It Was Always You (2021 TV Movie) User Reviews

pretty good for a Hallmark movie, some flaws

[Firegirlie51 · 7/10 · 28 February 2021]

In this movie, we see a woman finding herself when she sets aside the expectations she has made based on what she "should" be doing rather than what she wants, thanks to the help of the leading man. I loved the chemistry between the leads and liked that the initial love interest was not portrayed as a bad person, just not a good fit for her. I am happy to see the general storyline of Hallmark movies is improving over the years - she was finally making decisions aligned with her true intentions with the help of another person, rather than falling in love and having her ambitions sidelined.

Nonetheless, this movie was way too simple. Travelling and being a natural wanderer with curiosity for other places/cultures, versus not travelling at all and wanting to stay in the lab/office all day... there is no in between! The conversations between the leads were deep but at the same time very one dimensional. It seemed like a lot of their conversations were voicing the same "deep" thoughts. It would have been more fun to see them doing fun things together while at the same time establishing a deeper connection, like at the oyster restaurant and with the dancing. And, while he helped her grow a lot, I would have liked to see her help him grow more too.

Also, I had a gripe with the breakup between George and Lizzie: Hallmark seems to have these relationships that are clearly not right, but nonetheless exist in an advanced stage; and when the couple inevitably breaks up due to not being right for one another, there is somehow absolutely zero heartbreak. Maybe it's just because I can't relate, but that seems very unrealistic. But I get for plot reasons that they have to move forward and get the two leads together once the inevitable breakup has happened. I did like that they had a time jump to make it a bit more natural that she was okay with her ex-fiance dating their employee.

Finally, the historical nature of the relationship between the leads could have been a bit more teased out before 10 minutes before the movie was over. I was a bit taken aback when (spoiler) David told Elizabeth he had loved her since he was 13. It made sense given the information we had received by that point in the movie and wasn't totally out of left field, but it also did not seem like the most natural progression. It would have been better to have received more of this sort of perspective through his conversations with his sister about Elizabeth, and to have shown that he was bummed out about Elizabeth and George. I guess we did hear him telling her about things she had done in the past that clearly showed he had been paying more attention to her than she would have thought, but for some reason it just didn't seem like enough. Maybe I am hung up on the fact that they didn't really focus on how they got to now, and how he had felt when she started dating his brother.

Overall though, I would definitely recommend for the cuteness and the chemistry.

Real life vs dreamland

[TheCheeseMistress · 7/10 · 11 April 2021]

A woman torn between her hyper stiff fiancé who has "first boyfriend" tattooed on his face, with whom she has absolutely nothing in common and is completely oblivious of her emotions and indifferent to every single thing she says, and his manic pixie dream guy brother who spends his time playing white savior to starving children in the third world, probably flying a vintage plane around the world because, you know, he's that cool. Who is she going to pick..? You'll have to watch it to find out..

The scenery is a joy to watch and the story is well written, just poorly executed with over-the-top one-dimensional characters.

(Possibly, maybe, a spoiler. I don't think it's a spoiler at all) As for the one review that mentions going after an engaged person, I don't think this movie does that at all. In fact, the script is clearly aware of that issue and handles it perfectly. He never seduces her, he exposes her to a different approach to life by his mere presence, you can't call that seducing someone. (Now solid spoiler ahead) And the possibility of them starting their relation right away, which would be unquestionably unacceptable adds to the thrill of the story, planting a doubt throughout the last third of the movie with a satisfactory pay-off that leaves everyone happy.

We can't play moral police with every tiny detail of a movie, they need to be able to challenge our pre-conceived notions of right and wrong in order to create situations in which our heroes are trapped in dilemmas where the limits between those two become no so clear, which is where the magic happens that leads to them finding their way out through some struggle that will ultimately make them wiser, stronger, happier than they were before.

Otherwise we'd end up with stories that just skip to the happy ending.

It Was Always You

[ISmellSnow · 8/10 · 28 February 2021]

This was a great storyline with great acting. Please let's have a sequel!

Delightful Rom-Com

[catjfaux · 9/10 · 1 March 2021]

I was completely enchanted with this romantic and funny film featuring Tyler Hynes and Erin Krakow, while watching it last night on our DVR. They have "zing," the word used in the movie for chemistry, and it is not just because we are told in the movie that they do. There were real, laugh out loud moments, great one liners and crackling exchanges between the characters. I loved the romantic confession at the end of the movie that perfectly mirrored an earlier moment. I also loved the idea that a true love challenges you to remember and be your true self. This seemed to be the central theme of the film, and the wonderfully spunky Paula Shaw (who really should be in more Hallmark films!) was the one to expound on this theme for us as the grandma. This movie felt fresh in the world of Hallmark films and stayed with me after watching it. Sometimes a Hallmark movie is enjoyable enough in the moment, but the next day I barely remember what happened in the film, as though it was a vapor or cotton candy. This film has more to recommend it. It is truly a delight.

