Learning to Love Again

It seems unfair to define this film because it seems only a puzzle using pieces from other Hallmark films, proposing, in essence, almost nothing. A film in which a selfish character , in unrealistic manner, after a sort of fake relation, preserving, so fresh , memories from school years, discovers the love of her life. Unfortunatelly, the taste of improvisation is present scene by scene.

Jane (Ann Pirvu) is devastated after losing both her boyfriend and her job. She is headed back home for Thanksgiving. Despite her better judgement, she picks up a stranded motorist on the side of the road. Ann Pirvu is doing her quirky single gal who doesn't need a man but actually needs a man. She is doing her adorable best. There are some questionable aspects of the story. It's suppose to be cute but it's very questionable. I wouldn't suggest picking up a stranger on the side of the road. Also the sibling rivalry leans too far into real hate. It needs to be fun, not angry. The brother is a real problem. I'm willing to buy Pirvu's cuteness acting and accept the standard rom-com tropes despite the shortcomings.

The fact that this is the third or forth film with the same storyline (falling in love while pretending to be a couple to the family) starts to be annoying. The casting was also strange, while some characters seem convincing (friend, receptionist) others are so out of place (brother and sister in law), the parents have no connection, no similarity with the daughter, no credibility. What made the movie enjoyable to me, were the main actors. They did a great job, considering the mediocre writing, I think Anca Pirvu's character was supposed to be like that - childish, expansive, impulsive (maybe it was a bit too much here and there), but exactly this made it different from the rest of the movies with the same plot. It made the film more realistic in a way.

Enjoy it for its simplicity and acting. Ann Pirvu is truly cute, charming and heart warming. The camera work, lighting and scenery all add to watching this innocent lovely family oriented movie. It was overall a pleasure. The right title and cast. Many lessons from the messages in this production. Worth watching.

The main character and the "love interest" were mediocre. ZERO chemistry. The script vs how they delivered it was totally off. The connection was also very forced. My main issue was that brother! Am I the only one that was annoyed with his flamboyance? I stopped watching during the scene when he totally went off on her in the meanest way I had EVER seen in a hallmark movie. Didn't care to see how it ended. This movie should not be played in rotation!