JP95

Same BS message as always: that marriage and kids are the only societally acceptable path, and nothing else is allowed, even though lifetime monogamy is completely unrealistic and not how humans are wired. The American Dream must always win. Sigh.

Also there is SO much yelling and screeching in this film. And are we supposed to find Braff's ENDLESS "porch montage" sweet? Noble? Touching? It's just pathetic, and is honestly the final nail in the coffin of an already disappointing movie.

Rachel Bilson is the only good thing in this film, and her character is treated like absolute crap, like she doesn't even matter and her feelings shouldn't even be considered - only those of screechy, hysterical, irritating Jacinda Barrett. Ridiculous. It just doesn't work.

Overall a depressing downer of a movie with a terrible (and tired) message.

I almost didn't watch this one because normally I can't stand Jen Lilley. Generally the characters she plays are whiny, abrasive, hyperactive, wear absurd amounts of eye makeup, and are always super irritating. So, imagine my surprise when I actually really liked her in this! For once her character is calm, sweet, likeable, cute, understated, and just...normal.

In addition to super unlikeable leads, the other major issue that kills at least half of all Hallmark films is a complete lack of chemistry between the leads. When that's the case it's just never going to work. Fortunately, in this film, the leads have a ton of very believable, palpable, natural chemistry. So the "moments" between them, the closeness, the lingering meaningful looks, don't seem fake or forced. The romance works, so the movie works. I wish there were more like this.

The cat scene was just too much. Sorry but I don't need to watch a horrifically maimed, suffering animal. Whether it's real or not. That's not entertainment.