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'My Boyfriend's Dogs' (2014)

Opening thoughts: The previous 2014 Hallmark films varied in quality. While 'A Ring in Spring' was a real winner, there was also the disaster that was 'My Gal Sunday'. Was not sure how 'My Boyfriends' Dogs' was going to turn out, despite the title sounding very charming the premise was less so and was one that could go either way. There were elements that had potential to be charming, but others that could be potentially cruel. Was certainly not expecting it to be original, Hallmark did similar stories since (films though seen prior to this) with variable success.

Feelings were very mixed regarding 'My Boyfriends' Dogs'. It is watchable, has its good moments and good aspects, and is a long way from being one of the worst 2014 Hallmark films. It is however also not a good film really at all (hardly surprising that reviews are very divided here), and has too many significant drawbacks to recommend. So also not one of the best 2014 Hallmark films. Ranking it, it is middling middle of the road, with some good and some bad.

Good things: As already indicated, 'My Boyfriends' Dogs' does have good things. Erika Christensen is a very likeable lead and shows a lot of charm. Teryl Rothery and Joyce DeWitt bring zest and class to their roles and most of the male cast (despite their characters being sketchily developed) are amiable and easy going. The dogs are absolutely adorable and it is very hard to not fall in love with them.

'My Boyfriends' Dogs' looks good, especially the scenery, and the music which not unforgettable is pleasant enough and fits.

Bad things: However, too many things do not work. Tyron Leitso struggles to inject much personality into a very underwritten role and comes over as bland. All the boyfriends could have been developed much more, but his was the character that was practically anonymous. While having no problem with Jeremy Guilbaut and finding him amiable, his character's attitude regarding his feeling about dogs came over as pretty jerk-ish. None of the romantic chemistry is convincing, too low key and too little time is devoted to all the relationships which were all underwritten and underused.

Especially between Christensen and Leitso. Christensen's character is without issue most of the time, but she does come over later as too over eager and easily fooled. The script goes too far on the cheese and sappiness and doesn't always flow, while the story promised more than it delivered. It sounded refreshingly different, but executes everything in too conventional and formulaic a fashion, it could have done with more light hearted-ness (taking itself too seriously on the whole) and any tension is too polite.

Closing thoughts: In conclusion, watchable but average.

5/10.

Bailey Daley (Erika Christensen) finds shelter from a rainy night in a diner. She's in a wedding dress with three dogs as she recounts how she got there. She's a high school teacher and French teacher Amber is her best friend. Dina is her widower mother. She dates new gym teacher Wade who has golden retriever Adam. He moves to Seattle with another girl and leaves Adam with her. Pet store owner Cole is running dog adoption day. There's meeting artist Jonathan who has dalmatian Eve. He's a snobby British vegetarian. They break up and he gives Eve to her. Finally, there's Eric. He is reluctant to adopt a dog from the store. His rich family picks out a pure-breed Shih Tzu. His dislike of dogs threatens to tear them apart.

Erika Christensen is an enchanting actress. Tyron Leitso could have been a solid companion. They could have solid romantic chemistry. The problem is that they don't spend enough time together. This is a Hallmark movie and the expectations are not that high. However, they need to give a romance time to cook up. All her other guys eat up screen time. There is a solid formula to this type of movies and this is not it.

This was a cute little Hallmark movie, following a Runaway Bride theme and aimed at dog lovers. Its an easy watch, the story is fun, if obvious and the acting decent especially for a made-for-TV movie.

It follows Erika Christensen as Bailey Daley (yes really) an English teacher trying to meet Mr. Right but failing because she keeps trying to be who she thinks Mr Right wants (jazz enthusiast, jock, golf pro, boring classics reader) not who she really is.

The movie opens with her running down the street with 3 dogs in tow in the pouring rain wearing a wedding dress. Baily finds her way to a diner where she proceeds to tell the owners her long history of romantic woes, explaining she's only found unconditional love from the dogs she's adopted as each relationship ended.- Loved seeing Joyce DeWitt on screen again here.

The story is told in flashbacks with Baily making bad decisions with men but gaining some great dogs along the way. As a viewer it was fun to witness her obvious character flaws and await her opening her eyes to the man that's been there all along.1/24/16

Erika Christensen played Bailey, a public high school English or language arts teacher. She arrived with her dogs at diner at closing time in a wedding dress. She begins to tell the story of what happened to Joyce Dewitt's Nikki and the diner owner Louie. It's a sweet tale with not much saccharine like other Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. It's a nice sweet overall film about relationships. The cast do a great job. I wished the storyline was better told though. The characters are somewhat developed more than most in these kind of films without using cheap tricks to engage the viewers. I am a Joyce Dewitt fan so I enjoyed her performance as Nikki. We don't see enough of her in film and television.

I really loved this! It was therapeutic for me, I also have dogs and they are top important in my life, I am also single and constantly dating the wrong type forgetting what's most important! This movie was like going to a therapist... thanx really loved it