Love by Chance

I really enjoyed this movie. It definitely counts as one of Hallmark's better efforts. I haven't seen the movie referred to elsewhere - 'Because I Said So' - so this one was refreshingly original for me. The plot for the most part was very believable although I did find it hard to accept how easily Claire gave up on Eric when she found out that her mother had engineered the first meeting. The cast was well chosen and performed excellently. I particularly liked Brenda Strong's character Helen who, as far as I am concerned, was the best one in the movie and Brenda played her superbly. I hope to see more of Brenda's work. It is definitely worth watching again.

This is one of the better Hallmark films. I like watching them when I am sick or multitasking because they are predicable and uncomplicated so if I fall asleep or leave the room it's no big deal. This one was cute enough to keep me engaged.

So concerned caring mom gets involved in daughters life by getting a great guy to meet her . Girl meets guy and likes guy and they date okay BUT the ridiculous daughter who has as much personality as a moldy scone wants fate not arrangement . When said daughter finds out mom had arranged for great guy to meet her she flips her lid and no more relationship because why have a great guy if your mom got involved? This woman is horrible and spoiled and utterly disturbing. The story is similar to the Diane Keaton movie because I said so because of the mom wanting her child to meet someone wonderful .. Keaton was good as the mom in that and Brenda strong was also good as mom but no comparison. I skipped through this one and got rid of it post haste.

This movie has a remake vibe - I feel like it's an updated 1950s' zany farce. Some quirkiliy filmed scenes (eg the art show) add a sense of uniqueness. Yet sadly, whilst I like having a more ensemble cast feel for a change, the mom is too annoying throughout. Because of her, it took me two attempts, and not sure I could sit through it all again. However, as they actually had very few scenes together, I would watch a spin off with the central couple returning alongside the other chef and the gallery visitor who were nicer characters than most in this movie.

As context we're not dealing with the next Golden Globe nominee--it's a Hallmark movie. This is one of the few that I have seen that has bouts of decent writing as in witty dialog in the first half of the film (it seems to wain). The actors are just fine. The female lead does a decent job of the rommy com stuff. Overall the cast is above average. Plot is Hallmark factory issue so nothing surprising but then I think that is one of the points of these things -- predictably cheery with a happy ending. Watchable enough that I finished the whole thing (which I don't always do).