Finding Love in Mountain View

This movie follows the same pattern that Hallmark is noted for, but the characters show their true colors from the onset. It's the interaction between these same characters that causes colors to change to fit the season of life that these characters find themselves.

This one, Christmas Town (2019) and one or two others I can't remember off the top of my head are the only three or four I like and could rewatch. Only criticism I have would be probably the ending.

'Finding Love at Mountain View', seen as part of a newly started project of watching more non-Christmas Hallmark films, is another one of the Hallmark films where expectations were mixed. Hallmark have done many misses but also many surprising hits, so there is absolutely no bias for or against them. The premise was quite appealing and there are some good Hallmark Mystery films out there. The two leads are relatively unfamiliar to me, so this was seen with no bias.

After seeing 'Finding Love at Mountain View', it left me feeling very mixed and finding it difficult to rate and review. Which by the way is not always the best of experiences, as someone who is trying to be more decisive about opinions and everyday life. It is not one of the worst 2021 Hallmark films, as there are films that had less appealing characters, more unrealistic endings and uninvolved a lot less. It is also not one of the best, with there being nothing particularly special. Another middle of the road effort.

By all means there are things that are good. It looks good, once again the scenery is beautiful to look at. The music doesn't feel too much and doesn't feel discordant, it's pleasant on its own too. The acting is well above average, the standout being Skyler Elyse Philpot. Myko Olivier is an amiable presence too.

Did think too that there were some charming and sweet moments.

However, 'Finding Love at Mountain View' had potential to be better. Danielle C. Ryan did get better as the film went on but there was quite a lot of duration where she seemed stiff. Her and Olivier's chemistry could have been a lot stronger, it felt too low key and underdeveloped. While the characters don't bore or annoy, they are rather stock.

It is also very predictable, even when knowing what to expect from Hallmark, and emotion and substance wise there is just not enough, so it all felt bland and by the numbers. The ending is very cheesy and too tidy.

Overall, watchable but average. 5/10.

I didn't care for this one. I found the acting of the main girl, Margaret, flat and stiff. I didn't like the kids either. Of course the story was predictable to the max, but did not have any thing else to offset that flaw. And who makes a cousin the guardian of their children without asking them or even letting them know? Real classy. Aunt Bertha's southern accent was way over the top. The actress is from Arkansas so I guess she comes by it naturally, but it sounded phony. The ending was cheesy in the extreme. The actor who played the little boy gave a good performance at the recital.

This is not your typical Hallmark movie that has been common for the two Hallmark channels.

I found this enjoyable. Not at all what I expected from viewing the trailer for the past few weeks.

It didn't have the typical music, the cookie cutter children, the same old romance story. It had depth and realism. With a story that was actually touching.

I certainly hope that it means that Hallmark is moving away from their usual fare and are returning to the meaningful movies with different stories that they showed when Hallmark was younger.

Good for them. Keep it up.