The Sweetest Heart

Maddie Strong (Julie Gonzalo) returns to her home town after 14 years to open a cupcake store in memory of her beloved grandma. Her lifelong best friend Sarah is getting married. Chloe is her assistant. Alex Perkins is the handsome investment banker with a potential investor. Maddie is surprised when her first love Nate returns to town. She is still furious at him for getting cold feet a decade earlier.

I like Julie Gonzalo with her nose bridge scar and her personal warmth. This Hallmark romance is actually interesting in the positioning of an old love and a new love. Usually, the old love is the primary love. This one is truly up in the air. It's actually fascinating to have neither guy be an idiot. In the beginning, I assumed the ship would be Chloe and Nate thereby freeing Maddie to pair up with Alex. This one goes down a well established path. I'm not opposed but I would have preferred more back and forth. This is a very solid Hallmark romance. I hope for nothing but the best for Gonzalo although I'm not opposed to her being a Hallmark regular.

Nate and Maddie were childhood sweethearts and they had ambitious plans to open a cupcake store in the old creamery where Maddie's grandparents first met...only something happened along the way. Now Maddie is trying to expand her cupcake business and Nate is back in town to give lectures for three weeks as a cardiologist.

The investment headhunter is young, handsome and interested in Maddie...unfortunately Maddie doesn't feel anything in return...and that is where Nate comes in.

This was a sweet romance, Nate is the perfect gentleman and Maddie is delightfully driven to see her vision through. They have wonderful chemistry and I would recommend this for a great spring romance for all those romantics out there. Although I am not sure I would like pine nut flavored frosting...I was ok with the rosemary in a cupcake, but not the pine nuts.

There were two "when calls the heart" actors in this film and it was fun to see them in a contemporary piece. I particularly enjoyed Chris McNally's performance as Nate the cardiologist.

What's there not to like about cupcakes! I like Julie Gonzalo and find her under used by Hallmark. She's not over the top cutsie like many of their leading ladies nor is she an overly made up lead. The movie was cute and yes, of course, it's a sappy story but that's why we watch them. They're predictable happiness and we all need that sometimes. I hope one day Hallmark will cast her with Ryan Paevy, he's also under used.

Have seen the two leads, Julie Gonzalo and Chris McNally, individually in other things and both are very likeable when their material is good. The scenario for the first 2018 Spring Fever film from Hallmark is a pretty typical one and it's easy to tell from the outset that there was going to be little originality, but it is hard to resist anything with cupcakes if you like me have a sweet touch. Hallmark's output is wildly variable in all their seasonal blockings, but they have been known to do some watchable things.

'The Sweetest Heart' is definitely one of those watchable efforts. More than watchable in fact, actually though pretty good as long as not too much is expected. As far as the 2018 Spring Fever films go, it is one of the better ones and is not at all bad for Hallmark's 2018 output. Am not going to say that 'The Sweetest Heart' is a great film because it isn't, but it is a very charmingly sweet film with a very warm heart and without being too sickly sweet. Like it easily could have been, considering what it revolves around.

As to be expected, there is very little new here and did feel that it dragged on occasions. Especially in the final quarter or so, which felt too convenient and under-cooked at the end.

Did find McNally a little too restrained to begin with as well.

But actually, there is not an awful lot wrong. Gonzalo is very engaging and likeable, her character is a flawed one but she's not overly flawed and she grows. McNally on the whole has a nice subtle easy going charm that is immensely appealing, and he and Gonzalo do have spark together and make for a cute couple. Their relationship is not meaty but it develops at a decent rate and isn't underused. Andrea Brooks brings some welcome vim to her role and the supporting cast are solid.

It is a very nice looking film too, one of Hallmark's best looking 2018 films in my view. The scenery really does entrance and the photography doesn't cheapen it at all. The music at least fits tonally and in placement and has presence without being over-loud. The dialogue is sharp enough and flows naturally, while also having the right amount of sentiment (not too much in quality and quantity). The characters aren't complex, then again that shouldn't be expected watching Hallmark, but aren't too stereotypical and are likeable enough. The story may be predictable and not perfect in pace, but it is incredibly charming, sweet without being too sugary and very heart-warming. There is a nice lightness to it too.

Concluding, not great but nice effort. 7/10.

My daughter and I watched this together. She just loves Julie Gonzalos. I thought it was very well made, and a nice movie to watch with your tween daughter. We both loved the cup cake shop! And all the great colors! My daughter is now driving me crazy for the pink and lilac tops Maddie wore! We can't find them in any stores? Highly recommend for wholesome family tv time. It's a warm and fuzzy feeling move. Thank you Hallmark!