Robert Buckley

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story

/ Rebekahrox / 2 Comments
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The Windy City is Mighty Pretty

This is the third Holiday Touchdown movie Hallmark has done in what appears to be a #CountdowntoChristmas tradition in the making. The previous two…well let’s not go there. Except that the second one was better than the first, and I didn’t much like it thanks to a super-dumb story line involving the secondary love story. I was actually looking forward to this one because I am very partial to the two leads, Robert Buckley who plays Fireman Matt, and Lyndsy Fonseca who plays Avery, a freelance journalist. They did not disappoint, thank goodness. Although not spectacular, this one was the best of the bunch. They are trending upward, at least.

NYC-based Avery is on vacation in Chicago visiting her mother who has recently re-married Ron, a local sports bar owner. Our Heroine is a little discombobulated, because she still misses her late father, and the mother she reunites with at Ron’s bar, is now a sports Bears fan and really loves her new life helping her husband run the bar. She is fully emersed in her whole new community and set of friends. Avery feels out of place in her mother’s life now, and understandably is cautious about fully embracing her nice welcoming Step-Dad. While waiting for her Mom to end her shift*, she has a no-spillage meet-cute with a guy at the bar. Later, she meets up with her ex-boyfriend who works for the Chicago Herald, and she agrees to do a story on a local woman who is about to attend her 500th Bears game. Her first point of contact is her grandson who has been emailing the Herald about doing a story about his grandma’s fast approaching milestone. He turns out to be the same guy she liked at the bar! It turns out that he and his grandmother, along with her very active friend group, are good friends with her mom, new step dad, and their crowd. They are all just like one big happy family! Even though Avery is happy for her Mom’s new life, this still kind of adds to her feelings of alienation, symbolized by her Mom not baking their traditional sugar cookies and baking ginger cookies instead. Yes, the ubiquitous baking/bonding montage is definitely in their future. We meet Matt’s grandmother, Darlene, who is described as a “sparkplug” who “makes friends wherever she goes”, and she turns out to be Marsha Mason of The Goodbye Girl and other Neil Simon scripted plays and movies! Her character could have been super annoying, but played by the accomplished actress, she was beautiful, wonderful, and charming. She also looks years younger than the actor who plays her son, Matt’s Dad. It’s not his fault, it’s just weird casting. While writing the article about Darlene, Matt and Avery build on their initial attraction and fall into “really really like” against the Chicago background, ably assisted by the matchmaking efforts of his grandmother.

**Spoilers**

By the end, Avery and her mother have a heart-to-heart and bake the cookies and Avery turns out to be a “Cornhole Savant” thus bonding with Ron, her mother’s new husband. There is an absolutely hilarious scene at a Cornhole Tournament parodying a classic cliche which is a fixture in all sports movies. You’ll know it when you see it. I am happy to report that the last minute drama before the HEA is not provided by a stupid misunderstanding between Avery and Matt, but by Darlene possibly missing “Da Bears” planned half time tribute to her on the Jumbotron. She made it in time thanks to Matt borrowing a firetruck to careen through the curiously empty (Thank God!) streets of Chicago to get her there. Avery is offered a position at the Chicago Herald which blows away the dark cloud of the perilous long-distance-relationship for the new couple.

Knowing that these football movies will attract a lot of viewers that may not necessarily be Hallmark fans, and, in fact, may indeed be Hallmark-averse, the producers include a lot of scenes to interest those viewers. As with the others, here, there is a lot of talk about Chicago attractions, food, and such, including locations filmed in Chicago to entertain fans of The Windy City. And of course they also do a great job catering to Bears fans with enough history, lore, artifacts, and talk to delight the most rabid devotee. Drifting in and out of various scenes are real retired and beloved Bears players and current star players, many with actual speaking lines. Sadly, we have to be satisfied with just a statue of Mike Ditka (RIP, Iron Mike.) The Irish Nobleman Pub which plays a big part of the story, is a real iconic Chicago institution, although it was never owned by Mike Ditka as the movie fictionally claims. There were welcome cameos by Hallmark regulars Tamara Mobley-Housely and Marilu Henner as well as the same Santa Claus (Abraham Benrubi) that was in the previous Holiday Touchdown movies.

