Truly, Madly, Sweetly

Truly, Madly, Sweetly

7.4 stars. This is about the most average Hallmark movie I've seen in a while, fits right in the middle of the pack for me. The story is about a woman who bakes that is what she does for a living, and when she's angry, or happy, or sad, or frustrated, she bakes. She owns a cupcake truck. I wonder if those even exist outside of Hallmarkland. This is also the story of a man who has a good job and he gets laid off and now what is the man to do? He has an adorable little daughter to take care of, his wife left them some time ago. This man and this woman happen to inherit a bakery from his Aunt Bea. The end.

Wonderful! Not often you see such a wonderful flirt with the romantic comedies of the 50's. Excellent actors and a nice story.

Nikki Deloach as Natalie and Dylan Neal as Eric were great together, loved the chemistry'. Nikki Deloach never disappoints me, she is always top-notch. This was my first movie with Dylan Neal and I was very impressed with his acting Bayley Skodje as Hayley was absolutely adorable, a very talented little girl. I bought the book this movie is based on and the story was so different , it was almost unlike the movie at all. Kudos to whoever adapted this as a movie, the movie was a gentle, sweet love story. The book would be what I would charitably call soft *. So if you are at all squeamish do not read the book. The plot of the movie - Natalie (cupcake truck operator)and Eric (a businessman) discover they are coheirs to his aunt's estate, Eric inherits the bakery building, Natalie inherits the carriage house. It sits on a valuable piece of property in what looks like San Francisco. Eric wants to sell it, Natalie wants to reopen the bakery and to park her cupcake truck in the carriage house. But there's a catch, the building is registered historical landmark, so cannot be torn down or changed. Which lessens the value of the property considerably. Eric grudgingly agrees to open it as a bakery.. With the help of Eric's best friend and young daughter and Natalie's best friend they begin the remodel, with the approval of the Historical Association. After many ups and downs they discover they love each other, in traditional Hallmark style.' ' My advice - watch this movie. I loved it.

It is the first word for define a hallmark film. In this case, it works because nothing significant seems can say about it. Sure, the star is the bakery and the girl. But all is well known. Or...unrealistic. It is far to be a bad movie, but it is not exactly the comfortable one. Something is missing . Something is less or too much. Sure, it is a decent Hallmark, with all ingredients and ornaments. But, it is only...nice. With few drops of indulgence.

Sorry to rank this on the D list of Hallmark Movies. I was halfway thru and realized it was putting me in such a bad mood, I had to stop. I am a fan of Dylan Neal and I watch a decent number of Hallmark Movies, even though they've become ridiculously cheap and cookie cutter. I especially like the Gourmet Detective, which is why I thought I might like this. Some Hallmark movie have terrible scripts but the leads are so likeable and scenery is enjoyable, I still end up enjoying them. Here, I partly couldn't get over how fake and brittle the lead actress is. I agree there is no chemistry between the leads. Everyone, except the little girl and Neal, have zero personality or charisma. And I am beyond sick of every single Hallmark actress being a stick with the exact same stiff helmet of ringlets and face full of injectables. It's so distracting. Not to mention the plot revolves specifically around opening a cupcake bakery. Even in 2018, cupcake bakeries were already passé and had mostly shut down. I get that most characters in Hallmark movies have unrealistic jobs that somehow earn them oodles of money. But I think the combo of unlikeable, shallow characters pushing to open a doomed business, not to mention the scenery is plain and basic, I just can't get into it.

This did not disappoint! I watch a lot of Hallmarks movies and this was extra good to me. I like Dylan Neal, a lot! Sure, in Cedar Cove, or whatever its called, I like that even more, but this is a Hallmark movie and it was everything I've come to expect. It must to hard to create new storylines and bring in new faces, when the tried and true are so likable. When I turn to Hallmark, I already know how it's going to end but I can't always see how we get there. It's comforting and takes me away from the real world that is, often, not so pleasant. Thank you Hallmark, writers and actors alike. It's like one big happy family!

My main reasons for seeing Hallmark's first 2018 Fall Harvest film 'Truly Madly Sweetly' were for Hallmark completest sake, which has been an uneven but actually interesting and worthwhile endeavour. And for Nikki DeLoach, one of the most popular regular Hallmark actresses and for good reason (being one of the few to be near consistently good and she also is one of the Hallmark regulars to have the highest number of above average and more films in their filmography). 'Truly Madly Sweetly' is a good if not great start for the 2018 Fall Harvest output. As far as Hallmark's 2018 output goes, it's neither one of the best or worst but instead somewhere around high middle. DeLoach has had more likeable characters and more convincing romantic chemistry in other films, but performance wise it is a good representation of her (if not the best). Have seen a few Fall Harvest films that don't feel like Fall Harvest films and don't really belong in any of the seasonal blockings really, but 'Truly Madly Sweetly' is unmistakably so. It is not perfect, it is a bit of a slow starter and can understand totally where some that didn't like the film are coming from regarding DeLoach's character not being the easiest to like. Will agree that the character was too brittle and uptight to begin with, and DeLoach initially overdoes it. Also thought that it was a little too neat and silly towards the end and that DeLoach and Dylan Neal's chemistry, while not non-existent, was too subdued. However, DeLoach's performance is a very committed (and one hundred percent so) one that relaxes the more the character grows. Neal's character is the more likeable and consistent one and he comes off very engagingly and charmingly throughout. The supporting cast do very well, Karen Holness brings some welcome vim without over-compensating and Bailey Skodje is both cute and sincere, nothing bratty or sugary sweet here. Her chemistry with DeLoach and Neal is more believable and heartfelt than the romantic chemistry. Production values are very good, the scenery is beautiful and while the colour orange is used a lot it doesn't come over as too heavy. The music at least fits and doesn't feel overused or overscored. While not always subtle, the dialogue is generally witty, flows well and has honesty. While not perfect, the story is heart-warming and light-hearted with any character conflict being more realistic and less strained than can be usually be seen with Hallmark films following similar plotlines. A good deal happens but not in a way that comes over as over-stuffed and disjointed. The characters are mostly fine, with reservations only being with DeLoach's initially. Concluding, not great but good. 7/10.

The movie is mostly nothing but a downer. One problem, obstacle, barrier, tragedy, or disaster after another almost up until the end. Not my idea of a Rom/Com. There weren't nearly enough light or funny moments to make it worthwhile. There was only average chemistry at best between the leads. The little girl was barely a factor. Overall the acting was OK.