source: Love on the Rise

I wish we'd see more of Katrina Norman in these movies, she has the full range and looks amazing always without having to be dolled up. The plot has been done in at least ten other of these movies so don't expect Citizen Kane. It's much better than the reviews here however although I agree with the acting of the minor characters- it was horrendous at times.

Bad acting, bad dialogue, derivative plot. Developers are going to close the leading lady's shop. The leading man is the developer's son and works there. Dad is a Grump and doesn't listen to anyone. So whatever plot there is pretty much writes itself. The actor playing Dad is bad. The assistant is bad. If it weren't for Katrina Norman the score on this would be negative. Norman is charming and upbeat. Unfortunately she wasn't enough.

I was following along with this okay movie until I noticed the bakery back room was a green screen. The lead actress and the actress who co-owns the bakery have several scenes in that room. The scenes are in a purple tint and the canisters and shelving are as fake as the chemistry of the lead actors. This is a GAC movie. Not Hallmark.

I found the female and male leads likeable and thought there was some chemistry. Although, I take issue about how long the male lead took to reveal himself to the female lead was a bit unrealistic and I blame that on the writing. Also, the father figure was comically written in how cravenly greedy he was until the very end until he took a bite of her cake. I do agree with the first reviewer, that had the writing been in more capable hands that this movie would have been better, but it's not a disaster.

I got 30 minutes in and couldn't continue. I was fine with a predictable storyline, but the acting was made of cardboard. I've seen many of them in other movies, so I don't know what the problem was here, but I could not endure it.

THEY PUT THE CAKE BY ITSELF IN THE BACK OF A VAN LIKE A KIDNAPPED CHILD. Even kidnapped children get strapped down, covered up and held tight in the back of a van. Not this cake though. Poor thing. It didn't even get a tupperware lid or a box to go in. It didnt even get something to lean on 🎂🚐😱 but guess what. Like magic, the cake was perfectly fine. Now it would have been hilarious and great for a plot (and bloody realistic) if the cake was ruined, right? Nope. I watch Bridezillas. The cake is a major item when it comes to drama. For reasons like transporting, cost, size...? But they transport the cakes secured, or set it up at the venue; the cakes do come in tiers... Now if it's those obnoxious huge sand castle looking cakes then that might be another story with tiers and building at the venue. But transport is still secure. But this was a simple four tier cake here and the width of an average human and the weight of maybe a one year old. You could have held it in your lap. Not left it in a huge empty white van trunk by itself. What an off putting flaw. I can't get passed it. Folks, this was five minutes in. Shame. I also have seen this plot before. A big bad real estate developer wants to build in an artsy or green space. Another film called True Love Blooms had this antagony. Awesome film about a developer wanting to build luxury condos in a garden! How important is that message!! From gentrification, to even imperialism, to quite simply an environmentalist wanting a community garden in an urbanized place. That film came with flaws (annoyingly gleeful actress, unattractive beau, no sexual chemistry) but it's a way better story in the same situation as these guys. The streaming site I'm watching Love on the Rise on is buffering and I take it as a sign. I will skip this.

The acting was absolutely appalling, especially the father and the father's assistant. There was no chemistry between the leads, the leading lady was weak, as were her lines. The leading man didn't bother acting and just churned out the verbal mess of a script. The whole thing was a waste of time and perhaps the scriptwriters may be better placed in other spheres of work, along with the actors.

The ending to a hallmark movie is always the same, which is what we all love, but the plot for this movie was more cliched than usual. The two lead actors were okay, but would agree with other reviewers that the rest of the cast were hammy at best.

The acting is horrible. Hard to watch. Storyline ok but very predictable and with the bad acting, wouldn't recommend. If you all want to get to the status of Hallmark movies, better work on the acting.