Just Add Romance

Carly Benson (Meghann Fahy) and Jason Tucker (Luke Macfarlane) are friendly rivals in cooking class in Chicago. Unbeknownst to each other, they apply for TV cooking competition, Kitchen Showdown. The two resume their combative rivalry until a budding romance get in the way.

They are photogenic. They smile. They simmer but there is no explosive chemistry. This is strictly warmed up leftovers. There are no great turns or big jolts. They are doing the show and there should be cameras constantly following them around. This lacks stuff. This should be ready for some food porn but this doesn't take advantage. Even as a Hallmark romance, this is lacking.

'Just Add Romance' was watched because of primarily liking the two leads in other things, especially the always watchable Luke Macfarlane. Hallmark's output varied in 2019 but enough films from it were decent and more, even those with tried and tested premises. Anything revolving around competitions or the culinary world is a tried and tested premise for Hallmark, and has varied in execution in particularly the character writing and storytelling.

Luckily, 'Just Add Romance' ended up being one of the worth watching 2019 Hallmark films (primarily for the two leads). It is not as good as the other culinary-themed 2019 Countdown to Valentines Day film 'Love on the Menu', but it nearly is and has nearly all that film's good things despite not being as fresh. As far as Hallmark's 2019 films go, 'Just Add Romance' compares favourably while not being one of the best. Maybe the flavour is not always there, but at least it's cooked.

It is a very predictable film, with all the major events and how it's all going to end being pretty much obvious from the start for anybody familiar with the formula the film closely follows.

Maybe the pace could have been tighter in spots, it dragged a little going into the final third. Which did seem on the too neat and formulaic side to me, with an ending that could have slowed down.

However, a lot works. Meghann Fahy has a huge amount of perky charm and Macfarlane is his usual easy going and subtly charming self. Neither overplay and neither go through the motions, and their characters are likeable and not ciphers. 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 competition. The supporting cast is solid.

While with nothing original, the setting is affectionate and makes one inspired to cook and the conflict doesn't come over as forced or personality-free (despite it being one that has been seen many times). Enough of the story is light hearted and charming and the script doesn't come over as too cheesy or too schmaltzy, neither does the banter feel like it's trying too hard. It's a pleasing looking film, particularly the scenery, and the music fits the mood and doesn't come over as overwrought.

Overall, nice. 7/10.

The competition was probably too friendly, but of course it IS Hallmark! I like Meghann Fahy and look forward to seeing her in more shows/movies. I hope Luke MacFarlane gets more roles too!

Kelly (Meghann Fahy) and Jason (Luke Macfarlane) compete on a famed cooking show for the chance to win their own restaurant, but can they find a balance between showing off their culinary skills and confronting their emerging affection for each-other?

'Just Add Romance' is perhaps not always the most exciting or fast paced of the Hallmark movies, the resolution at the end of the film is pretty easy to pick right from the start, and it even covers quite a lot of ground that all those real TV cooking shows already do! Also, frequent Hallmark junkies, you'll need to decide if you're happy with one of the regular 'no kissing before the finale' rules possibly being broken!

But even in its slowest moments, Luke Macfarlane is, of course, charming as always and really an old pro at this sort of thing now with so many HM films on his resume, and the newcoming lady Meghann Fahy (such exquisite eyes!) already shows a lovely screen presence, and she will likely get even warmer in these roles if she gets to make more HM flicks in the future.

Special mention should also go to Brittney Wilson, who plays the dorky blonde TV assistant with the glasses, as she deserves to get a lead role in her very own HM flick!

A nice film, completely held up at all times by the superior cast, and a very reliable option for those seeking an easy-going Hallmark love-fest.

Hallmark has made plenty of cooking romances but I truly loved this one. A nice story and good played. I was happily surprised. You should watch it for an evening with your friend.