Aaron O'Connell

The Way to You

/ Rebekahrox / 4 Comments

A Beautiful “Like” Story?

After erring on the side of kindness in determining a star rating for quite a few Hallmarks lately, last night’s, or in my case, this early morning’s Hallmark is finally (Finally Finally!) one I can wholeheartedly get behind with a 9-star rating. It would have been a 10 but it stumbled slightly at the end.  The script was not only well-written but free of gimmicks and cheap and easy jokes. Now don’t get me wrong: I love a cheap and easy joke as much as the next person, and humor is almost always a component in my most favorite Hallmarks. This one had its funny moments, but the humor flowed naturally from the well-written plot, the characters, and the acting of its cast. It starred a brown-haired Kim Matula who has never been less than great in any of the Hallmarks I’ve seen her in, and Aaron O’Connell. I had never been a particular fan of his as a leading man, although he was hilarious in Made for Each Other as “The Wrong Guy First”,  but I say “had” never, because he was perfect in this one: both in his individual performance and his strong chemistry with his leading lady. In this one, the relationship was the thing, not the banter and wisecracks.

Emma works for an Art Gallery and is unapologetic in hankering after a family of her own with a nice stable guy, not the flakey artsy types she usually encounters.  “I want art on my fridge, as well as on the walls”.  She lives with her sister and her husband in a very large New York apartment. Emma’s relationship with her sister has a lot of heart and is another positive facet amongst many in this movie. They figure out that she needs to meet someone, not in Art, but in a solid profession like Finance. Meanwhile, Conrad, a successful finance guy, is also frustrated in love. He seeks that instant spark, that love at first sight thing, like his parents had. Pay attention when he shares how his parents met.

While on the train to the financial district, they each meet likely prospects that are not each other. The how and why of night owl Emma getting on a train to Wall Street at the ungodly hour of 7am in hopes of meeting a man is an example of the organic nature of the type of humor in this movie. They both have an instant connection with their “meet-cutes” but, due to a power outage, they both are parted from their prospective soulmates before they can exchange details. Conrad puts an ad in a local Missed Connections column and when Emma sees it, she thinks it is about her and meets Conrad. They are both disappointed, but they get to talking and have a great rapport right from the beginning. Since Conrad had learned that the woman he is looking for is involved in the Art Scene, and Emma is looking for a down to earth guy in a profession like Conrad’s, they agree to help each other. Emma will try to find Conrad’s mystery woman, and Conrad will find Emma some date material among his colleagues. (Emma’s train guy falls by the wayside, never to be seen or heard from again.)

They spend time together and become friends. They enrich each other’s lives and have conversations. They go to events together and have fun. Conrad meets Emma’s friends and her sister. Emma goes on a  blah date with one of Conrad’s friends. By this time they are half in love with each other. But at the point where Emma admits that to herself and is ready to make her move with a similarly smitten-but-doesn’t-know-it Conrad she finds, by pure chance, Conrad’s mystery woman. I really should stop there to avoid any more spoilers, because this is a real turning point in the movie. I will just say that it doesn’t follow the obvious path. The love story takes a detour that adds heart, depth, and complexity. We learn that a shared sense of humor is important in a relationship. 

The happy ending is achieved with the help of a bagel truck, which is an example of why this movie really shines. Because you actually had to be paying attention back in the beginning when Conrad was telling his parents’ love story to get the significance. I mentioned the ending took this down a star. After building up the suspense, the chemistry, and the longing that these two shared, it kind of sputtered at the climactic moment. In some movies, ending with an “I really really like you” or even just an “I like you” is enough. But not in this one. We know they liked each other, for heaven’s sake. They were friends and never had a harsh word, or a stupid misunderstanding. They owed each other (and us!) full fledged “I love you’s!” They were earned. It was just a clunker of a wrong note. What was the writer thinking? We know what they meant, and at least she will be following him to Tokyo. I guess that’s something.  Not to mention The Count of Monte Cristo, a personal favorite.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

Junebug

/ Rebekahrox / 12 Comments

Inner Childish

I thought this one had some promise. Autumn Reeser has consistently starred in some of the better Hallmarks. Her presence alone insures a certain level of credibility. Not a huge fan of Aaron O’Connell but he was well cast and perfect in Made for Each Other. The plot had a fantasy element that I usually welcome. Juniper (Reeser) is visited by her 8-year-old self that only she can see. “Junebug” has come out of her childhood “wish box” to help her almost 40-year-old (birthday imminent) self out of a rut professionally and personally. But ultimately it was a big disappointment, I’m very sorry to say.

