Autumn at Apple Hill

Cast decisions make or break Hallmark movies. They can elevate movies that we've seen, in different settings and versions, many times before, which is exactly what happened with "Autumn at Apple Hill".

The storyline is an old trope - inn needs saving, in comes some workaholic hotshot from the city, the two leads fall in love and save the inn - but Wes Brown and Erin Cahill make it better. They are some of Hallmark's best. Can't remember ever seeing a bad film from either of them, which is saying something considering their extensive catalogues. With less competent actors, this is a slog.

Good acting, a decent script (even though the story is a retread of a retread of a retread!), spectacular fall-tinged establishing shots. A good start to Hallmark's fall/Halloween slate of films.

The small town Inn in this Hallmark Rom Com is lovely and filled with charm and character until they put an ugly arcade game right in the middle of the lobby! Do young people really want to stay at a place like that? And are they so vindictive that they would try to turn away a paying customer to their struggling business?

I was bothered by these and other things in the film. I understand that they had to manufacture some animosity between the two at the beginning...but it seemed really artificial and forced.

On the flip side, the romance and chemistry between the two leads seemed genuine which will appeal to romantics and the overall fall setting with a Halloween party was delightful. I can't believe that any bank in the world would give her a loan after she failed to meet her financial goals just strictly based on a happy photo of their grandkids?!?!? Said no banker on the planet.

The two leads are lovely and the setting is fall-tastic. Those are the reasons to watch it if you are a Hallmark movie fan. Be prepared to overlook annoying and unrealistic bits of the storyline. And why did she have to divorce or be a divorcee?

7.8 stars.

Judging by the title, you might be thinking this is just another themed film, one for Autumn, just like any for Halloween, Christmas, Spring, Valentines etc... But this is far from it.

This is a wonderfully presented love story. It has all the great aspects of one, because it starts with some pretty heavy tension between the leads. This tension is not the usual light and quirky kind, it's the real deal, and yet it's not too heavy either. They figured out how to create just the right amount of angst between them and when they finally see what's going on, who they are, who they were, and how they sort of knew each other; it's amazing how things change.

No, this is not a totally crazy awesome romance like some of the mainstream classics, but it's very good for Hallmark fare, no doubt. This would seem to be a must-see every other year. I say that as I'm writing this, but I'm realizing now into about my third year of hardcore Hallmark viewing, that I don't actually have the time to watch all the ones I like more than once every 3 to 5 years. So, this is a must-see every 5 years. Any film I rate between 7.5 to 7.9 is a once-every-five-year film. Anything 8.0 to 8.4 is a 3 year and anything above that is open season. I've loosened my ratings starting right about now. Need to have continuity in my reviews as much as possible.

Erin Cahill is Elise Jacobs, newly divorced, and having inherited her grandparents' property. It is a rustic inn in a smaller community. It needs saving, it has a lot of deferred maintenance, and it is not clear that Elise will be able to afford to save it.

Wes Brown is Luke Bellwether, son of a lady who is the chief of their company. Luke tends to be an overachiever, rarely taking any personal time. His mother basically orders him to get away. So he goes away to where he grew up, Apple Hill.

It turns out Luke and Elise were in school together but he being a couple of grades ahead of her, they didn't recognize each other after 20-ish years. But it is clear that she despises him at first. Then he shows that he is not so bad, therefore it is following the familiar Hallmark story arc.

My wife and I watched it, streaming, as pleasant entertainment. There isn't really anything novel but it is done well with attractive actors.

At home, streaming.

Loved this film, perfect seasonal entertainment.

It's Hallmark-cheesy, but not overdone. Yes, the premise is totally unrealistic, but again - it's Hallmark.

Erin Cahill plays the owner of a struggling hotel. At first she hates Luke (Wes Brown) - CFO of a big NYC firm. But turnes out he's not as bad, he has history with the town, and so it goes.

Very light-hearted story about kind people, then there are some kind people, and then they meet new kind people. In an unbelievably beautiful setting.

Best caracter is Sarah Luby as Nora. She's fun and cares a lot about the hotel.

Erin Cahill has good chemistry with Wes Brown, even though I saw them more as friends.

With all the far-fetched plot devices only one thing bothered me: mother needed Luke's help A LOT. And then she didn't, because after all she was able to say two phrases herself. Huh?!