A Picture of Her

Some reviewers didn't buy it, but I thought Rhiannon Fish and Tyler Hynes had plenty of chemistry as Beth and Jake. I was pleasantly surprised by all their easy breezy romantic moments together, and by all the scenes with actual kissing and intimacy in the MIDDLE of the movie, instead of saving the first Big Kiss for the very end (although there was an early "almost kiss"- one of my least favorite tropes). Their dates seemed very real and natural and I would've preferred a movie that was focused on just that without any serious conflict between them (but Hallmark writers seem locked into the meet, like, fight, reunite formula)

Hynes seemed comfortable with a camera and the Flower Girl photo of Beth really was quite beautiful. Unfortunately, the movie's depiction of Beth's instant fame was wildly unrealistic. The scene with a dozen people crowding her and trying to take photos and selfies with her after a free "Los Angeles Culture" regional magazine just came out, was beyond ridiculous. As I write this, Taylor Swift was just seen coming out of a NYC restaurant after her breakup and she didn't get half as much crowding in the street. That said, social media can make formerly unknown individuals into short term sensations. As I write this, a head shot of a beautiful woman spotted at the Masters golf tournament just went viral, and she became known as the "Masters Girl". Of course, that was a nationally televised event, watched by millions (compared to a free local newspaper cover).

Also, the movie's representation of the modeling industry (which has its problems) was also wildly unrealistic. My daughter was an international model (which helped pay for the Berkeley college degree that she is about to receive). First, we did a LOT of research into the agencies that were interested in her. And we met their representatives in their offices, not in some stairway landing. And we carefully reviewed her contracts. We also made sure to get all the details of where she was going and for what before she went anywhere (like a Coca-Cola ad shot at Venice beach). Models are hired to promote products, as part of carefully planned marketing campaigns. But it was unclear what Beth's sleazy agent (a plot line that was just abandoned) had lined up for her. She certainly wouldn't have been given her own trailer. And she wouldn't be dressed up in some ugly awards show gown that made her look like Ursula from the Little Mermaid for whatever "shoot" she was hired to do. Heck, any agent who knew what they were doing, would have approached a florist or flower grower to hire her for some marketing campaign that played off of her "famous" photo. Plus, there's usually at least several weeks of lead time for photo shoots (and auditions). No one gets an agent (without an office) and a big production photo shoot in a couple of days.

There's more. Aunt Dody suffers a compound leg fracture and says she'll be laid up for a few weeks (hence Beth's visit to help out). And, sure enough, a few days later she's walking around in a walking boot. I suffered a compound leg fracture during a football game and I was in a cast for nearly 6 months. Aunt Dody was far too mobile. And the only help that I noticed was when Beth loaded up a couple of flowers from her Aunt's fancy She Shed and put them in a box to take to the Farmers Market to a guy who mentioned selling some flowers back to Aunt Dody (??). Aunt Dody didn't seem to have much of a business and didn't seem to get much help from Beth.

It was also very unclear what Beth was planning to do with her Environmental Sciences degree. My son obtained one of those from UCSB and now works for a solar power financing company. There's nothing wrong with her working on boats but, when I was a bartender at a local Harbor, I met a lot of fishermen who used to get up at four in the morning and lead very rugged and difficult lives. There were a few women who did that kind of work, but the ones I met could've played football in college. Beth as a fisherman? Seemed like quite a stretch.

And what sort of work does Beth expect Jake to do to support himself? He's a photojournalist. No one buys photo albums and paparazzi shots can pay well (It's not as though he was badgering the people that he was photographing). And what's so terrible about him taking a picture of her before he even met her? The worst part of his behavior was that he wasn't completely honest about what he did, but that's easily resolved with one honest conversation.

But the movie got a few things right. Beth was upset that her photo was used on the cover of a local magazine without her permission, but that magazine's rep gave her a surprisingly good explanation. Hallmark movies notoriously get the law completely wrong (I'm a lawyer) but they got it right here. In California, under Civil Code Section 3344, the Right of Publicity protects against uses of a person's likeness "for purposes of advertising or selling, or soliciting purchases of, products, merchandise, goods or services, without such person's prior consent." If her photo had been placed in an ad for flowers, she would have had a claim, but being put on the cover of a "news" paper is not actionable.

More importantly, for Hallmark movie addicts like me, I liked the romance. Hynes has an easy going charm that has made him a Hallmark superstar. Last year's Three Wise Men and a Baby was the most watched movie of the year and he's been in a lot of other Hallmark movies. For good reason. This was my second exposure to Rhiannon Fish as a lead (her parents must have really liked Fleetwood Mac). I liked her in A Splash of Love and her performance there and here reminded me a little bit of Hailee Steinfeld. But I can see why some may have been put off a bit by her somewhat childish mannerisms (I'd call them endearing).

