Styled with Love

So. Much. Pink.

Rosie Pink (yes, really)  is making a big leap by using her inheritance from her beloved Nana (is there any such thing as a Nana who wasn’t beloved?) to open her own business as a personal stylist in the big city. And she really likes pink. She gets a few clients by standing on the street corner handing out fliers while working on her website and preparing for her grand opening. She is very perky and cheerful and but thanks to the actress, Rachel Bles, I  couldn’t help liking her in spite of myself.  She just unapologetically went full speed ahead with the sweet and good-hearted character. In addition to styling her clients (the outfits mostly have a lot of pink in them, but, to be fair, not all) she also gives them harmless advice on how to be successful in their endeavors (Be Yourself! Have confidence! Believe in Yourself! Go for it!). At one point, she gets accused of “sounding like a Hallmark card” which was amusing. She attracts the attention of a very scary magazine bigwig (think a black Miranda Priestly) who informs her that she will be “keeping an eye on her.” Brrrrrrrrrrr. The actress who played her, Kathy Maloney, was fantastic. She was gorgeous and terrifying.

Meanwhile, she tries to hire her BFF’s cousin, a professional photographer to take pictures for her website. He is the love interest. He turns her down at first because he thinks the fashion industry is full of shallow phonies but changes his mind when his agent says he needs to punch up his portfolio with some more candid shots. The actor who played the photographer is Dennis Andres and is the sole reason I skipped over a number of Hallmarks to watch this UPtv production. He comes across as a regular guy and his acting is as natural as he is charming. I’m a big fan.

Miranda Priestly is impressed with Rosie’s skills and starts hiring her to do freelance work. It’s a lot of money and opportunity, plus she gets free clothes for her shop. (Rosie not only helps her clients with their style choices but sells them “pre-loved” (groan) outfits out of her own stash) This is the conflict. She is being run ragged and doesn’t have time for her own business anymore, or her growing relationship with Dennis.

Despite a mopey old grandfather and some seriously cheesy speeches at the end, I kind of liked this one. It really grew on me. The tyrannical Miranda/Anna Wintour character surprised me at the end,  and Dennis and his killer smile did not disappoint, as usual.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

September 29, 2022

Blueprint to the Heart

No Make-Over Necessary

My main problem with this one was why any home renovation show or interior designer with any taste would want to change this carpenter’s cute, authentic, and cozy home. They wanted to rip out the hardwood floors, remove the original old wood fir tree beams and knock out the walls to make it a McMansion-style house. And they wanted to do the same to him, basically. This guy who was a casual, cheerful, very talented carpenter who looked like a poor man’s Chris Pratt. And I mean that as a compliment. However, the chemistry between the two principals was excellent and good triumphed over evil in the end. Probably doesn’t deserve it, but I’m giving it 7 stars for the likability and overall appeal of the hero.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

January 31, 2021

A Hint of Love

A Winning Recipe

Dennis Andres shines in this entertaining and well-written TV romance. This is the second time I have seen him and he is even better in this one. He plays a cookbook author and blogger whose cooking is aimed at busy single fathers who want to serve up a home-cooked meal in less than 30 minutes. In order to expand his brand he gets hooked up with our heroine who is a Cordon-Bleu trained cookbook editor who specializes in high-end hoity-toity fare. Hilarity, conflict, and romance ensue.

As the down-to-earth rough around the edges hero, Will, Dennis Andres overflows with charm and appeal. He is attractive but not GQ male-model handsome. His line delivery is natural whether funny or heartfelt. A few times it sounded like he was ad-libbing his lines. I guess that means he is a good actor. As his love interest, Debs Howard is well cast with her patrician looks. Her character has a good character arc. At first, pretentious, snobby, and self-righteous (as Will tells her to her face), we learn that all is not what it seems on the surface. We find out she is from Albuquerque, her parents are down-home “just folks” and her abandoned dream is to open her own restaurant. The “opposites attract” chemistry between the two is right on and the kiss at the end was…yeah.

The script has some wit and good banter: “Who hates Nachos?! That’s like hating Freedom!” Couldn’t agree more. The initial hostility between the two food-lovers is well balanced. They are at odds but both have some good points in their arguments. They gradually get on the same page through compromise and listening. There is some good conflict from a snooty boyfriend to a weasel of a boss, and cheer-worthy good triumphing over evil scenes at the end.

I will definitely be looking forward to more TV romances with this talented new-to-the-genre actor. Hope he isn’t “discovered” too soon!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

March 3, 2021