Fiançailles à la grecque

Unlike most Hallmark movies, the romantic couple is already together from the start. So the entire drama comes down to planning a wedding, which to me shouldn't be a drama at all. I know people get a bit crazy about weddings, but a lot of it comes down to planning and random errands being run. That's not much to sustain a movie, so of course the writers chose to make the bride's mother in law a terror. In between moments of her being terrible, we get to watch the lead couple tasting wine and forcing out the most cringeworthy lines.

Unfortunately, this movie was not funny enough to carry the weight of such an overbearing mother in law. Who would marry into this mess? It was unpleasant to watch and made me want to find a more conventional Hallmark "meet and fall in love" movie without the annoying inlaws.

I accidentally stumbled upon this movie whilst browsing a streaming site. Those following my blog, will know romantic comedies are not my favourite genre - mainly because I find them predictable. Although 'Love's Greek to me' is also every bit predictable, I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

The film revolves around the relationship between Ilana and her Greek boyfriend Mike. When she finally goes to Greece for the first time (for a wedding) she meets Mike's family. Mike also plans to propose to Ilana. Mike's mother Athena is an overbearing character (making for an interesting and funny character in the process). It's all about tradition - GREEK tradition!

I loved the beautiful sights of Greece, making for beautiful cinematography. None of the characters were truly standout characters, but they were a lot of fun. I couldn't help but think the creators were somehow trying to make another 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' (they even use reference to that film in this film!).

Despite ending up as predictable as I believed it would be, it was still a fun movie. Cheesy, but sweet.

I was impressed by scenery in this movie as much or more than any other movie I can remember. It is so exotic and beautiful. There are a lot of opportunities to enjoy it.

The story is a little different than a lot of the boy-meet-girl-etc romances because the central couple is already together and their romance is only nominally central to the story. Torrey DeVitto's Ilana is the center of the story and all of her relationships. Her relationships with Athena and with Mike are the most dominant, but also her mother and Mike's sister.

The story is also simple and very predictable. You can see the ending developing a little at a time from early on. But the heart of this movie is just that- the heart and much of that goes back to Ilana. The tension in this movie is more emotional than dramatic.

For half the movie, Athena is beyond annoying as a Momzilla. Actually monster-in-law. Like so many of these movies a character has a major personality change towards the end and actually becomes interesting.

The acting is mostly good. I won't say either way about Marina Sirtis because I was so annoyed by Athena for so long, but the rest of the cast did a good job. DeVitto carries the emotional heart of the story quite well The dialog is ok. It is not terribly witty, but there are some moments that it delves into deeper emotions.

I really like Torrey Devito and she was ok in this one. She usually Carrie's her emotions better. Her acting was better in. RIP but I didn't really like that movie until I saw it twice. The mother in law to be was quite good. She played the part well. She seemed like a demanding mom.

The Greek male lead was so unbelievable and missed the mark. He had little chemistry.

The movie drama, always drama In hallmark, was extremely week. The movie seemed forced in parts. Tortes mom was good and future sister in-law but the rest were so so.

I hoped for better but there wasn't chemistry and many parts forced. I will adjust my review after I watch again. Hopefully for the better.

I am used to parents manipulating their children using phrases like "we are a family", "only mommy will love you so much", so the mother in law did not leave a bad impression on me as a character. I have met worse.

The actress playing her, Marina Sirtis, did a pretty good job. So did. Torrey DeVitto. As for Yiannis Tsimitselis who played the boyfriend, he is as expressionless as always.

His character though was the real cringe, trying to manipulate his girlfriend using "you don't love me" and "you don't know what you want" in order to get his way with her. No, this is not love ,nor romance. This is pure gaslighting.