Just My Type

It's a Hallmark romance. That's down side. On the upside, it's a cut above the above the norm for Hallmark. This movie is worth watching. Although it's somewhat predictable, we quickly became enthralled in it. Despite another review, we didn't find any dull moments. It's simple, but well planned out. As with some of the great movies, each scene is critically important and builds onto the next. The story keeps your attention on its own simple merits without any wild scenes to prop it up. The interplay and acting of the 2 main characters is very good and quite realistic and you enter into the relationship with them. The two were genuine and didn't walk around with the fake "Hallmark smile." Instead, the facial expressions were priceless and told a story in themselves. The attraction between them takes time...and was full of intrigue. Although the secondary acting is borderline and brought the movie down from higher ranks, it's acceptable and actually fit in quite well. It was enjoyable, and we watched it again 2 more times, something I've only done with some of the top movies. I give it a 7.3.

For many Hallmark films, the term nice sounds reasonable to cool. In this case the term is less fair. First, for a fist of details defining the main characters and proposing a more coherent and realistic story than you expect. Second - for use of bitter fragments of life, from ambitions of a journalist and skeptikism about herself to the writer refugeed in small town after few disillusions . The romance ? Off course, it is present but the steps of transformation of two people , influencing one to the other, the differences and the sweet humor are just precious virtues making Just My Type more than expected nice Hallmark.

Bethany is always fun and she did not disappoint! This was a clever one. The title is very fitting for the subject. I liked the quiet nature of how their relationship developed and of course, it had a great ending! Hallmark, you did it again!

'Just My Type' is the first of the 2020 Hallmark Spring Fling films. Hallmark always varied with their Spring-themed films and the 2020 output is no exception. Despite not caring for 'A Valentine's Match' or Bethany Joy Lenz's performance in it, which is the fault of the writing and the way her character was written, Lenz is always worth watching and was expecting that in her second 2020 Hallmark starring film (of three, the third being the very good 'Five Star Christmas').

Luckily, 'Just My Type' turned out to me as well above average. It's not great and there is not much that is exceptional about it, but there is a lot to like and it is certainly a much better representation of Lenz than 'A Valentine's Match'. As far as the 2020 Spring Fling films from Hallmark go, 'Just My Type' leans towards being one of the better ones. The title is very cute and is not too cheesy or corny, and the execution of the film is pretty much exactly that.

Am going to start with the not so good. The story is very formulaic, with many familiar plot tropes so it does feel predictable. The film does get off to a slow start, where the story is uneventful, the pace fairly pedestrian, the writing fairly bland and the characters are not easy to warm to at first.

Hallmark films often are over-scored or don't have scores that fit and 'Just My Type's' could have had more subtlety in tone and placement.

On the other hand, a lot is good. Lenz really lifts the spirits and brightens up the screen. She has great chemistry with sassy Aleque Reid. More so than her still sweet chemistry with charming Brett Dalton. Did like how restrained the chemistry was and that the development wasn't rushed while not being out of the blue either. It is also not underused or play second fiddle to anything else. The characters neither bored or irritated me once they became easier to warm to and when the negative character traits were relaxed.

Moreover, 'Just My Type' looks nice. Especially the scenery. The script is funny, without being exaggerated or juvenile, and has touching moments as well without being too schmaltzy. The story is far from perfect, but it does get the light-hearted-ness, warmth and charm just right and really did appreciate that there was less of the third act contrived conflict seen too many times with Hallmark in recent years. The direction is solid enough.

Concluding, well above average. 7/10.

The set or art director went overboard on the Spring silk flowers that littered nearly every scene! It became so distracting that it was hard to focus on the film! Obviously filmed in January or February for Spring. Like many of the Holiday films, cheap and overdone decor are a staple of Hallmark movies..... invest in better props and less is more! Other than that, cute story and well acted by the leads.