The Perfect Pairing

The premise of amnesia has been used, but not so much that it can't be interesting. Likewise, a struggling winery, although heroine works to save struggling business is pretty common. I'm not a fan of "the secret" between the leads, but that aspect was mollified by the amnesia, at least some. Baking with the widower's kid is another common device. Take them all together and the story is just different enough to be interesting.

But the draw of this movie is Nazneen Contractor. She plays both confident and then, after the amnesia, uncertain. The uncertainty brings out vulnerability. She has chemistry with Brennan Elliot, and with Zarina Rocha, Michael's early teenage daughter. The middle part of the movie shows a hopeful vista where you can see a new family forming.

The dialogue is good at times. The acting is mostly good.

Nazneen Contractor has been a nice addition to the Hallmark stable of leading ladies, and Brennan Elliott is turning into one of the top leading men. The story was nice and even tried to drop some knowledge on us about ice wine. If you like amnesia movies, you'll enjoy this one.

Brennen Eliot is fantastic...but so is Nazneen Contractor. In fact, I am not sure who garnered my attention more...they were both so good.

The story is about a food and wine critic who panned a winery for their merlot and didn't give them a second chance which devastated them financially. The winery is run by a widow and single father played by Brennan.

The critic, CJ (short for Christina Joy...but used to keep her anonymity), comes to wine country to do some more reviewing. There is a mix up at the train station and she looses her purse, her luggage and ends up in the shuttle to go to a winery and not her B&B. This is what gets her to the winery that she ruined, when she discovers her mistake she says her name is Joy and steps outside to try and go...hits a patch of ice with her high heels, falls and hits her head.

She ends up with amnesia. The whole family at this winery that her review ruined takes her in calling her Joy, because that is what they think her name is, and treats her really well. In the fall Joy's phone breaks and the only thing she has is this small notebook with recipes in it. The daughter, Rebekah, suggest they try to make some of the recipes thinking it might help with the amnesia. It doesn't help with the amnesia...but it really brings a lot of joy back to this grieving family.

You get to learn about the history of ice wine and see how everything is put back together.

This was fun and really worth watching. The transformation of Christina into Joy back to Christina...back to Joy is really interesting and I felt different from the usual Hallmark romance.

Cristina (Nazneen Contractor), a food critic with a tendency to accent the negative, loses her memory while out of town. Her identity unknown, she settles into a comfortable situation while she waits to regain her memory.

Separated from her past prejudices and conventions, she learns new attitudes and gets to know Michael (Brennan Elliott), owner of a struggling vineyard.

This Hallmark film is blessed with two likable stars who have an easy chemistry. And the writing is intelligent. You might even learn about ice wines.

Ms Contractor is an appealing, talented actress, who has a terrific Hallmark vibe. It's wonderful to see her again in a Hallmark project. More, please! However, she has no chemistry with the male lead (Mr Elliott, who mails it in). And how does a woman forget her purse?? Plus, ice wine is not grown where Pinot Noir is also grown. Take note, writers: It makes the film feel fake. As does the ice wine cave at 14F where you cannot see their breath. And please tell me who is the zillionaire who can afford a New York apartment like hers! Finally, Hallmark, let's use some fresh names for characters.