A Taste of Summer (2019 TV Movie) User Reviews

Very subtle romance.

[MIssM19 · 6/10 · 15 August 2019]

Gabi is a sous-chef in a restaurant in NYC. After deciding she has enough of her routinary life, she moves to her sister's town, and has the opportunity to open her own restaurant- Then we have Caleb, who is the owner of a diner that is close to her soon-to-be open restaurant.

What I liked about this was that the romance was very subtle. It was a simple movie with no forced moments, but it was about the characters pushing the other to give the best of themselves. This movie talks about dreams, about chasing them, about thinking (and getting) out of the box, which is nice for a change.

I watched this movie with a different pair of eyes because I read that the two main actors are married in real life and that makes this 1000% more adorable. Besides, they are new faces, which I always appreciate and I'm here for some Latina representation. This might seem slow and kind of boring at some points but it's worth a watch, it totally has those summer vibes.

The woman wins again

[brittonwayne-287-425268 · 5/10 · 7 June 2020]

This is the classic Hallmark formula that has a romance between culinary rivals. This one as in most ends with a contest in which the female wins the competition. The only surprise was the male lead doesn't come in second or even third. I'm still waiting for one where the guy gets to win.

Mismash of common tropes

[Jackbv123 · 5/10 · 21 August 2020]

There's a festival competition to win (which including another common trope at the end but I won't spoil it). Competing restaurants (A Taste of Romance did it way better). A baseball game relying on the kid with no confidence.

I have to say that Gabby is a compelling character. She has strong values. She is an encourager. She is eminently competent.

For two actors married in real life, the chemistry might have been there to some extent, but it wasn't positive. I never cared if these two got together. I wasn't as impressed with acting as could have been.

I wanted to root for Emily, but the baseball game was way too over the top and obvious.

Very cute movie. I laughed a lot

[kurlykolly · 5 April 2021]

This movie was cute. The two leads are married in real life and have natural chemistry in screen. I've seen it 3 times. It's a funny movie.

Pleasant enough taste

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 23 April 2022]

While expectations were not massively high, considering that it is a setting visited a good deal and done already in 2019 in 'Love on the Menu' and done much better in that, they were not low too. The story was very cute sounding, diversity is always welcome and it has been nice seeing Hallmark including more of it in their films in recent years and it has a real life husband and wife in the lead roles. Something that has not always worked but when it does it's great to see.

'A Taste of Summer' was pleasant enough and it doesn't leave a bad taste in the mouth or a bitter aftertaste. It is one of those films though that had me wanting more, like having a dish that is generally quite tasty in most areas but with a few ones that are under-cooked and under-seasoned at the same time. There is a good deal to like, yet 'A Taste of Summer' falls slightly short. Far from one of Hallmark's worst 2019 films, but not one of the best.

The good things will be listed first. Rosalyn Sanchez is a nice mix of charming and firey and her character is not hard to relate to, to me she wasn't too harsh and the glamour didn't distract that badly. Eric Winter is a nice confident understated leading man, and did enjoy their subtle and genuine chemistry. The romance is developed nicely, not too in your face but also not underused or playing second fiddle to the competition. Alison Araya does a nice job too.

It looks good, especially the scenery. The music fits well enough and doesn't distract. The script is not perfect or anything, but it does have playfulness and warmth. The story is successful in the more romantic oriented parts and has parts where it is cute, light hearted and heart-warming. Really appreciated the positive messaging too and there is nothing forced or excessive about the diversity, which was tasteful.

More could have been done with the setting, with 'Love on the Menu' feeling more of a love letter to food than this. The competitiveness doesn't have enough heat or spice and comes over as bland. The story on the whole is very formulaic with most of it being easily foreseeable long before they happen, due to having many familiar Hallmark tropes, the third act is pretty much what has been seen before many times structurally.

Script has its moments, but is on the awkward and cheesy side too often, especially early on. To me, the softball game was too over the top. The pacing is not always there, the story is pretty thin to begin with and it does make for some less than energetic pacing. While the characters never bored or annoyed me, they aren't developed enough.

Overall, pleasant enough if not great. 6/10.

Clean softball uniforms-Really???

[Andthisismrsr · 6/10 · 15 June 2022]

Typical Hallmark movie. The softball team practiced and played a game without getting dirty. Just saying Hallmark at least try to make it authentic looking by having dirt on the uniforms.

