Roadhouse Romance

Set in Tennessee but filmed in Canada, as most Hallmark movies are, and filmed quickly over about 3 weeks in 2021.

For us the best part of this movie is seeing former American Idol contestant, country singer Lauren Alaina. She does three songs as part of the story and for us that was the best parts. She plays Callie who is coming home to her small Tennessee community after a military tour of duty. There is some hope she and her former boyfriend can reconnect but both have changed.

By stroke of fortune a movie man named Luke, aimed at directing a movie in Hawaii with his girlfriend as the star, has a car problem and gets stuck for a few days in the small town, leading up to its annual festival. The story gets a bit interesting with Callie's search for her deceased grandpa's secret BBQ sauce recipe. And as the stories are wrapped up this one takes a familiar path that all Hallmark movies take, and that is why they are all good, clean entertainment.

My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library. There is an interesting 5-minute feature showing some of the "making of" cuteness.

Tyler Hynes has a way of elevating the material he's given in Hallmark films, and this is no exception.

Lauren Alaina does well in her first Hallmark film, and there's some lovely moments here.

Funny, touching, the story holds up, and the leads have chemistry - all the ingredients needed for a good Hallmark film in my book.

When Callie gets off the bus, I'm surprised that Hallmark wouldn't get a military consultant to check the authenticity of her uniform. No rank on hat or uniform, American flag wrong orientation, questionable patches, etc. Otherwise, I appreciated the emphasis on the VA.

Although the leads had nice moments together,it lacked true romance chemistry. -Felt like he was an older caring mentor.

It was her first movie to my understanding so will overlook her acting,far as music was rather underwhelming too. -Think partly due to how Hallmark,presented those music scenes.

She seemed rather young to been in the military for years,on top of her career stuff she mentioned.

Couldn't Hallmark give a better overall topic,than just about a lost BBQ sauce recipe?

Unless as mentioned was an easy cover-up for a lead,with no real acting experience or pandemic issues.

Scenery & cinematography was ok,but always the music seems to upstage the actors talking.

If the storyline & acting is good,you don't need music to always cover that fact.

Won't be watching it,again.

Can't sing, but can act. Can't act but can sing. SURPRISE! Alaina can do both! I was expecting cardboard. I got a genuine actress. It's actually harder to be who you are in real life. Kudos to the director to let her be her. Jackie did great casting as always. Tyler was Tyler. Any actress will have chemistry with him. He IS Mr. Hallmark.

Tyler reminds me of the actors of the 50s. He IS the character he is playing - ANY character.

Ok. Now the bad. These two outshine the supporting cast bigly. Can't be the script because I have a feeling Tyler doesn't follow a script. Story is cute, but once in a while Hallmark, make a mess of things.

I have it an 9 because Lauren once or twice made me feel she was aware of the camera. That and I know she'll get better the more Hallmark movies she does. Sorry Ms. Pickler, she's already better than you.

As usual great movie from Hallmark.