Hearts of Spring

While I like the idea of Hallmark doing it's own twist on classics like, Shop Around the Corner and You've Got Mail (a remake done right), it's hard to look past the horrible choice of lead actress. Her exaggerated, over-acting makes it excruciating to watch. Worst movie I've watched in a long time and I don't mind an occasional so-bad-it's-good kind of movie. Definitely a forgettable, never watch again movie, so don't bother.

The leads are likable. Michael Shanks is great, as always, Lisa Whelchel does a good job, and the supporting cast is strong. The main problem is the writing which is sophomoric at best, with one dimensional characters, contrived conflicts, no chemistry between the leads, shallow parenting advice from both sides, and more trite clichés than I can count. I have seen many Hallmark movies, I understand the genre, and I am generally lenient in my criticism, but this is one of the worst, if not THE worst, that I have seen. I'll give it three stars only because the cast really tries, but they simply cannot rise above the insipid writing.

This is not coming from somebody who immediately hates on anything made by Hallmark. Have actually many Hallmark films in all their seasonal blockings, and quite a lot of them to me were above average. There are also ones that many fellow Hallmark regular viewers disliked that to me were not that bad while still being very flawed. Was hoping deep down that 'Hearts of Spring' would be one of those, despite not caring for the previous 2016 Spring Fling film 'All Yours', as the premise did sound cute.

'Hearts of Spring' just didn't work and do have to agree with all the criticisms pretty much. Don't think it is quite as bad as has been said, with there being a few redeeming qualities, but there is a lot wrong with it and it is another case of the worst aspects being awfully executed. 'Hearts of Spring' is not quite one of the worst 2016 Hallmark films (think 'Unleashing Mr Darcy', 'Ms Matched'), but it never reaches mediocre at best level. There were some good Hallmark films in 2016, this is not one of them.

Michael Shanks does a good job in his role, with a nice easy going charm and subtle charisma, and did find his character mostly quite likeable up to a point. The supporting cast do more than competently with what they have, despite their material mostly being quite weak.

Production values are quite lovely, especially the scenery.

Lisa Whelchel however tries far too hard throughout with more exaggerated mannerisms and gestures than one can count. Also really disliked her character, too smug and self-righteous, and her cold treatment of Shanks' character. A character who is much more likeable and easier to get behind, but he comes over as too nice and desperate in the latter stages when he didn't need or deserve to, which was frustrating. The two have no chemistry or spark together, the relationship is underdeveloped, too underplayed and progresses suddenly too late in a contrived way.

As others have said, the writing and story are very weak. The dialogue is very artificial and never has a natural flow, also found it very cheesy to cringe worthy effect and at times juvenile. The story is very thin and predictable, with a lot of draggy pacing and very heavy on overplayed contrivances. The conflict lacks tension and feels really forced and like it was shoehorned into the film, while the ending is too neat in a way that doesn't make any sense.

Concluding, very mediocre and that is being kind. 4/10.

If you can watch this movie without yelling, "Get over yourself!" to the leads then you are a better person than I am. Besides somewhat unlikable leads, I think the other pitfall of the movie is that it relegates many of the interactions between the leads to online exchanges. Does anyone enjoy a split screen of characters typing to each other?

They have to stop casting Lisa with younger guys! Love Michael Shanks and watch everything he's in but casting him as the love interest of Lisa is all wrong! She is 7.5 yrs older than him but looks even older than that! He's good looking and seems younger than his age! Please cast him with someone good looking and someone nearer his age! Obnoxious kids and would be suitors did not endear this movie to me. Start casting Lisa as the mother of adults and a grandma---she would be better suited for those roles.