The Soulmate Search

If you're bored of regular rom-coms, watch this. I almost gave up at the initial bickering, but it is key to this creative story, and once you know the characters' backgrounds, their different perspectives are more understandable. As they are polar opposites at the start, I can actually relate to both of them a bit, so I enjoy the thought processes of both. The multi-generational cast works really well, and has one of the best child characters I've seen - he's perfect for the plot but also the type of mini adult that I would expect an only-child in this family-business situation to be. Whilst fall-out and reconciliation are pretty inevitable in these movies, the detail of both is unusual here so held my attention, as did the inclusion of some excellent art in different forms thought the production.

Feels like it was shot on an iPhone using only ambient light. Colour changes, shadows come and go.

The photography was OK but the lighting was careless.

Lead actress may have followed direction but she overacted as if her viewers were on Nickelodeon.

I suspect the director not the female lead since other characters also overused their facial expressions, especially with their eyes.

The Dash character may have been a bright spot and I predict a bright future if he says in the industry.

I can't tell if the abstract art was supposed to be quality or justifiably dismissed. But it didn't appear to be popular or accessible.

The acting was as bad as any Reel One Entertainment I can remember. Most of the main characters were terrible, especially Harris and Stoddard. Add to that how distracting and annoying the "background" music was and this movie was hard to watch. Background music should not be noticeable. This was. The dialogue was fair.

The story was a typical Quest which throws the romantic leads together on their search, in this case, for Eternity which is who set up their blind date. The reason for the quest was unusual and stretched credulity that they would both put so much effort into it. Harris and Stoddard had zero chemistry or worse. The conflict was overplayed although there was something Ellen said that made me pause to consider her point of view. There is the typical lie of omission. She makes the comment that he is a lawyer, so he knows how to lie without technically lying. The usual "cute kid" wasn't that cute.

If the acting wasn't bad enough, the stereotypical antagonistic first meeting is overdone. He was horribly rude, and she started to return in kind. But his rudeness pointed to character traits that really shouldn't go away so easily. Their mutual antagonism lasted way too long.

Well-written, authentic dialogue, and clever storyline. Cinematography, editing, and sound quality framed the characters and location -the close-ups are beautifully done. Will, played by Jon Stoddard, with his son Dash, played by Holden Smith, are every woman's dream team. So sweet, funny, and real together. Who wouldn't love them? I would also love to have Nicole Acosta (Chloe) as my best friend. The writer, Hayley November, created lovable characters. Lastly, don't be scared off by the two lead characters' rather terse and tense opening scenes. The story evolves, emotions are laid on the table, and everyone learns to dance by the end.

This is Reel One Entertainment TV movie which targets famous Hallmark single dad movies. I think it's the first one of that kind for them and they almost nailed it. As this is ROE TV movie you can bet there will be some technical issues, but there was only one - poor audio at Mickey's cafe scenes. Other that that, good. Even soundtrack was done very well. Furthermore, the movie takes place in St. Petersburg, FL and it was actually filmed there, and not in Hamilton or Kelowna, Canada pretending to be /insert random/ US city.

Casting was good enough, and acting was fine. Jonathan Stoddard looked like discounted Ben Affleck, and I actually liked it, lol.

Writing was fine, too. The movie starts as secretive, but as soon as Act II starts it's pretty predictable how thing are going to develop but it was executed well. Obligatory conflict at the end of Act II was pretty obvious. What I didn't like is how it was resolved i.e. Acting your intellectual age trope was used, and it was totally out of place.

There is a minor diversity issue. It is shoveled everywhere, but why there is not a single Hispanics actor or actress in the movie. Really? In the State of Florida? How's that even possible? But when movie ended and in the closing credit I read that there was actually one Hispanics but he looks like typical Caucasian so I made a mistake. Regardless...

This is one the best ROE TV movies ever, and I watched them a lot.

And as every other ROE TV movie, don't watch trailer if you plan to watch the movie as it shows everything!