The combining of literature and romance is a very common combination in film, but it is one that has often worked really well. Hallmark have revisited this type of story quite a lot and the success has varied (better faring though than most of their commonly visited scenarios). Hilarie Burton does good work when in the right role and Victor Webster, who is more familiar to me and has the more consistent filmography, is always watchable. The 2016 Summer Nights output was hit and miss.
'Summer Villa' is one of the hits and, even with its shortcomings, it is one of the better 2016 Summer Nights films. It is not perfect or even great, but it is charming and well done in a lot of areas and is a lot more interesting than the uninspired title suggests. As far as Hallmark's 2016 output goes, which was expectedly very up and down like the previous and subsequent years for them, 'Summer Villa' is somewhere around high middle. Not one of the best, also not one of the worst.
Admittedly it is formulaic, with a final act that has been seen frequently in Hallmark's Summer Nights films while the ending, while sweet, is on the too pat side. While there is chemistry between Burton and Webster, there could have been more spark in the early portions.
Will agree that the whining is overdone initially and it takes time for Burton to properly relax and tone down.
Once she does though, it is a much better performance. One that has real perky charm. Webster has great likeability and is subtly charismatic and easy going. While there have been spark and development to their relationship, they do gel and did like how it was genuine and wasn't forced or melodramatic. The supporting cast are fine, no real issues there. The characters are typical but are mostly engaging and not too hard to connect with, Burton's character at first being the only real reservation.
Furthermore, the production values are very strong. The scenery, which is the real location, is breathtaking and captured in its full beauty. Did appreciate that it wasn't used in too much of a travelogue-like way that has been obvious in too many Hallmark films set abroad. The music isn't too constant or loud, the script is suitably light hearted and flows well and even with it being predictable the story doesn't try to do more than necessary and is very charming and not cheesy or over sentimental.
Concluding, good but not great. 7/10.
