Journey to You

One of the big draws for watching this movie is that it takes place on the Camino de Santiago French Way. (Which I have walked). Even if you are not familiar with that trail, the story is good, actually quite good - just different for Hallmark

At first, I was put off by the religious nature of this movie but then I needed to take in the simple fact that the Camino is a trail based on religion... so, the religious aspects fit.

In general, the movie is realistic and it does include several Camino components such as the use of a Camino passport and the albergues (hostels). Yes, it is a slow-paced movie but that totally fits what this trail is all about. Stop rushing, walk, and reflect.

My only complaint is the minimal use of place names in the movie. To anyone interested in this sort of adventure or this area, that is important. A few places were named but not enough. Still, this movie was good and fits the nature of the trail. Kudos to Hallmark for not including many of the normal tropes. I hope to see more adventure stories like this. There is, of course, a romance in the story but it is not the main component which is good.

I love this. I love that it had a spiritual storyline. Because the truth is, all of our lives have a spiritual story whether we realize it or not. And I love how this movie brought it to the forefront. There was Grace, family conflict, imperfect people, etc. I loved how the main female is doing a devotional. I love that she prays.

Also, I love that they didn't do heavy makeup on the females. Given that they're doing this outdoor walk, they wouldn't have heavy makeup on and so it was nice that they actually looked realistic in that way.

Also, I really loved the Camino guide character. She was a gem.

6.1 stars.

Actress Erin Cahill is in many Hallmark films, but I'm still waiting for a great one from her. I have somewhat enjoyed one or two, but all the rest were duds, like 'Journey to You'. This is a very slow moving and heavy on the mundane dialogue story. It's the same with nearly every Hallmark movie that is filmed abroad. This one is set in Spain, and I imagine it's filmed there.

There is no story, unless you call a hike in Spain with some strangers an actual story. There is nearly zero drama, almost no romance and certainly no tension or emotional involvement whatsoever. Hallmark has so many devotees like myself, who faithfully watch every new release, that we know they can spew out vacuous balderdash without any backlash. Waste of 70 minutes (I fast forwarded through the rest).

Many will see a spiritual story about trusting God to lead in one's life, and it is that. But it is a generic God and could be the God of almost any faith. Each of the characters in the group that walked together was looking for that leading. The entire group bonded together.

The romantic part of the story was not the main focus, but still significant and it followed many of the usual Hallmark story lines. In broad terms it was predictable.

I am a huge Erin Cahill fan. If she is in it, I will watch it even to the point of at least one of the tense stalkerish stories on Lifetime. There is something about the personality she usually plays and she is a beautiful woman. In this story, her character started out too tightly wound, but that was the point.

I rated this movie at 10 because it had all the elements of a wonderful and meaningful movie. It was actually filmed on the Camino de Santiago. The actors blended beautifully which which added to the depths of the story. The scenery was inspiring. But it was the story of how these people came together on a journey as strangers and became lifelong partners in the experience of the Camino de Santiago. This is a movie for a critical time on the planet where we need to become much more conscious. Instead of the me myself and I we need to become more aware of the "we". We are so much more when we gather together, especially on a journey of spirit.