Tyler Hynes never disappoints.

[Racingphan2 · 7/10 · 1 March 2021]

Tyler Hynes of Saving Hope always adds zip and life to even the most lifeless movie. He can even brew up some chemistry with Erin Krakow from Army Wives. And she's usually as dull as dishwater. I'll also add a special mention for the supporting cast of Canadian actors. And keep an eye on Erin's wig. It changes position from scene to scene.

Best Movie Not the Typical Hallmark Script!

[bemad-91085 · 10/10 · 3 March 2021]

This is the best Hallmark movie I have seen in a long time, the story was great, different from the standard Hallmark movie!! Tyler Hynes is not the usual Hallmark leading man! He has a edge that keep you guessing and keeps you wanting more Tyler! Erin Krakow looked fantastic and perfect actor for this movie!! For me it's a definitely a 10!!!

It has to be you

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 17 February 2022]

The premise is not an original one, but sounded quite nice and had the potential to be thoughtfully and movingly done. Tyler Hynes is worth watching in many of his films, though there have been quite a few times where he is much better than the film itself. Am not as keen on Erin Krakow, when the character is well written she is good but when the character is not she can come over as too cold and passive. Enough of 2021's Hallmark films are worth a peek.

'It Was Always You' is one of those films that is worth a peek, but for me it isn't a must. My feelings veered between mixed to positive. As far as the 2021 Hallmark films go, 'It Was Always You' is not one of the best or one of the worst. As far as the 2021 Love Ever After entries go too (the only bad one that year being 'Beverly Hills Wedding'), it is one of the middle faring ones. It is a long way from flawless, but for me there was a lot to like about it and is namely carried by the leads and their chemistry.

Am going to start with the not so good things. The story does very little new, while it is a change of pace from the usual settings/scenarios seen typically with Hallmark there is very little doubt about how things will map out and how it would all end. Part of me felt that there were elements that could have gone into more depth and felt less hurried, especially the break up and the relationship's context (which to me was revealed a bit out of nowhere).

Giles Panton didn't seem comfortable and is on the bland side as a character that is a fairly tired variation of one of Hallmark's most overused character cliches. The final moments were a bit abrupt, despite being sweet.

However, there are many things that 'It Was Always You' does well. It's nicely shot and even better looking is the quite picturesque scenery. The music is not overused or intrusive, unlike some Hallmark films, and the film is competently directed throughout. The script is a nice mix of playfully comedic, charmingly romantic and not too schmaltzy sentiment.

Despite its predictability and imperfect pacing, the story is charming and light-hearted. The characters generally are worth caring for, excepting George. Krakow is neither cold or passive, she doesn't overdo it while not phoning it in. Hynes' character David is not easy to warm to at first but the character goes on a progression, something that Hynes brings out with easy charm. The chemistry between the two is strong, playful and with the right amount of heart the more it grows.

In summary, pleasant and inoffensive but didn't wow me. 6/10.

Best Hallmark Movie

[gannesley · 10/10 · 28 March 2021]

The writing of this script was fantastic. Such a tender story of finding self love and discovering who you really are and what you really want with the help of a very supportive friend from childhood. The love story between David and Elizabeth was so heart warming. The magic created by their characters was off the charts. Erin Krakow and Tyler Hynes should be so proud!! Every actor in this movie was superb. I absolutely loved it!!

nice

[Kirpianuscus · 11 September 2021]

It is very easy to see it as a real nice surprise from Hallmarmark. The touch of Sabrina works just well, the acting is more than good, the humor works and the tree house, golden flying pigs , the travel notes are just seductive. So, a film just nice , proposing, sure, familiar Hallmark recipe but proposing few drops of spices just inspired placed.

Nice ending

[Jackbv123 · 6/10 · 2 March 2021]

I don't like poaching stories. By poaching I mean a character setting sights on someone who is engaged. That's what David does, and as a matter of fact, so does the dental hygienist. I'm old fashioned. While engaged isn't married, I still think it should mean "not available" as long as the engagement is active. So I'm down 2-3 stars right off the bat.

So let's try to overlook that part and go from there. Whenever Tyler Hynes was on the screen, the movie was good. He had great chemistry with Erin Krakow. I still think the Krakow is a bit passive as an actor, so it was up to Hynes to create the sparks and he did. David had the witty dialogue. Elizabeth was mostly a foil until later in the movie.

Any time Giles Panton was on the screen (except for the scene by the car with Hynes) the movie was bad. George was a ridiculous character and part of that was Panton's acting, but only part.

Elysia Rotaru was pretty good as Louise.

The story follows the pretty standard lines until near the end. The inevitable parting of the leads was done a little differently than usual and then the last scene between Hynes and Krakow was very well written and acted.

