Fugue sentimentale

The premise of a celebrity running away to a remote town is not new, but it isn't the most common either. Throw in that she runs away to an Amish town and it's still not unique, but even less common. The general course of the story is predictable. There were a couple of other elements that were also fresh.

The actors who were playing decent somewhat normal people did well. Three in particular were very appealing.. I wish Trevor Donavan and Danielle C. Ryan had more screen time together. But I sure wouldn't want to steal that time from Ryan and Galadriel Stineman. I also wish that we could have gotten more of Sarah's story including more resolution for her. As for Tatum O'Neil and Beau Davidson, if you want characters to really dislike, they're it, but maybe with a little too much exaggeration.

I was disappointed that the movie took shots at the traditional Amish. There have been so many horror stories about lack of freedom in that life. A quick internet search tells me that a lot of those negative stories are outdated or at least not universally true. One of the more relevant in this movie is how oppressive the Bishop was to Sarah. Again, the quick internet search points out that women can be more independent than this movie implied. They can run their own businesses. They can choose not to marry even though there is a strong tradition in favor of it. They can vote within their church. Deduct one star for bigotry and stereotyping by the writers. I was especially disappointed that UP Entertainment would participate in this stereotyping.

I enjoyed the movie primarily because of the two female leads. Both were caring and generous and unselfish. Despite her upbringing, Sarah was not judgmental. She was loyal. The two women were true friends. This is more of what I would expect from UP Entertainment.

The second time I watched this I noticed a sub-plot. This is the story of two women where men want to control their lives. Those in power want to sell them into marriages they do not want. It reminds me of the Taliban, especially Sarah's story.

Are we really expected to believe that the young female lead character lived in a huge house with furniture that wouldn't have looked out of place in an elderly care home ? Heavens above, my parents chucked out furniture like that over 30 years ago ! What is wrong with the set designers ?

And she didn't have to bother showing us the package of hair colourant in the motel, she just needed to take off her wig, it was so obvious.

The most well known faces in 'Runaway Romance', or at least to this reviewer, are Trevor Donovan and Tatum O'Neal. Donovan is good in the right role and with good material, which are hit and miss (enough hits though thankfully), while O'Neal is capable of good performances (brilliant in 'Paper Moon', but has never equalled or bettered her work in that since). Also saw this as someone who likes romance, as someone who liked the premise and as someone who has liked some of UPTV's other work.

As far as UPTV's films go, 'Runaway Romance' is neither one of their best or worst. As far as films seen this and last week go, it is also not one of the best or worst (somewhere firmly in the middle). It is above average and engaging enough with more than enough to like, but it could have done a good deal more with its potential (which is not squandered as such but isn't used to full potential either) and as others have said didn't feel complete. Donovan is represented well as are the female leads, but O'Neal is not at all.

'Runaway Romance' has a lot to like about it. Danielle C Ryan and Gabrielle Stineman are immensely engaging, full of charm and quirkiness, and Donovan is easy going, subtly charismatic and charming. The romantic chemistry does have some spark and is pleasing enough, though maybe it could have featured more. The production values are also pleasing, especially the scenery. The supporting cast are mostly solid.

Writing-wise, 'Runaway Romance' doesn't take itself too seriously while not treating things as a joke, with the right amount of light hearted-ness. The story is sweet and has warmth and heart, the sentimentality not being too much and very little coming over as too silly. On the whole, the characters were ones worth caring about, loved the three lead characters that weren't written too perfectly while also being so likeable.

Some significant things stop the film from being great however. A few of the characters are very annoying and too cartoonishly stereotypical, especially the ex and his mother. O'Neal also overacts horribly and it jars with the rest of the film, the two emotions felt watching her were unintentional laughter and just wanting her to go away.

Despite being fine in atmosphere, the film did feel jumpy and incomplete. Especially the whole inn subplot and Sarah backstory, a subplot that had the most potential but one that nowhere near enough is done with and then it felt abandoned judging from how many loose ends were left. The ending is very rushed and like they had forgotten to add one.

In summary, above average but promises more than it delivers. 6/10.

This was just a fun and sweet movie! What's not to love!

This movie is well worth watching and follows the usual formula for good romance movies. There is magic or sparks between the leads, emotion, conflict, and of course sub-plots. It's failure to resolve the situation between Sarah and the Bishop cost it one point. What did she end up doing? All the loose ends should be tied up at the end. My score is 9.