User reviews

Morgan Kohan stars as Lily Summers in this Hallmark romance about a big-city interior decorator who rushes home to Harbor Island when her aunt takes a fall. While attending to Aunt Maggie (Brenda Matthews), Lily is reminded of the island's charms.

She also meets a pilot named Marcus (Marcus Rosner) who initially rubs her the wrong way, but whose quiet way eventually gains her trust. His hobby is rescuing homeless dogs.

The camera loves Ms. Kohan and her presence makes the film, which has a traditional Hallmark storyline. Rosner's silent strength may not exactly match up with his costar's screen persona, but it will probably appeal to many women viewers.

Have always watched Hallmark films with an open mind but also always without expecting too much. Some films have come off much better than expected, managing to make something appealing from unappealing or basic premises. Some are more or less what was expected in both good and bad ways. Then there are some that really don't live up to expectations and do so many things wrong. Expectations were mixed for 'Love on Harbor Island'.

The execution for 'Love on Harbor Island' was also very mixed. The second Summer Nights 2020 Hallmark film (and a big improvement over the dire previous one 'Romance in the Air') is another one of the 2020 Hallmark films that is watchable but with nothing special. Did like it to begin with, but it lost its way quite badly too early and never recovered. As far as the 2020 Hallmark films go, 'Love on Harbor Island' is one of the middling ones.

Am going to start with the good. The production values are nicely done, regardless of the authenticity of the location the scenery really is beautiful. The music has some pleasant moments, though too far and between. The acting is better than average, with appealing lead performances from Morgan Kohan and Marcus Rosner. The chemistry between them is sweet and genuine, though the relationship itself could have been handled better in the story.

Supporting cast are solid, no hamminess or phoning in. The film starts off quite well, amusing and charming.

On the other hand, the second half feels tired from doing so little new with over-familiar territory, drags and is excessively silly. Realism is not a strong suit and some serious suspension of disbelief needs to be had for the contrived and tension-free final act. The film also completely peters out at the end, it was very clear that the writers didn't know how to end it so tacked on a weird and senseless one on.

Most of the writing is awkward and the cheese factor is overdone too. The music mostly is drab and doesn't fit all that well. While the chemistry is there, this is another Hallmark film to have a relationship that is not well utilised. It doesn't go anywhere too much of the time then abruptly rushes to make up for lost time and it could have been more prominent.

Concluding, watchable but pretty average. 5/10.

Interior designer who is looking for inspiration heads home to harbor island where her injured aunt is trying to fix up her family inn to sell. Lily gets nicknamed city girl by the pilot who flies her in. The pilot, Marcus runs a dog rescue called pilots for pups and is well known on her island. These two strike up an odd friendship of mutual help as Marcus is a bit of a Luddite.

The longer Lily is home the more she slows down from her big city life. The thing is she grew up there, you would think she would remember how special her home town is.

"The enchanting thing about a small town, although it can feel good to leave, it's a thousand times better to come home."-Lily

Of course romance is bound to blossom between the pilot with a soft spot for dogs and the interior designer who needs to get her spark back.

Note to writers...she had to "drive all night" and then took a plane to harbor island, her boyfriend took a ferry to the island and back same evening...and all of this happened from my hometown Seattle. Ok so if you drive all night from Seattle you will either be in Canada or California...and she takes a plane? Let me give you a tip, from someone who grew up in the San Juan islands...an hour and 45 minute drive north of Seattle, when the ferry isn't running unless you are very wealthy you take a boat to the island!!!! While I love seeing stock footage of my home town it would be nice if they would actually film it there instead of always faking it in another town...it is so very obvious.

I enjoyed this slight but entertaining Hallmark film, and felt that it had the two main ingredients that make/break one of these films - the storyline holds up, and the leads have chemistry.

It is a bit short, and the ending a bit rushed, but apart from that this was fun.

...and this one is just meh.

The storyline is pretty standard for Hallmark, but there is no chemistry between the lead actors at all. The whole movie was pretty lackluster and boring. The only shining stars were the dogs that popped up once in a while!

What can I say, I am a sucker for red heads! Morgan is slowly becoming a hallmark star so hopefully she starts getting better scripts. I think the leading man actually matches her somewhat unlike her other two movies with Drew Nelson. I have always complained about Hallmark casting because I don't think they look at whom has chemistry. Morgan would be perfect with Andrew Walker or Peter McNally with her soft sweet demeanor. Hallmark please spend a few cents on casting department. Story, Script and Couple is what makes these movies and you just can't throw anyone together.

