This is a great Rom-Com. Sure it has it's expected flaws from a movie like this but overall this is one you can watch several times. The female lead is played to perfection, there is chemistry between the leads, and the story is good. Everything else is nitpicking the writing really. Give it a watch, it's well worth it.
28 Reviews
The best thing about this film is
llockerby3 February 2021
Sweet movie! 7 Stars from me!
huggibear6 May 2017
I liked it because it was different, not the typical plot of a Hallmark flick. The daughter gets involved and makes it a cute turn- out! Victor Webster has a very nice body too! There is a predictable element about this movie, but it's got some unpredictable moments as well, making it worthy of one viewing for sure! I hope you enjoy it because I did.
I love this movie!
cmather-2236912 April 2020
I feel there was great chemistry, storyline and a great setting! I love all 3 main actors and i especially love watching Victor exit the pool! I read some of the negative reviews and I think it is sad that people watch a Hallmark movie and look for perversion.
Enjoyable and definitely above average for a romcom
MireilleR21 July 2022
Is it super original? No. But it's quite good in the romcom genre en therefor very enjoyable. The actors can actually act, they feel relatable even though the male lead is muscular and the female very skinny (too skinny for my taste).
Their characters are not over the top, not clownish, as we quite often see in this kind of movies. The writer and cook scenario is most unoriginal, but it didn't bother me too much this time. I can't really put my finger on it, but I liked them. They weren't too smooth, they felt quite real.
I am usually not charmed with a child character. They are always too wise, too cute and perfect. But in this movie the teenage daughter really added something, eventhough in the beginning she was too flat and predictable.
So: enjoyable and definitely above average for a romcom.
Their characters are not over the top, not clownish, as we quite often see in this kind of movies. The writer and cook scenario is most unoriginal, but it didn't bother me too much this time. I can't really put my finger on it, but I liked them. They weren't too smooth, they felt quite real.
I am usually not charmed with a child character. They are always too wise, too cute and perfect. But in this movie the teenage daughter really added something, eventhough in the beginning she was too flat and predictable.
So: enjoyable and definitely above average for a romcom.
Chef Cupid and a romance writer find love and joy in france by helping others.
cgvsluis19 April 2022
This is a Hallmark romantic comedy about Terry Russell who is a famous romance novelist, but since her divorce is struggling to write. She lets her friend and publicist fix her up a blind date with said friend's brother. The date starts very badly when he thinks the woman next to her is his date...and then proceeds to royally put his foot in his mouth. Terry pulls the plug on their date and leaves...but the friend's brother, Matthew Everston, ends up more concerned about the bad review his restaurant receives from a critic.
Under a harsh deadline, Terry agrees to use her friend's summer villa in France to try to get some inspiration for writing...only when her and her daughter arrive...they aren't alone at the villa, Matthew is there. The two eventually agree to coexist at the villa...but it is not long before tempers are riding again, you see Matthew not only restaurant owning, but he is a bit of a celebrity chef known as "chef Cupid".
The real glue that holds this rom-com together however is Abby, Terry's daughter who at first was very unhappy about being pulled away from her friends and home...but eventually loosens up and finds her passion by way of cooking!
The film starts a little choppy, but warms up if you let it, into a sweet romantic comedy. I recommend this to all you romantics and hallmark fans out there.
Under a harsh deadline, Terry agrees to use her friend's summer villa in France to try to get some inspiration for writing...only when her and her daughter arrive...they aren't alone at the villa, Matthew is there. The two eventually agree to coexist at the villa...but it is not long before tempers are riding again, you see Matthew not only restaurant owning, but he is a bit of a celebrity chef known as "chef Cupid".
The real glue that holds this rom-com together however is Abby, Terry's daughter who at first was very unhappy about being pulled away from her friends and home...but eventually loosens up and finds her passion by way of cooking!
The film starts a little choppy, but warms up if you let it, into a sweet romantic comedy. I recommend this to all you romantics and hallmark fans out there.