I cant watch

[bellaprinting · 7/10 · 13 June 2021]

How can i watch the movie. It doesnt let me watch.

The couple is nice the story is bland

[phd_travel · 5/10 · 29 August 2019]

Roselyn Sanchez is pretty and not the most likely Chef with her flowing locks. When a real life couple acts together it's a bit distracting from the story. She and Eric Winter make a nice on screen match. And they overcome the obstacle of the real life couple thing. She adds sparkle to whatever show she is in. The competing Chef thing is very bland.

Much better than most Hallmark movies.... It's a nice feel-good movie.

[DreamyOneNumber1 · 9/10 · 6 June 2021]

While this is a typical Hallmark movie, there was something about this one that is better than most of them. I won't waste your time with the plot - everyone knows a Hallmark plot by now. I admit to enjoying most of them. But some are better than others. This is one of the better ones.

I'm not exactly sure why this was better. The two leads are married to each other so the acting was comfortable, and not forced. Interestingly enough, though, something about the beginning was a turnoff and if the remote had been closer, and a dog not sitting on my lap, I would have changed the station. I'm glad I didn't. It quickly improved, and I enjoyed it. It left me feeling good. There were slight differences to the typical Hallmark movie, which was a nice change.

We know how they're going to turn out, but this one carried some positive messages too, that people can take with them. People don't always win, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's trying that matters. And if you win, that's good too, but no matter what, it's the trying that counts.

This movie tried, and turned out to be a winner. Watch it. Neither the actors nor the script disappoints.

A little flat to me

[VetteRanger · 6/10 · 28 May 2023]

Hallmark has done a LOT of chef/restaurant movies, and this did not feel among the top level of the genre. They have what looks like a short-order diner potentially in competition with a gourmet sit down place? Doesn't seem right, somehow.

And then the male lead, who seems so stoked about his restaurant business, wants to dump it all to become a High School sports coach? I don't buy that, either.

Then they have the big tent-based restaurant competition, and the crowd looked far to small ... I guess they didn't have much of budget for extras. LOL

As other fans mentioned, a softball game where all the uniforms are clean in the last inning? An opposing pitcher throwing what look like at least high school level softball pitches to grade school players? Nope.

So although we like the movie enough to continue watching it, all these little poorly thought out inconsistencies kept popping up to take us out of the story.

Good storyline and script

[martum-15168 · 5/10 · 26 June 2020]

This is a little different from the typical Hallmark movie. It is not overly sticky sweet, which is a refreshing change. The diversity is also a welcome change. The leading man didn't seem interesting and the leading woman seemed to just read her lines. It would still be nice to see black actors and actresses in lead roles too.

Not so mushy Hallmark movie

[wwschuster07 · 9/10 · 25 May 2020]

I enjoyed this movie very much. The chemistry between the main actors was great. Not forced as some Hallmark movies feel. Very cute storyline and not a super mushy movie, as most Hallmatk films seem to have. I loved also that the kids in the movie are worked into the main story. Not just there to meet demographics. Also the Hispanic diversity was done great. Again, not forced as Hallmark tends to do just to meet the demographics of adding a non-small causcian cast. Sweet movie with focus on food, which I always seem to enjoy.

Real life husband and wife couple make this summer Hallmark movie shine.

[cgvsluis · 7/10 · 7 May 2023]

"You know what tastes better? The taste of victory."-Caleb Delaney.

Professional chef Gabby moves from New York to her step-sister's town of Bright Shore, Massachusetts and opens her first restaurant. It sparks a big competition with a neighboring restaurant Delaney's owner Caleb. Competition and passion fire these two restaurant owners and real life couple played by Roselyn Sanchez and Eric Winters (and an attractive couple they are).

Softball and summer, this food-centric hallmark romance truly shines thanks to its stars and a few supporting cast members that really shined, Matt Mazer (Trevor Delaney) and Alison Araya (Christina Weaver). Romantics' hearts will melt over this couple sharing a sweet message:

"Anything is possible if you set your mind to it. For those of you who believe in a dream and you work hard at it, you are all winners."