Hallmark seemingly consults with football experts before deciding which football team they will feature in their Countdown to Christmas schedule and pick one that is likely to be successful. So far, being featured in the Holiday Touchdown movie of the year has been more of a curse than a blessing. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for Bears’ QB, Caleb Williams who was felled by a torn hamstring in game #2.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
  • Fun Fact: She is reading a 1921 novel by Edna Ferber set in Chicago. So whoever is responsible for that little set addition, Good For You! It was noticed and appreciated.

Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper!

/ Rebekahrox / 7 Comments
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Ted’s Misfortunes

This hugely enjoyable movie is what results when Hallmark brings a gimmick free well written and plotted story together with two of their most engaging and talented lead actors. I am happy to report that this was, well, fantastic. A rare 10 out of 10. In the arc of the story, there was not a tired and over-used trope to be found. Well, to be strictly accurate, some tropes were to be found, but they were not over used. This is, after all, a Hallmark Countdown to Christmas movie. It starts out on an attention getting note, when we realize that this is centered around a male character, not a female, or a couple whose individual stories get an equal focus as they merge together.

Robert Buckley plays sunshiny Ted Cooper, a TV meteorologist in Corning, New York. He is, for good reason, “the most likable man” in the state. Ted has achieved some notoriety for always having bad luck during the Christmas season. He has been attacked by a possum living in his Christmas tree, and almost burned his house down another year. One time, he contracted a disease so rare that it was named after him. In fact, this year, his co workers have a pool set up as to which possible disaster(s) will befall Ted this year. Will he be impaled by reindeer antlers? Get run over by a sleigh? Go to jail? Electrocuted? Choke on a chunk of fruitcake? But, contrary to what one might expect, Ted’s Christmas Spirit has not been dampened. Ever optimistic, he is confident that this is the year he will not fall victim to his legendary bad luck. He takes the ribbing and teasing (primarily from his co worker, Ken the slightly smarmy anchorman, played by Brendan Penny in a funny turn) in good part, and even throws back a few zingers of his own. He is not a victim. We are not only told that everyone loves Ted, but it isn’t long before we love him too. He is kind and considerate, always putting others first, but he’s also cute, funny, and smart.

Being the good brother he is, he is spending Christmas with his older sister in Lackawanna who is in charge of the Gingerbread Invitational which will be raising money for the local hospital. Of course he can’t get his car started so he has to take the bus, and then mistakes a college girl’s luggage for his own. So he spends the first few acts of the movie dressed like a “sorority girl during rush week.” Cue pink sweater jokes. He is soon squared away in the wardrobe department when his old favorite teacher, Ms Mittens, takes him in hand, and, with her walking group, takes him shopping. Of course he becomes an honorary member of her crew, The Sole Sisters. But it isn’t long before a box of Christmas lights falls on him and knocks him out. At the emergency room, he is seen by the doctor whom he had a massive crush on while in high school. They have some banter and make a connection which is further facilitated when he has to get further treatment later that day after getting poked in the eye by a Christmas tree. “Oh, our favorite customer!” “What can I say? I like to support local businesses.” He has to do his first TV spot promoting the Invitational while wearing a Santa Claus eye patch much to the amusement of his crew back in Corning. It looks like Ted’s run of Christmas bad luck is continuing apace and someone in his newsroom is going to strike it rich with the “Ted’s Misfortunes” betting pool. And did I mention that the “Lands in Jail” choice is soon quickly checked off?

That’s just the first 20 minutes. I was just so almost-in-awe of all of the twists and turns, the humor, the heart, and the sweet romance in this story, I wish I could talk about them all in exhaustive detail.  Kimberly Sustad is wonderful as usual as Hope, who as a doctor and the once most popular girl in highschool, Ted thinks is too good for him. Thanks to his sister’s manipulations they start dating and Hope is smitten by his cuteness and fun personality. But trouble looms when she starts to question whether Ted is letting her in to see the real person under the good guy persona. First, he refuses to send back a hamburger which was not made to his instruction because he doesn’t want to get the waiter in trouble. Her worries are confirmed when she learns he is putting off accepting a big promotion in nearby Buffalo out of gratitude to the station in Corning who gave him a chance when no one else would. Ted is loyal to a fault and always gives up what he wants to make everyone else happy. 

