I watched this film because of Meghan markle. Her acting was okay in this movie sometimes I find she overexgerrated. The premise was predictable since she gets back with him in the end at the same day her bff was supposed to marry the guy
18 Reviews
Worth watching
jewelch3 February 2021
Hallmark movie, nice and sweet and fades from memory quickly.
TxMike29 January 2019
My wife and I watched this movie at home on DVD from our public library. We watched it because it features Meghan Markle, now a member of the British Royal Family, but we got to know her from watching her on the TV series "Suits." This movie was made during the several year run of that TV series.
Here she is Washingtonian Amy Peterson, recent college graduate, with a nice boyfriend Hank. He is about to ask her to marry him when she tells him she has been offered a journalist job in Chicago. That throws a big wet blanket over everything, he doesn't propose, she goes away.
The story switches to 7 years later, she has just suggested a July 4th story about the people who put on big fireworks displays, the business her mom and dad are in. So she travels back home to visit and do a story.
So all that is really just setting up the real story, when she gets home she finds that her best friend is now engaged to be married to Hank and Amy is asked to help with wedding preparations.
Being a Hallmark movie everything is really tame, everyone smiles, I don't recall any angry moments, however a few tears were shed when things begin to unravel for the "happy" couple. Just a good movie to showcase Meghan Markle and we enjoyed it as light entertainment.
Here she is Washingtonian Amy Peterson, recent college graduate, with a nice boyfriend Hank. He is about to ask her to marry him when she tells him she has been offered a journalist job in Chicago. That throws a big wet blanket over everything, he doesn't propose, she goes away.
The story switches to 7 years later, she has just suggested a July 4th story about the people who put on big fireworks displays, the business her mom and dad are in. So she travels back home to visit and do a story.
So all that is really just setting up the real story, when she gets home she finds that her best friend is now engaged to be married to Hank and Amy is asked to help with wedding preparations.
Being a Hallmark movie everything is really tame, everyone smiles, I don't recall any angry moments, however a few tears were shed when things begin to unravel for the "happy" couple. Just a good movie to showcase Meghan Markle and we enjoyed it as light entertainment.
No spark
TheLittleSongbird1 November 2023
'When Sparks Fly' (2014)
Opening thoughts: Hallmark have proven many times that they are capable of making something watchable at least and the best of them are actually very good. Some of those being films with very unappealing premises but somehow managing to make something charming out of it. The premise was quite cute and Lochlyn Munro has been decent elsewhere. Am however not a fan of Meghan Markle, whether in acting or in real life, though it was interesting to see her before she became one of the world's most hated people.
'When Sparks Fly' has no spark whatsoever and really is as bad as has been said. There are worse films about that have nothing good about them (this has a couple despite being lost amidst the numerous major flaws), but it is for me definitely one of the worst films of a hit and miss and not particularly exceptional year for Hallmark. While only just about missing being down there as one of their overall worst. And this is coming from somebody who has always tried to be generous with their ratings and encouraging with their reviewing.
Good things: There are not many good things at all, but the scenery is quite nice and Munro has moments of easy going charm.
Bad things: Markle however is awful, she has little personality that is evident in some wooden line delivery, over-compensates at other points with some very affected facial expressions and comes over as very self absorbed. That her character is so impossible to endear to badly unbalances the film and actually wrecks it, a character with no real redeeming qualities seeemingly and with too many exaggerated negative traits to count (shallow-ness and arrogance being the most frequent, with no signs of learning from mistakes). She also has no chemistry with Munro, who as said does fare a lot better but there are other times where he seemed to know the material was bad and was not comfortable about it. The rest of the cast are bland and poorly utilised, Christopher Jacot looks confused and embarrassed in his screen time.
Also found the story execution very unrealistic, the worst of it exceeding breaking point in credibility straining. Especially the too pat and completely unwarranted ending. Namely because it was so hard to believe what anybody could possibly see in Markle's character and not being able to see through her motives and what she is like when it is so obvious made them come over as ridiculously naive.
Furthermore, all the characters are one dimensional and not fleshed out, basically bland typical Hallmark cliches. It is also very predictable, it's an old premise executed conventionally and with nothing new sprinkled with too much of a manipulative streak (with how Markle's character treats everybody else) that is distasteful and overdone.
