Warming Up to You

It is hard to make Russell look unattractive. I still don't feel much chemistry between them. Their story lines are a little weak, so maybe they are doing the best they can. Worth one watch. Would not need to watch again.

7.2 stars.

As stated in many previous reviews, this is the same story done with a different slant. Instead of city girl meets outdoors guy at a national park, it's a city and country fitness girl meets celebrity guy at a wellness/fitness resort in the woods with a lake. All Hallmark did here was pick one of the half dozen usual plots, and then tweak the background of the woman and the man just a little. There is literally nothing more to the recipe than that. What makes "Warming up to You" special is the pooch they wrapped on the man to make him look like he's got belly fat. It's the most obnoxious attempt I've seen in a while. He's thin, muscular, wiry, with a jutting pouch just above the waistline, it looks like a concealed fanny pack. Why waste our time with this ridiculousness? There are a million other ways to make a person seem out of shape.

The romance is very slow, and the title of the film is the perfect description of the theme which is about how it takes her several weeks to warm up to him. Most of this story has been done in a hundred different ways in other films and this one is not original by any means (except for the fake belly), but the acting is heartwarming and the chemistry is good.

Yes another. Many echoes of familiar formula plot lines. No real highs or lows or surprises. No real tension.

Except for one Christmas movie, I'm not a fan of Cindy Busby. It's hard to tell how sincere her bubbly personality is, and maybe that's the idea. Is there chemistry with Russell? I found it hard to tell because of that.

Like many, I was disturbed by the thought of Chris Russell in a fat suit and the potential for body shaming. But despite my initial misgivings, this movie turned out better than expected. The fat suit was an epic fail and totally unnecessary (just have him wear baggy clothes), but the story was engaging enough, and they snuck through a couple of lines that I never thought I'd hear in a Hallmark movie (a female character whose last name is Netherregions and a reference to someone dropping a deuce after you hear a toilet flush in the background?). Overall an enjoyable watch.

"I have wrestled a giant pacific octopus, all while safely detonating an under water bomb meant to destroy all of Japan. So don't underestimate me, Miss Wolf."-Rick Steele

"You're their golden boy and they are paying a lot of money to get you in to shape. Clearly they care."-Kate

In order to motivate the very badly out of shape famous actor, Kate creates a fitness board where points or stickers are earned daily, just like she did with kids back in LA. Rick thought it would be more fun to use his time to create his own board to figure Kate out.

"I wasn't raised in the woods to be scared of owls."- grandpa (my favorite quote from the movie)

While Kate is relentlessly working with Rick on helping him get into shape, her best friend Sasha is slowly falling in love with Rick's agent and vice versus.

This film had a lot going on, including the creation of a retreat for kids and it is all set in my home the Pacific Northwest (so in my opinion a gorgeous backdrop).

"I spy a genuinely beautiful woman."-Rick

This was an unusual and fun departure from the usual Hallmark formula and I for one was delighted. This was a great spring/summer romance and I highly recommend for all those romantics out there, especially those who appreciate so humor on the cheesier side.