A Fashion Fairy Tale

This was a big city one. In this case, Chicago. And I don’t know what it is, but those always seem to be a cut above the usual small town save grandma’s farm with a festival romances. Maybe they’re aiming towards a slightly more sophisticated audience, I don’t know. But one thing I do know is that when Lyndsy Fonseca is the main girl, there is a good chance that it will be one of the “good” Hallmarks. I’ve now seen 8 with her in the starring role and 6 of them I’ve rated 8 or higher and the other 2 were solid 7s. It’s not all her though. For some reason, the scripts and other production values just seem to be a cut above. Her partner in crime in this one (no pun intended) was Peter Porte. I’ve never been a huge fan of his, but the actor and his character, Mills, were very likable and charming in this story. It doesn’t hurt one bit that he is so undeniably gorgeous that whenever he came on the screen, I found myself just gazing at him. I may have even hit the pause button. Note: He’s not short like in the poster. The romance and chemistry between them was on point and their relationship was built around a plot that kept my interest. It was different, and was not just one big cliché surrounded by a dozen little clichés.

Kayli is the assistant to a famous and elite fashion stylist. It took me a minute to get a handle on what Kaylie and her boss, Celine, did exactly. Celine is not a designer with her own creations, but finds dresses from all over to create looks for her high profile famous clients for special occasions. Kayli arrives in Chicago with the fashions that her boss and her client, Rini-Jean, have selected for the Cosmo Fashion Week leading up to the climactic Gala. Unfortunately Celine can not be there to take charge of volatile Rini, because she has to go to a last minute family wedding in Paris. So of course she puts her trusted assistant in charge. Kayli is appalled: Due to a mysterious traumatic incident in her past, she just likes to stay in the background in a supporting role, not be the in-charge decision maker for her client. But the gowns for Rini-Jean have already been chosen and agreed on, so what could go wrong? Well, plenty, as it turns out. Rini doesn’t like the gowns anymore and has a melt down. The only one she wants to keep is the very valuable vintage gown that Elizabeth Taylor wore to the 1970 Academy Awards which is slated to be worn at the end-of-week big Gala. And you had better believe I researched (Googled) it and the gown in the movie does bear more than a passing resemblance to the real one. So props, Hallmark, for authenticity.  Rini’s dresses need to be redone so Kayli goes shopping at a vintage fashion shop, which is the kind of  fashion that is her first love, not new couture. When she gets back from her shopping trip, the priceless Elizabeth Taylor dress has been stolen! Enter Peter Porte, who is head of security for the exclusive hotel. Actually he has already entered. In the first scene he had confronted Kayli over her use of a luggage cart, insisting unsuccessfully that she let a porter help her because she doesn’t have the required special driver’s license. It’s a joke. There is an immediate spark between them as they engage in lighthearted banter. A minute later, he spots a drone zipping around the hotel to spy on the famous guests. He takes immediate action by leaping on her luggage cart and, with her steering madly, grabs the drone mid-flight to the applause of all the guests and employees.  So when he shows up in Kayli’s suite and discovers the missing dress, we are prone to really like this guy. Plus he is ex-Delta Force. It turns out that the vintage dress is not the only valuable that has been stolen during Cosmo Week, and Kayli is the number one suspect! To save Kayli and the promotion he is up for (as head of security for the entire global chain of hotels), he and Kayli team up to investigate. They retrace Kayli’s steps, go to several parties, go shopping for clothes, have a dance lesson, go to a diner and a historic bar, meet with Rini’s even more famous almost-fiancé, and fall in love. Their adventures were amusing, engaging, and advanced the plot. At one party Kayli  runs into famous actress Vivian Thorpe whose career she almost ruined with a bad choice of gown. That incident is the source of Kayli’s lack of confidence in herself. But Vivian is glad to see her and tells her that the setback to her career was actually a blessing in disguise, and credits Kayli! She’s cured! 

 So up to now, with the talented and attractive leads, the sparkling and amusing banter, the mystery, and the entertaining adventures in the sophisticated Chicago setting, the movie had settled in at a solid 7 ½ at least. A couple of very refreshing things brought it to a 9 in my book.

• Kayli is honest with her boss Celine about the disasters that have occurred on her watch and Celine is unfailingly supportive and encouraging. A nice boss. Imagine that. She tells her to eat a hot dog and have fun.
• When the dreaded interrupted kiss that is one of Hallmark’s most reliable (and irritating) features occurs,  Mills actually goes back to complete the smooch. Usually the couple awkwardly parts ways after the interruption like nothing happened. Mills pulls her back into his arms saying, “If you think a little interruption like that is going to stop me…”. I mean Wow. He makes all of his Hallmark predecessors look like under-sexed wimps.
• Mills and Kayli capture the thief after he steals Vivian Thorp’s bedazzled vintage Dolly Parton scarf and Rini’s engagement ring. But there are two thieves (!) and the whereabouts of the Elizabeth Taylor gown is still a mystery.  When that robber is revealed, it was, for me, a real twist and a surprise. No kidding. I gasped.
• There is no stupid unnecessary misunderstanding that part the couple close to the end. Mills mysteriously disappears without saying goodby to Kayli, but she quickly tracks him down and the explanation leads to unveiling the surprising villain.

There was none of the recent trend of the couple kissing at the end with no clue how they are going to manage a (“we’ll figure it out later”) viable relationship. The ending was very satisfying and happy with both of our leads’ pursuing their dreams together. It was quite the fairy tale.