Love on the Air

If you're looking for a standard Hallmark Romcom with a bit extra to it, this is the movie for you. She's a career-driven radio adviser to women, always advising her audience to "be an island" (especially after her fiancé dumps her); he's also in the business, but his métier is single men who want to stay that way.

With a set-up like that, of course they wind up as a wrangling advice couple on the same radio show. Also, inevitably they will fall in love, but they won't figure that out until the end of the movie.

In the meantime, they wrangle, and Alison Sweeney and Jonathan Scarfe are very good at that, speaking in short, clipped, snarky put-downs. Normally I would credit the writer, the actors or the director, but I'd really like to know who the editor of this one is. The cutting, although simple, helps the pace immensely, which is what editing is supposed to do.

There is nothing that is extraordinary in this one, but here's what happens when everyone does a good job: a superior result.

I suspect that the writers were fans of Jane Austen. I think Austen would have enjoyed this immensely. I certainly did!

The banter is fun and the main characters have a lovely arc. Perfect chemistry between Scarfe and Sweeney. One of Hallmark's best!

I give this an 8 out of 10, on my "hallmark movie scale". That is, sure, it's no Gone With the Wind. But relative to other HMM movies, this was really enjoyable. Even my husband, who is usually beside me napping/browsing the web, piped up that it was a whole lot better than my usual Sunday afternoon light fare.....

Anyhow, Alison Sweeney has got a real HMM thing going on, and is usually pretty charming and likable -as she is in this one. The lead guy is equally likable, and unlike most HMM movies, does not come across as gay (which, as an aside, is a major problem with this channel's movies - it's hard to get into the chemistry of a budding romance when the lead males are all so painfully, painfully gay. I don't know why HMM does this -- maybe they've tested their audiences and found out that they are drawn to this? But i digress....). The characters here have real chemistry, and great that, unlike so many HMM movies the lead woman actually has a real, successful career - and not just as a ubiquitous "event planner" or "marketing woman" or "wedding coordinator". And nice that she didn't quit said job at the end of the movie, as so many of these leads are inclined to do. Anyhow, just a cute fun movie, well acted, well-written, and pretty much lacking the painful awkward script moments that these movies usually have.

Sonia Mayerick (Alison Sweeney) has her own female empowerment radio show in Chicago. Her selfish boyfriend Scott Ryder ends their engagement on the air after listening to the popular man-cave show hosted by Nick Linden (Jonathan Scarfe). Sonia is substituting for a radio psychiatrist. She and Nick have an encounter. When Nick starts talking about her in his show, she is shocked to discover that she has been talking to the caveman himself. She barges into his show and chemical reaction occurs.

At the start, these are two annoying personalities. They are both know-it-alls. Her boyfriend does humanize her and his history does show more sides later on. I do see what the movie is setting up. Obviously, this is a meeting of combative opposites. It's a classic romantic trope although it's a little more edgy than the usual Hallmark fare. It boils down to the likeability of the two lead actors and the speed of their characters' growth. The explosive meet-hate of the first studio booth encounter piques my interest. They soften quite nicely. The reintroduction of Scott is good although he needs a more compelling actor. Without a better Scott, the triangle isn't strong enough. This is a solid Hallmark with a little spice.

Was not entirely sure of the premise at first, have seen it done well before but have also seen it done not very well at all. Still saw 'Love on the Air' for Hallmark completest sake and because of liking a number of their 2015 films. Have seen Alison Sweeney and Jonathan Scarfe in other films, with more familiarity with Sweeney, and while both of them have variable filmographies they themselves are always watchable (especially Sweeney, a Hallmark regular and consistent).

'Love on the Air' on the whole was quite good, if not great, and one of the better Hallmark films to have this (or something similar) premise. Did think that it started off on the rough side, but it is a case of me recommending staying with it because it does get a lot better. Something that has been said quite a lot by me in regard to Hallmark and Lifetime films overtime. Both Sweeney and Scarfe are represented very well in 'Love on the Air', once their material becomes a good deal better.

Am going to mention the not so good things first. As said, it doesn't start off great. The film does go too over the top on the know it all traits present in both leads, and it came over as rather snobbish and mean spirited at first. Also felt that the banter initially was on the excessive side, and initially too hostility heavy which again felt mean spirited and forced.

The story doesn't offer any real surprises and ends a little too neatly.

Both Sweeney and Scarfe are very engaging in the lead roles, with no signs of hamminess or phoning in. They engage with their characters quite passionately while giving the right amount of energy and nuance. Their chemistry is also one of the better ones of 2015's Hallmark films, with there being some real spark, wit and charm. They are very natural together and it feels genuine while not being hasty. The supporting cast are all solid, and mostly the characters have a good deal of personality and appealing ones.

Production values are easy on the eyes, particularly the scenery, and had no issue with the placement or use of the music (which has always varied wildly with Hallmark and continues to be). The story is light hearted and heart-warming on the whole, with a good deal of heart. It may lack surprises, but the energy is always there and it doesn't get too contrived later. The script on the most part is witty and very funny in the right places, while having heartfelt moments without schmaltz getting overdone. It doesn't come over as stilted.

Summing up, quite good if not great that is worth sticking with if initially unsure. 7/10.