Sun, Sand & Romance

Sun, Sand & Romance (2017) Hallmark/Prime Video

It seems that most reviewers either disliked Tricia Helfer or disliked Paul Campbell as the leads in this film. I happen to like both actors and thought they were well suited to their roles playing two old friends who meet up again after 20 years. I've seen both of them in several other romance films, and I can't think of any offhand that I didn't like. In my opinion, the two stars worked very well together. I thought they had definite chemistry, and were a much better match than Helfer and her current boyfriend, played by Scott Elrod. He had nothing to offer and was oblivious to his girlfriend's desires during their entire joint vacation.

A couple other actors stood out in this film. Sadie Robertson, playing part of the resort staff, was one. She was enthusiastic, energetic, and fun.

Another was Tim Russ playing a land developer that took boyfriend Elrod away from Helfer for days and allowed her to spend time with Campbell. Russ was extremely believable in that role. Otherwise, why would a guy go on vacation with his girlfriend only to leave her alone for so much time?

As others mentioned, the scenery in the film was spectacular. I also found no faults with the technical aspects. The story was sweet, and the ending was touching. Give this one a try.

I would love for them to make a film where the leading lady leaves the big city to move to the sticks, then meets up with with someone from the city and realises how much she loves the city, the shopping, convenience and everything else.

I am a Hallmark movie fan. 80% of the time, I think they do a great a job with mindless, fun, sweet movies. But the casting is all. This one felt so awkward and wooden. The leads, ( all of them), had zero chemistry. The men were really bad in this one. This had some odd casting. Who thought the two lead actors were good for a romance movie? Even the small parts were not good. It felt like someone cast their friends for a free trip to Mexico. Paul Campbell seemed like he was reading lines to a wall. He had no charisma or feeling to his part. The actress, Tricia Helfer was not bad. I think she had to work with stiff dialogue and actors so that did not help. Also I kept thinking why she did not have the spark she has in the Netflix series, "Shut Eye" until I looked her up. I thought she was KaDee Strickland! These two look like twins. The story was beyond predictable, like a dime store romance. I do realize this is what Hallmark makes. As I said, many times I find them cute and fun. This one was rather painful to watch. The end felt rushed and wrapped up in a neat little bow. I can forgive many things, but 100% lack of any chemistry between the leads, is one thing you cannot fake. It felt like they did not even actually like each other. There was not even a friend vibe.

Tricia Helfer is always worth watching, have not liked every film of hers but have seldom had a problem with her. Have also found Paul Campbell watchable in other things, though he is less consistent in performances and filmography. The premise did sound very nice and charming and had potential to work. Was a little worried though reading the reviews and also because most of the previous 2017 Summer Nights films doing little for me.

'Sun, Sand and Romance' unfortunately is another 2017 Summer Nights film to do little for me. Not as bad as the previous film 'At Home in Mitford' (one of the worst Hallmark films that year and this is including on its own terms, not just because of it being a very poor adaptation), but it's on par with the mediocre 'Eat, Play, Love' and for reasons fairly similar to that film. Helfer comes off very well and saves the film from disaster, but it must not have been easy carrying a film pretty much by herself.

As said, Helfer is the best thing about 'Sun, Sand and Romance' in a performance full of energetic spirit and charm and she wholly succeeds in making her character likeable and easy to connect with. Very, very close behind is the setting, which is nothing short of ravishing and shot beautifully. It really is one of Hallmark's best looking films from that year that is unfortunately not matched by some of the worst casting up to this point of the output.

Did think too that some of the music was quite nice and the female supporting cast performed reasonably well albeit with so little.

Campbell however is a disaster in the male lead role, a complete blank and very wooden. Expressions are very limited and none are done convincingly. His character is as bland in personality and development as one can get and has no life. The rest of the cast don't register in flat roles. There is no chemistry between Helfer and Campbell, she really does try to give spark but he is practically fighting her every step of the way by looking as though he had given up. The relationship is not very well developed either, not going anywhere and then gets somewhere later on in a hasty manner.

The script is very cheesy and awkward, especially in the contrived final act that culminates in the obligatory too tidy but also slightly anti-climactic ending. The story also doesn't match Helfer's verve or the setting's beauty, it's too thin, very run of the mill from throwing in and recycling most Hallmark cliches, is dully paced from over stretching and has very little to it emotionally. The direction is routine.

In summary, very lacklustre with two main redeeming qualities and one aspect in particular that brought it down significantly. 4/10.

The setting in Mexico was beautiful, loved looking at the beach scenery. Unfortunately, there was no chemistry between the main female and either man. It was good background noise while I was working.