Lights, Camera, Romance (2021 TV Movie) User Reviews

I watched it

[keithblythe4 · 5/10 · 8 March 2023]

Uhm, yeah. What do I say. When you know a movie is a low budget endeavor going in. Your expectations should be modified. The movie is being shown on a family network as well. Anyone expecting an exact adaptation of the novel. Restrain yourself.

The movie is full of young actors trying to use this as their stepping stones. To their big break. There are some good performances. Then faces you've seen before. Chelsea Hightower, formerly of Dancing with the Stars makes an appearance. She adds a believable role as a dance studio instructor. Who's a friend to the lead actress.

The entire movie circles around the lead actress and her problems.

Would I watch it again? Maybe, but with so many other show's. I'm sure I could find something else. Other than this movie.

I dunno...

[krs-92202 · 5/10 · 12 September 2021]

I was trying to see it for what it was, since it was a Jane Austen novel, but seeing this version was a bit tough to watch. There were some cringey scenes but it was an okay movie.

Cringy

[hilary_mae-912-80561 · 1/10 · 17 September 2021]

Dreadful acting and storyline. The protagonist actress ...can't. Overacts, fake. Fake fake fake and incredibly annoying.

I only made it part way through the movie and I had to stop. It's truly bad, so don't waste your time.

Bad acting

[provoarnolds · 2/10 · 27 April 2021]

Wanted to like it but couldn't finish because the acting was so unnatural and difficult to watch.

Interesting story, terrible acting

[Jackbv123 · 4/10 · 9 March 2023]

The first thing I noticed was that all the actors seemed like they were acting. Most of the scenes did not seem natural. Of the four main actors, they all had really bad moments, most many bad scenes.

I never read Austin's Emma so I had to look it up. Since this is a modern setting where Emma is a famous actress, there are going to be diversions from the original. Looking at the story as a stand alone, the story is interesting and not the usual Saturday night fare for Hallmark or in this case Great American Family. Until well past halfway I wasn't sure where the story was going or even who would end up with whom. The story ends up falling into one of the more common plot lines. Some of the storytelling is a little clumsy.

The sets are cheap. When Emma is filing on set, those sets are especially cheap looking. There's no real scenery. The dialogue is inconsistent. There are a few good moments, but most of it is bad. The background music is inconsistent with sections that are distracting.

The movie is family friendly but probably above the heads of children.

Some clever bits but needs a wider age range

[SunnyDaise · 4/10 · 27 January 2023]

There's nothing awful about this Jane Austen mish-mash, but unlike the originals, the characters are all too similar, especially age-wise. It relies too much on being a gimmick, rather than being something for different viewers to connect with. Yes Austen does focus on the young adults (partly because she didn't live especially long), but she showed them in context of three generations. A) this gives more depth and B) when you re-watch over the years, you identify with different characters and situations so appreciate the movies more. This wouldn't happen with the narrow perspectives of Lights, Camera, Romance.

Fun action. Cool cast. Sort of air-heady.

[JBThackery · 10/10 · 1 July 2021]

Production quality is fantastic, for an airhead review. Always a pleasant scene, scene after scene. Cool cast. Mainly the photography is beautifully balanced; John Lyde comes through again. Lighting and color pleasing to the eye. Deals with real-life emotion. Much variety in story flow. Every set is refreshing and new. Editing very smooth. Continuity keeps your attention. Gives hope for airheads. Sweet film.

With a friend like Emma, who needs a saboteur?

[CranberriAppl · 10 July 2023]

Whenever I see a movie about matchmaking and a lead character named Emma, my mind immediately thinks it's some Jane Austen adaptation. (I actually just assumed and got confirmation when I came to the page to review it). It is an extremely loose adaptation, but all you need to know is this movie has the worst ending and you should just avoid it.

Not only does Emma force a friendship with Hope, she sets her up on an awkward date, tries to force a second date completely oblivious that the date is in love with her (Emma), the date then humiliates Hope...Gray and Hope become friends and even date, and once Emma's relationship with Barry doesn't pan out, and she sees Gray not actively pining for her, so now she wants him, barely hides it, and Hope gets shafted again! What a joke. Hope should stay away from this entire group!

I ended up FF just to see if I was right about Emma and Gray, because I could see it coming a mile away. When I saw Gray and Hope getting closer, I was gaining respect for the movie perhaps going the non-typical tropey route. But alas, that was premature. Nobody was encouraging Gray to pursue a relationship with someone who was actually interested and who paid attention to him. Emma was such a self-centered character and I don't think I've ever seen any version of "Emma" that was this bland and this unlikeable. Everything that happens affects her in some way because that's how she sees it. Even convos other characters have that didn't start out about her end up being about her. She literally does not care that she wrecked Hope's chances of love TWICE. Emma literally got everything she wanted in this movie even though she was like a wrecking ball for Hope, Gray (for a while), and even Zane! I mean, was Barry "using" her for acting tips supposed to be her comeuppance for everything else? Please!

The acting was so bland and uninspiring. Being a lower budget movie does not mean quality acting can't be found. Literally no inflection in voices, no sense of these characters being relatable. Nothing. I saw the Barry actor in a Lifetime "thriller," and he was so much better there. I think I recognize a few of the others also. Gray was like a Tubi version of Rob Mayes.

I'm not a movie snob, which is why I watch Tubi and gave this movie a chance. I am a squish at heart, so I am a sucker for a romcom. I love Pretty Woman but I also LOVE My Best Friend's Wedding (that movie had the exact right ending). I'm in my 30s and don't see that changing. But this plot did not follow at all and again, even if the budget is lower, that's no excuse. Even B movies from the 30s, 40s, and 50s, even the 90s had sensible scripts. Just not big budgets and stars. And Emma was just not the best lead. Such a wrecking ball.

Three stars bc I finished it, but I low key resent myself for watching it. Honestly, just watch Clueless for an amazing version of Emma with a relatable, unselfish, and well-acted character who deserved the happy ending. (Also Cher didn't wreck Ty's life over Josh).