Juniper dreamed of being a writer as a child. One compromise after another led her off that path but she is a big success as a well-respected editor for a boutique publisher of YA and children’s books. Now this seems like a pretty cool career to me, but what do I know? Juniper is vaguely dissatisfied and bored by her job. And also her stable predictable boyfriend. When Junebug appears she calls Juniper out on her boring wardrobe, her boring duties at work, and her boring boyfriend whose idea of a hot date is a home-cooked pasta dinner every Wednesday night. Again sounds nice to me, but when Juniper asks that he bring any other pasta other than their traditional penne, and he shows up with penne anyway, she breaks up her 3-year relationship with him. At work, her boss, Paula, has tasked the team with finding fresh new illustrators for their children’s line. Juniper, guided by Junebug,  finds one in a mysterious and hot muralist, Alex Ripley (O’Connell). Research reveals that he is an icon of the art world who shot straight to the top after his first show. But he disappeared when his second show was savaged by critics. Now he travels from city to city doing unsigned murals. Red flag. Inspired by Junebug, Juniper has decided to get back to her writing. After her meet cute with Alex (she destroys the mural he is working on and he is very nice about it) they decide to work together on a children’s book.

From then on the movie is all about Alex and Juniper talking about doing the book and dealing with Juniper’s writer’s block. They go on a road trip, eat raspberry swirl ice cream (a lot), walk on the beach, shop for clothes, flirt, and kiss chastely. (Very chastely considering they are two attractive single 40-year-olds who might be in love.) Not exactly compelling viewing. No, not a lot of excitement, but there was quite a bit of comedic potential in a 40-year-old sophisticate being followed around by her interfering 8-year-old self that only she can see. But nada. Other than a few quizzical looks and an occasional “Are you all right?” when Juniper is apparently having conversations with herself, it’s just wasted. It’s all just Juniper and Junebug talking boringly mostly by themselves.

The big crisis is when Alex and Juniper’s book is rejected by her boss as being too much of a risk for the company. But why? It made zero sense, unless her boss was just being nice and the book was really awful. She points out that Alex’s muralistic illustrations were “on too large a scale” for a kid’s book, which makes sense and seems like a fair criticism. I guess, because we never actually get to see his work.  But Alex is highly insulted and flounces off petulantly. “This is not why I make my work-To have someone tell me what market it’s right for!” Boo-de-hoo-hoo. Grow. Up. Juniper quits her job without notice the next day. “Is this because I passed on your project? No it really isn’t, Paula” Right. Juniper wins Alex back by hoisting a boombox in the air a la one of my favorite movies, Say Anything. Lots of tributes to that movie in this one. For the happy ending, Alex and Juniper, together for her birthday, open a box of their newly published (by another publisher or self-published-we never know) book. The cover is really bad. Maybe Paula was right.

I won’t be watching this one again, but I might give Say Anything another go. Now that’s a good movie with a lot of heart.

Rating: 5 out of 10.

P.S. I was just reminded by a user review on IMDb that there is a 25 year old movie that is very similar to this one, only done right, with real drama and bite. Its called If You Believe, and I highly recommend it. I thought there was something familiar about this.

Made for Each Other

/ Rebekahrox / 2 Comments

Careful What you Wish For…

**Spoilers**

When I saw this starred  Matt Cohen, I was prepared to love this, and it didn’t let me down. I loved him in Holiday Date, and his funny delivery and endearing demeanor were on target in this one as well.

Rachel, played by lovely new-to-Hallmark, Alexandra Turshen, is a sculptor and art teacher who is content in her life but has always wanted to be an artist, rather than just a teacher. She also would not be adverse to a serious boyfriend, but she is very very picky. “Her ideal man is a complete fantasy. If you’re human you don’t stand a chance.” Too picky for her obnoxious almost bullying mother who wants nothing more than for Rachel to get married and have babies. Veteran Hallmark actress Teryl Rothery as the mother has never been so unpleasant and unlikeable. God, she was terrible. Teryl overplays it a bit. Thank goodness, Rachel has a backbone, does stand up to her, and refuses to be manipulated into dates with men her mother relentlessly arranges for her. One evening, Rachel and her best friend, played by Illeana Douglas, are in her studio and Rachel shows her her life-sized sculpture of “her perfect man” who is “ Kind, smart, loyal, dedicated, and someone I can bring home to my Mother. He’s a hopeless romantic, we are always on the same page, No conflicts, A best friend.” Illeana tells her the Jewish legend of the Golem, and with the help of an ancient amulet, Rachel’s “perfect man” comes to life the next morning. Meanwhile, we have met David Cohen, Rachel’s soon-to-be brother-in-law’s best friend. We know right away that he is the one. Although he is a lawyer, he is following his dream of being a professional stand-up comedian. Besides being very attractive in a slightly unconventional way, he is funny and smart. He seems to like Rachel, but kind of sees through her tough exterior as well. Another point in his favor is that Rachel’s mother does not like or approve of him.

