and a former restaurateur, I think I could say something(not totally). The problem began because (not really a spoiler) because a person wasn't treated well because they thought another person was the food critic, and they were wrong. As much as possible, please train your staff not to play favourites or put your best behaviour just because you think a food critic is there. Just do your best, no matter what. As these actors or whoever else are in the movie act or whatever even if they are not feeling good, do your best no matter what, and you would be noticed. It's also a note to self in case I go back to the food industry, but I'd rather be client instead. :-)

Now that's out of the way, what do I think about the two lead stars?

KAVAN and AUTUMN, do they have chemistry?

All I can say is that there was something about the trailer that made me want to watch this movie badly. I don't know if it's because of the story...well, maybe not. It was because I saw that the partnership is believable...so I guess you could say that there's chemistry.

I can't really expect much because this is a TV movie, but I did enjoy the movie.

I liked JORDYN ASHLEY OLSON...I mean, I like the young girl. She could act. I think she's a natural. Her role is a fifteener undergoing a lot for her young age, but she still has a lot of reason to smile. For me, she became Hannah, Chef Hank's lovely daughter.

It's also refreshing to have BARBARA NIVEN and WILLIE AAMES on board.

I also liked almost everyone who acted in the movie, especially the kitchen crew.

Mr. Smith was a convincing chef. Maybe people would notice this and that, but I'm talking about his acting. He made Chef Hank very human...He has his outbursts, but he also knows how to admit when he is wrong. Yes, it's the screenwriter and the director we should thank for the character. attack, treatment, what-have-you, but Mr. Smith was able to bring Chef Hank to life.

Does the movie offer something new? Something old, something new, something "borrowed", something blue... :-)

Thankfully, yes.

It's relatable. It has old elements, and some new ones.

I guess I'll stop now before I give real spoilers.

Your opinion might vary from mine, and that's only natural, but I hope at least one or two might agree with me.

Thanks for your time.

Cute movie. I did pick up on two lines very similar to those used in Michael Douglas romantic comedies: A comment about expensive shoes now being practical after they're ruined (from Romancing the Stone), and a daughter telling her dad to compliment the leading lady on her shoes (The American President). But I enjoyed it. Would like to see Barbara Niven in a sympathetic role for once, though.

Kavan Smith ! what's not to like ? he makes the perfect boyfriend - attractive, funny and a smile to die for. Oh and he can act too ! Have seen him in several Hallmark films and he's delivered without making the script cheesy. Shame he hasn't been picked up by the mainstream studios.

Why do Hallmark insist on their scriptwriters having to refer to 'heart' all the time ? Cook with 'heart', write with 'heart', create with 'heart'. If I cooked. wrote or created with my 'heart' it wouldn't be worth eating, reading or looking at !!! Here in the UK we laugh at anything like that, we roll our eyes and say "really?"

When a workaholic widower meets an uptight corporate stooge, you wouldn't expect anything to happen. And yet one of the best things about this movie is how the characters grow, change, and stand up for what they believe in over the course of their relationship. Like all Hallmark movies, there are occasional lapses of believability, but at least no one resorts to lying or hiding secrets to fill out the 2-hour run time. The leads are likeable yet fallible, there's extensive use of montage to show the passage of time, and the Vivaldi mandolin concerto is the cherry on top! Keep it up, Hallmark!