Impressed
carpediem-331426 August 2019
I'd say I'm a moderate Hallmark movie fan and thoughtful skeptic towards the cheese factor. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie. I liked the cast and their performances. I bought in to it all emotionally, though the plot was mostly predictable as usual. Chef and writer - my two favorite occupations to watch in these movies. The friendship that grew between the two leads made me happy. Loved the 15-year old daughter and her very authentic drama. Secondary characters were engaging, too. The setting was beautiful. The costuming was enjoyable - color and style. The camera work was well done and well directed. Too many commercials, but we can record and fast forward, right? Charming, intelligent, pleasant, and so relaxing during a challenging time in the world. Thank you.
Literary romance in France
TheLittleSongbird18 October 2022
The combining of literature and romance is a very common combination in film, but it is one that has often worked really well. Hallmark have revisited this type of story quite a lot and the success has varied (better faring though than most of their commonly visited scenarios). Hilarie Burton does good work when in the right role and Victor Webster, who is more familiar to me and has the more consistent filmography, is always watchable. The 2016 Summer Nights output was hit and miss.
'Summer Villa' is one of the hits and, even with its shortcomings, it is one of the better 2016 Summer Nights films. It is not perfect or even great, but it is charming and well done in a lot of areas and is a lot more interesting than the uninspired title suggests. As far as Hallmark's 2016 output goes, which was expectedly very up and down like the previous and subsequent years for them, 'Summer Villa' is somewhere around high middle. Not one of the best, also not one of the worst.
Admittedly it is formulaic, with a final act that has been seen frequently in Hallmark's Summer Nights films while the ending, while sweet, is on the too pat side. While there is chemistry between Burton and Webster, there could have been more spark in the early portions.
Will agree that the whining is overdone initially and it takes time for Burton to properly relax and tone down.
Once she does though, it is a much better performance. One that has real perky charm. Webster has great likeability and is subtly charismatic and easy going. While there have been spark and development to their relationship, they do gel and did like how it was genuine and wasn't forced or melodramatic. The supporting cast are fine, no real issues there. The characters are typical but are mostly engaging and not too hard to connect with, Burton's character at first being the only real reservation.
Furthermore, the production values are very strong. The scenery, which is the real location, is breathtaking and captured in its full beauty. Did appreciate that it wasn't used in too much of a travelogue-like way that has been obvious in too many Hallmark films set abroad. The music isn't too constant or loud, the script is suitably light hearted and flows well and even with it being predictable the story doesn't try to do more than necessary and is very charming and not cheesy or over sentimental.
Concluding, good but not great. 7/10.
'Summer Villa' is one of the hits and, even with its shortcomings, it is one of the better 2016 Summer Nights films. It is not perfect or even great, but it is charming and well done in a lot of areas and is a lot more interesting than the uninspired title suggests. As far as Hallmark's 2016 output goes, which was expectedly very up and down like the previous and subsequent years for them, 'Summer Villa' is somewhere around high middle. Not one of the best, also not one of the worst.
Admittedly it is formulaic, with a final act that has been seen frequently in Hallmark's Summer Nights films while the ending, while sweet, is on the too pat side. While there is chemistry between Burton and Webster, there could have been more spark in the early portions.
Will agree that the whining is overdone initially and it takes time for Burton to properly relax and tone down.
Once she does though, it is a much better performance. One that has real perky charm. Webster has great likeability and is subtly charismatic and easy going. While there have been spark and development to their relationship, they do gel and did like how it was genuine and wasn't forced or melodramatic. The supporting cast are fine, no real issues there. The characters are typical but are mostly engaging and not too hard to connect with, Burton's character at first being the only real reservation.
Furthermore, the production values are very strong. The scenery, which is the real location, is breathtaking and captured in its full beauty. Did appreciate that it wasn't used in too much of a travelogue-like way that has been obvious in too many Hallmark films set abroad. The music isn't too constant or loud, the script is suitably light hearted and flows well and even with it being predictable the story doesn't try to do more than necessary and is very charming and not cheesy or over sentimental.
