L'Amour de mes rêves

This is a very late review, however I found this movie to be a very nice departure to the Hallmark cookie cutter formula. Perhaps that is why it is one I never saw before and it is so different.

Katherine McPhee and Mike Vogel star in this movie as the pair looks for their true love via their dreams. I realize that finding your true love through ones dreams is like a science fiction movie. Be assured this movie is a great fairy tale. The backstory of their dreams, which unfolds in the beginning of the movie, begins at a fountain. I don't want to ruin this review with spoilers, therefore I recommend you pop some popcorn and watch. The chemistry between the characters was believable and you keep hoping they will find each other. Of course, being Hallmark, you know they will. It's HOW that makes your heart pound.

For those who are trying to place McPhee and Vogel, here's where you probably have seen them. Katherine McPhee started on American Idol and ventured into acting. She was in a movie The House Bunny with Anna Farris and starred in the tv series Scorpion. Mike Vogel starred in the tv series Under the Dome.

Cheesy rom-com minus the com. Fantasy premise sets the plot in motion (not necessarily a problem) but derailed by failure of the two star-crossed lovers to do or say the obvious things. I believe TV writers call this the "idiot plot" - The entire movie could be short-circuited by one or the other of them giving the other a phone number or address, or even just by following up on the numerous hints dropped all over the place. But they're morons, so they don't.

'Eh, I'm too cool to bother checking up on anything, instead I'll just mope about and say things like "I'm not wasting time on a fantasy." '

The female lead is gorgeous, but neither one of them has much in the way of charisma, nor chemistry with each other.

Skippable.

This is a different approach to bringing true loves together. A wish in a magic fountain allows Nick and Natalie to occupy each others' dreams. For three nights they blissfully fall in love yet outside their dreams they have never met. But then doubt creeps in which leads to the struggle that occurs in the rest of the movie.

I find it ironic that this story is in a Hallmark movie where no unmarried couple ever sleeps together and yet these two find themselves together while sleeping.

I find Katherine McPhee to be the most beautiful of women when her character is in love so I may be a little prejudiced.

PS after second viewing : the story is extremely sweet and sappy which is OK in my book. It is also quite simple, especially the romantic part. I think the writers had to fill it out with the stories about Nick's contest and Natalie's restaurant. McPhee when she made this movie was perfect for the sweet innocent girl part. Her later marriage to a billionaire twice her age makes that also somewhat ironic.

Natalie Russo (Katharine McPhee) and Nick Smith (Mike Vogel) are unlucky in love. Jessa (Rachel Skarsten) dumped him and his mother Charlotte (JoBeth Williams) keeps setting him up. The latest is eager Lori Beth. Natalie is struggling to make her restaurant work despite her unyielding Italian chef Mario. Waitress Sharla is her best friend. Natalie and Nick toss coins into a magic fountain. They have a week to find each other guided by their joined dreams for the perfect match.

This is a perfectly fine Hallmark TV movie including a dream matchmaker. It's nothing special. The dream couple is photogenic and an obvious match. It's really cute that McPhee gets all dolled up to go to bed. It's a romantic dream in movie form and there's nothing wrong with that. This knows its level and hits it spot on.