Love Unleashed

This was a sweet story but with very little dramatic tension to hold my interest. Cute puppies but not much going on. The dialogue kept repeating and I felt bad for the actors - they had so little to work with. I love Hallmark movies and I wanted to like this movie, but the best I can say is that it was sweet but slow.

I didn't notice Jen's pregnancy. The movie is sweet, the puppies are clearly the best and the two main characters are good together. It left me with a smile and wishing that I could adopt a pet! Think about that: adopt a dog and give him/her all the love they deserve.

For a Sunday afternoon, it's just fine, given kids are likely to be around. Kind of a Disney, straight to video level. As for the lead actress being "noticeably" pregnant, no. She looks about 4 months. Descriptions here make it sound like she is heavily pregnant and she is actually barely showing. It is mostly covered up with big t-shirts and gathered blouses. Really, why are actresses expected to be stick thin anyway? Congratulations to her for having a girl and adopting two boys after an earlier miscarriage! Celebrate, don't criticize.

Hallmark did have some above average and more films in 2019, as well as some misfires, in all their seasonal blocks. Jen Lilley and Christopher Russell have always been hit and miss for me, particularly Lilley who has had her fair share of poorly written roles. The premise didn't really sound all that interesting or innovative, but there are films that don't sound great on paper but turn out better than expected. Anything with puppies is also worth watching.

As far as 2019 Hallmark goes, 'Love Unleashed' is not one of the worst (like 'Christmas Scavenger Hunt' or 'Christmas at Dollywood'). Nowhere near, and actually it could have been a lot worse than it turned out. It is also not one of the best of the batch either, it's no for example 'Love and Sunshine'. The premise was nothing special, the execution of it was pretty much the same. There are good things in 'Love Unleashed' but also some bad. Making for an average effort.

Shall start with the good. Russell was naturally easy going and subtly charming, not as introverted as he can be. The supporting cast are more than competent and show a good deal of personality, even though their roles are little more than typical Hallmark cliches. The puppies are absolutely adorable and steal every scene they are in.

The scenery and overall production values are lovely to watch too while the music is pleasant enough.

'Love Unleashed' however is significantly weakened by the story, which not only is predictable from sticking too close to a well worn and borderline tired formula it is also very slight (at times even uneventful) and too slow moving. Also thought that the film played it too safe and didn't do anything distinctive or any risk taking, the lack of tension, the too convenient ending and the contrived conflict can also be seen. The script can sound quite awkward and cheesy as well as too sentimental.

Was rather mixed on Lilley. She has moments where she is charming and radiant, but there are also times where she seemed to be trying too hard when her character is not particularly easy to warm to. She and Russell don't have enough chemistry together, it has its moments once it warms up but somehow it felt underdeveloped and too careful. The characters are not ones that one hates, but development wise there is little to them.

In conclusion, pretty mixed here. 5/10.

Christopher Russell as Ryan Hill and Jen Lilley as Hailey Goode did a credible job in the movie. What's not to like about Christopher Russell, good looking, heart-stopping smile, good actor. Jen Lilley is sweet, very pretty, and obviously pregnant in some scenes. But after a couple scenes I hardly noticed it anymore.

Bailey Skodje as Emmy Hill was adorable and a fairly good actress.

Puppies were cute and cuddly, clearly type cast. But please, people, learn to hold puppies, grasping them around the middle and letting them dangle in your arms is just not comfortable or safe for the puppies.

All in all it's a very sweet, predictable HM film. No surprises.

A better script would have been nice, I pitied the actors in some of the scenes and they were trying so hard to make it work with a mediocre script.

Question - in one scene Ryan says that his daughter would go binoculars if she knew he was with the puppies without her, What does that even mean???

My Advice: It's watchable and worth the 80 some minutes.