Love Under the Olive Tree (2020 TV Movie) User Reviews

I hate when I can name the other Hallmark film being copied...

[howie14 · 5/10 · 22 June 2020]

This film wasn't unpleasant to watch, just a little lacking in energy. It also was weird that a film that was obviously created for the channel's Fall Harvest promotion wound up on the air in June.

A lot of these films do the Romeo and Juliet family squabble thing, but this one directly steals almost its entire setup from last year's Fall Harvest entry, Love, Fall, and Order as a it involves a dispute over property lines.

A very hallmark movie.

[RimZorD · 6/10 · 26 September 2021]

Let's be honest, neither Hallmark, Lifetime or UpTv (to name a few) are very creative when it comes to plots. However, this is not a bad movie in general terms.

So, yes, it's another seasonal storyline involving some family feud and inconsecuential competitions. Another reviewer said it was a boring movie because he didn't care much about olive oil. I couldn't help but laugh, because most of these type of films involves things like that: pumpking pies; cranberries; maple syrup and a big etcetera. It's always the biggest and most important competition.... but you end up seing how many contestants? 3 or 4 at most, and less than 15 pleople in the public. But is what we are used to. You take it or leave it. I mean, we have seen way too many films based on small towns with plots like "save christmas", "save the anual celebration", "let's plan the town's dance".... and you end up watching less than 15 people in it.

So, my point: The plot is simple, non creative, but it works for this kind of movies (seasonal romance). The main characters were ok. Chemistry between them was just fine... not amazing, but certainly better than at least 30 other hallmark movies I've seen.

About the gay couple (which as being bashed by some old-dynosaur-school reviewers . Shame on you), I think both actors were great and their chemistry was quite good. Everything about them was very subtle (maybe way too subtle) and it was treated naturally, avoiding stereotypes, just how it should be.

Not an original, but good nonetheless.

[savethewatchmaker · 7/10 · 4 October 2020]

I'm actually surprised by the high number of reviews completely pummeling this movie considering it's no worse or better than Hallmark's usual fare. While I do agree that Love Under the Olive Tree is blatant plagiarism off of some of Hallmark's previous movies (although I'm amazed that no one mentioned Pumpkin Pie Wars, as the feuding families trope and Romeo-and-Juliet romance is very reminiscent of it), I actually think this movie is above some of the ones it's copied off of, which earns it a decent score in my book. The actors are believable, the setting is beautiful, the olive oil storyline is different and unique, and the scene in which the grandfathers reunite after years of bad blood is very heartwarming. Also, there are sprinkles of an LGBTQ romance in the periphereals of this movie, and although I would've preferred for Hallmark to drop the hints near the end and confirm it outright, that sort of forward movement -- no matter how slow and/or miniscule -- cannot be undervalued!

On the negative side, outside of the deja vu feeling longtime Hallmark watchers were all no doubt affected with while watching this copy of a copy, this movie seriously downgraded one of its major talents by sticking Shawn Roberts in a side role. He's very charming as the leading man, and definitely much more so than Benjamin Hollingsworth, who was a bit stiff in comparison. The plot itself also could've been a bit stronger, specifically the fact that the entire movie is based around such a tiny land dispute that, by not resolving it civilly, all the characters are made to seem extremely juvenile. The piece of land in question is such an insignificant sliver that both sides of the family could afford to let it go. The female protagonist claims there isn't enough money in the company budget to build the expansion anywhere but connected to the existing building, but apparently no other sides are viable options, only the specific section currently in legal contention. The movie also falls into the most tired plot device of them all: the miscommunication-by-eavesdropping plot, which manufactures trouble between the two leads at exactly the wrong moment. Lastly, leading lady Nicole spends the entire movie trying to create the perfect olive oil for the town contest, but always finds some crucial ingredient missing from the blend. She produces this elusive, magical olive oil mere seconds before the contest begins, but the audience never knows a) what the special missing ingredient is or b) how she even figured out what it is. This epiphany moment is completely (and sadly) missing from the movie.