Dialogue is awkward with the comedy being contrived and the drama being too sentimental. As said, the ending is far too neat and convenient. It was very obvious from the start what the final decision was, as it is one that is common with Hallmark and always with films with at least one unbearable lead character (one that always has one rooting desperately for the opposite to happen), and it is one that makes one go "why" because of how unearned it is.
Concluding: Overall, it really is that bad.
2/10.
Opening thoughts: Hallmark have proven many times that they are capable of making something watchable at least and the best of them are actually very good. Some of those being films with very unappealing premises but somehow managing to make something charming out of it. The premise was quite cute and Lochlyn Munro has been decent elsewhere. Am however not a fan of Meghan Markle, whether in acting or in real life, though it was interesting to see her before she became one of the world's most hated people.
'When Sparks Fly' has no spark whatsoever and really is as bad as has been said. There are worse films about that have nothing good about them (this has a couple despite being lost amidst the numerous major flaws), but it is for me definitely one of the worst films of a hit and miss and not particularly exceptional year for Hallmark. While only just about missing being down there as one of their overall worst. And this is coming from somebody who has always tried to be generous with their ratings and encouraging with their reviewing.
Good things: There are not many good things at all, but the scenery is quite nice and Munro has moments of easy going charm.
Bad things: Markle however is awful, she has little personality that is evident in some wooden line delivery, over-compensates at other points with some very affected facial expressions and comes over as very self absorbed. That her character is so impossible to endear to badly unbalances the film and actually wrecks it, a character with no real redeeming qualities seeemingly and with too many exaggerated negative traits to count (shallow-ness and arrogance being the most frequent, with no signs of learning from mistakes). She also has no chemistry with Munro, who as said does fare a lot better but there are other times where he seemed to know the material was bad and was not comfortable about it. The rest of the cast are bland and poorly utilised, Christopher Jacot looks confused and embarrassed in his screen time.
Also found the story execution very unrealistic, the worst of it exceeding breaking point in credibility straining. Especially the too pat and completely unwarranted ending. Namely because it was so hard to believe what anybody could possibly see in Markle's character and not being able to see through her motives and what she is like when it is so obvious made them come over as ridiculously naive.
Furthermore, all the characters are one dimensional and not fleshed out, basically bland typical Hallmark cliches. It is also very predictable, it's an old premise executed conventionally and with nothing new sprinkled with too much of a manipulative streak (with how Markle's character treats everybody else) that is distasteful and overdone.
Dialogue is awkward with the comedy being contrived and the drama being too sentimental. As said, the ending is far too neat and convenient. It was very obvious from the start what the final decision was, as it is one that is common with Hallmark and always with films with at least one unbearable lead character (one that always has one rooting desperately for the opposite to happen), and it is one that makes one go "why" because of how unearned it is.
Concluding: Overall, it really is that bad.
2/10.
A predictable, cringeworthy and completely underwhelming watch.
personal-181-93135328 January 2023
When Sparks Fly, a Hallmark TV movie, is as cringe-inducing and predictable as they come. It follows the formulaic romantic comedy drama, where two people from different worlds fall in love. Amy Peterson (Markle) is a young journalist trying to make it in the big city. She's unhappy with her current boyfriend Phil (Munro), who's handsome but talentless, and her work is suffering as a result. When circulation at the Chicago Post starts to dip, Amy's editor sends her back to her hometown to write an article about growing up with her parents' (MacKechnie and Samuda) fireworks business.
The film begins with the same old trope: Amy meets Ben (Connolly), a charming local veterinarian who just so happens to have grown up across the street from her family's fireworks business. Despite their conflicting lifestyles - she's a city girl, he's small-town resident - it doesn't take long for them to fall for each other. Of course, their relationship has its fair share of obstacles along the way that create tension and drama leading up to an inevitably happy ending that no one could foresee from miles away.