Concluding, good but not great. 7/10.
Best Hallmark Movie, Should have been a series of movies
denverwinefb24 October 2020
This is one of the best of the Hallmark movies. You feel like you are in the french countryside. With many of their movies becoming "series", this one should have been made into 2-3 additional movies of the expansion of Matthew and Teri's romance back in NYC and coming back to France along with Abby pondering college/culinary program in the US or France and her growth and romance as a college student along with the paths Mathew could take reopening in NYC, France or becoming a consultant and the paths the movies could take with mentoring other chefs with their challenges/romances while you see the expansion of their story. Loved it so much I am disappointed this was not continued into other movies.
Cute movie
cooleenag31 August 2017
Cute movie. But agree the lead actors had zero chemistry. Victor Webster is very good looking and that kept me watching. His leading lady was hard to watch. She was obnoxious, had a shrill speaking voice and zero charm and painful to watch.. There was more chemistry with the French butcher lady. Also the other French Chef had what sounded like a fake accent. I've watched other movies on Hallmark with fake accents and that can ruin the movie. Again overall not bad especially if you like food movies.
Not much romance
phd_travel13 March 2019
Hilarie Burton looked a little uptight
as a writer in search of a rest in a villa with her daughter. Victor Webster plays a chef who shares the villa with them due to a misunderstanding involving her friend who is his sister.
The scenery didn't quite look like France. Hallmark doesn't have a huge budget. So despite some French actors and actresses it wasn't a transporting experience.
There wasn't a lot of romance - the subplots were more interesting like the cooking competition and the teenage girl finding her passion.
The scenery didn't quite look like France. Hallmark doesn't have a huge budget. So despite some French actors and actresses it wasn't a transporting experience.
There wasn't a lot of romance - the subplots were more interesting like the cooking competition and the teenage girl finding her passion.
A notch above
suzanne-iovaldi30 August 2020
Only writing this review to say not to go by the others (particularly the one about the shoes for crying out loud). This movie definitely has chemistry and the overall production quality is way above average for a Hallmark movie. Wish more were like it!
another Hallmark movie
SnoopyStyle26 August 2018
Romance writer Terry Russell (Hilarie Burton) has writer's block. Her friend Leslie sets her up on a blind date with her brother Matthew Everston (Victor Webster) known as Chef Cupid. It goes badly but he's more devastated about a food critic's review. Leslie offers her family estate in France for the summer. Terry arrives with her teen daughter Abby only to be shocked by the presence of a mistaken Matthew. They reluctantly decide to coexist under the same roof. Local chef Jean Luc is taken with Terry. Jean Luc's sister Nadia is the butcher with the family farm. With a little help from Abby, Matthew puts new life into his cooking.
The leads are serviceable for this Hallmark movie. It's interesting that they are provided with side pieces but those characters have little development. They're not big enough characters to be even hurdles in a love triangle. The teenage daughter is more compelling. She provides a good avenue for development but it stops a little short. The leads struggle with chemistry and basic romance formula. It's more heartbreaking if Matthew stops being Abby's mentor. That's the most compelling relationship here. It may be more fun to make Abby the protagonist trying to parent trap two romantically challenged adults.
The leads are serviceable for this Hallmark movie. It's interesting that they are provided with side pieces but those characters have little development. They're not big enough characters to be even hurdles in a love triangle. The teenage daughter is more compelling. She provides a good avenue for development but it stops a little short. The leads struggle with chemistry and basic romance formula. It's more heartbreaking if Matthew stops being Abby's mentor. That's the most compelling relationship here. It may be more fun to make Abby the protagonist trying to parent trap two romantically challenged adults.
Too much Whining!
ginasharp27 August 2020
This could've been a great movie if it weren't for the first 30 some minutes that were way too full of whining constantly! From both main characters down to the daughter. Male main character whined cause he couldn't cook the right thing, female main character whined that she couldn't write her book and the daughter whined because she had FOMO so bad with her friends back home and was a spoiled brat. I went into this thinking this would be a favorite Hallmark movie but was disappointed. Not a favorite I did watch till the end. Eh.....
