Key to Love

I actually like both of these actors and hope to see them in future films, but this was one of the worst romance movies I've ever seen. I saw it under another title-"Mystery by the Book". Thinking it would be in the vein of a Hallmark channel mystery, I selected it for viewing. Such a disappointment. The plot felt like it had been written by a high school student for a senior final project. It was painful watching the actors try to flesh out and carry the flimsy scenes along. There was actual frolicking, followed by the obligatory (though astonishingly nonsensical) falling down on the ground next to each other and giggling. After groaning through all the cheesy and contrived romantic cliches, the final scenes reached new heights of cringe, followed by an extremely lackluster and hasty ending.

This story is about a book cover model and architect, Josh (Corey Sevier) who comes to town as the heir to his grandfather's estate. And there is some shady business going on by the Estate Lawyers, Brittany and her father. Josh meets a bookstore owner, Samantha (Alicia Josipovic), who purchased books from the estate and finds a key in a false book that she gives to Josh, together they team up to search for the lock that the key opens. A review complained that the focus of the story was on the male lead, Josh, instead of the female lead, Samantha. However, I found this change different and refreshing, besides Corey is one of my favorite Hallmark actors. I loved the mystery and uniqueness of the plot, but I think the movie could have been improved by not focusing on silly unimportant details like Samantha walking around with ice cream on her nose, and Josh and Samantha playing dress up with clothes found in an old trunk. Instead there should have been more focus on the feelings and romance forming between Josh and Samantha and LESS of Brittany making an unsuccessful play for Josh. There was good chemistry between actors, Corey and Alicia. I felt the mystery of the key was too easily resolved and there should have been more intrigue and more details made of the "missing letters" and Josh's grandfather's past relationships. But overall, a pleasant and enjoyable movie.

The acting is horrible, especially Sam's two employees. There are too many instances of rom/com cliches like those employees pushing her at Josh often and almost from the minute they saw him. Alicia Josipovic has both some good acting and poor. But for some reason I thought Corey Sevier was good as Josh. I really liked how upbeat he was.

The script isn't much better, especially the dialogue. We have cardboard villains, Laurence Lawrence and Lauren Lawrence. Between them they seem to mention the "management company" in every other sentence. And more bad acting. Brian Martell as the dad character is the worst acting from beginning to end.

Story content composition is odd. I thought Josh spent too much time with Lauren. It takes Josh and Sam well into the last half of the movie before they really started looking for what the key fits. Then when they do, the movie drags through knocking on wall panels and trying on fancy clothes and dancing. When moving from place to place at the mansion the two actually frolic, or at least Sam does.

And the biggest script fail is the climax of the key mystery. There are a couple of things I hated about it but it is just too unbelievable that the most important part of it transpired how it did.

I like Sevier and Alicia Josipovic together, despite the moments that were just a bit too silly, but I would have liked more screen time together.

The network this appears on, the Great American Family network makes a big deal out of being family friendly. This movie is that. It actually mutes the bad qualities of the Lawrences. It seems like this movie was written by children at least partially for children.