The Magic of Lemon Drops

This is one of the best Hallmark movies I've seen in a while! It's quirky, sweet, and charming, but I didn't find it too "cringey". It was a refreshing break from other Hallmark movies with their typical plot lines. I did find it refreshing that they didn't over-preach and have too many forced lines about lessons leaned. Most of the dialogue seemed authentic and genuine. The camera angles, scenery, and styling were great and seemed higher quality than other hallmark films. The main actress was also really enjoyable to watch! What an enchanting and enjoyable story about living out the "what ifs" of life!

Hallmark has run their usual plots into the ground, so instead of saving "something" or a widow or divorce returns to their home town, or a wedding disaster, so Hallmark returns to FANTASY, there was a movie about a mixup by the "dream team" (and I'm not talking about the USA Okympic Basketball Team). Anyway, the story is about Lolly who works in a restaurant, her Aunt Gert gives her three magical lemon drops, she gets to experience what her life would have been like if she had made different choices and lived those unfulfilled dreams. She meets her old flame, Rory, who is now divorced and raising his daughter. The chemistry between the actors seems a tad lukewarm between the two. There is a coldness about the actor Lyndsey Fonseca that doesn't fit the part, the character needs more warmth. Lately, Hallmark is having problems with casting the right actors for the parts. The magic lemon drops reveals her life choices, Lolly learns valuable life lessons and the outcome is just so predictable! Another disappointment!

Another dumb topsy turvy Hallmark movie. What's the obsession with magic, the supernatural and sci-fi, there is nothing wrong with a good basic romantic comedy.. Rom-coms are an American thing, but they don't go out of style and are fun. Even European countries are enjoying US and Canadian rom-coms. Another bad script ruins the movie.

The dialog isn't good, too much inane dialog. Get rid of all the nostalgia and the past, focus on the present and look to the future. The location in Manitoba and filming locations used were nice and the cast is generally good, it's always nice to see Ian Harding.

I recognized Lindsay Fonseca from Next Stop Christmas. The two movies are similar in their exploration of life choices and "what ifs". I feel the Christmas movie is better - more natural and funny - but this one has good moments too. Both movies are metaphors for believing in ourselves and following our dreams. That's not an easy thing to pull off in real life which isn't glossy and sentimental like a Hallmark movie. There are no surprises, but the movie is as comforting as the homemade pies that keep appearing. Watch it when you're in a sentimental mood with your significant others. Recommended!

When my wife and I look for a movie on Saturday evening after our usual steak and red wine dinner, of course with chocolate cake for dessert, we mainly want to be entertained and this movie is entertaining. We have lived long enough to know most of life's truisms but it is nice to be reminded.

Set in Minnesota and Ohio, but filmed in Canada, Lolly is a 30-something single woman who works with her dad's long time family restaurant. Lolly has a knack for food, she likes to experiment with new blends and tastes but dad is adamant, no new items on the menu. On that he is as stubborn as can be. So Lolly dreams of having her own restaurant.

There is also an old unfulfilled romance with Rory, now a sports team doctor. They grew up next door neighbors, had a romance some 10+ years earlier but parted ways. Now he is back in town for a time, fresh off a divorce.

All that sets the stage for the events that shape this movie. Lolly's old aunt presents her with an opportunity. She gives her four lemon drops. Right before falling asleep at night if Lolly will take one lemon drop and out loud say what she wants to see, she will get one day, only one day, in that reality. After doing this on three different nights, going to three of her alternate realities, she can take the fourth drop and say which one she wants, but she never returns from that last one.

This sets up a series of interesting developments and interactions, each alternate reality filled with surprises for Lolly. My wife and I both guess correctly what she would do in the end.

At home, streaming on Peacock. As with almost all Hallmark movies, there is exactly one "Hallmark Kiss" and it comes during the last minute of the movie.