Shifting Gears

I grew up a tomboy and automobile enthusiast. I love stories about female mechanics and restorers, but I expect them to be accurate. For instance, a 1954 Chevy should have a 235 cid inline six cylinder engine. Chevy didn't sell a V-8 until 1955. A 1947-8 Plymouth had a generator, not an alternator. These mistakes occur early on, which distracted me from the romance plot, and were hers. Was it sloppy writing or thinly disguised sexism?

There was humor to balance the tension, and a cute roller skating dance routine. The actors performed their characters well. Too bad the research didn't support the script. Having said that, I still recommend the movie. Just forgive the inaccuracies.

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.

The leads were not a good match and had no chemistry. The female lead was not even likeable, much less appealing. I didn't buy their relationship for a second and am not sure why she was cast in that role. When they were skating they looked silly. I think that Julie Gonzalo would have been a much better choice as she and Tyler Hynes have great chemistry together. I also didn't buy the guy playing Tyler Hyne's father. The get to know you segment on the tv show was super cringey even for a Hallmark movie. I actually think just about any other female in the Hallmark universe would have been a better fit for the female lead than the one they cast.

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.

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.