Good Main Plot

[athompsonblue · 7/10 · 13 June 2021]

The story of the two feuding families and the two main leads is nice. But the movie could have left out the gay hints with Adam.

Vexing

[MickyG333 · 6/10 · 29 April 2023]

6.0 stars.

Both lead characters have an overt hatred for each other. There is absolutely no way in this universe that these two people would ever fall in love, or ever were in love in the past. This story is a half-baked attempt at a love-hate relationship, but a logical audience will not be further insulted by this senseless infantile behavior. Let's be real, if a man comes back to town after 15 years, and her immediate gut reaction is disdain...next we witness endless banter, but not healthy banter. A short while later this man effectively wrecks her future plans to expand the family's olive oil business. Adding insult to injury, you are reminded that he is the heir to a rival olive oil business. In spite of there being a literal threat to her family's financial future, she chooses to be civil and nonchalantly flirtatious mingled with moments of seething hatred?

This woman and this man pursue a prolonged competitive relationship and pretend it's a friendly one, but in reality there would be inevitable foul play.

At the end, Hallmark wraps it up in a cute little bow, but it's too late to fix it. Sure they make nice and eventually kiss, but for how long would this couple last? I'm running out of ways to describe such an irksome story. She is annoying, he is infuriating; this does not make for an enjoyable film. Don't waste your time.

No love for this film

[TheLittleSongbird · 3/10 · 24 February 2022]

Am not saying this with any pleasure. Despite not being that excited by the plotline, which sounded very derivative and unengaging, Hallmark did have some good films in 2020 and Tori Anderson has been good in other things, with well written characters and good material making a big difference. Hallmark did two A Little Romance films in 2020, the other being the weak 'Love in the Forecast' and of the two films that film is marginally worse despite trying to do something different.

'Love Under the Olive Tree' just didn't do it for me at all. Hallmark were no stranger to surprisingly decent and more films and no stranger to better than expected execution of very basic concepts. It has a few good things, few Hallmark films are irredeemable and there are very few of those made in 2020. It however has a lot of bad things, all major and the worst of them are executed absolutely terribly. Was really hoping that 'Love Under the Olive Tree' would be one of the better than expected films but alas that was not the case.

It's not without its good things. The scenery is very nice and well shot. There are parts where the music is also pleasant.

Shawn Roberts gives the film's best performance, he was quite charming.

Charming is an adjective that neither of the two leads are. Benjamin Hollingsworth is very bland and too uptight, but Anderson comes off even worse. She can be very appealing in the right role, but her character is too mean-spirited and neurotic and Anderson badly overdoes the neuroses. There is no chemistry between them, which feels disconnected and under-rehearsed. Other than Roberts, the supporting cast are unmemorable and none of the characters are remotely interesting, well developed or endearing. Only Roberts comes close.

Despite some light-hearted-ness later, though it does come too late, 'Love Under the Olive Tree' is dull and has a very mean-spirited edge. Just hated how over-the-top negative a vast majority of the characters were, the arrogance is especially overdone, and how they treated others, which made the first half pretty intolerable. It is thin narratively, which affects the pacing, and the lack of freshness with a done to death type of story makes it very predictable. The script is stilted and could have been a lot lighter and more subtle.

Not a good film at all. 3/10.

At least you can learn about Olive oil.

[rebekahrox · 8/10 · 27 June 2020]

Even though this Hallmark has a relatively high rating all of the reviews seem to be very negative. So I feel like it's my duty to give it a good review. First of all yes, yes, yes, it does incorporate many many many of the hallmark cliches and stock story lines. What a shocker! Alert the media. First of all I liked the Olive Oil making plot line. It was certainly different and I enjoyed the fresh setting other than chocolate and wine. It was interesting unlike blueberries or pumpkins. The two leads had good chemistry. The family conflict and rivalry kept my interest. I liked that the grandfathers who started the feud were actually more reasonable than their offspring. It was realistic. I also loved the secondary romance of her best friend and the coffee shop owner. It was sweet. I was invested in the outcome of the olive oil Judging and wager and happy that there was a clear winner and it was the one I was rooting for.

