Sur les pistes de l'amour

After putting it off for a while I finally watched it. And despite having to pause it for 20 minutes I really enjoy it. While it's not my favorite from this Winter season, I believe it's worth the watch. Beautiful scenery: it only increases my desire to visit Canada.

The best part was definitely Katrina Bowden as Alex: watching her overcome her fears and developing as a character. I hope we get to see her in more Hallmark movies.

Great storyline. It was not the funniest script, but acceptable. My only problem was Thomas' character Cole. I did not connect with him. And sometimes I didn't find Thomas' acting very convincing. The chemistry was not enough for me. Once again, disappointing: I was expecting more after watching the previews.

Despite my disappointment I liked it, it's worth the watch. Don't know if I will watch again.

However it wasn't filmed in Colorado, being a Hallmark movie it was filmed in Canada with beautiful mountain scenery.

She works for a magazine in NYC, she is a copy editor but aspires to write. The editor comes up with an idea for a new type of story, any of his staff can participate, the winner gets a job as a travel writer and wins a first class ticket to their choice of anywhere in the world. She hopes to go to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

She is a fan of a certain Colorado photographer who seems to like to stay out of sight. She decides to travel to his area and write of overcoming your fears, she will participate in winter mountain activities that she is afraid of. In the process she meets the photographer, finds out he is a very nice person. He gets roped into being her guide for the week.

Being a Hallmark movie it is clean and entertaining. Even though she has a boyfriend back in NYC the title of this movie pretty well tells what the story arc will be.

My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library, a very pleasant evening entertainment.

The filming was in British Columbia, Canada and the scenery is gorgeous and makes for great winter sports.

Alex (Katrina Bowden) aspires to become a travel writer and is given a chance to write a story about her fears of almost anything adventure related as she participates in overcoming them. Early in the movie she meets a sports enthusiast Cole (Thomas Deadoin) who has some weaknesses of his own. Cole becomes Alex's guide. As they conquer some of Alex's fears sparks flies. While the chemistry isn't the greatest, it is solid. Alex was a little annoying early in the movie but as it progressed I enjoyed her and hope to see her in more HM movies. This is a movie that I will enjoy again in the future.

Review submitted: 1/28/2018 --- Victor J.

Alex is a New York copywriter that wants to become a feature writer. Her boss has just introduced a cover story contest that might help her to fulfill that dream, but tells Alex that she'll likely have to step outside of her comfort zone to succeed.

So the city girl heads west to a ski resort where Cole, a reclusive extreme sports photographer she admires, is said to live. She hopes to get an interview, or at least experience the sports which inspire his work.

Of course they meet, she's a fish out of water klutz, but he's a social misfit that wants his foundation (which helps young kids experience the outdoors) to succeed. So they strike a bargain - Cole will help Alex try different outdoor activities on the slopes for her article, and she'll help him with his presence at his gallery.

One things leads to another with both gaining confidence, overcoming their weaknesses while growing personally - especially Alex - until her boyfriend arrives. However, if you know the formula, you can figure out how it will end.

Like most Hallmark romances, the scenery is postcard beautiful, and all the actors are attractive, so it's a carefree couple of hours of harmless fun.

Hallmark is great at making setting an important part of the movie, but this particular film does that in spades. There's incredible snowy mountain scenery here, especially in the scene where Alex and Cole zipline across a canyon above an icy river. Just gorgeous. Seriously, this is worth watching for the scenery alone.

As for the romance, I liked the leads, even if Alex's girly "I'm so not sporty" was a bit ridiculous initially. The premise of having her do a lot of winter-y extreme sports allowed for breathtaking vistas and for her to cling to manly extreme sports guide, Cole. The chemistry was pretty good, especially towards the end. The script was serviceable.

All in all, one I will rewatch. The leads are attractive and appealing enough that the romance was decent. But it's mainly the setting that puts this one over the top for me.