Un amour hors du temps

'Rip in Time' (2022)

Opening thoughts: The 2022 Hallmark Movies and Mysteries block was a mixed bag. While there were hits such as 'North to Home' and 'The Presence of Love', there was also duds like 'Cut, Color, Murder'. While time travel is not a new concept for Hallmark, it is something that has worked remarkably well in the past and is actually yet to feel stale. Torrey DeVitto and Niall Matter have been very watchable and more in other things, so expectations were high actually for 'Rip in Time'.

Luckily, 'Rip in Time' did not disappoint. Of the 2022 Hallmark Movies and Mysteries films, it is one of the best and the most refreshing, seeing as it is different to what is typically seen in Hallmark's Hallmark Movies and Mysteries films. 2022 was a year that saw a lot of recycled ideas that varied wildly in execution. As said, the time travel concept is not new for Hallmark, but there was something about how 'Rip in Time' approaches it that felt fresh. After seeing a large number of Hallmark films with over familiar execution of samey formulas, this was a relief.

Bad things: Did feel that it felt a little too rushed at the end, where the imagination also goes and the films wraps up conventionally and a bit too neatly.

Also did feel that the quantum physics explanation was not particularly necessary and maybe a little more complicated than it should have been.

Good things: However, it is a very attractively photographed film with lovely scenery with effects that didn't look amateurish at all. Also pleasant is the music, which has presence without coming over as over-bearing or too constant. The direction shows a good deal of confidence and a sense that they knew what they were doing and trying to achieve. The script flows well and is light hearted, witty and nostalgic, shining particularly in the hilarious and affectionate references and the lead banter. Which has a lot of playful wit and not over-hostility heavy.

Furthermore, the story has a lot of heart and charm, and has a nice liveliness too. While not innovative, the time travel element never comes over as confusing or cheap. The characters were ones worth caring for, and DeVitto and Matter are very confident and charming in the lead roles and have a strong spark together. Actually got the sense they enjoyed working together. The supporting cast are solid.

Closing thoughts: Overall, very good.

8/10.

Sarah Majors (Torrey DeVitto) is a single mother and runs the family farm with her father Calvin Majors (Eric Keenleyside). They find a homeless guy hiding in their barn. He has spotty memory and the name Rip (Niall Matter). He seems to be from the past and a fish out of water.

This is a fun concept for Hallmark but it does need better writers than their standard level. I would have liked him asking the year much earlier and go down the road of his sanity. That's a more fertile and reasonable path. I can do with much less sci-fi exposition and going to the big city. I don't want the magic to be explained away. I like the suspicious cop and the small town rumor mill. That's a great second half story arc. This starts off well but it doesn't develop well. There are elements that I like. I even like the ending but the writing needs a few improvements.

Torrey Devitto has never been more beautiful, warm and alluring. She positively glowed, and Niall Matter was charming as a character with old timey manners and speech patterns from the 1700s. And I loved the script by C. Jay Cox (who wrote Sweet Home Alabama with Reese Witherspoon and last year's Hallmark gem- Love Strikes Twice).

It's a "fish out of water" time travel tale that's been done countless times before, and in many different ways, but that's because this kind of story is often quite entertaining. Rip in Time is a nice, pleasant, easy going version of the old movie trope, and it's a lot less creepy than the new Time Traveler's Wife series (ugh). It's like a reverse Outlander without all the disturbing, cruel, and hard to watch nastiness on that show. It reminded me of A Timeless Christmas, with Erin Cahill, and Ryan Paevey, which I also liked.

The script had some clever bits about modern mores and the evolution of a woman's role in society. Devitto's Sarah is written as a strong, brave, self assured, kind, confident woman who at one point initiates a scene that struck me as an homage to the "it's still not over" scene from The Notebook. Unfortunately, the scene where Rip noted how "flawed" Thomas Jefferson had been in excluding women from "all men are created equal", would have been a good time to point out how flawed and hypocritical it was for him to own slaves. That was a missed opportunity.

In order to enjoy these kinds of movies you need to buy into the fantasy and hope the story is as "realistic" as possible within that fantasy construct. And, for the most part, Rip in Time succeeds, except for the "leg injury" which would have manifested far worse symptoms. I also wondered why no one took Rip to a dentist to confirm he had no modern fillings. Heck, his teeth would likely have been in pretty bad shape. Also, I doubt he would have had access to a quill pen and ink in 2022. But these are minor quibbles.

The story was strong, the conflict wasn't over done, and I actually sympathized with the cop even though he was the token "bad guy" (although he really wasn't a bad guy- he truly cared and, let's face it, Rip's story was bonkers).

Another solid win for Hallmark. I hope we get more good stories from C. Jay Cox and I'd love to see more Torrey Devitto (loved her in Write Before Christmas)

I had very high hopes for this one, and I was not disappointed. It was written by C. J. Cox who penned one the best Hallmarks in recent years, Love Strikes twice, as well as the Reese Witherspoon favorite Sweet Home Alabama and Rene Zellweger's New in Town. It starred Niall Matter as Rip Van Winkle's estranged son who travels from his time to ours and meets single mother Torrey de Vito, and her son and father who are the current owners of the old Van Winkle property. Time Travel stories are always a safe bet and Niall Matter is a favorite of mine. Torrey Devito, not so much, but she was fine in this. Niall seems to have an air of melancholy behind his eyes, which was perfect for this role.

Most of the movie is relationship building with Rip helping Torrey's bullied son, dealing with the jealous suspicion of his rival for Torrey's affection, a police deputy, and of course the slow burn romance.

The writing was full of authentic details, bringing in Washington Irving's tale and farm machinery of the era for example. Flax Breaks--Who Knew? Not to mention Ben Wilkinson attempting to explain the science behind time travel to a stunned Torrey and a bewildered Rip.

The romantic conclusion was a little too pat, with lots of future challenges remaining unaddressed. But the reach across time, by means of a backpack, provided a reconciliation between Rip and his misunderstood father that was touching and satisfying.

Really enjoyed this. It was engaging & nicely written. It was not the usual Hallmark formula and I think it gave Niall Matter a chance to really shine & stretch his talent.