Winter Love Story

This entertaining story follows the standard hallmark movie formula but manages to rise above it. Would've been much better if the female lead character hadn't been such an insecure spoiled brat that you wonder why any of the people around her even try. But the guy does and makes up for her shortcomings. It helps that the two actors have good chemistry, and that the male character is so likeable.

The opening twenty minutes or so 'scene setting' are some of the most compelling screenwriting I have seen for a long time. Our leading lady is both drawn to the leading man and fascinated by the absurdity of the persona he dons in order to promote his book. The arch character she plays and her inability to stop flinging jabs at him are completely compelling and very funny. I have never laughed aloud at or replayed scenes from a Hallmark film before.

Our leading man is content to absorb her constant abuse, as they are obviously enjoying the chemistry together, and this spurs our heroine to yet more acerbic observations about him which, at their worse, she even apologises for. I don't think I have seen better script than this since enjoying the clashes between Elizabeth Bennett and Darcy - it's that good. The usual things Hallmark do to ruin any enjoyment - the irritating background plink plunk music and the sledgehammer subtle a, b, c of how sparring opposites get romanticky, are all here unfortunately. The film gradually trails into banality as the kitsch bonding, inevitable misunderstanding and union in the last five minutes take their effect. But the unveiling of the relationship between the two, Jen Lillie's portrayal of the incredibly insecure yet cuttingly astute author, and our rent-a-chin leading man, aware of his own absurdity is romance itself. Well done writers, Hallmark let them off the leash next time, you could have a classic.

Cute story and good chemistry between the leads. In my opinion, no one in the Hallmark world does quippy, Type A humor like Jen Lilly. As for Kevin McGarry, I never used the words suave or debonair but they apply here.

HOWEVER. I really dislike commenting on women's appearance, but Hallmark has some of the worst hair/makeup I've ever seen, much less noticed. In this case, Jen's extensions (or wig?) were horribly overmuch and often poorly styled so that it interfered with the story instead of subtly enhancing it. Maybe it was intentional, but every time Jen fiddled with her hair like she was trying to arrange or manage it - yanked me out of the story.

Otherwise, entertaining.

Jen Lilley and Kevin McGarry play authors on a book tour together and of course romance ensues. He is a successful fantasy writer and she does romance. There is some witty banter along the way a bit more sparkling than the usual Hallmark romance.

Cassie is a new writer and in order to promote her book her editor proposes she goes on a book tour with their most famous writer, Elliot. Road trip time! During the ride, they read each others books and become close. (Don't they always?)

I really liked this concept. If there is a book I will probably love it. Jen Lilley's character, as most of the them, is an amiable person. Kevin McGarry is becoming one of my favorite and I thought their chemistry was good. They actually made me laugh at the end. Speaking of the ending... I didn't think the last three minutes were bad, they did the best they could with the HORRIBLE AND DRAMATIC pre-ending (my word for it) problem. Which I hated. We had had worst endings, that were extremely rushed (proposals), but the last scene was even adorable.

To sum up, it was a cute movie. So was the dog.