Advice to Love By

First off, it's a Hallmark movie so you can't expect Oscar level anything from it. Once you remember that, it's really easy to enjoy the movie. Dialogue could be better but it's par for the course. Overall, a very cute and enjoyable movie.

Hallmark had 2 or 3 previous movies with good scripts like "Love Strikes Twice." But this one has fallen back to others that had okay acting, boring script. Awkward scenes, no flow. Hallmark has tried to be diverse, but awkward scenes with two different backgrounds. Hallmark needs to get better writers.

Erinn Westbrook is very pretty and talented but she got stuck with a somewhat abrasive character (the "science of love" author). Kendall rudely dismisses the "love at first sight" feelings that her sister and boyfriend experienced because, you know, "science" (it's all "completely biological"). The problem with Kendall, is that she has all these strong opinions about "science" but it doesn't seem like she has actually studied any of the relevant "science".

For example, there's research out of the Netherlands which provides evidence in support of the phenomenon of love at first sight (Zsok, Haucke, De Wit, & Barelds, 2017), which she dismisses as nothing more than "signs from your neuroreceptors, not your heart" (and what's scientific about the "heart" in connection with love?). Although I wasn't a big fan of the writing, I did like the boyfriend's response: "Well, wherever the signs came from, I'm glad I was paying attention."

And what was the "science" behind pairing up two random strangers on National TV and pressuring them to go on a date together?

There were several other annoying things about the script. When Kendall calls Nathan, he says he has some follow up questions. She says "Saturday, lunch in the park" and then just hangs up. She doesn't wait for an acknowledgement, confirm a time, say "I'll see you then" or even "bye", she just hangs up. Huh?

And then she gets all bent out of shape about something that nobody would be bothered by (even those who know nothing about contractual confidentiality obligations). It was just a fake and phony conflict. If all of that seemed annoying (as it was for me), the blame goes to the writer and/or the director. Erin Westbrook is just reading her lines and doing the best with what she was given. Don't blame her for how Kendall was written. Some other reviewers don't seem to understand that an actress who plays an annoying character isn't necessarily a bad actress or annoying. Erinn Westbrook deserves a better script. As does Brooks Darnell. He's a really good looking and charismatic actor (he was quite impressive in A Winter Getaway, although that was another movie where the stars were better than their material). But his character's grand gesture just came across as poorly timed and embarrassing.

Finally, other reviewers noticed something else that really bothered me too. I've always thought it was ridiculous that nobody ever has sex in Hallmark movies. We don't need R-rated sex scenes, but there's not even a hint that anyone is having sex. It's never even implied. That's just weird and unrealistic. But it was even worse in this movie. These two went on a bunch of dates and never even kissed. Heck, they never hugged or even held hands. That's just ridiculous. Is Hallmark really that worried that their core demographic will clutch their pearls in horror and turn the channel if they see people showing physical affection for one another and, heaven forbid, going into a bedroom together at night and closing the door behind them?

The only good thing and reason for my generous 4 stars was the lead actor. He's a fine actor given lousy material.

The rest didn't flow, there was zero chemistry, the lead actress was another spunky, fast-talking, know-it-all and where did the plot go? You'd think you were finding it then they threw it in a blender or something.

It just rushed through whatever plot they were struggling to find, couldn't find it and did a quick wrap up, I guess. Better writers needed.

I'll never watch that actress again, however. There's enough stress in the world without adding these high octane power people. Hallmark's "hallmark" is cozy comfort. Sadly, none of that was to be found here and I couldn't have cared less if she found love or not. Hopefully not. She'd be awful as a partner.

I was far more interested in this steamroller woman's assistant's love life. She was charming.

Watched this for the lead actor!! I'd watch any of his movies!

Not much of a script, foolish premise, not impressed with female actors.

Nothing else to watch & hubby likes rom coms!