Un été à New York

It's a little like Devil Wears Prada, but cleaner. However, it deepened my desire to NOT live in the downtown big city.

I have a seen a lot of Hallmark movies, and this still remains as one of my favorites. I don't know if it's the plot, the way it play out, the characters, or even the New York vibe. I watched this before I went to NY and as a person who lives abroad, I wanted Taylor to fulfill the dream that many of us live through movies and books, go to the big city and do what you love. I will definitely see it again. I swear every time Phil looked at Taylor (after they got to know each other, of course) some part of me melted, and that does not happen in every movie. The actors have great chemistry, and maybe that's what makes this movie so special to me. Unfortunately it doesn't happen in every one, so my advice to you? Watch it, you won't regret it, it's a great way to spend an afternoon.

Is it cheesy? Yes. Implausible? Absolutely! Obviously not filmed in NYC? Yup.

But as far as Hallmark movies go... it's not bad. The leads are attractive and convincing. The story is not entirely cliched (although a bit predictable). It has all of the elements of a feel good, I don't want to have to think rainy afternoon movie. You know the kind of movie you put on when you just want something silly and easy.

The main character goes through a lot of downs which makes you happy for her when she has her ups. There is depth to the characters. And each one has a distinct personality. And the love story is like an early 2000's film. Yes well worth watching James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 3/25/2021.

Was very mixed on the 2016 Summer Nights Hallmark films. While really liking 'Summer Villa', which is my favourite of the block, 'My Summer Prince' underwhelmed me and with it being the only below average 2016 Summer Nights films it is the easy least favourite. Did like the premise and have liked some of the cast in other things, the most familiar name to me being Vivica A Fox, as someone who usually finds good premises and worthy casts big selling points for seeing anything that was more than enough reason to see it.

'Summer in the City' turned out to be quite good. As far as the 2016 Summer Nights films go, even with imperfections it is one of the better ones in my view. A great film it is not, but it is also a long way from terrible in my view (the complete anti-thesis of that), somewhere around high middle in ranking Hallmark's films for that year, which was a very up and down one that year. The Christmas output being especially variable, which was true for Hallmark's succeeding years as well.

It isn't perfect. Story wise, 'Summer in the City' is very formulaic, with everything in the story pretty much mapping out exactly as one would expect from any Hallmark film with this particular formula.

Did think that it was a little bit of a slow starter, with some awkwardness and Julianna Guill's character not immediately easy to warm to. Fox disappoints, she is usually a bright spot in her films (and she has been in a lot of bad ones) but here her boss character is an over the top cartoon and she comes over as rather too hammy for my liking.

Guill however is very charming and seems to be enjoying herself, and her character does become likeable when she relaxes. Marc Bendavid is a warmly charismatic and down to earth presence and their chemistry is genuine and sweet. Natasha Henstridge is suitably zesty. The characters may be cliched but have personality, on the most part appealing ones, and aren't too perfect or over flawed. Fox's is the one exception.

The script doesn't come over as too cheesy or schmaltzy and is both fun and sincere. The story is far from special, but it goes at a good pace and is heart-warming while not taking itself too seriously. The music fits nicely and isn't used too much or overpowers, while the direction is well above routine level. Production values are lovely, New York always is a delight.

Overall, worth seeing. 7/10.