A Greek Recipe for Romance

I don't know what it is about Hallmark movies set in Greece that always fall short. This one was a fail. The storyline didn't kill it for me, though there were odd spots. The chemistry was off between the main characters. Their snark was too much. The scenery was lovely, but I couldn't handle the horrible acting. Not everyone but her mom and his friend were tough to watch. It felt quite a bit like everyone was reading from cards. It was stiff and not enjoyable to listen to. I will say, though, that the food looked delicious and made me hungry, and the scenery was the only positive for me.

It is not a rewatch.

The Greek setting was lovely and more intimate than most. I enjoyed that they found Greek actors to play the roles and in particular I thought Rafael Kariotakis was well cast in the leading man role. He was handsome and engaging, exactly what you want in a romantic film.

The story is about Abby who visits her mom Jackie in Greece after being laid off from her big New York job. An opportunity arises for Abby, but she doesn't have any restaurant experience...until she is hooked up with the local Theo. Theo is has to reopen his diseased mother's restaurant in two weeks or loose his permits and location. The two initially clash, but then really start to come together for this joint cause. Unfortunately, Theo's father has other plans for him back in Athens and he isn't afraid to use a little sabotage.

I thought the leads we a lovely couple...I would have liked to feel more chemistry. I loved the more intimate Greek backdrop, and I loved the scene when Abby is walking home with the camera behind her along the cobblestones, it was lovely.

I love to armchair travel and I think fellow hallmark romantics will also enjoy it for that.

An easy story, not bad acting, food and Greece, a pink building and an antique amphiteatrum, the reconciliation father - son.

I admitt, for me , the last is one of the good points of film ( near the dance festival fragment or the surprise for Theo , visited in villa by Amy and her mom ).

No surprises, a lot of unrealism but the location ( in fact, the real main character ) just matters. If I do not know if real Danielle C. Ryan was the most inspired option for Amy, I liked, much, the work of Rafael Kariotakis and Argyris Gaganis. And, sure, the food .

In short, the so familiar romance. Nothing bad, in essence.

This movie is set in Greece so the visual scenery is nice, and the young male actor (Rafael Kariotakis) is hot! The young Greek, Theo, has big dreams for his life that are far different than the life his father wants him to pursue. Theo meets Abby who is on vacation from America but is also looking for a new job. She helps Theo as they encounter various trials along the way. Unfortunately, the plot tends to drag and becomes far too predictable. I find Abby's character to be somewhat immature in the relationship for someone that is supposed to be a whiz at problem solving. It's difficult to determine where this relationship is actually leading perhaps a little more focus in this area of the storyline would have prevented the story from dragging. It's not a bad movie, but the plot needed "something" extra.

I have always wanted to go to Greece & this gave me a beautiful, albeit brief, glance at the beautiful country, customs, & culture.

Unfortunately, that's about it. I could barely get past the actress who plays the mom's stiff acting (& how many times can you say, "YANNI"!?) or the fact that the makeup artist made the lead actress' face an entirely different color than her body. The ancillary characters were annoying as well, except for the mom's boyfriend who was fine & sweet.

The lead actor is beyond attractive & a decent performer, so I wouldn't mind seeing him again in some movies. The end.