Cliché Country
Tactrix9 August 2016
Remember back in the 90's when they finally started to figure out the formula for making movies, and someone somewhere figured out that if you want to make a romance movie you have to put in cheesy parts every 30 seconds? Yea, it's one of those.
Overall not a bad movie, the acting was good as expected from these actors, but the writing in this script is just shy of plagiarism and I don't mean from any particular movie, but come on, the guy and girl are forced to stay in one place. He teaches her to ride a bike. There are so many cliché moments that just don't work for one very simple reason, they have no chemistry.
I'm sorry but if you're going to make yet another one of the thousands of cheesy romance movies, at least give the two leads some chemistry. This was painful to watch, even these two must have struggled to play these roles. I'm going to give you the biggest tip you'll ever hear about successful script writing when it comes to romance. The really good writers replace the cheesy parts with actual wit.
7/10 good acting, cliché script, dear god please get actors who pull some chemistry out of each other.
Overall not a bad movie, the acting was good as expected from these actors, but the writing in this script is just shy of plagiarism and I don't mean from any particular movie, but come on, the guy and girl are forced to stay in one place. He teaches her to ride a bike. There are so many cliché moments that just don't work for one very simple reason, they have no chemistry.
I'm sorry but if you're going to make yet another one of the thousands of cheesy romance movies, at least give the two leads some chemistry. This was painful to watch, even these two must have struggled to play these roles. I'm going to give you the biggest tip you'll ever hear about successful script writing when it comes to romance. The really good writers replace the cheesy parts with actual wit.
7/10 good acting, cliché script, dear god please get actors who pull some chemistry out of each other.
Kinda Gross
txladyjane-14 March 2017
I agree there was no Chemistry between the two leads, I'm saying kinda gross because the male lead had more Chemistry with the 15 year old daughter.
Very cliché, kinda cute but my creepy vibe was just set off to much.
I generally love love Hallmark Movies, my husband and I will sit around on rainy Saturdays and watch it all day!
Very cliché, kinda cute but my creepy vibe was just set off to much.
I generally love love Hallmark Movies, my husband and I will sit around on rainy Saturdays and watch it all day!
Awful shoes
hskerker30 August 2020
Sweet adorable hallmark movie
debbiech4 September 2018
After reading some of the reviews - I hesitated to watch. I know from experience- if I am not in the mood - hallmark movies can seem lame. I'm guessing that was the mood of some of these negative reviews. I thought this was adorable.
Hilarie never disappoints and I thought there was definitely chemistry between the actors. Is it predictable? Yes - but that's why I love hallmark. I know I get a happy ending.
The story is sweet - watching them fall in love is fun. Sit back - enjoy the movie. It's adorable is best word I can think of.
Hilarie never disappoints and I thought there was definitely chemistry between the actors. Is it predictable? Yes - but that's why I love hallmark. I know I get a happy ending.
The story is sweet - watching them fall in love is fun. Sit back - enjoy the movie. It's adorable is best word I can think of.
Different and a bit disappointing but still good
thouty3 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I am currently in a big hallmark movies period. And watching everything with Joy Lenz and Hilarie Burton Morgan at this moment. So that's a combo.
I feel most of hallmark movies are Christmas movies but i found this one, starring during the Summer.
If you are a big fan of hallmark movies, you can watch it. It doesn't hurt 😅 though you might find it very different and not the best, and be disappointed. I still give it a 6 (might be more a 5.5) cause i didn't find it totally awful either (but once again, when you watch those type of films it's not cause you're looking for oscar worthy movie but just a comforting movie you already know will end well and exactly how you want it to!).
So if you're not really a fan of hallmarks nor rom-com, i can ensure you, don't watch it, it won't help you change your mind on this type of movies.
OK so here goes some of my raw thoughts (sorry it's a bit disorganised!)