The main problem with When Sparks Fly is that there isn't enough depth or complexity in either story or character development. Markle and Connolly both fail to deliver any kind of emotional investment; their performances comes off as wooden and unnatural. The romance between the two of them falls flat because there isn't enough time spent building it up into something meaningful - it all feels rushed and forced - which is ultimately why this movie can't hold its own against more memorable romantic comedies like Love Actually or When Harry Met Sally.
The dialogue between characters also lacks any real sense of wit or charm - most conversations are mundane and lack any sort of spark that would bring life into the film itself. This is especially disappointing when certain lines should have elicited some emotion but ended up being nothing more than empty platitudes like "love will find its way" or "you can do anything you set your mind to".
When Sparks Fly may be good for those viewers looking for lighthearted entertainment during a lazy Sunday afternoon, but anyone expecting anything more than expected clichéd romance tropes might want to steer clear of this forgettable Hallmark production. Instead of investing your time in this trite flick, consider checking out something better such as Crazy Stupid Love or 500 Days Of Summer.
In conclusion, When Sparks Fly is not a memorable romantic comedy. Its shallow characters and predictable plot make it an underwhelming watch, that fails to deliver any genuine emotion or wit. While it may be suitable for easy viewing on a Sunday afternoon while doing your chores, viewers would be far better off investing their time in more substantial films of the same genre.
The film begins with the same old trope: Amy meets Ben (Connolly), a charming local veterinarian who just so happens to have grown up across the street from her family's fireworks business. Despite their conflicting lifestyles - she's a city girl, he's small-town resident - it doesn't take long for them to fall for each other. Of course, their relationship has its fair share of obstacles along the way that create tension and drama leading up to an inevitably happy ending that no one could foresee from miles away.
The main problem with When Sparks Fly is that there isn't enough depth or complexity in either story or character development. Markle and Connolly both fail to deliver any kind of emotional investment; their performances comes off as wooden and unnatural. The romance between the two of them falls flat because there isn't enough time spent building it up into something meaningful - it all feels rushed and forced - which is ultimately why this movie can't hold its own against more memorable romantic comedies like Love Actually or When Harry Met Sally.
The dialogue between characters also lacks any real sense of wit or charm - most conversations are mundane and lack any sort of spark that would bring life into the film itself. This is especially disappointing when certain lines should have elicited some emotion but ended up being nothing more than empty platitudes like "love will find its way" or "you can do anything you set your mind to".
When Sparks Fly may be good for those viewers looking for lighthearted entertainment during a lazy Sunday afternoon, but anyone expecting anything more than expected clichéd romance tropes might want to steer clear of this forgettable Hallmark production. Instead of investing your time in this trite flick, consider checking out something better such as Crazy Stupid Love or 500 Days Of Summer.
In conclusion, When Sparks Fly is not a memorable romantic comedy. Its shallow characters and predictable plot make it an underwhelming watch, that fails to deliver any genuine emotion or wit. While it may be suitable for easy viewing on a Sunday afternoon while doing your chores, viewers would be far better off investing their time in more substantial films of the same genre.
Terrible, Even for Hallmark Standards
rafficgi13 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Im a movie geek, i watch all sorts of movies, i even have Rom-com periods (going through it these days), but this is one of the worst rom-coms i've ever seen, and i literally mean that.
Im not a person that hates on stuff, especially when it comes to hallmark, home of the cheese, but the story and the execution were just absolutely terrible...
I mean, just analyze the plot, how can anybody relate to anything thats going on...
The main girl living in the big city for 7 years, acts like she just came out from a cave, she grew out in a provincial town, not in a bloody forest... Then she comes back home to find out her best friend blondie is marrying her first love, then this weird love triangle gets created, then phil joins in, and of course another weird love triangle gets created.
In all this Blondie does everything so we, the viewers, think shes a patriotist psychopath... So we can feel good at the end of the movie when the 2 main guys get together at her expense...
Despite basically everyone breaking up, everyone seems fine, damn, the same day blondie and main guy broke up, blondie makes amend with the person who just ruined the whole thing (main girl), and main guy even immediately proposed to main girl, and she said yes. The dude's a player, i hand him that...
