Don't Go Breaking My Heart (2021 TV Movie) User Reviews

Fun, Great Chemistry, Good Takeaways

[wendynielsen-14151 · 8/10 · 31 March 2021]

Don't Go Breaking My Heart is one of the better Hallmark movies for 2021. Great script written by Nina Weinman, who consistently delivers great movies for the network. Fun idea of a boot camp for the broken hearted but also realistic and totally possible that this business exists. LOVED the supporting cast who played the boot campers.

Italia Ricci and Ryan Paevey had strong chemistry, felt believable as a viewer. I was invested in their storyline.

Movie felt like it had a fully fleshed out story with a good budget (featured a Shawn Mendes song at the end).

I'm gonna be honest...

[MIssM19 · 6/10 · 3 April 2021]

...I was expecting this to be terrible, but I was surprised.

Miranda runs a Breakup Boot Camp, where you get over getting dump in six weeks. Ben's girlfriend breaks up with him and his sister convinces him to go there with her. So our two leads meet. At first, Ben was quite skeptical (so was I) but seeing an opportunity for a job promotion and after running into his ex, he decides to attend.

It's nothing we haven't seen before, you know how this goes from the first moment, but the leads have good scenes and believable chemistry. And yes, I thought the plot was stupid at first (people paying to get over a break up?) but amazingly, it made sense (Maybe it was Italia Ricci's acting convincing me). Although I kept being distracted, my attention always returned to the screen.

Also, extra points for the flash forward. I appreciate seeing a glimpse of the characters in the future.

Finally!

[jimbojim-03739 · 7/10 · 28 March 2021]

Finally a Hallmark movie that showcased the best for Italia Ricci acting skills!! Looking refreshed, confident, and working with a solid script, italia own the role of breakup boot camp leader Miranda. Cute original story that is interesting yet charming! Enjoyable and fun! 7 stars.

OK

[Jackbv123 · 6/10 · 30 March 2021]

The story uses a couple of common premises. Reporter does a hit piece. A break up boot camp is a slightly different take on: romance expert has her own romance problems. Throw in the trope of: can't date a client so we're just friends.

The reporter angle usually goes one of two ways and this follows one of them.

Ryan Paevey and Italia Ricci connect from early on. Watching them together was enjoyable. Their conversations are a little deeper than in some of these movies.

Standard Hallmark movie, attractive couple quarrel then get together.

[TxMike · 24 October 2021]

As is most often the case with Hallmark movies it is set in Portland but filmed in Vancouver, B. C. and surrounding locations. It is an attractive, if lightweight, movie and my wife and I were suitably entertained.

The theme is a six-week program where people meet one evening a week to do exercises to help them get over a difficult breakup. One of them is a reporter who initially goes with his sister, then is asked by his editor to do a story. He and the pretty instructor became attracted to each other. Naturally when the pretty instructor finds out she is indignant. But as all Hallmark movies go, the attractive people find a way to get together in the end.

This type of movie is a good change from all the movies with excessive violence and filthy language. Hallmark movies are nice, decent entertainment.

On DVD from our public library.

Not great, but cute!

[smt_216 · 7/10 · 24 June 2021]

I'll be honest - I mostly watch Ryan Paevey's movies because of his good looks! I still think his best acting was as Nathan on General Hospital. That said, I thought he and Italia Ricci were both fantastic in this movie! I loved their chemistry and banter, and I thought the plot was also quite creative. The movie was lacking in several areas, and that's why I won't call it "great." But, it was still an enjoyable and cute story, and I will never complain about getting to look at Ryan! ;)

As phony as the matte scenery!

[Leela1923 · 6/10 · 31 March 2021]

It was hard sitting thru this Hallmark movie. Slow moving with terrible production values and directing. To top it off the leads had NO chemistry whatsoever in my opinion. Only stayed with it for Ryan Paevey and even that was hard.

Good Movie

[pattersonjamie-12079 · 9/10 · 31 March 2021]

Based on the commercials, I didn't expect to like this movie, but I like both Italia Ricci and Ryan Paevey a lot, so I gave it a chance. Both of the actors did a great job and the story was good. I'd watch again.

Decent movie

[rhonnie-43139 · 5/10 · 10 April 2021]

I watched it once and have not watched it again. It has been on TV many many times.

So even though it was a decent movie and the characters and story were acceptable to me, it wasn't interesting enough for me to watch it again.

Good leads

[dpowelldwp · 8/10 · 22 May 2021]

I'm not saying that the movie was amazing, but Italia and Ryan are very likable and easy to watch. If the actors were different I have a feeling it would be a 6. Nice light Hallmark touches, don't take it too seriously and just kick back and enjoy.

