If It’s Saturday Night on the Hallmark Channel, It Must Be Belgium

In the last of Hallmark’s Winter Escape movies, we follow aspiring jewelry designer Abby and Hallmark to Beautiful Antwerp, Belgium, on a mission to save her grandfather’s jewelry store. I rather enjoyed this one for several reasons. Of course the glimpses we got of beautiful Belgium didn’t hurt.  The city sites and snippets of history and culture were folded organically into the movie rather than Hallmark putting the couple of destiny on some awkward sightseeing trip to take in the beauty and tourist traps of country and city. The scenery in these jaunts is always nice but plot and character-wise, it’s often just filler. I liked the glimpses into the jewelry designing and making profession as well. It was something a little off the beaten path for Hallmark. The interior set decoration was better than usual. Grandpa’s shop was cute and quaint like something out of a Disney movie. At one point I was afraid that a baking montage was going to be shoehorned in, but they wisely managed to fit in Belgian waffles without resorting to the bone-tired “Flirting with Flour” scene. Huge sigh of relief on my part.

The movie hit most of the usual beats that Hallmark is seemingly addicted to: Spousal death resulting in business struggles, big city heroine dissatisfied in love and career coming home to save the family legacy, a nemesis of some sort to amp up the tension, big gala/dance/ball, a competition for prize money that is the answer to all prayers: all were included and then some. There were even some “What the Heck!” moments to ponder. Abby helping Alexander, the love interest but also a chief competitor for the prize money, with his entry? Very nice but really? She has to win or lose the family business! Come on! Grandfather’s 30 carat uncut top quality diamond just sitting around his back room and not in a safe? And I could be wrong, but think her ex-fiance was referred to by two different names. There were others, but I won’t pile on.

Despite all of this, the show was saved by the romance and the talented cast. Both of the leads have previously appeared in one Hallmark movie each. Unfortunately the character Laci J. Maily played in her first effort was super annoying. The main character in this one was not annoying and her portrayal was very likable. I hope she is cast in more movies. Dutch actor David Elsendoorn was the best thing about his previous foray as a Hallmark hero. He was adorable and he was even more adorable and charming in this one. And I liked his character as well: He was a very good guy. And when faced with an ethical dilemma he took a strong stance and did the right thing. The two together had a supportive, friendly relationship which led to a believable romance with no eye-rolling silliness. Abby’s grandfather was a sweetheart and very lovable. Despite being lacking as a business owner, he was not annoying about it. He owned his weaknesses, and let his granddaughter save the day with no stubborn resistance or other stupid behavior whatsoever. Very unusual. Alexander’s father was a nasty piece of work and the actor who played him really nailed both his nastiness and his eventual reclamation. I wasn’t a fan of Suzanne McKenney’s eccentric portrayal of Nadia, Abby’s Chicago boss, who won’t give her a chance and who turns up for the Antwerp competition.  But it worked OK in context. She played it for laughs, two menacing characters perhaps being one too many. Plot-wise, I liked the happy resolution, and Abby’s wise career decision at the end. Her happy future in life and love seems set. Abby and Alexander’s movie ending kiss was way above average despite the height difference (1 foot, 2 inches), and little graphic hearts flew across the final scene. A fitting harbinger of Hallmark’s Loveuary movies coming right up.