For most of it, it was a charming movie, quite nice for Christmas, especially if you're familiar with the tropes. Great, solid cast.
Here's the problem. Brooke Shields and the character she plays are solidly American, so the ending must also appeal to Americans.
The device for the climax ruined it for me. The situation was clumsily handled, not as people of their age would likely handle it. She suddenly turned back into a shallow American woman, a caricature, while his perspective was reasonable and understandable. She goes off in a hissy, he ends up apologizing. Hallmark audience requirements fulfilled.
So, it turns into a typical Hallmark effort, with mature actors in the roles that would normally be given to young unknown actors and actresses, and those mature actors *behaving* as those usual young characters would be behaving. Cary Elwes was reasonably believable throughout, given what he had to work with.
The inclusion of Drew Barrymore contributed nothing but annoyance.
It's really a missed opportunity to do something half-decent, wasted.
Too bad.
Here's the problem. Brooke Shields and the character she plays are solidly American, so the ending must also appeal to Americans.
The device for the climax ruined it for me. The situation was clumsily handled, not as people of their age would likely handle it. She suddenly turned back into a shallow American woman, a caricature, while his perspective was reasonable and understandable. She goes off in a hissy, he ends up apologizing. Hallmark audience requirements fulfilled.
So, it turns into a typical Hallmark effort, with mature actors in the roles that would normally be given to young unknown actors and actresses, and those mature actors *behaving* as those usual young characters would be behaving. Cary Elwes was reasonably believable throughout, given what he had to work with.
The inclusion of Drew Barrymore contributed nothing but annoyance.
It's really a missed opportunity to do something half-decent, wasted.
Too bad.