Love on the Menu

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!

Hallmark has really cornered the market in widows & widowers - but that aside, this was a good played-out movie with excellent acting & chemistry from the 2 leads. The story flowed really well & the interactions of Autumn Reeser & Kavan Smith as they gradually got to know each other, didn't feel rushed or too corny. Autumn's boss's character seemed a bit too one-dimensional pantomime villain for me,.I think a sequel would be good as it'd be good to see them pair up together again.

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.

As a chef, he probably would not have had pens in his uniform pocket (maybe a meat thermometer, though?). The situation with the daughter getting stranded by the bus seemed a bit unrealistic. Other than that, the characters seemed authentic, the conflict and resolution seemed more believable than most, and the actors had great chemistry. I also enjoyed some creative camera angles and cinematography in this movie!

This is how it's done, Hallmark. Good Job! When you have two engaging and attractive leads who are good actors and have good chemistry, it already puts it far ahead of the majority of Hallmark offerings. Bravo Autumn Reasor and Kavon Smith. Add an interesting inside look at restaurant goings on and a agreeable restaurant (and chef) makeover plot and you have a definite winner. Kudos for the beautiful and authentic food photography. The love story built slowly and realistically. The leads did not have silly misunderstandings or antics. When there was a bit of conflict at the end, it was resolved quickly with a very nice grovelling scene and a deserved abject apology. There was a tough boss who turned quite evil at the climax for some drama and tension.

I also want to compliment the wonderful young actress who played our hero's teenage daughter. Jordyn Ashley Olson is lovely and a very promising young actress.

I only mark it down for two aspects. The gourmet breakfasts that our chef-hero cooked for his daughter and were meanly rebuffed by her were so over the top, the scenes were cringe-inducing. Also, the ending was a little sudden and needed another scene to tie the loose ends up nicely. Maybe they are planning a sequel. I'm in.