Expectations were mixed here. Music is a big part of my life and this is the sort of story that is relatable to me. While country is not my favourite style of music, there is still a lot of love for it. Jessy Schram and Niall Matter have both been good in other things, Matter has given very few bad performances. Hallmark do vary though when it comes to their music-related stories and the previous two 2020 Fall Harvest films did nothing for me.
'Country at Heart' turned out to be very worthwhile. It is the first good 2020 Fall Harvest film and is one of the best ones overall of the 2020 Fall Harvest films. It is among Hallmark's better music-related endeavours, both Schram and Matter are very well served where one can see their appeal and it certainly doesn't put me off country music. It is not quite one of Hallmark's 2020 output, but it is leagues away from being one of the worst. If anything it's in the high middle category.
It's not perfect. The lip sync tends to be off, and not just a little but very. Seeing the lip movements and music being so obviously out of sync for much of the film was rather distracting. Some of the dialogue is on the awkward side, especially early on.
Maybe it's on the slow side to begin with.
So much works in 'Country at Heart's' favour though. The best aspect is the music, which is just great. So infectiously uplifting and soothing on the ears, actually though Schram and Matter didn't fare too badly in the singing department. Not great but there has definitely been worse. Schram is like a ray of sunshine, while Matter is a subtle easy going contrast. Really liked their truly endearing chemistry, that amused, charmed and heart-warmed. Lucas Bryant was clearly having fun and his subplot is as equally interesting as the main plot.
Furthermore, it looks good. Especially the scenery. The script has some awkwardness but is suitably light-hearted, the rapport between the two leads made me smile. The story may be formulaic and not exactly original, but its energy, charm and ability to lift the spirits more than made up for that. Not to mention that it was to me easy to relate to. The ending is sweet and doesn't ring false.
Overall, well done and so much better than the previous two 2020 Fall Harvest Hallmark films. 7/10.