Worn out story with nothing to redeem it.

[ronbokirk · 2/10 · 22 June 2020]

The plot has been over-used, and the acting not very believable. Even the supporting cast left a lot to be desired. I saw no comedy or romance in this movie. Maybe some fresh new talent from the writers on down to the bit players would be able to salvage this wreck.

subtle but nice surprise

[vampdavid · 8/10 · 6 July 2020]

I just finished this wonderful romantic Hallmark movie as usual there is a main romance in a beautiful setting, However if you watch the subtle signs there is the first time I ever thought I would see Hallmark hinting at a non traditional romance, in this case check the nuance with Billy and his choice of romantic date as in perhaps Adam?

Too reminiscent of another previous Hallmark film

[mcarneil-09882 · 4/10 · 22 June 2020]

This film has a rehashed plot of the 2016 Hallmark Film "Autumn in the Vineyard". The female leads in both films are both neurotic and start off closed off in the beginning until the male lead helps them "open up". In both films the female and male leads have a "History" and are competitive. Both films had competition where the one of the leads gets the land if they win. The only difference this time around is that its olives/olive oil and not wine. The few occasional cutesy moments were not enough to redeem this film. The rehashed plots are getting more and noticeable. Hallmark films are a fun guilty pleasure but not when you can recognized a rehashed plot. "Autumn in the Vineyard" did it better. Hallmark needs to stop taking its audience for granted.

Disappointing

[julianniepaco · 1/10 · 21 June 2020]

I'm an avid Hallmark channel watcher and this was the first time I couldn't get through a movie. No chemistry with the main characters. Was actually kinda boring, didn't hold my interest at all. Turned the channel about mid way through.

Nicole Cabella (Tori Anderson)

[aab874 · 10/10 · 26 June 2021]

Favorite scene with

Nicole Cabella (Tori Anderson) - Dancing with Jake at the Dance.

Dull and familiar

[phd_travel · 3/10 · 26 June 2020]

This was an unnecessary movie that just repeats the theme of other Hallmark movies in an uninteresting way. Don't bother. The 2 leads seem ill at ease. Olive oil is not the most interesting subject.

See Love, Fall & Order

[Jackbv123 · 4/10 · 26 June 2020]

This movie really seems like the writers took Love, Fall & Order and juggled some details. Another very similar movie is Autumn in the Vineyard, but in that one the opposite lead wasn't a lawyer. And underneath it all it draws on Romeo and Juliet.

First half of the movie I really hated both Jake and Nicole. It was downright meanness and arrogance from both of them, and their parents. Then suddenly, as is common in Hallmark movies, the meanness magically falls away. Both characters become likable and of course any viewer can figure out the rest of the movie, practically scene by scene.

Don't even try to reconcile the plot with actual law. As one person pointed out under questions, the principle of adverse possession would at least make a very strong case for Nicole and probably be more like - Case Dismissed! It is probably true though that a good lawyer could have tied things up for years. But if this plot hole isn't enough, towards the end, Nicole sees Jake "conspiring" with the judge and the judge recognizes that she's been seen. No judge with any sense then casually walks by Nicole without explaining what was going on.

The second half of the movie lightens up considerably and is fairly enjoyable as long as you don't expect any surprises. It's too bad though that the lighter atmosphere wasn't a bigger part of the movie compared to the meanness. But maybe we live in a world that prefers meanness. As for me, I escape to Hallmark in hopes of getting away from most of that.

Watched the trailer

[injury-65447 · 1/10 · 4 November 2020]

The actors are more wooden than the olive trees. Ha.

So 2020...

[lilhutch-819-947485 · 3/10 · 1 March 2021]

Just like the year it was made (2020), this movie was a dud. The characters seemed very likable, but I just could not get into the story at all. I quit watching about 3/4 the way through it. Definitely not one of Hallmark's better showings.

