A Safari Romance (2023 TV Movie) User Reviews

A nice little adventure.

[MIssM19 · 7/10 · 11 September 2023]

Tim is a theme park designer who is working on a immersive experience based on the wild life, so while on research on a safari, he is paired with park ranger Megan who is working on her PhD in animal behavior.

I really liked it. I don't know if it's because I haven't seen a Hallmark movie in a while, or the theme, or the fact that I really like these two actors. Both in this project and others. I also enjoyed their chemistry in this one. They had a lot of scenes together and I love that we get to see their relationship develop.

I had no problems with the plot. I just thought that the Amy character was unbearable and unnecessary for the storyline. The characters not being able to be together due to the distance was enough drama.

7/10 would recommend.

Great scenery and animals

[Jackbv123 · 7/10 · 24 August 2023]

I agree that the story was thin. To make it worse, it didn't flow. It felt like it was sprinkled in between all the tourist stuff. I will say the last part surprised me but more because all the tension created along the way seemed to fizzle with an anti-climax. After that, the ending was a little sappy.

The Amy character was perfect if you want someone to hate. She is really a cliche of rich daughter who becomes the boss thanks to daddy and then expects everyone to give her what she wants, even if it's a crime.

I thought Brittany Bristow and Andrew Walker were very comfortable together. The movie took advantage of their chemistry by giving them a lot of screentime together. The movie also made sure to include plenty of scenery and wild animal shots.

Unoriginal but entertaining enough

[MickyG333 · 7/10 · 16 August 2023]

7.4 stars.

I was not fully immersed in the experience of 'A Safari Romance', however it is a good movie overall. There are a few things missing that are hard to pin down. Maybe it's the slight lack of chemistry between the leads? I'm not sure. They both seem to be trying to be into the romance, yet there is a feeling that something is not quite right. I still enjoyed myself as I watched them interact, they are both good actors and charismatic. He is a Hallmark regular, probably a heartthrob for most of the ladies, so you really can't go wrong there. She has mainly been placed in secondary roles, but this is one of her big shots at the big time and she didn't disappoint. The plot was ok, nothing to write home about. The scenery was amazing, the camera work was brilliant, the dialogue was ok, the plot was mundane. It was entertaining enough for me to award it a solid 7 stars.

The footage on the South African Mabula Reserve is amazing and make this Hallmark romance worth watching.

[cgvsluis · 7/10 · 15 March 2024]

Mabula Game Lodge and Reserve in Rooiberg, South Africa with its gorgeous shots of wild animals is worth tuning in for. The footage really just takes your breath away...it's almost hard to focus in on the love story. But a love story it is between a designer who is there to get inspiration for an interactive theme park installation and a passionate park ranger who is trying to finish her research in order to get her PhD.

There were so many things to like about A Safari Romance...the footage of the animals, the use of some actual South Africans, the chemistry between the two leads, and how well two adults are able to align their careers!

I thought Andrew W. Walker and Brittany Bristow looked so great together and played off one another so well. I enjoyed both the comedy and the romance between them. It is kind of fun that it was a family affair for Brittany Bristow as both her father and mother worked on the project as the director and writer.

Romantics who are animal lovers will enjoy this and hopefully find Tim and Megan as infectious as I do.

We get to see a lot of beautiful animals in their natural habitat, especially the rare white lion.

[trinaboice · 8/10 · 31 August 2023]

IN A NUTSHELL: Megan Henry, a down-to-earth wildlife researcher in Africa, is forced to team up with a theme-park designer, Tim Ericson who wants to create an over-the-top safari attraction.

The film was directed by Leif Bristow, and written by his wife, Agnes Bristow. Their daughter, Brittany Bristow, is the leading lady in the movie! Her parents should be so proud of her; she's a natural. Congratulations to the family!

THINGS I LIKED:

The featured couple look great together and are played by Brittany Bristow and Andrew W. Walker. Calm down ladies...he's already married with a child.

We get to see a lot of beautiful animals in their natural habitat, especially the rare white lion.

We also get to experience South Africa and its culture, music, clothing, food, and life. In addition to the Game Reserve, we get to go to an African elementary school and a local market. It all looks magical.

The movie was filmed at Mabula Game Lodge at Rooiberg Road Rhinosterhoek Spruit in Mabula Private Game Reserve in the Limpopo Province. I'd love to go there someday! Doing an African Safari has been on my Bucket List for a long time!

The native handshake was fun.

Simone Pretorius makes a great "villain." It's refreshing to see a romance where the couple does NOT jump into bed immediately. This love story is clean and sweet.

It's also really nice to see an intelligent woman who is willing to work hard on her goals and not instantly give up her dreams just to be with a guy. Women who do that are often resentful in the end.

We get two romances, not just one.

A lot of life's challenges have to do with timing. While it's not super dramatic, that's the hero's journey in this story. In that regard, it's pretty realistic.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: Some people may not like how sugary-sweet everyone is. Wouldn't this be a better world if everyone was kind like this?