Even the very end was terrible, main girl gives up her 'dream' job and basically goes back to living with her parents and having no real job to marry a guy she hasn't seen in 7 years and that she only met again 3 days prior to the actual proposal, the same guy who didn't even have a problem at getting with her best friend. Meaning that from an independent, strong, successful woman she became at the start of the movie, she now became the stereotipical woman and housewife that helps the husband achieve his goals sacrificing her's instead. In all this the main guy hasn't lost or compromised a single thing, if you actually pay attention to the movie, everything goes how he wants it to go, he sees main girl back, starts inviting her places cause he clearly shows feelings for her first. And at the end, when main girl gives up everything, he doesn't even propose to find a solution fitting both, he gets the girl and gets to keep everything he built, while main girl gave up everything she had built over 7 years of hard work. Im a guy, and im all for equality, and this movie definitely sends a great message to all the ladies out there "You never forget your first love, and if you happen to encounter your first love again, do everything in your power, including hurting the people closest to you, in order to satisfy your ego, and do not forget to do all the sacrifices yourself, your other half must not sacrifice anything for you" A relationship should not be about one successful person and 1 that sacrifices everything for the other one, it should be about 2 strong independent people finding a compromise because together they have a great bond and are even happier and stronger than they are on their own.
I was really, really close to stop watching this movie, but i have a strict conduct about movies, and its that if i start a movie, i've got to finish it, but the fact that i was so close to actually stop 25 minutes in, shows how bad of a movie this was, even for the basically non existent hallmark expectations i had.
Not even going to rank this movie, it does not deserve to. How such scripts get greenlit is beyond me.
Im not a person that hates on stuff, especially when it comes to hallmark, home of the cheese, but the story and the execution were just absolutely terrible...
I mean, just analyze the plot, how can anybody relate to anything thats going on...
The main girl living in the big city for 7 years, acts like she just came out from a cave, she grew out in a provincial town, not in a bloody forest... Then she comes back home to find out her best friend blondie is marrying her first love, then this weird love triangle gets created, then phil joins in, and of course another weird love triangle gets created.
In all this Blondie does everything so we, the viewers, think shes a patriotist psychopath... So we can feel good at the end of the movie when the 2 main guys get together at her expense...
Despite basically everyone breaking up, everyone seems fine, damn, the same day blondie and main guy broke up, blondie makes amend with the person who just ruined the whole thing (main girl), and main guy even immediately proposed to main girl, and she said yes. The dude's a player, i hand him that...
Even the very end was terrible, main girl gives up her 'dream' job and basically goes back to living with her parents and having no real job to marry a guy she hasn't seen in 7 years and that she only met again 3 days prior to the actual proposal, the same guy who didn't even have a problem at getting with her best friend. Meaning that from an independent, strong, successful woman she became at the start of the movie, she now became the stereotipical woman and housewife that helps the husband achieve his goals sacrificing her's instead. In all this the main guy hasn't lost or compromised a single thing, if you actually pay attention to the movie, everything goes how he wants it to go, he sees main girl back, starts inviting her places cause he clearly shows feelings for her first. And at the end, when main girl gives up everything, he doesn't even propose to find a solution fitting both, he gets the girl and gets to keep everything he built, while main girl gave up everything she had built over 7 years of hard work. Im a guy, and im all for equality, and this movie definitely sends a great message to all the ladies out there "You never forget your first love, and if you happen to encounter your first love again, do everything in your power, including hurting the people closest to you, in order to satisfy your ego, and do not forget to do all the sacrifices yourself, your other half must not sacrifice anything for you" A relationship should not be about one successful person and 1 that sacrifices everything for the other one, it should be about 2 strong independent people finding a compromise because together they have a great bond and are even happier and stronger than they are on their own.
I was really, really close to stop watching this movie, but i have a strict conduct about movies, and its that if i start a movie, i've got to finish it, but the fact that i was so close to actually stop 25 minutes in, shows how bad of a movie this was, even for the basically non existent hallmark expectations i had.
Not even going to rank this movie, it does not deserve to. How such scripts get greenlit is beyond me.
Predictable but sweet movie...
