Savoring Paris

I've said it before and I'll say it again: "One Tree Hill" alum (and, apparently, ex-cult member!) Bethany Joy Lenz is a natural Hallmark star, with her bubbly, bright and effervescent personality. She always does a good job in these movies, and "Savoring Paris" is no exception. There's something about her character in a movie set in the City of Light that just works so perfectly.

An original-ish - I mean, this is Hallmark, so we're not going too far from the comfort zone of these sorts of movies - plot and plenty of Parisian flavour. A few cliched characters, but you take the good with the bad. If you like cheese, you're in luck.

Another winner from the ranks of Hallmark's on-location movies, which I think are some of the best that the Crown network does.

Hallmark Channel's Savoring Paris, starring Bethany Joy Lenz and Stanley Weber, is a nice turn away from their previously formulaic movies while still honoring the happily ever after endings the channel is known for. Ella (Bethany Joy Lenz) is disillusioned with her life in the United States and makes the choice to return to Paris in an attempt to recapture the magic from her previous trip (and taste the cheeses she's never forgotten since). However, she'll find much more in her interactions with her new friends, her carefree adventures and a "grumpy cheese-monger" named Serge (Stanley Weber).

In the past, with their stereotypical Christmas movies, storylines were very predictable whenever I watched a Hallmark movie. As a result, they came across as less authentic and not like something that could actually happen. I really enjoyed Ella's journey in this movie, and how the actress delivered her performance in a way that came across as very genuine, funny, and engaging. Her friendships were very relatable, and I appreciated how her mother was overbearing yet gradually backed down on her own (without having to be talked to, like some of the royal parents in other movies).

My only complaint was that the movie was not actually fully filmed in Paris. As part of a set of movies marketed as "Passport to Love", that was a bit disappointing for me but didn't affect my overall enjoyment of the movie too much. Nevertheless, I think the filmmakers did an excellent job bringing the charm and personality of the city (and its people) to life. The highlight of that was the contrast in the American and French lifestyles - French people work to live and get to enjoy much more of their life. On the other hand, many Americans live to work and forget to take time to savor the moment and enjoy life along the way. Ella did her best to get away from that mindset in this movie, and it was a very fulfilling journey to see.

Overall, this was a very entertaining movie. I'm excited to see the new creative direction Hallmark seems to be going in, and I'll definitely be checking out more of their new movies as they release. Check out this movie if you like international romances complete with self-discovery and the grumpy x sunshine trope.

Wow Hallmark has done it again with this movie.

You can't miss with Bethany Joy Lenz . She is sexy beautiful and a very good actress. Hallmark better not lose her. Her performance was so good I want to move to Paris. The two leads opposite her were very good. Both male leads had excellent chemistry with her and very convincing suitors.

Joys Roommate though a small part made the most of it. She also was very convincing as her roommate Joy gives a 4 star performance Best actress in the hallmark family Better not let her get away Cast of supporting actors right on the money Clothes,scenery, sets apartment & Chees store ete fantastic Joy really conveyed her anguish on weather to stay in Paris or go home. As a viewer I was like a ride along trying to figure out what she she would do. All in one of the best movies done by hallmark Keep it up.

I absolutely adored this film.

Paris. Cheese. Bethany Joy Lenz.

Sign me up.

Oh, and her wardrobe?! I want!

She is one of my favorite actresses; this film didn't disappoint. I understand the desire to start over and figure out who the heck you are; I went through something similar. We should live our lives how we want, with happiness, and that is what her character Ella. And I am all about the cheese too. Fontina and Havarti are my top ones.

I loved the banter between Ella and Surge. Fantastic chemistry.

Her roommate-turned-friend is a hoot, and I want to know her.

My husband even enjoyed the movie.

It's definitely a rewatch.

Who would I be with if you don't know who you are?

Ella up and leaves her job for a three week vacation in Paris. Her plan is to recreate a beautiful experience she had in her youth eating a particularly heavenly cheese along the Seine. She also is hoping to find herself. She ends up renting a room from a woman named Clotilde, who has never worked because she has "family money". After visiting a grumpy cheese vender, Ella has her picnic along the Seine where she meets the young, handsome and flirty food critic Gaston who ends up being Clotilde's cousin. In a short period of time Clotilde convinces Ella to quit her job back home and stay for the summer...

Living off her savings Ella buys a whole new amazing French wardrobe and "interns" in the grumpy cheese-man's shop selling cheese.

If you don't take this Hallmark romance too seriously, it is a cute romance with cheese, great clothes and Paris. Things I liked about the film...the music, the clothing, Manon Azem (Clotilde), Ben Wiggins (Gaston), and Bethany Joy Lenz (Ella). Ella's attitude was fun and infectious and in the end I really enjoyed the relationship she built with Serge. The thing I didn't care for was the perpetuation of this idea that you can just quit your job and everything will work out. I think that is really shortsighted and sends poor message to our youth.

Indulge, be bold and savor...Ella.

The end made this film worth watching as a romantic, so I would recommend it to my fellow romantics particularly those fond of Hallmark films.