'Roadhouse Romance' is the first Fall Harvest Hallmark film of 2021, in a year that was not a consistent or exactly great one but turned out to be a lot better than it could have been. All the previous seasonal blockings of 2021 were a mixed bag, especially the Summer Nights one. Another reason for seeing 'Roadhouse Romance' was for Tyler Hynes, he is one of those actors who has a hit and miss filmography but is nearly always one of the better aspects in all of them.
Which is the case here. 'Roadhouse Romance' is not one of the best Hallmark films of 2021, but it is also not one of the worst. Somewhere in the middle if anything and my feelings on it were mixed to fairly positive. It is not too bad a start for the 2021 Fall Harvest block and is above average. With a good deal of good things, a few not so good things and one big aspect that was very mixed. So not great, but a long way from terrible too.
It is a little bit of a slow starter and some of the dialogue in the early stages is awkward.
The ending is also on the too neat and contrived side and inexperience does show, sometimes badly, in some of Lauren Alaina's acting. Sometimes she is charming and easy to like, but at other times she is stiff and tries too hard.
Hynes however is his usual easy going and subtle self and he and Alaina do have a warm and sincere chemistry on the whole, though more caring mentor than romantic. The supporting cast are solid and the characters were not ones that bored or annoyed me.
The best aspect is the music, which is just great. So infectiously uplifting and soothing on the ears. Furthermore, it looks good. Especially the scenery. The script has some awkwardness but is suitably light-hearted, the rapport between the two leads made me smile. The story may be formulaic and not exactly original, but its energy, charm and ability to lift the spirits more than made up for that. Not to mention that it was to me easy to relate to.
Overall, decent. 6/10.
