The photography was excellent and, regrettably, it seemed that the actors read their lines perfectly but more emoting was needed. Perhaps the Hallmark machine is cranking the product out a wee bit too quickly? The second half was better but still..,
50 Reviews
Not very good
Kenkeller-98-62055328 May 2019
Terrible acting
hungerfordgirl1 June 2019
One of the worst hallmark movies
moezya-3568112 June 2019
I have a collection of hallmark movies that I love watching. This movie missed the mark by a million miles. You can't put unknown actors in s hallmark movie that don't have the years of experience behind them. I was bored to death watching this movie. The characters weren't believable at all. This was by far one of the worst hallmark movies ever produced. Two stars is being generous.
Actors trapped in a bad movie
david-thor2 June 2019
Two hours of this was too much; a 30-minute version would have been preferable. It seemed more like a group of actors trapped in what they knew would be one of Hallmark's mistakes, but for me, the most uncomfortable observation was that I thought the father and daughter were actually married to each other when I first turned on the movie about 15 minutes in; their dialogue seemed more like husband and wife. A good cast in a poorly edited, poorly written, poorly paced movie. The scenery was nice, though.
Good story
jewelch7 September 2021
Yes this is pretty bad
Jackbv12330 May 2019
Except possibly for the natural scenery and a soundtrack that doesn't get in the way, there isn't anything good about this movie. The acting is stiff all around. I agree with the reviewer that said Emeraude Toubia isn't ready for the lead in a movie like this, at least not based on this performance. Don't get me wrong. She is charming and fairly energetic not to mention beautiful. She has no chemistry with Tom Maden, None of the actors are particularly good except Shawn Christen.
Dialogue and story are lame. The dialogue delivers stupid lines and conversations over and over. The very first scene seemed like a movie by the numbers scene and so did the last scene and several other plot points. When Evan and Alana are walking and talking about their future together, Evan's attitude is just plain stupid and again, delivering the lines was stiff. How about this for stupid - they keep complaining that they have a week to get the inn ready and they keep taking breaks in the middle of the day. And there was nothing interesting in the story. Scenes that should have delivered a spark fell flat. There was a key plot development that came way too early in the movie.
There was one little piece of information being kept from Alana and the audience. Is there anyone who didn't figure it out in the first half of the movie?
Painful? Yes maybe a little. Worst movie ever? That's saying a lot and I can't go with that. Usually for me that means something offensive or disgusting. It is one of the poorer Hallmark movies and I watch them all. What I'd say about this movie is that it's just plain flat.
Dialogue and story are lame. The dialogue delivers stupid lines and conversations over and over. The very first scene seemed like a movie by the numbers scene and so did the last scene and several other plot points. When Evan and Alana are walking and talking about their future together, Evan's attitude is just plain stupid and again, delivering the lines was stiff. How about this for stupid - they keep complaining that they have a week to get the inn ready and they keep taking breaks in the middle of the day. And there was nothing interesting in the story. Scenes that should have delivered a spark fell flat. There was a key plot development that came way too early in the movie.
There was one little piece of information being kept from Alana and the audience. Is there anyone who didn't figure it out in the first half of the movie?
Painful? Yes maybe a little. Worst movie ever? That's saying a lot and I can't go with that. Usually for me that means something offensive or disgusting. It is one of the poorer Hallmark movies and I watch them all. What I'd say about this movie is that it's just plain flat.
Enjoyed new actors
bdelebak18 June 2019
Sunstroke?!
mark_j_velasquez16 October 2020
This was seriously, s e r i o u s l y painful to watch. Being out in sunny FL must've caused sunstroke in all the actors. And I do mean all. Well, maybe not Shawn Christian. If not for him (and the pretty actress playing Alana's business partner) this flick would be sheer torture. Emeraude Toubia and Tom Maden could've fooled me into thinking their characters were sworn enemies. Don't waste your time on this one -it really is as bad as the other reviews say.
Barely Watchable
johne-5595231 August 2020
Most of what other reviewers are saying is correct. Bad acting. Bad Writing. Zero chemistry between all the characters that are supposed to love each other. The male lead is particularly bad although this is not that uncommon in a Hallmark movie.
The only upside is that it is actually shot in some place that looks like Florida instead of the generic Vancouver suburb that Hallmark uses for most of their movies.
I made it about 1/2 way through and that was because I had high hopes for the female lead. Unfortunately she can't float this boat anchor.
The only upside is that it is actually shot in some place that looks like Florida instead of the generic Vancouver suburb that Hallmark uses for most of their movies.
I made it about 1/2 way through and that was because I had high hopes for the female lead. Unfortunately she can't float this boat anchor.