There is heart in this story as charm. We learn why Ted puts everyone else’s feelings ahead of his own and how, thanks to his sister and Hope, he finally learns that he can balance advocating for himself while still being a friend to all.

It is no surprise that Robert Buckley, who developed this story, and Kimberly Sustad who are always engaging and natural on their own, make an irresistible pair together. Their partnership in the romance and repartee is effortless. The humor is warm and integral to every interaction, not based just on a few clever one liners. The conflict is not manufactured out of some phony machinations, but is a natural result of plot and character. What a concept! Every detail was on point, including nods to “national treasure” Mark Harmon and Taylor Swift. Kudos for including an actress in a wheelchair as Hope’s best friend! The movie concludes with Janice in Corning winning a fortune for her perverse guess that Ted will end up “Kissing a Beautiful Woman on Live TV” (odds 10,000 to 1) and anchorman Ken having to sell his boat. Mark my words, this one is destined to become a Hallmark Classic and top 5 all time popular Christmas favorite along the lines of A Biltmore Christmas, Snow Bride, and Round and Round.

Rating: 10 out of 10.

An Unexpected Valentine

/ Rebekahrox / 12 Comments
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If You Find a Ring on Valentine’s Day, You Know What to Do

**Spoilers**

With Robert Buckley as the lead guy, how can you go wrong? It would be very difficult, although certainly doable in the hands of our friends at Hallmark. (No offence! Love you!) Luckily, his rapport with with the ever reliable Lacey Chabert was almost a given. She always makes the most of her established romantic comedy credentials when she really clicks with her costar. This one lived up to the funny and charming previews we were favored with last week. Although a bit marred by some improbable departures from what the realities of traffic and parking availability are in New York City and some other things, the fast-paced quest-type romance really hit the target.

After catching a ride share from work and after everyone but she is dropped off, Lacey finds a diamond ring which must be an engagement ring. Since Finn (Robert Buckley) tells her he cleans his cab every night, it must belong to one of his fares from today. Despite a less than satisfactory dating history, Lacey is a romantic at heart with empathy to spare and prevails on the more cynical Finn to go back and help her find the owner, who, since it is Valentine’s Day, was surely planning to propose with the ring tonight. In addition to that urgent circumstance, Lacey has an important presentation for her designer chocolate campaign at 9 PM that night, and Finn has a gallery showing of his photographic art that he must attend as well. What follows is a slow-burn development of their relationship as they look for the owner of the ring in between completing Finn’s Valentine deliveries.

Their adventures with the people they meet along the way were just mildly entertaining, but the romantic chemistry and banter between the two leads overrode the more boring parts. While supposedly on more than one urgent deadline they spend an inordinate amount of time with coffee breaks, dancing at a club and on the street, making pizza, and volunteering to temporarily man a food truck. And who immediately pulls their car over the second the check engine light goes on? As the day and night wore on, I began to get anxious over Lacey and Finn’s disregard for their professional commitments and it was distracting. Important people (Lacey’s corporate clients and Finn’s “art-snob”, as he so rudely calls them, potential customers) were waiting for them to show up. Not to mention their put-upon colleagues who have to deal with the awkward absences of the stars of their shows. It became quite uncomfortable for me. I must say, Finn, in particular, was very blasé about the people who can make or break his career as a photographic artist. Especially for a guy who has to supplement his income driving a ride-share/delivery van. Anyway, near the end, they finally find the nervous groom-to-be, who somehow had not noticed that the ring-box was not in his jacket pocket, and deliver the engagement ring he didn’t even know was missing just in time. It was one of several funny scenes. Lacey manages to make a credible appearance at her affair and Finn favors the art gallery with his presence. Briefly and not very graciously. For such a nice guy, he was a bit of a diva. What was up with that?

