This movie not only surprised me, but it also genuinely touched me. I don't typically hold the Hallmark Hall of Fame movies in high regard, as I often find them overly dramatized and weigh themselves down in the process, but Love Takes Flight was a pleasant exception. I was both impressed and moved by the storyline and the characters who told it.
One of Love Takes Flight's greatest strengths is that it doesn't forget about its own plot-lines. Much too frequently, Hallmark will finish off a movie with major loose ends, forgetting about minor characters or subplots introduced earlier. Despite juggling lots of storylines, big and small, Love Takes Flight manages to wrap them all up -- and adequately at that. Combined with the wonderful acting of all those involved, it's easy to get sucked into this film without ever questioning how believable or predictable it is. It helps that the idea of strangers finding friendships and companionship in each other after a chance meeting at the supermarket is a lovely one.
And while I do believe the movie could have been a bit more light-hearted at times, the subject matters that were tackled here were well done, such as a grieving widow, or a divorced mother opening up to new people. Tom Thon's portrayal of Walter, the lonely man learning to be sociable again after his wife's passing, was indescribably moving. Telling his journey of pain and healing through piano playing was a nice touch.
On another plus side, I found that the movie felt longer than it really was. Hallmark movies often feel like they're speeding along with very little happening; Love Takes Flight felt as if a lot of development, emotion, and growth was occurring in a way that wasn't forced, rushed, or unnatural. The leads spent a realistic amount of time together to form a bond by the end of the film, although I do think a few more romantically charged moments could have led up to the ultimate confession -- this could've been as simple as incorporating a few lingering glances, or even just holding that hug after the daughter's piano recital a little bit longer.
Overall, I loved this movie. It was sweet, sentimental, and told a story worth telling.
One of Love Takes Flight's greatest strengths is that it doesn't forget about its own plot-lines. Much too frequently, Hallmark will finish off a movie with major loose ends, forgetting about minor characters or subplots introduced earlier. Despite juggling lots of storylines, big and small, Love Takes Flight manages to wrap them all up -- and adequately at that. Combined with the wonderful acting of all those involved, it's easy to get sucked into this film without ever questioning how believable or predictable it is. It helps that the idea of strangers finding friendships and companionship in each other after a chance meeting at the supermarket is a lovely one.
And while I do believe the movie could have been a bit more light-hearted at times, the subject matters that were tackled here were well done, such as a grieving widow, or a divorced mother opening up to new people. Tom Thon's portrayal of Walter, the lonely man learning to be sociable again after his wife's passing, was indescribably moving. Telling his journey of pain and healing through piano playing was a nice touch.
On another plus side, I found that the movie felt longer than it really was. Hallmark movies often feel like they're speeding along with very little happening; Love Takes Flight felt as if a lot of development, emotion, and growth was occurring in a way that wasn't forced, rushed, or unnatural. The leads spent a realistic amount of time together to form a bond by the end of the film, although I do think a few more romantically charged moments could have led up to the ultimate confession -- this could've been as simple as incorporating a few lingering glances, or even just holding that hug after the daughter's piano recital a little bit longer.
Overall, I loved this movie. It was sweet, sentimental, and told a story worth telling.