Identical Love

This was a fun and interesting journey though could have become a gripping series - so much to explore. I deducted a star for the distasteful reminder of the poisonous jabs ferried out to remote islands - oh no.... not content for a fun escape film.....

My overall impression, now that I have watched it, is that it is rated a bit high for what it is. The premise is interesting and the location, the French Polynesian Islands, in the South Pacific halfway between Australia and Peru, is extremely photogenic. But the whole movie plays out like a long soap opera episode. By that I mean almost all of it involves relationship conversations between two people. Frankly too much of that and too little attention to possible side stories.

It starts with a young bride being virtually left at the altar. She is in her wedding dress when her fiancee tells her he won't go through with the wedding, he doesn't think they are really best for each other.

The lady is a physician, when another doctor has to cancel his four-week volunteer trip she decides to fill in for him. It is a good choice, it should help her get past her breakup.

Big problem. When she gets to the overseas location she finds out her ex-fiancee's identical twin brother, a dentist, is on the same assignment, they will both be staying in the coordinator's house. Along with a lady ophthalmologist from New Zealand.

The title of this movie pretty much tells us where it will go but we don't know what all will be involved in getting there. My wife and I watched it on FreeTV via Prime streaming, we found it to be a mostly entertaining and interesting diversion, however in reality not that good a movie. Too much talking, talking, and talking about feelings and fictional relationships.

I have to agree with some of the other reviewers. It is embarrassing how the Filipinos were portrayed. I lived there years ago and never had to have a translator. They speak English, and very well I might add. Also, even in remote areas they are clean. Poor maybe, but clean. To show them in torn dirty clothing is insulting.

The scenery was beautiful but I wonder why they didn't just film in the Philippines. It's a beautiful country.

A woman falling for her ex-fiancé's identical twin brother was a different premise but the writing was lacking. The actors did a decent job with what they had but it could have been better.

Extra points for the scenery.

Stood up at the altar is a common premise. The bride retreats to a tropical paradise, which is also common. I can't think of a premise where she encounters her ex's twin, but I bet there is at least one.

I thought that the acting and dialogue were mildly stilted or unnatural. But the relationships, both of them, were given plenty of screen time and that was nice enough. I wondered where the conflict was going to come from, especially with Charlotte and Seth, so it made sense but it took me by surprise. Overall, the pace seemed slow. Which was probably because the story needed more.

I liked Shae Robins despite times when it looked like she was trying to hard. There was some chemistry with Mason D. Davis.

At times the background music is distracting - it doesn't fit the particular conversation.

For see it, some effort was necessary in my case. Because medical part seems fake or sappy. Because the dilemma between brothers sounds not so realistic. And the try of actors to offer something reasonable has not exactly happy results.

But the good intentions, obvious, are noble enough to not be very critic about Identical love and see with good dose of indulgence the work of Scott Christopher to give to his character the air of lobely hero from some country song having new chance.

Like many Hallmark films, nice can be reasonable term to define it. The romance - unrealistic but it represents the only purpose. So, not so bad.