This was a Hallmark set entirely in New York City (though filmed in Canada, of course) and was a fairly fresh approach for Hallmark. We did have the interrupted kiss near the end which was particularly frustrating since Lacey backed off for no. Reason. Whatsoever. Girl! I really looked forward to this one and despite the weaknesses in the plot, it did not disappoint. Great chemistry between appealing and good actors count for a lot. It was fun and romantic.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

‘Twas the Date Before Christmas

/ Rebekahrox / 3 Comments

A Blind Date Christmas

**spoilers**😉

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate and enjoy the fact that Amy Groening, seemingly forever relegated to the role of best friend, co-worker, sister, colleague, etc. Has been finally promoted to main girl in a Hallmark Romance? Hopefully this is a trend not a blip. Of course she was wonderful and authentic as usual. And she hit the jackpot drawing Robert Buckley as her leading man. The two had a great natural chemistry.

We meet Jessie and Shelly, her friend and sister-in-law, discussing Jessie’s disappointing luck with dating apps. Jessie is trying to move forward after a mysterious broken engagement (I mean who would break up with Amy Groening?)  She gets a visit from her mother who tells  her that they are foregoing what would be the 23rd annual  traditional “Chamberlain Family Christmas Olympics” to avoid upsetting her and stirring up old memories of happier days. Jessie loves Christmas and their family traditions and is upset and guilty that it is being canceled because of her. On an impulse, she lies to  her mother that she was going to bring a date to the festivities so they can’t cancel and disappoint him. Her mother does a 180, thrilled and excited that her daughter is finally moving on from her romantic disappointment. But now Jessie has to find a guy that is willing to meet her family on their first date and embrace the Christmas fun for the whole day.

Meanwhile we meet Bryan whose company is about to build an innovative affordable housing complex, replacing existing retail shops. There is one candle shop that is the last hold out and his company is about to serve her an eviction notice to his discomfort. Even though Bryan’s father founded the company and he will eventually be the head honcho, he is not ready for that right now. His interests are more about the actual building and creating, not in being the lord of all he surveys. Bryan reluctantly agrees to the eviction however because the company cannot afford not to build, and he does not have a viable alternative plan.

When Bryan’s friends find out he will be spending Christmas alone and see Jessie’s dating profile which has been altered to make attendance at her family’s wacky Christmas Eve festivities mandatory, Bryan is intrigued. They start texting and then meet up. The two have an easy rapport and share the same sense of humor. It’s A Blind Date Christmas!

I love an ensemble movie and although this one was mostly focused on Jessie and Bryan it was chock full of quirky and amusing family members and warm interactions. The usual plot points crop up: lonely Bryan is fully embraced by the family, many Christmas games and other hijinks ensue including the usual cookie baking, gift wrapping, tree decorating, snow ball fighting, etc. Since no ice skating was involved I was able to tolerate all of the shenanigans. Plus, each event has its own offbeat spin. Some of the family figure out that the couple are not only not almost engaged (yes, that misunderstanding happens) but barely know each other thanks to the Couple’s Quiz.  And, as always, the big conflict/secret is always lurking in the wings. Soon after the Christmas Eve events commence, Bryan finds out out that the little candle shop that his company is about evict belongs to the aforementioned Shelly. What. Are. The. Chances?

It is soon clear that Jessie and Bryan are made for each other even though it is only their first date. Their relationship was fun and sweet, thanks to the two actors and their camaraderie. When  Jessie tells him about her sad broken engagement it brings them even closer together. When the whole truth comes out regarding the couples’ relationship and Bryan’s true identity, the fit really hits the shan. “Are you telling me that a complete stranger might win the Chamberlain Family Christmas Olympics!?” Bryan leaves but soon finds a solution that will benefit the whole community and allow Shelly to keep her store. The family is eager to welcome him back into their good graces. He finally takes control over the direction of his company and scores a second date with Jessie on New Year’s Eve, no less. “ Too Late. I accept.”

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Blind Date Book Club

/ Rebekahrox / 15 Comments

Book It!