The ridiculous screenplay screamed 'abort' this nonsense

[hooper-65382 · 1/10 · 10 May 2021]

There have been many films with this very same premise. Mismatched couple usually involving a workaholic fiancé and suddenly the wife-to-be meets the person who was meant to be her soul mate. Some films do a fine job but you need minimal ingredients i.e. Decent screenplay and actors with chemistry. Enter Eren playing Liz and her fiances globe trotting and borderline insane brother David.

Why borderline insane? Erin and George's mother and family are deep asleep at 2am when she (and presumably all others) is jolted out of bed by ear piercingly loud, blaring hard rock music. She rushes downstairs.... David it's 2am...you'll wake your mother and your entire family! Now the screenplay goes off the rails creating a selfish, self centered, unfeeling and insanely inconsiderate David who could not care less. I'm still on Tibetan he replies. Obviously, the screen writers created a David monster who will not, at his age, be changing his personality disorder.

At this point a little voice spoke to me: 'abort, abort, abort.' I do hope the film went on to have the mother take a large wooden paddle to David, her utterly uncaring and disrespectful son.

Cute RomCom

[toncincin · 9/10 · 2 March 2021]

To the reviewer who said LeAnn Rimes wrote How Do I Live - WRONG WRONG WRONG. Diane Warren wrote it. LeAnn Rimes recorded it first. Trisha Yearwood recorded it second. Trisha's version was used in Con Air because Disney Pictures thought 14 year old LeAnn's version sounded too young for the adult-themed movie. Personally, I think Trisha's version far outweighs Rimes' version. It was perfect in this film also.

That being said ...

This was a cute movie. I am not usually a fan of Erin Krakow. When I see Tyler Hynes - I always think of the slime friend he was on Heartland ... but he's growing in me. He's been in quite a few Hallmark movies the last few years...and he is VERY believable in a romantic lead. Erin is good in this movie too. She is believable as Elizabeth, the woman who did not originally follow her dreams - but found herself listening to the adventures of her fiancé's brother - and remembering her dreams. She realized that she chose a comfortable life with her fiancé over the adventure she craved when she was younger.. She did not seek out another man - she and David were always attracted to each other. There was no "cheating" involved. She left on an adventure - she didn't dump her fiancé to be with David. Yes - they come together in the end ... but it's a year later.

As for the reviews who rag on Erin's hair - for most of the movie, she never thought of herself; hence the disheveled hairdo. The last few scenes of the movie, it was styled very cute - signifying that she finally looked to herself first. Not sure why people aren't getting this! But to review a movie and solely complain about an actor's hair? PLEASE!

This is a cute and fun romcom. I'll watch it again.

Eventually overcomes a very annoying beginning; Erin Krakow & Tyler Hynes match up nicely

[MichaelByTheSea · 7/10 · 4 January 2022]

The first really annoying scene was at the restaurant that wouldn't sell a slice of Key lime pie unless the customer orders and eats 3 dozen oysters, which appears to be all it sells. It employs a waitress who brings 2 bottles of beer to customers who ordered a Chardonnay and a water, then drops off a check without apologizing. That's not charming and a restaurant like that would likely (and should) go out of business. That said, it does set up a nice moment later on.

The movie also goes a little overboard in making Erin Krakow's Elizabeth and Giles Patton's George seem like fun hating nerd robots. George is basically a caricature and the scene where Lizzie places a complicated ice cream order (presumably meant as an homage to Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally) was not endearing (although she was thoughtful enough to hand the worker a written list).

Tyler Hynes' David comes across as a pleasant free spirited guy at first, but he orders ice cream without having any money and then selfishly and thoughtlessly plays bad, really loud rock music in the kitchen at 2am which wakes up Lizzie (and presumably everyone else). He then interferes with Lizzie's wedding appointments after promising not to.

But, eventually, the movie settles into a more enjoyable groove (love the use of "How Will I live"). And every artist on the planet will have artist studio envy once they see the location of Louise's studio. The house is also quite lovely and the cool treehouse is worth a star just by itself.

I enjoyed the gradual awakening by Lizzie and her growing affection for David. I just wish he was a cousin instead of George's brother, although that was handled gracefully at the end.

It's probably a 6 star movie but that treehouse was really cool.

Not sure how I feel about this movie

[hallmarkmov · 5/10 · 31 May 2021]

Those are very heavy bangs! It bothered me for about half the movie. Other than that a pleasant story we've seen over and over. Girl is going to marry a "boring guy" but is meant to end up with his fun, been around the world, brother. The grandma is funny, the mom and sister don't seem to really care where the main guy is. Not sure I like the message that you should leave the steady boring guy for a guy with no roots, no steady job, but "challenges you". They did a good job making George a douchebag, pretty convinced he was sleeping with the dental assistant all along and didn't want to get married to Elizabeth. Seems like no one ever throws things away in this family with all those boxes and books that had hidden notes. There was also a very fancy tree house and missed what the relevance was? It says the movie was filmed in Victoria BC and I can't get over how the sun was never out! Cloudy throughout the entire movie!