The thing I liked best about the movie was how it depicted their time together. There were no competing boyfriends, girlfriends, fiancés, schemes, failing businesses, or festivals, and all their dates were really enjoyable to watch- a nice meet cute at the dog park, a couple of bike rides, walking the streets, stopping for ice cream, stargazing, talking, and sharing home-cooked meals. It was all very cozy and comforting. Unfortunately, the movie makers decided they needed to add a conflict for the leads to overcome, as usual, in the fourth quarter.

I would've preferred a nice breezy happy ending without the contrived conflict.

My favorite line:

"That's ancient water under a very distant bridge."

I have always liked Tyler, but was surprised that this character was so complex... so perfectly portrayed. For me, the in-depth picture was not in the girl's picture he (as a paparazzi type), took of her. Rather, it was the male motorcycle driving, self introspective photographer Tyler created for us. You know him by the end of the film: inside and out.

The film is well written, well filmed, and so very well acted and directed. I highly recommend this movie to all audiences.

And, for those Tyler fans, those who know him as not only an actor, but also in his roles as writer, producer, and director... you will not be surprised, but thankful. For, with this picture, we see Tyler at his best. Enjoy!

I love Tyler Hynes...I think he could have chemistry with cardboard, he is that great of an actor. I thought he and the lead actress made a very attractive couple. I loved the orchids and the outdoor market was beautiful. I thought the main character Beth said she and her father ran a fishing boat out of Gig Harbor (which is in Washington State), if so as a native Northwesterner I must say it is a shame that they didn't actually show any of Gig Harbor as it is a lovely and very green area. The other odd thing is the ruse to get Beth to LA is that her aunt Dody needs help because she is injured...and other than one dog walk and a couple of plant waterings, I did see Beth provide much help. Then she is busy flirting and dating a local photographer. There is a whole environmental activism story which didn't seem to fit with the rest of the story and seemed intentionally placed in order to appeal to a certain demographic. There were also just some odd hiccups with the plot in general.

But I did love Tyler Hynes...I also loved most of the supporting cast including Beth's dad played by Robert Wisden and Aunt Dody played by Samantha Ferris. I did have some mixed feelings about Rhiannon Fish...when she wasn't "baby talking" I enjoyed her, but the "baby talking" was really cringe worthy.

Worth seeing for Tyler Hynes and decent on the romance meter. I think romantics will like it.

8.0 stars.

The film opens with a fisherwoman named Beth as first mate on her dad's boat in the Pacific Northwest. They learn of her aunt being injured so Beth goes to Los Angeles to take care of her while she convalesces. While in the city she meets a photojournalist named Jake and they fall in love. She soon finds out he has been lying to her, and in the midst of her grief she leaves the city never to return. Jake is left hanging and wishing he could have saved this fragile relationship he so callously dismantled.

The story is different than any Hallmark I've ever seen. First of all, there are few movies that showcase a professional photographer of his caliber, and the fact he's a paparazzi is interesting and fresh. Her character is not very fascinating, but I think she is a very pretty actress so there's wiggle room. Fish does have some idiosyncratic mannerisms that might be disenchanting for some viewers, but I still find her alluring. I feel I'm strangely in the minority based on the multiple scathing reviews.

'A Picture of Her' is an entertaining film for two reasons, the first being that the synergy between Hynes and Fish is undeniable. When they kiss it's real, there's no faking that level of chemistry. I like that she initiates the affection most of the time leaving us to feel like he's a real gentleman in spite of the biker boy/bad boy image he manifests. Secondly, this film provides a solid romance and a very enticing story. Don't focus on the nonessentials, keep your eye on the vibrancy and mystique that Hynes and Fish exude on the screen.

And no, I am not just talking about Australia's Rhiannon Fish (or is that Canada's Rhiannon Fish?) who is at her radiant and effervescent best in this film, opposite Hallmark favourite, Tyler Hynes. Their chemistry is off the charts, right from their first scene together - one of the most outstanding casting decisions Hallmark has made in a long time - and Fish nails her role, delivering a bubbly performance as Beth, opposite Hynes' photographer Jake. Their banter is A-grade, too.

Maybe I wouldn't be giving this 7 stars had it not been for Tyler Hynes and Rhiannon Fish.

The scenes in and around British Columbia that stand in for Washington state (as BC so often does in these productions) add another layer of beauty to what is a well-shot film.

P. S. Multiple (heavy!) kisses before the final minutes of the movie? What is this, Hallmark from an alternate universe?