Shifting Gears

I have seen way better movies than this one. The last five minutes was the best of the whole movie. I was greatly disappointed that I wasted my time on this one. In my opinion Tyler Hynes hasn't played in a good movie in a while. The story was choppy and sloppy.

There was no chemistry with Tyler and Katherine in the movie, perhaps because there was basically no story line.

As far as the restoring of cars, well that was choppy and just plain silly in my opinion.

I think Hallmark could do a whole lot better. Get new writers if this is the best you can do.

I think the writers on this story got an F.

6.8 stars.

Whenever Hallmark does one of these reality tv show attempts, it usually falls flat. I can't recall many that worked for me. Something about how they incorporate the elements of a reality tv show (in this case it's competition show about remodeling classic cars and showing off auto mechanic skills), comes off as really cheesy and fake.

This woman is supposedly the best mechanic around and helps her dad run his shop. The man is played by Hynes and he does the same schtick that is displayed in almost half of his roles: bad boy, biker, blue-collar, cool as a cucumber...In this story he supposedly wronged her many years back, but he feels bad and she has some minor struggles dealing with it. But she seems to get over it pretty fast. Of course they are both contestants in the competition.

This is a slightly below average attempt for me. It's unfortunate, because I really like both actors a whole bunch, but the chemistry is non-existent. Oh well, can't win 'em all.

In my over 2000+ reviews here (ouch,) I have repeatedly discussed the Great Canadian X-Mas Movie Factory, and the Great Canadian Rom Com Machine. Canada's film sector was jump-started decades ago based on changes to their tax code. Who would have imagined that, half a century later, their film output is best known for Santa Claus and soap operas? This one checks all the boxes, the dialog is adequate, and the story is predictable but pleasant. The two oddities are ... (1) viewers checking out the film because of the car angle will be disappointed. Most of if not all of the technical bits are complete nonsense. Memo to producers -- next time, spend $20 on a technical script consultant. And (2) Canadian Tyler Hynes has an edge to his acting which he keeps well hidden because his agent has him doing mainly rom-coms. But one gets the feeling there is an action hero hiding in there somewhere, something he should explore when possible. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

There are so many of the usual elements in this movie including several of the usual plot components. Jess' family business is in jeopardy, and they need the contest money. Jess is bitter about what she believes was Luke's betrayal years ago in keeping quiet about his father then. As usual in this genre, the animosity gets quickly overlooked almost as if Jess' memory was wiped clean.

There were three ways the contest could have gone. There were two ways Luke's dad could have gone and in this case it is the more common one. But there was really only one way Luke could have gone. Luke knows he should tell Jess about his dad's plan, but any regular rom/com viewer knows how that will turn out. We also know what choice he will make in the end. Kudos for a little twist adding some complexity to the conflict between Luke and Jess that threatens to ruin what is starting to rekindle but it still goes the usual direction. As an astute viewer might guess it creates its own opportunity.

It often seems like Tyler Hynes can have chemistry with anyone opposite him and he does here with Katherine Barrell. The acting is mostly good although it seemed at times that Barrell tried to hard.

I'm not a fan of TV contest shows. They steal screentime from the romantic relationships. There are predictable within a few outcomes. You at least know the lead with financial trouble will make the final and somehow the results will provide what is needed. And so often, the epilogue, not the romantic one, is basically the same and it is here.

In short, we have a write by numbers plot with one small twist. The actors make the entirety watchable but no great highs or lows.

Tyler Hynes is the best leading man that Hallmark have on their books hands down.

With his droll sarcastic humour, he has the ability to make even the cheesiest line or the most wooden leading lady look good.

He can also elevate thinner material into looking better than it actually is, and that's a skill he has to utilise here, as 'Shifting Gears' relies heavily on him to drag it through.

It's not a film that deviates too far from the standard Hallmark format, and while that's comfortable, it needed perhaps another extra element to elevate it a little more from being just 'ok'.

Was the car show broadcasting live or was it being pre-recorded? The film never seems to know either.

Overall, Hynes manages to make the most of a lesser project.