Magic and lots and lots of Snacks

[Hzs_7 · 10/10 · 28 February 2021]

Why does everyone keep saying Erin's hair is a wig? Unless she's just been wearing a wig all the time in real life, it's not a wig. She has this hairstyle on all her recent social media. She wears a wig on When Calls the Heart. But I digress.

I loved this film. Erin and Tyler are magic together, and the whole supporting cast was fantastic. I really liked how the female lead actually goes for what she wants and doesn't have to choose between that and romance. The flash forward at the end was slightly abrupt, but they're constrained somewhat by the hallmark conventions of movie length. That said, this rose well above and beyond your typical Hallmark film. It had drama, comedy, romance. Most of all, it had snacks in nearly every scene!

I really hope they make a sequel or a trilogy, or at least have Tyler and Erin in more movies together.

Poor Giles Panton...

[Pryderi · 7/10 · 2 March 2021]

This isn't the first time that Giles Panton has played the Wrong Boyfriend on Hallmark. Fortunately he has had better roles elsewhere. And he's pretty good in that role. Maybe someday he'll get to be the lead.

I'm with the crowd that didn't like Erin Krakow's hair.

Aside from those things it works well enough. Not the best Hallmark movie, not the worst. It accomplishes what it set out to do.

Loved It

[lrt-33378 · 9/10 · 7 March 2021]

The 2 lead actors are always a fan favorite. This is the only Hallmark movie introduced this year that I enjoy. I watch it whenever I see it is on. I see comments on Erin's hair, but I think it suits her character in this role.

Cute

[TheDyingGirl · 7/10 · 13 July 2021]

Not too bad. Something in the story line was missing though.

Darling

[shwienndi · 10/10 · 28 February 2021]

I'm not usually a hallmark fan, but this one caught my attention. Their chemistry was cute and the aesthetic was so calming. Not too cheesy, either, which I really appreciated.

Not a faithful partner Liz

[robsuey · 7/10 · 11 April 2021]

I actually liked the movie but....the whole time of this movie is that the lead woman Liz is betrothed to her fiance George. And instead flirts with his brother the whole time they are apart. That's just wrong. What false pretenses...

Had potential but male characters were intolerable

[EPMD57 · 5/10 · 13 May 2021]

The writers couldn't have made George more of a stiff if they tried. He was jarringly unrealistic, while David would probably be infuriating in real life. I really liked Erin's character and would have enjoyed her working with a much better script and more intriguing male counterparts.

I know Hallmark doesn't do subtle very well, but I foolishly keep hoping they would write characters who aren't completely one trait or another.

Worth watching for Erin alone, though.

So cute. Kinda Fuuny. Great Chemistry!

[kathryn_day · 10/10 · 13 March 2021]

This was one of the better Hallmark movies. It was very cute, kinda funny, and the two leads had great chemistry. I'd watch it again.

Good Hair!

[rebekahrox · 7/10 · 2 March 2021]

I disagree with the apparent majority opinion about Erin's hair. I liked the different cut from the way her fans are used to seeing her (with the inauthentic modern flowing locks in 19th century Canada). It gave her an edge which improved her usual placidly wholesome look.

I also disagree with the the chemistry between Tyler Hines and Ms Krakow. Tyler Hines was his usual rough around the edges attractive self. I really usually like him. But his character in this one was irritating. He was out of line about things that were none of his business. The whole relationship bordered on the inappropriate and stalkerish.

And why did the fiance brother not just get a boat over to the island when the bridge was under repair? Ridiculous.

I did like the end. I'm a real fan of the "One year later" endings. I like that Erin followed her dreams of travel. Tyler's childhood note to Erin was really sweet and romantic. And I liked that the stick-in-the-mud brother had finally loosened up with the right woman.

Could have been so much better

[ramosmeghan · 5/10 · 6 March 2021]

There's nothing inherently bad about this movie, but it's just not very original and definitely trying too hard to be "perfect." Characters had so little chemistry until near the end and what little personality they had felt forced, even cringey at times. Pretty sure Erin Krakow is wearing a wig, just...why? And they made George out to be basically an automaton. I hate to be a couch critic because I love a good hallmark even if it's predictable, but this one just fell flat for me.

Wonderful!

[londongirl-52414 · 10/10 · 2 March 2021]

I watched so many hallmark movies wih Tyler Hynes, but this is my favourite. It was funny and charming. They had wonderful chemistry. I liked how he always knew how to bing the best in her. I liked the teasing, dancing. It is one of the best hallmark movies i have seen.