Smooch (2011 TV Movie) User Reviews

Pucker Up

[boblipton · 6/10 · 7 February 2011]

This is a cute little TV movie in the "Miracle on 34th Street" vein. Besides some rather amusing acting -- particularly Simon Kassianides as a Marquis or perhaps Prince who prefers to get drunk and fall into an amnesiac fugue rather than marry his horror of a social-climbing fiancée, and Kiernan Shipka as a straightforward young girl who would rather believe in magic than live a rather empty life, there is plenty of subtext in this movie about hope, expectations and San Francisco -- although that highly cinematic town is not shown to any advantage. Surely a few more original pickup shots could have been arranged.

The romantic interest is provided by Kellie Martin, who is directed in the manner typical of a Hallmark TV romcom: brittle, fast-talking and ready to fall. There won't be much in the way of surprises in this work, but a light, almost negligent handling of the issues by director Ron Oliver keeps things moving along at a decent clip

A competent romantic comedy spoilt by miscasting of female lead

[perkypops · 6/10 · 6 September 2011]

I enjoyed this more than I expected given what Hollywood sometimes manages to do to English "aristocrats" in "comedies". Here we have a Marquis (Kassianides) suffering from amnesia and a young girl (beautifully played by Kiernan Shipka) who doesn't like killing frogs, is willing to believe they can turn into princes, and wants her widowed mom (Martin) to find happiness. It's a charmingly told story with witty character development and always on the light side. But....

Kellie Martin can act, and there are certain scenes in the film she handled okay, but she didn't convince me at all that there could ever be any chemistry between her and a man other than her dead husband, not ever. It irritated me to bits from the start it really did, and then I thought maybe it was part of the plot. Unfortunately it wasn't because her confinement didn't relax for a second even in the best scenes of the whole darned film. And in the meantime daughter Zoe is acting her socks off.

Nick Ullett was very good as Wilkins, and young Rod Myers does well as Sam. In fact the cast do really well altogether. It's just the miserable Gwen who lets it down ever so irritatingly for me..... but still, six out of ten because chemistry is a purely personal thing!

Cutesy movie to watch once

[jml1988 · 6/10 · 8 November 2019]

This was fairly cute and endearing, though it's not something I'd watch again. It wasn't good enough for multiple rewatches or to be a favorite.

Whimsical

[Jackbv123 · 7/10 · 15 September 2023]

This movie has a whimsical aspect similar to a children's tale. Actually, it is mostly a children's tale and will probably appeal to the whole family. I don't think it's appropriate to consider it with the same criterion as a rom/com aimed at adults. There is no implied magic, but the story resembles a magical tale. The story is funny in a whimsical way.

In some ways it is not a rom/com even though there is a whirlwind relationship between Flynn and Gwen. It doesn't get a lot of screen time so looking for chemistry here, or of selling the idea that the two fall in love just doesn't have a chance. The real relationship of interest is Zoe and Flynn. In a lot of ways Zoe is the star. Kiernan Shipka plays Zoe just the way she should. Not bad for a 11 year old actor if I calculate right.

The movie is similar to some other movies of the same genre. The identity of the real prince is a secret. The stranger becomes the kid's nanny. This situation plods along until the reveal which is like so many other movies where the person with the secret is just about to confess. And that creates a rift. The obligatory grand gesture is what you might expect if concocted by 2 children. All of this is predictable.

The story differs from anything believable in a myriad of ways, but it is a story for the whole family, not just adults.

Smooch-Kiss this One Bye-Bye **

[edwagreen · 4/10 · 12 February 2011]

Frogs and princes may blend together in fairy tale books, but when it comes to movies, you can forget it and "Smooch" is a perfect example.

Royalty comes to the U.S. for a pre-arranged marriage. Our handsome prince soon realizes that the girl is not for him; besides, she needs a great lesson in geography.

On the other side of town is a woman who never got over losing her young husband. She has a young daughter and by movie magic, the girl brings our prince home and he becomes her "male" nanny. There is the usual romance between mom and dad before his parents show up. You know the results. They're so predictable.

The prince's butler really steals the picture. It's really about a prince growing up and finding true love.

Atrocious

[rosey-14 · 1/10 · 2 April 2022]

The acting was appalling, the premise a joke and the whole thing was a waste of time. I usually like Kellie Martin but this was just embarrassing for all concerned.

So cute

[jewelch · 8/10 · 16 February 2021]

Well she thought he was a FROG, This really was a fun watch. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 2/15/2021

Sweet and endearing

[sjaneengarner · 10/10 · 19 February 2021]

I completely enjoyed the twist on Cinderella. Cast was wonderful. Movie was so sweet and easy to fall in love with. Loved it!!

Loved it!!! Way to go, Froggy Flynn!

[gailmillerkc · 10/10 · 12 March 2024]

This is such a beautiful, magical tale of a prince turned into a frog, turned into a nanny for a very special girl who believes in fairy tales. Simin Kassandra's is perfect as the Frog Orince, as is Kiernan Shipka as Zoe the girl. Brilliant casting of those two! I like Kelly Martin, but she is usually cast into serious, unemotional roles of a mother who loves a man who died (Think about the Hallmark movie Hello It's Me). Same character portrayed here! She can't love a man other than her dead husband , finally takes off her wedding ring to move on in her life, to finally open her heart to another man. I'm glad it had the ending I was hoping for, but Kelly was still too unemotional in the end to make the final scene believable. She needs to learn how to take the seaweed out of her ass...Yes, both movies had seaweed in them, too! Otherwise, a beautiful fairy tale for all!