Design8817 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I wasn't sure I would like this movie especially with Meghan Markle in a lead role, but it was actually quite enjoyable. It had been rumored to be less successful and enjoyable than her other Hallmark movie "Dater's Handbook" but I preferred this one as there was a lot more 'down to earth' Hallmark warmth and charm about it. The ensemble cast worked really well together, the pacing was good and the story was enjoyable in spite of its glaring plot holes and predictable script. Another enjoyable version of a tried-and-true Hallmark premise.
Putting aside the initial implausibility of Amy (Meghan Markle) not having kept up with her family, friends and old boyfriend during her 7 years in Chicago enough to know that her best friend, who she apparently skypes regularly, is dating and about to marry her old boyfriend, Hank, the rest of the story is predictable but sweet.
She comes back home to write an article for her newspaper and also, as it suddenly turns out, to be Maid of Honor for her best friend Sammie's upcoming wedding to her old flame Hank.
Thinking she's well over him, she takes on the task of planning the wedding without concern.
She's dating a jet setting older businessman but apparently has never known that Hank had planned to ask her to marry him before she left town all those years ago. We aren't given any explanation why their relationship broke up even though she was only a 5hr flight away. Hank is very unassuming so I found it believable that he could be with either Amy or Sammie. There's a tenderness about him and the rekindling of their romance is well-played. It creeps up on the audience as much as it does on the pair of them which is great because it is so predictable it wouldn't work otherwise.
Here again, you have to ignore the fact that Phil and Amy aren't suited to each other but they manage to make an acceptable couple. Unlike the couplings in many other versions of this theme and the total lack of chemistry between Meghan and her two beaus in "Dater's Handbook". There is a very similar scene in both movies where Meghan is ignorant and uncomfortable at the table of a posh restaurant where her boyfriend orders her cordon bleu meal for her. But it's somehow softer here even though her "hamburger" comment is a bit too much. The same scenario is just cringeworthy in "Dater's Handbook".
Just as well she finds she still has feelings for Hank and it's mutual because Phil immediately takes an obvious interest in Sammie. It should be seen as rather rude and thoughtless of him since he's Amy's boyfriend and Sammie is the bride-to-be but it works here because we don't want to hate Amy and Hank for what's happening to them. Phil is so smitten he hangs around town to enjoy the 4th of July party and get to know Sammie better. Nice and tidy conciliation for losing your fiancée and having your wedding cancelled at the last moment. All's well that end's well.
It's probably the best acting I've seen from Ms Markle and the scenes with her darling parents are warm and enjoyable. I feel the movie was well cast, well acted and well directed.
Putting aside the initial implausibility of Amy (Meghan Markle) not having kept up with her family, friends and old boyfriend during her 7 years in Chicago enough to know that her best friend, who she apparently skypes regularly, is dating and about to marry her old boyfriend, Hank, the rest of the story is predictable but sweet.
She comes back home to write an article for her newspaper and also, as it suddenly turns out, to be Maid of Honor for her best friend Sammie's upcoming wedding to her old flame Hank.
Thinking she's well over him, she takes on the task of planning the wedding without concern.
She's dating a jet setting older businessman but apparently has never known that Hank had planned to ask her to marry him before she left town all those years ago. We aren't given any explanation why their relationship broke up even though she was only a 5hr flight away. Hank is very unassuming so I found it believable that he could be with either Amy or Sammie. There's a tenderness about him and the rekindling of their romance is well-played. It creeps up on the audience as much as it does on the pair of them which is great because it is so predictable it wouldn't work otherwise.
Here again, you have to ignore the fact that Phil and Amy aren't suited to each other but they manage to make an acceptable couple. Unlike the couplings in many other versions of this theme and the total lack of chemistry between Meghan and her two beaus in "Dater's Handbook". There is a very similar scene in both movies where Meghan is ignorant and uncomfortable at the table of a posh restaurant where her boyfriend orders her cordon bleu meal for her. But it's somehow softer here even though her "hamburger" comment is a bit too much. The same scenario is just cringeworthy in "Dater's Handbook".
