Love Stories in Sunflower Valley

'Love Stories from Sunflower Valley' (2021) - Rob Lieberman.

This cuddly, earnestly heart string plucking drama stars photogenic Hallmark veterans Erin Cahill and Marcus Possner. Frustrated dogsbody, and aspiring journalist returns to her beloved hometown as assistant to hunky, gentlemanly reporter to write a feature on local altruistic matchmaker. Needless to say, awkward coffee-spilling beginnings belie inexorable chemistry, and true love rapidly blooms in picturesque Sunflower Valley. A bountiful harvest of small-town hospitality, folksy mommy-knows-best schmear, dewy-eyed reminisces, and heartfelt glances over home cooking, warmed fuzzily by sun dappled sentiment! Fine performances, and a lovely location do much to ease the drama's occasional lapses into cloying, love conquers all cliche. I appreciated the pleasing lack of enforced comedy, and don't have a problem with the film's well-meaning, wholly fantastical coda of there's a soul mate for all.

This is quite different from the usual movies of the genre, but it is a bit too wordy for me - I'd prefer to see not hear the stories. Visualizing the tales and expanding them would give a TV series akin to the Signed Sealed Delivered episodes. In this current format, I feel a bit of information overload and like I've rushed every course of a meal down rather than savoring them. When I repeat view, I'll watch in segments each night before sleep as a way to wind down after a busy day. The casting is great with a beautiful location, so here's hoping they can reformat for a feel-good rom-com-non-murder-mystery.

I really enjoyed this movie. It was wonderful. The scenery was beautiful. The couple had great chemistry. They should make more movies together if this doesn't become a series. I think others would enjoy to hear about and see more couples Olivia brang together.

The influence of nature pervades this film, and the director made some smart choices in allowing more silence than is typically found in TV movies, an understated score, and breathtaking camera work. The actors are at their best - the range of emotions Erin Cahill has access to is astonishing, as is the vulnerability shown by Marcus Rosner. This appears to be the first romance from the director, and the first completed teleplay attributed to the writer. I hope in both cases it's the first of many.

A beautiful, nice and enjoyable movie. I like both of the actors, Erin Cahill and Marcus Rosner, but not together: Erin Cahill looks older than Rosner and there is no chemistry between them; it's the only thing that I didn't like.

I think the casting of the leads is often an issue in most of the romantic comedies unfortunately.