2019 did see some well above average and more Hallmark films, though mostly it was an unremarkable year where too many of the films were average or less. Always love it when Hallmark sets their films in more exotic locations, regardless of the film's overall quality the scenery always delivers. Will admit to not being crazy about most of the 2019 Countdown to Summer films, with 'Paris, Wine and Romance' (which was far from perfect itself) being the best of the lot by quite some way.
'Love in the Sun' though is one of the weakest 2019 Countdown to Summer films, tied with 'A Feeling of Home'. Also put it down there as one of the worst Hallmark films overall that year. It delivers visually, but fails badly everywhere else, quite a lot of the 2019 Hallmark films delivered in the scenery and photography while varying wildly in all the other components, sometimes well, sometimes hit and miss and sometimes badly. 'Love in the Sun' is in the badly category.
The best things it are the scenery, which is absolutely gorgeous, and the photography, which glows in its best moments.
Shawn Christen does his best with what he has.
Unfortunately, there is pretty much it with the redeeming merits. The acting from almost all ranges from pretty bad to awful. The worst case being a very stiff Tom Maden, who also sounds like he was reading from a phone book. Emeraude Toubia fares a little better and has a little more energy, but she is also bland and needed a lot more experience before being leading lady status (this was the equivalent of someone who had done support acting roles before trying to stretch themselves but running before they could walk). The two have absolutely no chemistry together and don't even seem particularly comfortable around each other. The characters are typical Hallmark cliches and nothing more, and there is no development or life to them. Some of the motivations are vague or plain stupid.
Never did the story grab me either. It drags badly and suffers a lot from being very thinly plotted which it tries to mask with overlong padding, and also from having no charm, heart or light-hearted-ness. Emotion wise there's nothing, just predictable go through the motions storytelling that has too many conveniences and plot points that are revealed too early and not delved into enough. The final quarter has no energy or tension and is resolved far too unrealistically easily. The dialogue constantly sounds awkward and first draft level, and the direction is indicative of someone that didn't know what they were doing. Nothing memorable about the music, which is as bland as everything else.
Overall, not good at all. 2/10.
'Love in the Sun' though is one of the weakest 2019 Countdown to Summer films, tied with 'A Feeling of Home'. Also put it down there as one of the worst Hallmark films overall that year. It delivers visually, but fails badly everywhere else, quite a lot of the 2019 Hallmark films delivered in the scenery and photography while varying wildly in all the other components, sometimes well, sometimes hit and miss and sometimes badly. 'Love in the Sun' is in the badly category.
The best things it are the scenery, which is absolutely gorgeous, and the photography, which glows in its best moments.
Shawn Christen does his best with what he has.
Unfortunately, there is pretty much it with the redeeming merits. The acting from almost all ranges from pretty bad to awful. The worst case being a very stiff Tom Maden, who also sounds like he was reading from a phone book. Emeraude Toubia fares a little better and has a little more energy, but she is also bland and needed a lot more experience before being leading lady status (this was the equivalent of someone who had done support acting roles before trying to stretch themselves but running before they could walk). The two have absolutely no chemistry together and don't even seem particularly comfortable around each other. The characters are typical Hallmark cliches and nothing more, and there is no development or life to them. Some of the motivations are vague or plain stupid.
Never did the story grab me either. It drags badly and suffers a lot from being very thinly plotted which it tries to mask with overlong padding, and also from having no charm, heart or light-hearted-ness. Emotion wise there's nothing, just predictable go through the motions storytelling that has too many conveniences and plot points that are revealed too early and not delved into enough. The final quarter has no energy or tension and is resolved far too unrealistically easily. The dialogue constantly sounds awkward and first draft level, and the direction is indicative of someone that didn't know what they were doing. Nothing memorable about the music, which is as bland as everything else.
Overall, not good at all. 2/10.