Just as well she finds she still has feelings for Hank and it's mutual because Phil immediately takes an obvious interest in Sammie. It should be seen as rather rude and thoughtless of him since he's Amy's boyfriend and Sammie is the bride-to-be but it works here because we don't want to hate Amy and Hank for what's happening to them. Phil is so smitten he hangs around town to enjoy the 4th of July party and get to know Sammie better. Nice and tidy conciliation for losing your fiancée and having your wedding cancelled at the last moment. All's well that end's well.
It's probably the best acting I've seen from Ms Markle and the scenes with her darling parents are warm and enjoyable. I feel the movie was well cast, well acted and well directed.
Not good at all
Rpdsf29 June 2014
I am usually a fan of these types of movies but this one was not very entertaining to watch. It was almost as if they made it up as they filmed. Not much made sense and was really a stretch almost to the point of unbelievability. For instance, he loves his girlfriend and wants to marry her. He is about to propose with an engagement ring in his hand and says nothing when she says she's going to Chicago even though she says she still wants to stay together. Seven years later she doesn't seem to care much for the city, her job, or her new boyfriend and doesn't make any changes on her own? Her best friend is dating her old boyfriend and is now engaged to him but not many back home seem to know even though it's a small town? Not even her parents? How it ended was really a stretch too. I could go on but it would be a waste of time and I already wasted enough of it watching this movie. Too bad because it was a pretty good premise but ruined by whoever wrote this script. I wish it had been better. Hopefully, sometime down the road, they'll use the same basic idea for a movie and hire better writers.
Corny and predictable
jillerickson-065447 March 2020
Cute, but nothing special
tashinaknight29 June 2014
This was a little dumb but cute enough to be worth your while if this is your genre. The character of Sammie was way too over-the-top and she wasn't believable as a person you think would exist in real life. The female lead was not bad but not very memorable. Also, the way the script is written makes it a little hard to like her - she makes a few questionable decisions.
Lochlyn Munro wasn't your typical romantic male lead, but did a really good job in this and was easily my favorite. I don't remember having seen him before, but looking at his IMDb profile, he's a busy guy and I can see why. He was very believable and likable. Overall, not a movie I'll probably see again, but worth my time on a lazy Saturday night.
Lochlyn Munro wasn't your typical romantic male lead, but did a really good job in this and was easily my favorite. I don't remember having seen him before, but looking at his IMDb profile, he's a busy guy and I can see why. He was very believable and likable. Overall, not a movie I'll probably see again, but worth my time on a lazy Saturday night.
Train wreck
mikednkc-928221 February 2021
Cute movie
kerrylara-0102220 January 2018
Really bad.
doctorsmoothlove12 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"When Sparks Fly" is a Hallmark Channel romance on Independence Day featuring Meghan Markle. I found the film on a dual layer DVD. The DVD quality left much to be desired as did the film. While I'm unfamiliar with Mrs. Markle's body of work, she seems completely miscast in this film. Her performance is so exaggerated, the viewer gets the impression she was camping it up because she knew the movie was bad. If not that she comes off as a sophisticated person trying to play a down to earth role.
Markle plays Amy Peterson, a journalist for the Chicago Tribune who is at a low point in her life. She isn't happy with her job or boyfriend. He is a big city guy who knows how to eat French food. She orders a hamburger when they are going out. Markle looks uncomfortable delivering the line because it's so cheesy.
Seven years ago, her boyfriend Hank (Christopher Jacot) nearly proposed to her when she informed him she got a job across the country. They live in Washington, although the picture was shot in British Columbia. There are some nice panoramic shots of the natural environment I wish happened more often. There are also some beautiful shots of the farm house where Amy's parents live. The house is presented as a farmhouse with a big porch despite being in the middle of the city. The film has a weird problem in that it is supposed to take place in a small town even though there is too much wealth in the homes and downtown scenes.
The supporting cast is also campy with some exceptions. The main plot is so stupid that everyone must have lacked faith that the film could actually have been good. Amy returns home to attend her best friend's marriage to Hank. The best friend, Sammie, wants to be married on July 4th. She also wants the wedding to be Independence Day themed. Super tacky. Just like having your fiancee's ex girlfriend be your maid of honor. The film knows how cringy this is and even gives us several chances to feel as awkward as all the actors do.
