Another Reel One Entertainment TV movie which takes place in Florida and it was actually shot there. It was co-produced with Sunshine Films which are notorious for producing movies with various technical issues, and sadly this one wasn't spared, too. Several scenes suffer from loud background music so you can barely hear what cast is saying/talking. Few scenes also suffer from poor audio recording. The good news is that most of the movie is free from the both issues. Music score is overall weak and forgetable. They also overused stock footage which just artificially prolongs run time.
Cast is pretty good, I would say one of the better among ROE TV movies. IMO, Meggan Kaiser is probably and currently the best ROE lead actress and she is better than the vast majority of Hallmark one. She was really great. Looking forward to watch more movies with her. Her partner Tyler Harlow was so-so. I thought his weird speak in "The Love Advisor" was on purpose, but it seems he speaks like that in real life. Side cast was good enough, and for me Steven Calakos was the best among them.
The main issue with movie is all over the place writting. It's pretty obvious that ROE is using new untested writers who write for the first time in their new TV movies. Clearly as there is a writers guild strike, so SAG-AFTRA is not mentioned in the movie closing credits like they are always before it. Like majority, I don't care about strike, and I'm going to say that some of those new writers are more competent than many established one.
So, the movie plot is about famous fallback marriage pact trope. Heck, it's even in the name of the movie! Let me say what I really liked - the secondary story about Charlotte's sister Joey and Billy-Joe. It's hard to see really well fleshed out secondary story. Now not so good things. The first huge issue is the leads age. I can't find their real age, but there is no way both are close to 30. Tyler is probably close to 40. Second, the most of the Acts I and III are ridiculous in many ways. I don't want to spoil anything... However, Act II which is obviously the majority of movie is pretty good, and I enjoyed it. If in ROE TV movie Act I is bad it almost always never recovers from it. This one is rare exception.
Overall, it's average movie with some highs, and sadly some lows, but it's worth watching for Meggan Kaiser, Act II and the secondary story.
And obligatory don't watch trailer as it's the ROE one and for some unknown reason(s) it shows whole movie compressed.
