The Bridge

7.8 stars.

In and of itself, 'The Bridge' is a dynamic film full of compassion for aimless book readers, and full of endearing characters and two in particular who wish to be together and follow their dreams. The main female's father is authoritarian and we see this on a few occasions. We don't like him, we aren't supposed to like him, he's the bad guy. The main male's mother is very likable, and we see even a bit less of her, she's a fringe person in the story.

As the two of them grow closer over several months at university as "study partners", it's apparent they are meant to be. It's a very slow buildup to what would seem to be the perfect ending, although I was wondering why there was only 2 minutes left and things were not wrapping up smoothly. And then... "to be continued". Oh boy. Well, I really like this movie and where it ends is pretty tantalizing, Of course, you have to pay for the sequel (unless you have a subscription to the channel-which I do-kudos to me).

It is billed as a Christmas movie, but you could watch it all year long. Very heart-warming tale about how you can touch people's lives in positive ways without ever realizing it. It's also about learning to love someone enough to give them the freedom to be themselves. Very heart-warming, but not sappy. It's about community and coming together to help someone in need. You come away with lessons learned. I highly recommend this Part 1 and Part 2. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 12/20/2020

The story is interesting and well done. As a 23 year old, I can attest to the fact that the fear of the future and of change is accurate and well told through the eyes of Molly and Ryan. The movie was well done and well told, that is, until the end... As another reviewer stated, the story is only half told in this installment, a fact which was not made known prior to the film's showing. We have to wait until next Christmas season to find out what happens. Good job, Hallmark. What a ridiculous idea. Then again, Hallmark seems to be expert at ruining things that have potential of late. (Their original series are prime examples of good ideas going terribly wrong.) Were this the pilot to a TV show I might understand it, but waiting an entire YEAR to resolve a story is absurd! Whoever at Hallmark made this decision should be fired. Do I want to know how the movie turns out? Yes. Will I remember that I want to know NEXT YEAR? Doubtful.

I am writing this in the fall of 2024 while watching this on Hallmark Family. "The Bridge, part 2" is on right after so I won't have to wait a year for the second part which was the complaint of most of the original posters from 2015. I guess this was before the streaming services (Netflix, Prime, etc) got us used to waiting a year (or more) for subsequent seasons. Katie Findlay and Wyatt have great chemistry. I first saw them in another Hallmark movie "Love Strikes Twice" which I highly recommend. "The Bridge" is typical Hallmark with the usual tropes but the cast delivers. I especially enjoyed seeing Faith Ford and Ted McGinley playing the bookstore owners. Steve Bacic and Andrea Brooks, Hallmark regulars, always give a good performance.

After suffering a devastating loss, Donna (Faith Ford) and Charlie (Ted McGinley) move to Franklin, Tennessee to open cafe/bookstore The Bridge. It's 2009. Molly (Katie Findlay) from Seattle is looking for independence in the smaller Belmont University instead of following her media mogul father's expectations. He is overprotective ever since losing her mother at the age of seven. Helpful college student Ryan (Wyatt Nash) takes her to The Bridge where they study music appreciation. Kristen returns to see childhood sweetheart Ryan having agreed to take a break until Christmas. Ryan is hesitant about his music dream while Molly does not wish to work for her father.

Everybody is all smiles and helpful. It's a very light bright beginning. It's not until Kristen when any drama starts and quite frankly not the highest of drama. Everybody is photogenic and appealing. Tension is left simmering at a low level. This is the first of two parts. This moves rather slowly. It's Hallmark. It's also shot in Canada and has that Canadiana feel. While I like the actors, the film moves too slow. What the father does is laughable and would be simple to undo by the young couple talking frankly. It's very sitcom.