Nothing Special

[rebekahrox · 4/10 · 19 August 2019]

This had nothing over and above the usual formula. I do appreciate Hallmarks efforts towards more diversity which this one exemplifies. I found the heroine too glammed up to be relatable or realistic for a hardworking chef in a kitchen. When will Hallmark learn that tarting up their actresses like they were selling cosmetics in a department store is not the way to go. The romance was not front and center which was actually refreshing. But Ironically, I didn't find the chemistry out of the ordinary considering the two leads are married in real life. The actress reminded me of Sandra Bullock but without her appeal and the actor reminded me of Topher Grace.

For foodies

[MickyG333 · 7/10 · 30 March 2023]

6.9 stars.

A woman is losing her mojo as a sous chef in the city and decides for a change of pace, so she moves to a smaller town to be with her step sister. She meets a handsome diner owner and his daughter, they get to know each other. She starts a restaurant, they become very competitive, the rest of the film is about them competing about everything, and I mean everything. They are bitter rivals at times, and they lend a hand for one another at other times. It's a love-hate ordeal. As time goes on, she helps him to be more humble, kinder, and better. He helps her find her spark. They eventually fall in love but it's at the very very very end. There is really no romance in this film, maybe some buildup. This is about food, but they don't focus enough on the food in particular, it's an overarching theme, so it's more about becoming better people. I enjoyed it, but there is nothing that really stands out for me.

Siiigghhh

[stephsmith-74748 · 2/10 · 30 June 2020]

This one must be more popular than I would guess, because it's on ALL.THE.TIME. I don't have a high bar when it comes to realism in Hallmark movies.... but I can't get past why one sister has a thick accent and the other has zero accent?? I just don't care about any of the characters.

Starring the guy from the Rookie.

[Racingphan2 · 5/10 · 25 May 2020]

But not Castle, it's one the other guys. Apparently the two leads are married in real life, but have no chemistry whatsoever. I liked this movie better the first time, the one starring Teri Polo.

Definitely Not Warm and Fuzzy

[lll-05500 · 4/10 · 14 September 2019]

I really struggled with this one. The Gabby character just came across as a very unlikable person. Throughout the whole movie she had this harshness about her. A good actress but Hallmark movies are not for her.

No chemistry

[lindaholt58 · 4/10 · 8 August 2020]

I was disappointed. A good story, but the acting was flat.

Boring..

[biswashok · 1/10 · 15 May 2021]

Sooo bored while watching this one..not so interesting plot..

Couldn't get into it because of the unlikeable female lead

[MireilleR · 4/10 · 5 July 2022]

The female lead, Gabby, just didn't do it for me. She didn't have a likeable vibe, a lack of warmth in her facial expressions, even harsh sometimes, and not relatable at all. Too glamourous and distant for my taste. The actress who played her sister Christina would've been a much better choice in my opinion.

The male lead, Caleb, was definitely better casted. More down to earth vibe, more charming, more believable. The supporting cast was also okay.

The story was predictable and on the safe side. I am usually quite easily pleased when it comes to romance movies. But I couldn't get into this one because of the poor casting.

Female lead is gross and fake and a man up

[tearitdownner · 1/10 · 28 August 2022]

Mexican Sandra bullock wanna be . Yuk stupid unrealistic characters the main Mexican chick is so unlikeable and looks like drag queen trying to be all glamorous and down to earth ... hahaha. Dumps a guy because after 2 yrs she expected a proposal when the guy was just excited to give her news of his making head chef at the place they were eating and she is so self centered she dumps him and can't be happy for him ... what a loser.. and that accent is so obnoxious. Main guy should run from a fake like her. But unrealistically he doesn't? He is in rookie tv show on tv and is better in that role.

Awful movie

[juhnetmickerdy · 1/10 · 2 August 2023]

The female lead isn't warm and fuzzy, she's harsh and the flirting is really awkward. I was shocked to hear that the couple is married in real life because there was zero chemistry on-screen. It left a bad taste in my mouth personally, I usually love hallmark movies but I hated this one. I also don't understand why one sister has an accent and the other one doesn't. Gabby comes across as very unlikable and I think this movie had potential to be amazing with Eric winter who plays Caleb but Roselyn Sanchez acting is not only flat, it's unbelievable. I wish they had cast someone else as the lead who actually had chemistry with Caleb. I don't recommend watching this, and I strongly suggest that whoever cast them together should quit their job because they're not great at spotting chemistry. Skip this one because it's not worth your time.