So, here we have Hilarie being a sucessful writer. She's a mom of a teenager. Not a great relationship. She is also very "angry" (like Peyton-angry) cause of her big writer blocage.
Her friend lends her her family vacation house in France (they say). When she arrives with her daughter, it's to find that her friend's brother (i like this actor!) also needed a place to crash and find his voice again (he's a cook who had an awful review and seems to have lost his mojo) so they need to coexist together. Though they don't know each other/don't really like each other. Typical meet between hallmark characters. They start obviously to learn how to live together and enjoy each other company until the final scene when we get out kiss. There are no really magic or spark. It misses the light joyfullness so not really what i was seeking for but it was an okay-film.
There is an alternate storyline with Hilarie's daughter being really interested in cooking and starting to learn from him, which i found really nice.
That was cute and different as we focused on something else than the couple to be. But i wish we've got to see more after the final kiss. It really missed an ending to this movie. I know it's often ending after the Kiss, but as they did another storyline to feel more as a rom-com than a hallmark, it really was not the right writing to just end the movie there. What will happen? Will he open a restaurant instead of doing his show, will the daughter work for him? Etc.
Side notes : There were some not really great moments with "other dates" they got which were not really well done for my taste (the fall in the pool.. Really?)
I found weird to see Hilarie as a mom of a 15-16 years old but that wasn't too distracting. And i remembered she was 35-ish when it aired but she hasn't aged since oth 😅
Everyone had their own thing going on but it didn't all blend together smoothly. I don't know. I felt everything being a bit disconnected. I don't know why or how to explain.
Anyway. That's why it's just a 5.5/10 for me.
I feel most of hallmark movies are Christmas movies but i found this one, starring during the Summer.
If you are a big fan of hallmark movies, you can watch it. It doesn't hurt 😅 though you might find it very different and not the best, and be disappointed. I still give it a 6 (might be more a 5.5) cause i didn't find it totally awful either (but once again, when you watch those type of films it's not cause you're looking for oscar worthy movie but just a comforting movie you already know will end well and exactly how you want it to!).
So if you're not really a fan of hallmarks nor rom-com, i can ensure you, don't watch it, it won't help you change your mind on this type of movies.
OK so here goes some of my raw thoughts (sorry it's a bit disorganised!)
So, here we have Hilarie being a sucessful writer. She's a mom of a teenager. Not a great relationship. She is also very "angry" (like Peyton-angry) cause of her big writer blocage.
Her friend lends her her family vacation house in France (they say). When she arrives with her daughter, it's to find that her friend's brother (i like this actor!) also needed a place to crash and find his voice again (he's a cook who had an awful review and seems to have lost his mojo) so they need to coexist together. Though they don't know each other/don't really like each other. Typical meet between hallmark characters. They start obviously to learn how to live together and enjoy each other company until the final scene when we get out kiss. There are no really magic or spark. It misses the light joyfullness so not really what i was seeking for but it was an okay-film.
There is an alternate storyline with Hilarie's daughter being really interested in cooking and starting to learn from him, which i found really nice.
That was cute and different as we focused on something else than the couple to be. But i wish we've got to see more after the final kiss. It really missed an ending to this movie. I know it's often ending after the Kiss, but as they did another storyline to feel more as a rom-com than a hallmark, it really was not the right writing to just end the movie there. What will happen? Will he open a restaurant instead of doing his show, will the daughter work for him? Etc.
Side notes : There were some not really great moments with "other dates" they got which were not really well done for my taste (the fall in the pool.. Really?)
I found weird to see Hilarie as a mom of a 15-16 years old but that wasn't too distracting. And i remembered she was 35-ish when it aired but she hasn't aged since oth 😅
Everyone had their own thing going on but it didn't all blend together smoothly. I don't know. I felt everything being a bit disconnected. I don't know why or how to explain.
Anyway. That's why it's just a 5.5/10 for me.
