Amy Acker gets another opportunity to present herself with her consistently busy career in television and movies. She stars in this typical romance drama as an aspiring writer reviewing books for a local newspaper. This predictable romance movie involves her character falling for the dashing, famous but anonymous writer that forms the basis of this movie like similar ones with the same plot outline. Both Amy and her co-star Dylan Bruce handle their performances competently with a smoothly written and edited script. Somehow this fun movie performs as expected even as it avoids becoming loaded down with redundant or repeatedly dull or boring scenes the audience has seen hundreds of times before. While not a breakout romance drama, the actors, director, and writers are able to carry this movie off as a worthwhile effort to be seen on Hallmark Movies Now.
Plot summary
Romance novelist Liam Bradley (Dylan Bruce) has already found massive success with three books written under the pen name Gabriel August, but he's mysteriously unknown to his legions of readers. With his first book written as a way to heal after a broken relationship, Liam has slowly become disheartened with writing strictly for romantic fantasy, something evident to a sweet, but honest, journalist who reviews books, Sophie Atkinson (Amy Acker), whom he meets by chance on a plane. The two begin a tentative relationship in Sophie’s home town of Portland, Oregon, where Liam has come to find inspiration for his newest entry. Liam’s agent puts him on the spot with a long-planned reveal of Gabriel August’s true identity, but Sophie doesn’t know of his public persona. The longer Liam avoids telling her the truth, the deeper a hole he digs for himself. Will their romance survive once his true identity comes to light?
November 24, 2023 at 05:03 AM
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
An Enjoy Romance Drama
Literary love
Throughout my recently started Hallmark film completest quest expanding (so The Spring Fever, Summer Nights, Fall Harvest etc blocks on top of the Christmas films) an interesting quest but very mixed one, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Which never was the case. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level.
Effort that can absolutely be seen in 'A Novel Romace'. It is only the second 2015 Hallmark film and already that year has gotten off to a promising start for Hallmark. No Hallmark film seen yet has been great, though many has had many great things while having a few not so good ones. Which is the case with 'A Novel Romance'. Really liked the concept, which was cute if familiar, and the film does a nice job with it while never doing anything extraordinary.
'A Novel Romance' isn't perfect. It is let down by the very rushed and very silly final act, with almost everything happening too hastily and most of it not ringing true. Like most Hallmark films, the ending is a bit too neat.
Was expecting to be pretty predictable, and was not disappointed in this respect, very by the letter.
However, so much is great. It is a very nice looking film, one of Hallmark's best looking 2015 films in my view. The scenery really does entrance and the photography doesn't cheapen it at all. The music at least fits tonally and in placement and has presence without being over-loud. The dialogue is sharp enough and flows naturally, while also having the right amount of sentiment (not too much in quality and quantity).
Characters aren't complex, then again that shouldn't be expected watching Hallmark, but aren't too stereotypical and are generally likeable enough. The story may be predictable and not perfect in execution, but it is incredibly charming, sweet without being too sugary and very heart-warming. There is a nice lightness to it too on the whole. The cast are all solid, with Amy Acker being especially engaging. Very nice chemistry with her and equally charming Dylan Bruce.
Summing up, nice film. 7/10.
Probably my favorite Hallmark movie
This is a real story with heart and very little pretense. Both MC actors had very obvious chemistry. I highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in a deeper kind of romance. For a TV movie, it's there in many different ways. I see that it's for sale (as of this writing). For the first time ever, I'm going to buy a Hallmark movie since I want to be able to watch it again. And again... Thanks to everyone involved in this movie for what you created. You should all be proud.