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Kids will be bored by the romance, but they'll enjoy seeing the animals.

No profanity Alcohol is consumed several times (but no one gets drunk)

The scenery was beautiful, but....

[jenrn-09722 · 4/10 · 8 October 2023]

I am a fan of both Andrew Walker and Brittany Barstow. I have enjoyed almost all the movies they each have done. Sadly, they didn't have any chemistry together - at least not in this movie. Their scenes together felt awkward and the conversations stilted. They didn't seem to relax until almost the end of the movie.

The scenery was beautiful, but the plot was boring and the story was slow. The concept of Brittany's character working toward a doctoral thesis was believable, but the business about her possibly losing her license because of someone else flying a drone was not. Not sure how she would lose her job and reputation over the actions of someone else when she was completely unaware the actions were occuring. That whole plot point seemed a stretch. Andrew's character certainly wasn't angry enough with his new boss for almost costing Brittany's character her doctorate, seeing as he claimed to be so invested in seeing her complete it. All the characters seemed too even tempered, even in situations where they should be angry or upset. For having such amazing scenery, the movie itself was a dud.

What a great, feel good watch!

[grammajanie-28811 · 8/10 · 13 August 2023]

This cast was stellar. The two leads ,of course, are familiar and top notch, but the entire cast was superb as well, whether villain or supporting or stars. A kind, thoughtful and even educational storyline with such luscious, gorgeous scenery ( including the phenomenal shots of all the animal species we saw. Just one visual treat after another.)

Brittany Bristow is always enjoyable, no matter what role she plays but this story shows her skills as a no-nonsense professional with a will of iron (I wouldn't want to fly a drone in her park!). Her basically earnest and poised personality lends itself well to this movie.

I was definitely left feeling good about the time spent watching and would certainly watch this again..

A Foreign Film Location Does not Overcome a Weak Storyline

[jodw-90152 · 3/10 · 15 August 2023]

Yet again Hallmark uses a foreign film location in an attempt to overcome a weak storyline. Andrew Walker and Brittnay Bristow are solid and have a great track record in past Hallmark movies. As actors, it is simply impossible to overcome a bad storyline or script. The accountabity for these issues are the of Hallmark Media's Executive Offices. In the last two years approximately 60% of their movie production has not been as good as the old Hallmark standards.

Sometimes doing things different does not mean they are better. Hallmark is now in the business of making Lifetime Movie Network gravity movies. There are already several networks that do that. Since Hallmark has left the family values / rom-com segment, they will be replaced by another network and become 'homeless'.

Love the Animal shots

[Pvrspecialist · 9/10 · 13 August 2023]

This is an enjoyable movie, good characters and story. Appreciated that they toned down the girl gets upset at boy for some silly thing and breaks up but this one is realistic and appropriate character emotions. Articles say Andrew Walker is billed as the lead for the first time as it usually goes to the femaile "heroine". While I appreciate the recognition of him and some thought that he carries the movie, I think it is more appropriate that he be given that position for the Nikki DeLoach movies he does. She pulls the movies down and Walker is the only reason for watching. In this movie, Brittany Bristow should get a top billing too. She is excellent and develops wonderful and meaningful characters. Looking forward to more Brittany movies like this and Just Jake.

Location, Location. Where was this movie filmed....

[druatlax · 8/10 · 15 August 2023]

Yes, to an earlier review. I also am confused by the Hallmark listing of the female leads name first in the credits. So very wrong.. I watched this movie for Walker's.name on the project. A fan since "Steel Toes", have never been disappointed.

This is a travelogue, a film showing the beauty to be found in nature and it's marvelous creatures. Humans are of secondary interest.

But... this film left me with a question. Since it showed the beauty of an immersive creation, the question becomes: how much of that was used in the actual filming?

That thought occurred to me- as the credits and location shots rolled. Could you place an actor in a location even though he was actually thousands of miles away? This movie proves this could actually happen. The days of green screen filming has finally evolved. Many new and innovative methods are possible. Makes me wonder.

Romance in the wild of South Africa

[ilovefreddiem · 10/10 · 13 March 2024]

A beautiful setting for a Hallmark movie, South Africa. You can't judge a hallmark movie the same way as a Hollywood movie. They are romantic movies with happy endings, not hoping for an Oscar. Andrew Walker is his handsome, fit, cute self. He spends a lot of screen time with his leading lady and while they are adorable together she seems a little uncomfortable, there is chemistry but not as much as usual. He's a guy from the city making a virtual experience for a theme park and she's a park ranger working for her PHD in "animal behavior". Both enjoy photography. There's a boss lady who took over the company he works for that comes to cause trouble but she's not successful. The scenery, animals and costumes are gorgeous. I almost felt like I was there. The exchange of the silver bracelets is sweet as they remind me of Clint Eastwood's in The Bridges of Madison County(he was a photographer for National Geographic). There's a second romance in the movie also. As always you can count on a happy ending from a Hallmark movie and sometimes that's just what we need on a bad day.