Not Terribly Original But Ricci and Paevey Are Well-Worth Watching

[mfreburg-946-137541 · 7/10 · 15 March 2024]

I didn't intend to review this movie since it's over two years old, but after reading other user reviews, I had to rebut some of them.

This wasn't my favorite Italia Ricci film but she is always good--and usually great. Ryan Paevey is always good as well, and if one pays attention, these two obviously display chemistry here. One reviewer (who seemed to have a grudge against men), makes out Paevey to be some sort of monster in this film--no way! The accusations were not remotely accurate. Should you doubt it, watch the movie. Paevey never showed any bad intentions, and certainly wasn't the axe murderer this reviewer made him out to be.

The other supporting actors here were good as well. I really liked Jordana Largy playing Paevey's sister and Caitlin Styker playing Ricci's business partner. The only supporting actor here of whom I'm not a fan is Matthew James Dowden, who plays "Bink." I've seen him in a number of rom-coms and he always annoys me. But that could just be me.

In general this is a good film. It's not terribly original and it's predictable, but it is also enjoyable.

Love heals

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 27 January 2022]

Expectations were rather mixed. The story did have potential to have a more mature theme than the usual Hallmark film, which it did do regarding break-ups, and handle it sincerely without being over-serious. It is familiar ground formula wise but the theme was very interesting. Ryan Paevey can be watchable dependent on the film, but have always been less sold on Italia Ricci. While 2021 was an uneven year for Hallmark, they did have some winners.

'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', the second Spring Fling film of the year and the lesser one, is not one of them. It had potential to be, but while the potential is far from squandered it isn't fully lived up to at the same time and could have done more with the theme. As far as 2021 Hallmark films go, 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' is not one of the best. It is also a long way from being one of the worst. The good intentions are obvious and easy to appreciate, especially if you've been there, but there was a good film somewhere in 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' that doesn't properly materialise.

The best thing about 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'. Paevey is subtle and charming, never stiff and bored, and the biggest surprise of the film is seeing Ricci giving a good performance (one of her better ones in a Hallmark film) that doesn't come over as cold or robotic, understated and sincere. The supporting cast are solid.

Really appreciated the message and its good intentions and there are sweet and moving moments that inspire. The chemistry between Paevey and Ricci to me was there and it was like their performances, understated and genuine. Maybe there could have been more development in the relationship, but the two work well together. Hallmark wildly varies when it comes to music, while nothing out of the ordinary it is pleasant enough and fits.

However, the story didn't completely grab me. Did find it on the slow moving and thin side, and felt that it could have done with more warmth and charm. It is also despite the mature theme, which never goes skin deep, very formulaic with an ending that is not much of a surprise at all. The script is too talky in a fairly verbose way and while some of the more motivational parts were inspiring there was a tendency to preach too much.

Did find the production values disappointing this time, while some of the scenery is nice in its own way it is not authentic and let down by the too self-indulgent photography that cheapens it and less than tight editing. The central relationship could have developed more.

Overall, not great but watchable. 5/10.

Cute story ...

[toncincin · 8/10 · 31 March 2021]

This was actually a pretty cute story. Italia Ricci and Ryan Paevy are actually very good together. A sequel would be nice.

Now on to location! The sweeping views of the bay are laughable. Portland had no bays. There's a river. A big, wide river - but no bay. If Hallmark is going to use Portland as a "location" for their movies (but are filmed in British Columbia), they need to be more careful about showing the surrounding area in BC. They've done this before showing huge mountains in LaJunta, CO (The Christmas Train) - when LaJunta is on the easter plains - nowhere near mountains. Obviously, Hallmark thinks people don know these locations - so just throw it in there.

Insipid

[jmgimbel · 3/10 · 3 April 2022]

This is on the worst end of these churn em out rom coms. The lead actress is monotone, with zero sparkle or presence. It's beyond formulaic.

You don't care what happens cuz they don't bother to make you care. There's no reason he'd fall for her. Not that he's any great shakes. Beyond boring.

Ryan is so handsome

[kimraspberrytart · 10/10 · 5 April 2021]

It's really good to see Ryan in a movie without Cindy Busby, so I can watch it more than once.

Better than the usual Hallmark romance.

[bearcat-7 · 8/10 · 31 March 2021]

Yes we have seen this story before, but a good cast and not too sappy writing lifts this above the usual romance trope.

The leads have real chemistry, Ryan Paevey is particularly good.

A 10 just for the kiss itself.

[aussiegirl-65915 · 10/10 · 16 August 2021]

Did I witness a proper kiss rather than the closed lipped friends kiss that Hallmark seem to do.

