A Picture of Her

Whenever Tyler Hynes is involved, I'm in, I really, really love his work and personality. This movie had not the greatest script, but Tyler and Rhiannon Fish did their best with incredible chemistry, humor, and I liked the instant genuine connection between the two. The aunt and the father were perfectly casted too, I liked their input very much. The movie was a lot quieter and slower in a good way, than we had seen both leads before. I've read a comment from someone, who thought, that Tyler Hynes didn't want to be in the movie, but I felt, that it was his way to play a somewhat disillusioned character, a photographer, who couldn't earn his living with his art and hated his own paparazzi work, but needed it nonetheless. Rhiannon is her bubbly, vivacious self, if you watch her interviews, she is just the same. And so I felt, that I get to see here a lot Tyler and Rhiannon, not only Jake and Beth. I already watched the movie 3 times, and believe me, it grows on you. Thank you, Hallmark, for the development of your movies from the boring formula to something fresh and genuine and for the support of interesting actors and their ideas!

And no, I am not just talking about Australia's Rhiannon Fish (or is that Canada's Rhiannon Fish?) who is at her radiant and effervescent best in this film, opposite Hallmark favourite, Tyler Hynes. Their chemistry is off the charts, right from their first scene together - one of the most outstanding casting decisions Hallmark has made in a long time - and Fish nails her role, delivering a bubbly performance as Beth, opposite Hynes' photographer Jake. Their banter is A-grade, too.

Maybe I wouldn't be giving this 7 stars had it not been for Tyler Hynes and Rhiannon Fish.

The scenes in and around British Columbia that stand in for Washington state (as BC so often does in these productions) add another layer of beauty to what is a well-shot film.

P. S. Multiple (heavy!) kisses before the final minutes of the movie? What is this, Hallmark from an alternate universe?

8.0 stars.

The film opens with a fisherwoman named Beth as first mate on her dad's boat in the Pacific Northwest. They learn of her aunt being injured so Beth goes to Los Angeles to take care of her while she convalesces. While in the city she meets a photojournalist named Jake and they fall in love. She soon finds out he has been lying to her, and in the midst of her grief she leaves the city never to return. Jake is left hanging and wishing he could have saved this fragile relationship he so callously dismantled.

The story is different than any Hallmark I've ever seen. First of all, there are few movies that showcase a professional photographer of his caliber, and the fact he's a paparazzi is interesting and fresh. Her character is not very fascinating, but I think she is a very pretty actress so there's wiggle room. Fish does have some idiosyncratic mannerisms that might be disenchanting for some viewers, but I still find her alluring. I feel I'm strangely in the minority based on the multiple scathing reviews.

'A Picture of Her' is an entertaining film for two reasons, the first being that the synergy between Hynes and Fish is undeniable. When they kiss it's real, there's no faking that level of chemistry. I like that she initiates the affection most of the time leaving us to feel like he's a real gentleman in spite of the biker boy/bad boy image he manifests. Secondly, this film provides a solid romance and a very enticing story. Don't focus on the nonessentials, keep your eye on the vibrancy and mystique that Hynes and Fish exude on the screen.

I love Tyler Hynes...I think he could have chemistry with cardboard, he is that great of an actor. I thought he and the lead actress made a very attractive couple. I loved the orchids and the outdoor market was beautiful. I thought the main character Beth said she and her father ran a fishing boat out of Gig Harbor (which is in Washington State), if so as a native Northwesterner I must say it is a shame that they didn't actually show any of Gig Harbor as it is a lovely and very green area. The other odd thing is the ruse to get Beth to LA is that her aunt Dody needs help because she is injured...and other than one dog walk and a couple of plant waterings, I did see Beth provide much help. Then she is busy flirting and dating a local photographer. There is a whole environmental activism story which didn't seem to fit with the rest of the story and seemed intentionally placed in order to appeal to a certain demographic. There were also just some odd hiccups with the plot in general.

But I did love Tyler Hynes...I also loved most of the supporting cast including Beth's dad played by Robert Wisden and Aunt Dody played by Samantha Ferris. I did have some mixed feelings about Rhiannon Fish...when she wasn't "baby talking" I enjoyed her, but the "baby talking" was really cringe worthy.

Worth seeing for Tyler Hynes and decent on the romance meter. I think romantics will like it.

Beth is a fisherwoman, one could say, who is going to LA to take care of her fractured aunt. Jake is a freelance photographer who happens to be in a assignment when he runs into a beautiful scenario and takes a soon-to-be famous picture. Meanwhile, he meets Beth, go out with her and is infatuated with her from the very first moment.

I don't know what's with Tyler Hynes lately, I'm fascinated by the bad boy energy and looking forward to every movie he is in. Both him and Rhiannon Fish play the kind of characters that both of them have before. Him the mysterious, laid back guy and her the next door type of girl. (I even believe there is a reference to one of her previous movies: orcas) But it works. I thought their chemistry was decent.

Things about the movie that were weird or didn't like: the lies, it dragged on for more time than it should have. I thought it was the worst aspect of the movie. The character of the agent was suspicious, hints were given about him but we never got to find out what was going on. And the pace of the movie was weird for me, maybe because it completely shifted halfway through it.

Overall, it was a good movie. I wouldn't mind watching more movies with them, whether it's together or separately.