Of course, Markle and Jacot get together. The picture has the audacity to have a proposal occur the day after the original wedding is cancelled. This ruins the movie. I'd be willing to say that the film could be a good candidate for bad movie night if not for the conclusion. It left me feeling that even the screenwriter and director didn't care enough to finish. Highly not recommended.
Markle plays Amy Peterson, a journalist for the Chicago Tribune who is at a low point in her life. She isn't happy with her job or boyfriend. He is a big city guy who knows how to eat French food. She orders a hamburger when they are going out. Markle looks uncomfortable delivering the line because it's so cheesy.
Seven years ago, her boyfriend Hank (Christopher Jacot) nearly proposed to her when she informed him she got a job across the country. They live in Washington, although the picture was shot in British Columbia. There are some nice panoramic shots of the natural environment I wish happened more often. There are also some beautiful shots of the farm house where Amy's parents live. The house is presented as a farmhouse with a big porch despite being in the middle of the city. The film has a weird problem in that it is supposed to take place in a small town even though there is too much wealth in the homes and downtown scenes.
The supporting cast is also campy with some exceptions. The main plot is so stupid that everyone must have lacked faith that the film could actually have been good. Amy returns home to attend her best friend's marriage to Hank. The best friend, Sammie, wants to be married on July 4th. She also wants the wedding to be Independence Day themed. Super tacky. Just like having your fiancee's ex girlfriend be your maid of honor. The film knows how cringy this is and even gives us several chances to feel as awkward as all the actors do.
Of course, Markle and Jacot get together. The picture has the audacity to have a proposal occur the day after the original wedding is cancelled. This ruins the movie. I'd be willing to say that the film could be a good candidate for bad movie night if not for the conclusion. It left me feeling that even the screenwriter and director didn't care enough to finish. Highly not recommended.
Terrible Acting
lrsenne4 July 2023
This movie was just on Hallmark today and oh, wow is Meghan Markle a TERRIBLE actress. She is really stiff and wooden. It's hard to watch. All she does is wrinkle her forehead throughout the entire movie, and recite her lines looking constipated. The premise of the movie wasn't much better. It's easy to see why Meghan wasn't given more acting jobs. The whole movie was super cheesy and this was obvious early in. At least the other actors were believable in their roles. Do yourself a favor and skip anything where you see her name. Or, better yet watch her and give yourself an afternoon of hilarity.
Cheesy, Predictable, Bad acting
ceceliaellen_becker27 February 2021
Surpassed my expectations!
Gainesa0921 October 2023
I originally thought it was going to be another feel-good cheesy romance type movie, but it was so much more. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters! And the storyline is written so well that I thought it might have been written as a best-selling novel and then turned into a movie. "When Sparks Fly" sounds like the perfect romance book title as well. I don't believe this movie was a novel first, but I would read it if it was. I really enjoyed watching the movie because it made me feel proud to be an American and included in the culture. I loved the diverse representation of casting and all the actors did a fantastic job, especially with facial expressions! Everyone should give this movie a try and decide for yourself how you feel about it.
Better story than usual
phd_travel28 September 2018
This Hallmark movie is more involving than usual.
Meghan Markle acts well and you can actually sympathise with her even though she breaks up the wedding of her best friend and former boyfriend. The drama at the end doesn't feel contrived as it is in the usual Hallmark romance.
It's fun to see Meghan act with the hindsight that she is now a member of the Royal Family.
Meghan Markle acts well and you can actually sympathise with her even though she breaks up the wedding of her best friend and former boyfriend. The drama at the end doesn't feel contrived as it is in the usual Hallmark romance.
It's fun to see Meghan act with the hindsight that she is now a member of the Royal Family.
A really nice "laid back" romantic film
Irishchatter3 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
So as the royal wedding is going to happen next month, I've decided to give a go at watching Meghan Markles films that I haven't yet seen before. I wouldn't nessicarily call this a worst Hallmark film she has ever done, I know it was quite predictable but it did the job to keeping me entertained! She really knows how to act as such a highly motivated girl who cares about her parents firework company and her friends, including the one she truly loved! The other actors as well as Christopher Jacot were great to at their roles too!
I give this 8/10!
I give this 8/10!
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