A Greek Recipe for Romance

I enjoyed, this week's movie in the series, "Passport to Love".

I have never been to Greece, but have always wanted to go. This movie, with the culture, food, and beautiful scenery makes me want to go even more!

The story line is fun and engaging. There may be a few familiar elements, but it is worth the watch. The characters are believable and relatable. The story line is cute and I found myself actually watching the movie and not just having it on for background noise.

Thank you to Hallmark for sharing different cultures with the viewers in this series. This is definitely my favorite thus far!

This Hallmark romance takes us to Greece, where an American, Abby (Danielle C. Ryan), goes to visit her mother. While there, she meets Theo (Rafael Kariotakis), who wants to establish a new restaurant in the space his mother used to operate. Though his father has other plans for Theo, the young chef is encouraged by Abby, who becomes his partner. Still, Abby has plans to return to the U. S. after a few weeks.

This film is infused with Greek culture and sights, making for enjoyable visuals. And the Mediterranean food looks delicious. On the other hand, the central relationship appears more platonic than romantic, though Ryan does her best to signal an infatuation.

In the end, there are few surprises. Things work out as expected. And there are no nagging conversations about work visas or such.

6.9 stars.

What makes this film stand out? That's the question, considering how many seem interchangeable, particularly those set in Italy, Greece, and France-the romantic Mediterranean countries blending Western and Near Eastern cultures. These movies typically share common elements: food, music, culture, an American protagonist, and a charming foreign love interest. While you can mix these ingredients differently, the films in this collection often feel too alike to offer a unique or captivating experience beyond their familiar entertainment value. It lacks the excitement or novelty to truly refresh. I crave something more daring-not Spain, Italy, Greece, or Paris, nor some fictional Anglo-inspired realm. How about the Middle East, or even Turkey? Imagine sending one of our beloved Hallmark stars to Constantinople or a similarly exotic locale. It's time to embrace a bold change and explore new horizons.

This storyline feels all too familiar-a tale of an American woman in Greece who encounters a somewhat aloof billionaire's son, determined to conceal his privileged background. Intrigued by him, she discovers he's an exceptional Greek cuisine chef, making him the ideal partner to launch a restaurant and boost her career. Yet, his reluctance to reveal his secrets and adapt to the challenges of restaurant ownership presents obstacles. Meanwhile, her character lacks depth beyond their discussions on food, taste, decor, and olive oil. While I appreciate the actress's charm, the lack of dramatic tension leaves this romance feeling unbalanced.

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.

Last week I enjoyed, "Savoring Paris" and this week's movie in the series, "Passport to Love" was another enjoyable movie.

Although I haven't traveled yet to Greece, the scenery, the food, and the people reminded me of my favorite Greek restaurants over the years. The people are gracious hosts and the food is amazingly delicious. The movie captured the culture that we have experienced in Greek restaurants in the U. S. The leads in this movie were believable. I am thoroughly enjoying seeing the scenery in these Passport films. The conversations that the main characters have seem honest and believable.

Thank you, Hallmark for bringing differing world cultures to us in the U. S. I hope we can travel to Greece someday, but until then this movie has helped bring a bit of Greece to us.