I really really liked this. Although in many ways it was a typical Hallmark romance, it was distinguished by the lack of  tiresome crutches tactics that Hallmark typically depends on to advance the story, create a little drama, or motivate change and growth in the hero or heroine. And let me tell you, it was extremely refreshing.

Meg owns a bookstore in Nantucket that she took over when her mom died. She is making a success of it, thank you very much. She is keeping up with the times technology-wise, has promotions, and does publicity like being interviewed by NPR. Most germane to this story, she also has a started a book club where people can bond over books that they buy in her store. And if a little romance or two gets started, well, all the better. But Meg is all about the books not the matchmaking, although it is that aspect that is getting her bookstore some good press. The fact that Meg really knew how to run a bookstore and was making a go of it got my attention right away, to say the least. How original! But wait, there is a “but”. Her aunt, who is a silent partner, wants to sell her share of the business so she can travel in her senior years and Meg has to decide whether to buy her out and keep the store, or sell it and go back to Boston and her previous career as a successful Realtor.

Meanwhile, we have Graham Sterling, the other half of our prospective couple. He is a successful author of a YA fantasy/coming of age series. But he feels he is in a rut and has a yen to branch out and write more mature fiction. To  that end, he has written a serious historical romance which he has had privately printed under a pseudonym because all his publisher is interested in is the next installment in the very profitable series he is famous for. He hears Meg being interviewed about her bookstore and her “blind date book club” and likes what she has to say about books. He decides to take his book to her, have her read it, and hopefully get it chosen for the next book club. He hopes the book will find an audience, in spite of his agent (Daniel Bacon) and publisher.

Cue Meet Cute, Instant attraction and Flirting. However, the fly in the ointment is that after Meg reluctantly reads the handsome first-time author’s book, she has to tell him the truth. She doesn’t like it, and tells him why. Openness, honesty, and communication are very rare in many romances, not just Hallmark, because if everyone were open and honest with each other, there wouldn’t a movie (or book), or it would be really short. And the communication continues! He admits to her almost right away that he is famous author Graham Sterling and knows a thing or two about writing a good book. If Meg will choose the book for her next book club even though she doesn’t like it, he will do a signing at her store. Even though she feels kind of bad, because she usually only chooses books she herself endorses,  being a good business woman, how can she refuse? While waiting for the day the book club will discuss his book, Meg and Graham’s relationship develops maturely. They kiss! Meg’s decision about her future looms  as does the pressure that Graham is under to produce the next installment in his series. The ante is upped when the NPR lady announces she will attend the book club discussion and record it. Also, Graham also insists on attending incognito and that he can handle honest and frank criticism of his work. Everything comes to a head on the night and things do not go smoothly. In fact it turns into quite the entertaining shit show.

This was standard fare in many ways but what made it special was what it didn’t have.  No business that needed to be saved,  no last minute silly conflict between the lovebirds, no festival, no flirty antics and tomfoolery, no interrupted almost-kiss, no dead-mom issues, no commitment-phobia, no on-going lies, etc. And, most stunningly, the idea that following your dream is not always the way to fulfillment. In the end, he defers his ambition of writing more serious fiction to continue to give joy to his millions of fans. The romance was just straightforward and mature relationship building set against realistic life and career change decisions to be made. Robert Buckley and Erin Krakow were great together and separately. I really like almost everything about this movie. There were a couple of things that I didn’t understand about the book club, but I really didn’t care. It was well-written and acted and definitely re-watchable. **7 1/2 stars/10**

That’s the review, but I do want to mention a side item that I sometimes have a few things to say about. Stop reading if you don’t care about Makeup/cosmetics.

I sometimes complain about how the actresses in Hallmarks are made up so unrealistically. I am happy to report for those interested, that Erin Krakow’s makeup in this was perfection. When going to an event, she was glammed up, when working in the bookstore, she looked natural and business-like, and when at home she had little to no makeup on at all. In fact, in what I believe is a first for Hallmark, there is even a scene where she actually washes her face  getting ready for bed. Just like in real life!  Call me petty, but for me, this was huge and I added half a star.

Rating: 8 out of 10.