Rachel and “Clay,” the statue come to life as her perfect boyfriend, become an item. Funny scenes ensue, including the introduction to her mother, his love of eating all the time (he turns out to be a wonderful cook), and generally just being a fish out of water. He becomes a model because he has a perfect body thanks to Rachel’s skill as a sculptor. The humor flows naturally from the fact that he really is perfect. He is smart and kind, loyal and dedicated. He loves Rachel, is a hopeless romantic, and is even a good kisser. Rachel is enamored. At first.  Rachel also gets to know David, who has well and truly fallen for her (those longing looks!)  but believes he does not have a chance against her perfect boyfriend.  Even he cannot help but like the guy! But she likes David. “He is blunt, sarcastic, and doesn’t care if he annoys me. He is the opposite of Clay, but I like talking to him. He makes me laugh.”

 It all comes to head as Rachel is trying to get up the courage to enter a prestigious art contest. She confides that she is afraid to risk rejection. Clay tells her not to do it because he doesn’t want her to be sad if she doesn’t get in. “If it makes you feel bad, it must be wrong.” David challenges her to follow her dream despite the risk, just as he is doing in his own life. At last, Rachel realizes that a partner that always agrees with her, likes everything she likes (or pretends to,) and will never challenge her, is not what she wants.

When Rachel wins the Art Contest, Clay cluelessly steps up to propose in the middle of her big moment thank-you speech. It is a funny and chaotic scene with friends and family either thrilled or incredulous. In the confusion, David, who was supposed to be across town having his big break, runs up with a half-dead bouquet of flowers and confesses that he is in love with her. “This is the most exciting exhibit we’ve ever had!” says the museum director.   A flower breaks off (symbolically) and Rachel has found her happy ending with the perfectly imperfect guy. Clay is gracious in defeat. David remarks, “he’s even perfect when she’s breaking up with him!” The highest compliment I can give this Hallmark is that it does not have a lot in common with a typical Hallmark except for familiar faces and a happy ending. Very satisfying wrap-up as well.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

Blending Christmas

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Blending Old T.V. SitComs

I thought this was a cute little homage to old Sitcom stars. Many of the original cast of the king of sitcoms, The Brady Bunch, were in this, including Cousin Oliver! Jennifer Elise Cox even had a role. She was the actress who played Jan in The Brady Bunch Movie (Marsha, Marsha Marsha!) and pretty much stole the show. She has her moment in this one with her “Michelle, Michelle, Michelle” (and her “Laura, Laura, Laura,” in case we didn’t get it the first time.)

Greg Evigan of BJ and the Bear, and Telma Hopkins(Family Matters, Bosum Buddies) who added a ghostly presence were cast, As well as Beth Broderick of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. She is always a welcome presence in a movie lending as always credibility, warmth, and common sense. Shout out to Mike Lookinland who played a very odd cousin with verve.

The plot was pretty slight with Aaron O’Connell trying to propose to Haylie Duff (7th Heaven among others) at a Dude Ranch (where else?) in the midst of feuding families.

It was harmless fun.

Rating: 3.5 out of 10.

December 15, 2021

My Christmas Love

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Not One in a Million, but One in 500, Anyway.

I try to watch all of the Hallmark movies. There are very few I haven’t seen. I watch them all in hopes of stumbling upon another Moonlight Masquerade, Holiday in Handcuffs, Straight from the Heart, My Fake Fiancée, A Family Thanksgiving, or Gift Wrapped Christmas. It’s almost a game with me. These are some of my favorites off the top of my head, and let me tell you, Hallmances that I would re-watch are few and far between. It’s no coincidence that my favorites usually feature talented actresses, usually with a flair for comedy, in the title roles: Teri Polo, Daphne Zuniga, and Melissa Joan Hart. Now, I will also add Meredith Hagner to the list. Her sprightly presence is not the only reason this movie succeeds, but it is an important factor. To that I will add a very appealing male lead, good writing (funny situations, dialogue, a few heart-tugs, and a twist even I did not see coming) and an older fan-favorite as an anchor: in this case, Gregory Harrison. Every once in a while, there is a perfect storm of actors, writing, and directing that makes my mission to at least give all of the Hallmark movies a chance, worthwhile. Why doesn’t it happen more often?

**Updated 11/16/2017**sad to say, it looks like Meredith Hagner has moved on from Hallmark. I hope I am wrong, but I guess she was just too good to become a regular. **8 stars out of 10**

December20, 2016

Rating: 8 out of 10.