Beautiful scenery, Sweet story
melissalaunder22 June 2019
I never leave reviews but wanted to balance out all the negative ones which I find surprising. This movie had a new lead actress and actor who certainly need more experience but they were both very attractive, energetic and did a fine job with a sweet story line. I believed their chemistry. And I agree that the seasoned pro Shawn Christian gave the strongest performance. Also the scenery was absolutely beautiful. I'm from this area and they truly did it justice and were able to showcase a wonderful small town in the Tampa Bay area and some of the nearby beaches. I enjoyed the movie but did wish for a little more time at the end to see their love story unfold more. Worth watching even if you'd like to just pretend you're on a relaxing FL vacation. I'd love to see more movies filmed nearby.
What the heck Hallmark!
toncincin1 June 2019
I cannot believe this is a Hallmark movie. Bad acting - with Tom Maden taking the prize. He seems to just be reading his lines in his boredom. Bad Bad Bad Hallmark. This and From Friend to Fiancé have got to be the two WORST Hallmark movies I have ever seen. Hallmark better get back on their game or they are going to lose a lot of viewers.
Not in love with this one
kkier28 May 2019
Émeraude is a beautiful young woman with no game. She needs to get more acting experience before carrying a full length movie. Wooden performances all around. The story was so weak I didn't care what happened by the end. The story seemed to take forever. The writer did a great job with "Miss Christmas" - so what happened here?
Skip it
kuna16-423-37688223 September 2020
Wow this movie was truly bad. Bad plot, bad actors. Some nice views of Florida though. If it wasn't for the locale and browsing on Facebook at the same time, I never would've finished this horrible movie. Hallmark you can do better.
So disappointed
morninlite-9079527 August 2019
I have never bailed on a Hallmark movie so fast!
disneyed21 June 2019
I watch all of the Hallmark movies, and I almost always finish them and like the vast majority. This started so flat that I decided to come here to see what others had to say. Dismal. I still gave it more time, but it was not worth another 90 minutes of my life. I will pick another. The acting was stiff and amateurish. The dialogue was boring. The scenery was pretty. Hallmark movies all follow the same premise, they are clean and always end with the one kiss. Formula, yes. But at least most are interesting
Alana (Emeraude Toubia)
aab87427 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Favorite scene with
Alana (Emeraude Toubia) - Bike Riding with Kai. BTW #1, So Dang Cool that Shawn Christian created this Story! I loved his Characters and the Settings! They make me want to visit Florida - at least that town (Safety Harbor) - now - as long as there aren't any gators! Please let Shawn get his Sequels to this movie! BTW #2, I finished this movie 2 years to the date on which it originally aired!
Alana (Emeraude Toubia) - Bike Riding with Kai. BTW #1, So Dang Cool that Shawn Christian created this Story! I loved his Characters and the Settings! They make me want to visit Florida - at least that town (Safety Harbor) - now - as long as there aren't any gators! Please let Shawn get his Sequels to this movie! BTW #2, I finished this movie 2 years to the date on which it originally aired!
Very painful & difficult to watch
bmiller5915 September 2020
This was terrible. No acting abilities, no meat, no depth in plot, but we made it to the end. We could tell right from the beginning that this was going to be one of those rare HM movies that was not going to be good. If you look at the photo of this movie and how stiff the two leads are in it...well, that represents this movie.
The scenery in Florida was wonderful though.
The scenery in Florida was wonderful though.
Absolutely horrible
cailbreezeu3 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The acting is horrible. It's like a high school script on a so called hallmark screen. The scenery is pretty but there were inconsistencies such as no cell phone service at the house, yet the next scene she is on her phone. I fast forwarded about an hour through because it was that bad. The worst part of the movie, besides the horrible acting, was the ending. It seemed she only wanted to be back with him when it turned out he was the owner. Horrible!
Bad acting and casting.
lkata29 June 2019
Very little love or sun here
TheLittleSongbird7 July 2022
2019 did see some well above average and more Hallmark films, though mostly it was an unremarkable year where too many of the films were average or less. Always love it when Hallmark sets their films in more exotic locations, regardless of the film's overall quality the scenery always delivers. Will admit to not being crazy about most of the 2019 Countdown to Summer films, with 'Paris, Wine and Romance' (which was far from perfect itself) being the best of the lot by quite some way.
'Love in the Sun' though is one of the weakest 2019 Countdown to Summer films, tied with 'A Feeling of Home'. Also put it down there as one of the worst Hallmark films overall that year. It delivers visually, but fails badly everywhere else, quite a lot of the 2019 Hallmark films delivered in the scenery and photography while varying wildly in all the other components, sometimes well, sometimes hit and miss and sometimes badly. 'Love in the Sun' is in the badly category.
