An Ice Palace Romance

"An Ice Palace Romance (2023)" skates just above thin ice, managing to deliver a lukewarm blend of predictability and charm. The film follows the well-trodden path of a big-city journalist, Emma, who returns to her quaint hometown only to face her childhood fears and, of course, a dormant love for ice skating. The plot, as cozy and predictable as a pair of old mittens, offers few surprises. It's the cinematic equivalent of a comfort food dish - not particularly exciting, but satisfying in its own right.

The saving grace of the film lies in its heartwarming dynamics between Lori, the rink owner Mark, and his precociously adorable daughter, Zoe. Their chemistry is as smooth as a freshly Zambonied ice surface. Mark, with his rugged charm and dad jokes, brings a lightness to the story, while Zoe's earnest enthusiasm for skating and matchmaking adds a sparkle of joy. However, the film's reliance on clichés feels as rehearsed as a figure skating routine.

In conclusion, "An Ice Palace Romance" is the kind of film you watch while wrapped in a blanket, sipping hot chocolate, and not expecting any cinematic revolutions. It's a feel-good movie that skates by on its charm and the sheer predictability of its plot. It doesn't aim for a triple axel of storytelling and settles for a steady glide. It's a three-star film - not because it's exceptional, but because it's comfortably okay, like a familiar pair of skates that have seen better days but still fit just right.

Yes folks another Hallmark plot to save something, in the past they've saved a wine business, a farm, a restaurant, a micro brewery, and even Christmas! This time the story involves SAVING AN ICE PALACE, (which is actually a skating rink and center of the small town festivities, "palace" makes it sound more important) Journalist, Lori, played by Celeste Desjardins faces her fears regarding a skating incident that happened from her past, and returns to her hometown to do a story. She meets the ice rink owner, Mark, played by Marcus Rosner, who is attempting to save the rink from greedy developers. All the while this is going on, there's a subplot where Lori also helps Mark's young daughter,Zoe, to try to realize her skating dreams, as Lori reflects on her own life. The movie is very predictable but the chemistry between Mark and Lori captures your attention. And Marc Rosner is one of my favorite actors and he's hot, hot, hot! It's just another pleasant "guilty pleasure" movie from Hallmark.

An Ice Palace Romance simply did not end up being as likeable as I initially thought. I loved the characters initially, including Lori's coworker, who was light and funny. He really looked and gestured similarly to Mario Cantone, from Sex and the City. I also loved their chemistry as friends/coworkers, so that made me initially think the whole movie would be fun. Instead, Lori quickly morphs into the 'nose for news' journalist that left her heart in Chicago and became an itinerant snob in her hometown.

It was difficult to like Lori, because she seemed to think that she was beyond criticism or reproach; she was resistant to the male lead, Mark (Marcus Rosner), for an extraordinary length of time, and I failed to see why he wanted to be with her so badly. Maybe it was her taking a liking to his daughter, which WAS a good aspect to the movie. However, that seemed flimsy, and it only became more grating as she eventually pulled an unthinkable move on him.

The good aspects of this movie included the realistic actors that played the side roles. I loved seeing people of all shapes and sizes and features.

There were mysterious details that I may have missed. Why was there a need to have a camera person following Lori always? That seems exorbitantly unrealistic, and they didn't really develop the friendship at all. (They meet, shoot something together, and suddenly are like old friends.) The architect and camera-person are adorable, and that storyline just didn't launch at all.

I also enjoyed seeing the familiar actress playing the Mayor, but she was a complete weirdo in that scene where she asks Lori "Are you sure that is all you are here to do ?(work)" (sic) - i saw serious snark in that facial expression, but wasn't sure why/what made the Mayor suddenly want to put Lori in her place. She also seemed stuck on herself, along with Lori.

The basic gist: the characters had so much promise, but the majority were either unused or seemingly elitist for no apparent reason. Mark was a great character, as well as the young girl who played his daughter. I appreciated her skating talent, and the fact that she could clearly skate in real life.

Celeste Desjardins ruins this entire movie with the constant fake smiling and botox face all the way through the film accompanied by the fake voice. She can barely move any of her face.......

At 27 why does she need botox or is she really 37 or 47 and faking her age too? Just don't get it...... such a pretty talented girl does not need all this fakery.........

Shannon McDonough was fun and real as the local photographer sussing out all the false motives for a new money-making plan.

Julia Dyan as the sister had potential. The stereotypical gay best-friend was just plain annoying.

Please just bring us some lovely skating instead of this fiasco!

Another "big city girl returns home" story from Hallmark - only to find it is where she belongs. I sure wish they would come up with different storylines. This one has been done to death. The leads are OK. There was some compatibility between the two. The skating daughter was cute. Lori decides to help coach her - even though she gave up skating long ago. Although, I have never heard of an up-and-coming skate champion giving it up because she fell. Ummmm ... I've watched the Olympics ... many skaters fall on the world stage and pick themselves up and continue. They don't just quit. Seemed pretty unrealistic to me. AND PLEASE! Stop with the flamboyant gay men! I know a lot of gay men - the majority do not behave like this. HALLMARK - in your quest to be "all-inclusive" you are defining this ALL WRONG. I'm certainly OK with gays being included in your stories - I am over you depicting them ALL as flamboyant. It's ridiculous. You should know this - you cast a lot of gay men in straight, romantic roles (Jonathan Bennett, Luke McFarlane, Peter Porte - to name three). Give it a rest!