7.2 stars.

The same story tweaked ever so slightly at a different angle. Save the Inn from the big bad city developer. Parents died, so Lily was raised by the person who runs the Inn (I think it's her aunt). A female friend or cousin (I forget) helps run the inn.

I've never seen any of these actors in any movies ever.

A man named Marcus lives on the property and he's a hunk. He's also a pilot and has no internet or computer skills. He looks like he is a model for any number of magazines or modeling agencies, and he wears designer clothing. He fixes fences and walls and does other handy labor jobs on the property while wearing designer clothes, including a designer jacket (but never breaks a sweat).

The big bad realtor from the city also employs her boyfriend (soon to be ex boyfriend). He is always looking at his phone and taking business calls saying: "I have to take this", while they are at a restaurant having dinner to celebrate her birthday. She has had enough, and when they leave the restaurant she breaks up with him. Of course he takes it very well, they just don't mesh.

She does not like Marcus at all because when he flies her to the island it's a bumpy ride and she gets nauseous. She is very sarcastic with him for several days. They bicker and bicker. He wins her over with his charm.

The end.

Unfortunately I couldn't make it through this one. Couldn't get interested in the storyline.

Why do they make your review be 150 characters in order for it to be published? I got nothing left.

Wow this one really missed the mark. No real storyline or maybe it's just predictable.

I stopped watching after 20 minutes which was way too long.

The story is co-written by Lucie Guest and she also directed it. There is some good dialogue which sometimes comes from simple familiar lines which means the placement and directing are important. The early scene on the dock by the plane has some excellent lines and it's just the right length.

The story is a familiar one. In fact I can remember two movies I have watched in the last week that could easily be switched with this one. The ending is mostly predictable.

When the story is familiar, it is up to the actors to draw us in and I always look for good relationship building. Morgan Kohan and Marcus Rosner carried this off well and had good chemistry.

And you can't miss with dogs.

Once again for the endless time, Hallmark films the movie all in Canada with all Canadian actors....if they want to do that, that's fine no problem, but at least tell the truth.. if it's filmed in Saskatchewan or Calgary or Quebec, play it out admitting its in Canada, but they always lie, pretend it's filmed in America like Seattle. quit lying to everybody these movies are not in America there's very few American actors in them. Canada gets all the profits, American actors are Robbed of the ability to get into these movies you're costing them money and jobs. Bot in front and behond the camera. Hollywood is 50% Canadian actors, 25 percent UK actors, and 25% American.

The writing on this one is just awful! The cast however, was good, and the 2 leads had good chemistry. Unfortunately, even a good cast can't overcome a script as weak as this one was. It was clearly written by someone who considers themselves "activists" about everything, yet does next to nothing. It was filled with lofty, idealistic drivel with no follow through which included a pet rescue that played more like complete abandonment with strangers, and a Real Estate transaction clearly structured by children. It's a mess! Good cast though : )

OMG ! This was my first time seeing Marcus Rosner in the male romantic lead , and it was worth the wait . What a beautiful story and wonderful setting . I loved this film . Maybe a good start for a new series ? I'm hooked.

Good story, great chemistry between the leads, gorgeous scenery, and cute dogs.

Lily's aunt has a little accident so she goes back home to Harbor's Island to help her with her family's Inn. While there, she meets Marcus, a pilot who handles an adoption center for puppies. They make a deal: he will help with the repairs at the Inn, and she will create a website for the adoption center.

It was pretty enjoyable. Both leads delivered a good performance, and most importantly, they had good chemistry. There was a lot of banter and I love that! The plot was nothing that we don't know already. Besides, there are dogs!!

However, I was kind of disappointed because the ending was kind of... meh? Nothing much happened. I was not expecting fireworks or a huge declaration of love but, having not checked the time, I didn't realise that was the ending of the movie until the mandatory kiss. This may be a tiny spoiler, but I was pretty satisfied because they kind of gave the ex-boyfriend a redemption moment.

I had already seen both Marcus and Morgan before, and I would definitely watch them again.

Unfair to be too critic about this romance because Morgan Kohan and Marcus Rosner are more than OK in their roles, the humor, like the dialogues, work just well, the story works in honest way and predactibility is just a good spice .

Nothing special but pleasant . And this is the most important thing about Hallmark films , the chemistry between main actors is not absent and the great end, so familiar, is just nice prize for a reasonable film of genre.

So, not bad surprise, the clash between the good guy and lady from town being smart explored and the amusing moments being one of good points of it.