The best things it are the scenery, which is absolutely gorgeous, and the photography, which glows in its best moments.
Shawn Christen does his best with what he has.
Unfortunately, there is pretty much it with the redeeming merits. The acting from almost all ranges from pretty bad to awful. The worst case being a very stiff Tom Maden, who also sounds like he was reading from a phone book. Emeraude Toubia fares a little better and has a little more energy, but she is also bland and needed a lot more experience before being leading lady status (this was the equivalent of someone who had done support acting roles before trying to stretch themselves but running before they could walk). The two have absolutely no chemistry together and don't even seem particularly comfortable around each other. The characters are typical Hallmark cliches and nothing more, and there is no development or life to them. Some of the motivations are vague or plain stupid.
Never did the story grab me either. It drags badly and suffers a lot from being very thinly plotted which it tries to mask with overlong padding, and also from having no charm, heart or light-hearted-ness. Emotion wise there's nothing, just predictable go through the motions storytelling that has too many conveniences and plot points that are revealed too early and not delved into enough. The final quarter has no energy or tension and is resolved far too unrealistically easily. The dialogue constantly sounds awkward and first draft level, and the direction is indicative of someone that didn't know what they were doing. Nothing memorable about the music, which is as bland as everything else.
Overall, not good at all. 2/10.
'Love in the Sun' though is one of the weakest 2019 Countdown to Summer films, tied with 'A Feeling of Home'. Also put it down there as one of the worst Hallmark films overall that year. It delivers visually, but fails badly everywhere else, quite a lot of the 2019 Hallmark films delivered in the scenery and photography while varying wildly in all the other components, sometimes well, sometimes hit and miss and sometimes badly. 'Love in the Sun' is in the badly category.
The best things it are the scenery, which is absolutely gorgeous, and the photography, which glows in its best moments.
Shawn Christen does his best with what he has.
Unfortunately, there is pretty much it with the redeeming merits. The acting from almost all ranges from pretty bad to awful. The worst case being a very stiff Tom Maden, who also sounds like he was reading from a phone book. Emeraude Toubia fares a little better and has a little more energy, but she is also bland and needed a lot more experience before being leading lady status (this was the equivalent of someone who had done support acting roles before trying to stretch themselves but running before they could walk). The two have absolutely no chemistry together and don't even seem particularly comfortable around each other. The characters are typical Hallmark cliches and nothing more, and there is no development or life to them. Some of the motivations are vague or plain stupid.
Never did the story grab me either. It drags badly and suffers a lot from being very thinly plotted which it tries to mask with overlong padding, and also from having no charm, heart or light-hearted-ness. Emotion wise there's nothing, just predictable go through the motions storytelling that has too many conveniences and plot points that are revealed too early and not delved into enough. The final quarter has no energy or tension and is resolved far too unrealistically easily. The dialogue constantly sounds awkward and first draft level, and the direction is indicative of someone that didn't know what they were doing. Nothing memorable about the music, which is as bland as everything else.
Overall, not good at all. 2/10.
Not recommended
sdudka7 July 2019
Grasping for a positive. The scenery? Stunted dialogue that unfortunately this grouping of actors were not skilled enough to present with any creativity. No flow. Not one character got me, the viewer, to invest. Not sure even the most clever editor could have revived the wooden expressions provided. Pass over this one. Usually Hallmark does a better job of creating a 'picture' of fantasy and romantic love. This one missed that 'mark'!
It was good but..
juliasikorska-3902516 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Why would she accept the proposal when she knew it didn't feel real? She watched her parents in love while growing up and she dreamed of a romance like that but then wants to end up with a guy who she doesn't even love. And it was a bummer how she hasn't confessed her love to Kai at the end, I was waiting for that :/
No stars would be too much
linda-plant22 April 2020
Here in the UK we hear that Hollywood is where every wannabee actor/actress gravitates to for work and experience. Well, if the acting in this is a sample of the best Hallmark can get, well, perhaps they need to come here and audition some of ours who leave drama school !!!! because apart from being able to look 'beautiful' there was nothing else going for any of them ! - well apart from Shawn Christian, who's experience stood out in spades.
Perhaps Hallmark are trying to give the 'inexperienced' a chance of getting experience in front of a camera - very commendable, but find out first if they can ACTUALLY act !! And why didn't the female lead ask of her childhood boyfriend what he actually DID for a living, because he just seem to bum around permanently.
Perhaps Hallmark are trying to give the 'inexperienced' a chance of getting experience in front of a camera - very commendable, but find out first if they can ACTUALLY act !! And why didn't the female lead ask of her childhood boyfriend what he actually DID for a living, because he just seem to bum around permanently.
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