Loved the movie. It made me feel like I was really in France.
countryjill27 August 2017
Loved it. Everyone played their role beautifully. Storyline awesome. Hilarie is beautiful. Loved it. The music was awesome. Made me feel I was really in France. I hope there will be. Sequel to this movie soon.hallmark thank you for all the good movies. Watched it several times. All actors were perfect for the roles they had. Beautifu movie.
Starts out strong ...
VetteRanger8 May 2023
Like many Hallmark movies, Summer Villa starts out stronger than it ends. This is a classic antithetical romance, and both the writing and acting do a good job of selling the negative elements of the leading couple meeting and having too many differences to consider they might get along.
One flaw is that antithetical romances of this type SHOULD be played for comedy, and there just wasn't enough of that. They leaned too hard on a couple of scenes of a messy kitchen.
However, I did like the leads and the story of how they wind up staying at the same place (a not uncommon plot element in Hallmark movies) works.
The relationship building was okay, but once the antipathetic nature of the story passed once they gained empathy for each other, the story started to fall flat.
One flaw is that antithetical romances of this type SHOULD be played for comedy, and there just wasn't enough of that. They leaned too hard on a couple of scenes of a messy kitchen.
However, I did like the leads and the story of how they wind up staying at the same place (a not uncommon plot element in Hallmark movies) works.
The relationship building was okay, but once the antipathetic nature of the story passed once they gained empathy for each other, the story started to fall flat.
Painfully contrived plot written by a 12 year-old girl.
Wes5420 May 2019
Awful lines, like:
"I wasn't trying to break up your date. I was ... sleepwalking! Yeah, that's it. Sleepwalking!"
"We're not married. She's my ... sister's friend! Yeah, that's it! We don't even know each other!"
"Who you going out with? Who's that at the door?"
Sad attempt to make him jealous after ruining his date.
Could not watch another second of this crapfest.
"I wasn't trying to break up your date. I was ... sleepwalking! Yeah, that's it. Sleepwalking!"
"We're not married. She's my ... sister's friend! Yeah, that's it! We don't even know each other!"
"Who you going out with? Who's that at the door?"
Sad attempt to make him jealous after ruining his date.
Could not watch another second of this crapfest.
What a good movie
dianamarinelli27 December 2020
I really WAS NOT in France
linda-plant221 February 2019
Hilarie Burton, the lead, over acted for all she was worth, every move was exaggerated, and her shrieking voice gave me ear bleed.
The external shot of the front of the 'villa' has been portrayed in several other Hallmark movies, as a rambling house with vines, as a hotel, as a crumbling mansion in need of renovation, and one where the new owner was in contact with a ghost from 50 years previous ! , so the 'French ' connection for me was not believable, despite the accordion background music and faux street market.
A good storyline, but perhaps better with two leads who actually had chemistry.
The external shot of the front of the 'villa' has been portrayed in several other Hallmark movies, as a rambling house with vines, as a hotel, as a crumbling mansion in need of renovation, and one where the new owner was in contact with a ghost from 50 years previous ! , so the 'French ' connection for me was not believable, despite the accordion background music and faux street market.
A good storyline, but perhaps better with two leads who actually had chemistry.
A Joy-filled Movie
vsteach-117176 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I started laughing from the first "ground rules" setting scene early in the Movie. The 3 main characters continued to play off each other. Even the food fight was spontaneous and funny. Afterwards, no one tried to clean anyone else's face in a romantic gesture.
The relationship between the teenage daughter and her mother was also very realistic. Teenage girls naturally argue about almost everything. The conversation between the two adults while trying to give each other advice about their careers was very plausible. This movie could have been shown in a theater, it was that good.
Please ignore all the negative comments about shoes and sleepwalking and French accents. Just prepare to watch, laugh out loud, and enjoy this sweet movie.
The relationship between the teenage daughter and her mother was also very realistic. Teenage girls naturally argue about almost everything. The conversation between the two adults while trying to give each other advice about their careers was very plausible. This movie could have been shown in a theater, it was that good.
Please ignore all the negative comments about shoes and sleepwalking and French accents. Just prepare to watch, laugh out loud, and enjoy this sweet movie.
See also
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