Les Racines de l'amour

Let me start off by saying, Ashley Williams, was incredibly annoying in this movie. Her acting was so over-the-top "perky," even when she's trying to be serious.

The premise of the movie is that Amiee (Ashley Williams) is attempting to save a tree that has special meaning to her. The mayor has hired Kyle Sorenson (Trevor Donovan) to do the job. Amiee takes it upon herself to stop Kyle.

I love Trevor Donovan's acting (is there nothing this guy can't do?) and he, along with Marilu Henner saved the movie.

It was pleasant enough to watch, but I truly had a hard time getting past my annoyance with Ashley Willaims. Others may feel differently.

Marilu Henner's portrayal of a mother caught between protectiveness of her daughter and living with her own loss, was intriguing. Ashley Williams as the daughter is convincing as a do-gooder tilting at windmills to run from her own pain. Also, the intertwining relationships of a small town are fun to watch.

I have to agree with the previous reviewer (smithduke) re his comments on Ashley Williams in this title. She 'shouts' her lines in all her movies, is manic in her style of acting, and this one is no different. The Directors she works with need to calm her down.

The film has a good storyline, and is held together by the measured and quiet acting method of the other actors, particularly Trevor Donovan.

I enjoyed the storyline and most of the characters except for the lead actress. Ashley Williams is probably my least favorite Hallmark actress. She's far too chipper and her gigantic smile seems so fake. Despite my dislike of her, the movie still pulled together well.

Aimie Roarke (Ashley Williams) is a tireless do-gooder at the town's Park & Rec department. Her mother Zee (Marilu Henner) is struggling with debt after the death of her husband two years earlier. The arrival of hunky landscaper Kyle Sorenson (Trevor Donovan) brings not-good news as the mayor plans to cut down Aimie's beloved old tree in the town square. She decides to chain herself to the tree.

This is a Hallmark movie with two beautiful people and not a compelling story between them. There is never in doubt about the romance and they don't have much of a hurdle. The mayor is the villain and Kyle is not really an obstacle. Quite frankly, the mayor is the worst villain possible. It's not that he has an evil plan. He just doesn't want to deal with her. He's like a bureaucrat without a brain. As a mayor, one would figure he would be interested in those voters backing Aimie. Other than the father story, there isn't much emotional weight. Williams is relying solely on her Cheshire Cat smile. If it could invent some better villainy, the story may be salvaged. What if it turns out there are no pipes. What if it turns out to be a plan to cut down the tree to make a parking space for himself or turn it into a building named after himself. It's hard to root for this movie when the solution is so simplistic and the hurdles are so low.