Love Ryan in anything. Great actor or is he just playing himself.

Movie was enjoyable, great chemistry between Ryan and Italia.

Miranda Faraday (Italia Ricci)

[aab874 · 10/10 · 9 April 2021]

Favorite scene with

Miranda Faraday (Italia Ricci) - Very upset at Ben regarding his Expose rough draft on her and her Boot Camp.

8 for Hallmark

[manfredpeter-09628 · 8/10 · 20 February 2022]

Of course it' predictable as to ending but the journey that the two leads took together to facing their problems was really well done. The dialogue was believable and as another reviewer pointed out, I was invested in the characters.

Really, Really Loved this movie.

[druatlax · 9/10 · 15 April 2022]

Better than good acting, chemistry, story-line.... Really good. Like Hallmark for good feels, but the good feels start immediately, and continue through the good times, and the bad-- with lessons to be taught and learned. A wonderful slice of reality and redemption.

Favorite of Italian ricci

[hypzrkunt · 8/10 · 26 March 2022]

She's understated bu5 good. This one with Ryanpeevey is most enfjoyable. Beluev3 ch3mistry but believe her angst through the movie. Ryan is good but it is very similar to other roles.

The teacher needs the boot camp

[MickyG333 · 8/10 · 19 January 2023]

8.0 stars.

Ben (Paevey) had a very damaging breakup many years ago, and his sister had one recently. She brings him to a boot camp for people dealing with bad breakups. Miranda (Ricci) is a psychologist who runs the bootcamp and she also has baggage from a very injurious breakup of her own. Ben is secretly writing an article about this program, trying to find any loopholes, or dirty secrets about it. Ben and Miranda fall in love over time, but there are some ups and downs along the way, especially when Ben's secret is revealed.

I will start my tirade by saying that Ben is a first class jerk in this film. I suppose since every woman in the world wants to marry Paevey, his on screen character only appears to be cute and funny, rather than the true rascal he represents. But don't deny it, he is very much a tool. There are at least a half dozen times where his behavior is a red flag waving in our faces - bully alert, bully alert. The first time is when he is insulting Miranda (Ricci) outside of her own class. He feels the class is basically a joke, a waste of time. We understand that he doesn't realize who she is at that moment, but any person that would show such utter disrespect for a program with the aim of encouraging and helping people who are in emotional pain and sometimes bondage due to bad breakups...

When they are growing closer and you can see the relationship is getting more serious, even though she is still hesitant due to her own history of inability to adapt and move on, he is a very kind, patient, and humble guy. He adores her, and she is softening more and more, his gestures are helping her to be strong again, and yet there is a strange dichotomy in him as he is scheming behind her back. He is writing this story, not telling her of his plan to expose her for the fraud that he and his boss think that she is...there is some real treachery happening and his character is no doubt a commentary on the true nature a hypocritical reprobate. I had a hard time getting past those obvious flaws in this "nice" guys personality...

He comes around eventually, makes up for it with a glowing article which serves to praise and elevate Miranda rather than drag her through the mud. She forgives him quickly. It's a happy ending, but in real life this sort of behavior might cause irreparable damage. Let's not flirt with people's psychological well being next time. A woman in the real world would likely be permanently damaged by this level of betrayal. I shook my head in disgust, after watching him help her through a scary situation, and she shares her deep feelings with him, she became so vulnerable, and he told her it's okay, you can trust me...

finding the 'true person within the individual.'

[cronaldoister · 10/10 · 1 September 2022]

By 1980, a Seminar promoting Motivation and Inspiration had reached national acclaim for any interested person. As usual, I challenged the main leader and his presentation with a statement/question giving my impression of how one is able to compartmentalize many features of any interaction, and how could they improve one's personality. Immediately, I was hit up one side and down, front and back - from the audience and totally from the speaker, I was out of my league.

This movie is Excellent, perhaps the most true to life presentation Hallmark has ever made. And useful for the viewers to see that one can overcome a negative and find a positive truth within their life.

The buzz words are intended to drive an inspection of each one to reveal - who they are, or what are they doing to themselves. Then describe themselves when the hard work of integrity, honesty, and truth will reveal the true individual without social mannerisms or labels.

May I heartedly suggest as the major characters did find the strength and security we all seek, another movie should be made to continue their life story. The title -- 'I Choose Us' capturing the moment in time that should be the essence of their commitment, every day.

I have lived this basic lifestyle through operations, heart attack (23 years ago with 6 operations), cancer (beaten), family deaths and a second marriage over 38 years that incorporates the values I hold dear. My book is 'The Value of Three Words' on Amazon.

This movie does suggest getting rid of superficial manners and living a life of value - finding that true person.