The beginning of the end of the Hallmark we have loved

[iamvirtue · 1/10 · 25 June 2020]

Awful. Flat. Stiff. Bad. For the first time ever I pressed stop and fast forwarded to the last two minutes to get it over with. This movie was not in keeping with the spirit of the Hallmark we have known and loved for many years. A sad day. Plus, it is very clear that this was supposed to be a fall movie not a summer one. What gives?? Skip Olive Tree. Watch Mystery 101 on the sister channel instead. Now that is a real chemistry!

Beware

[jewelch · 3/10 · 25 June 2021]

Although the main story-line is sweet, I cannot endorse this movie because of the relationship that was shown between two of Nicole's male friends.

See or Skip:

I must recommend skipping this movie for those who believe in traditional marriage as I do. I also hope that this is not the road Hallmark is going to be going down. James Welch Henderson Arkansas 6/15/2021.

Hard to get by the incredibly bad toupee

[WTinCA · 2/10 · 5 October 2020]

Come on guys. It is OK for a man to have a receeding hairline and still be handsome. Bejamin's wig or toupee was ridiculous - one of the worst I have ever seen on TV. Really hard to take him and the movie seriously. Overall very flat production well below par of average Hallmark romance movie. I'm pretty forgiving on plot quality with Hallmark movies as long as they achieve some genuine feel-good moments in contrast to the Hollywood garbage. This film did not do that.

Lame

[rwl-95430 · 4/10 · 29 June 2020]

Just boring. I realize Hallmark rehashes the same topics time after time. This is just one of the really bad ones. I wasn't real fond of the casting either. They just didn't mix well.

Same as so many others

[idahogran · 2/10 · 5 October 2020]

Hallmark is going to start loosing some of their audience. Movies have been really bad. Same story line, chemistry off, and so much more.this one is at the top. If Ben is wearing a toupe it's a really bad one.

I love hallmark movies but....

[shanrae-02941 · 3/10 · 24 June 2020]

Made an account just to rate this movie.

It was a horrible movie. I love Hallmark movies but I'm upset that they won the competition even after their awful attitude.

They do the same thing with the movies about best friends who are getting married to other people and then magically fall in love with each other right before they're supposed to get married.

There is nothing good about rewarding bad character.

Clothes switch

[guyrogers-19989 · 2/10 · 9 July 2020]

In the last scene of this trite movie, the main characters make up. When they move towards the barn they have totally different outfits on. This is a big goof. I'm not sure of the preceding scene where they were at the contest what they were wearing as I did not want to rewind and watch that part again.

All hail Hallmark for representing the tapestry of humanity in all its beautiful colors.! Oh,wait....

[dallaseleventh · 1/10 · 25 June 2020]

Diversity and Hallmark: oxymoron in its truest meaning. Hallmark has a pattern that they follow, and that pattern excludes vast segments of the real world. I get that they are trying to tap into the Harlequin novel idea of romance, but do we have to eliminate 3/4 of the planet to do that? It's 2020, Hallmark, and given the era we are living in, isn't it long over-due that these tired, exclusionary visages were broken?

Two competitive childhood friends reconnected amongst the olives at the fall festival.

[cgvsluis · 5/10 · 11 April 2022]

A lot of competition between childhood friends Nicole and Jake. Their grandfathers started an olive oil making farm/business together that ended on less than amiable terms...creating two neighboring farms and businesses.

This year Nicole is taking over the business from her grandfather and wants to expand the business...only Jake who is now a lawyer finds a document that disputes the property line and halts her progress.

This brings Jake back for the fall festival...can these two clear up a lot of misunderstandings?

There was some awkwardness in the interaction between cast members, particularly at the beginning of the film. The jocular competition became fun after awhile and I appreciated that Jake's grandfather was so kind to Nicole throughout the film.

It was interesting to see a little of the olive oil industry, something I have enjoyed on Turkish TV for awhile (shout out to a great series called Dolunay). Was this my favorite hallmark romance, no...but still better than a lot of what is on tv at the moment.