Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Movie: Winter Love Story
Release Year: 2019
Network: Hallmark
Starring: Jen Lilley, Kevin McGarry
Synopsis: When new author Cassie Winslett's first novel isn't selling, she is paired on a book tour with the best-selling author Elliot Somersby to boost Cassie's sales and her confidence - but along the way a romance starts to blossom.
⚠🛑 Disclaimer: This review may contain movie spoilers
Review:
So last week I was introduced to the world of Mr. Kevin McGarry when I watched him in The Wedding Veil starring opposite Lacey Chabert. I had heard alot about him through the world of social media but had never officially seen a movie with him in it. Boy was I missing out. Anyway, after watching that movie I reached out to his extremely loyal fan base, #mcgarries, and boy did they deliver. They gave me their recommendations and suggestions for numerous movies to watch. I am set for the next little while as I will go through each one of them and will provide feedback on all of them too!
Last night I watched Winter Love Story with Kevin McGarry starring opposite Jen Lilley. Cassie (Lilley) is a new author with struggling sales. She is also the daughter of famous writer Jeannine (Mary-Margaret Humes), but refuses to get any advantage by using her mom's influence. Cassie is paired up with famous novelist Elliot Somersby (McGarry) to go on a promotional book tour to help boost her sales and her confidence. On the tour the two spend alot of time together and you know the rest.
Let's start off this review by saying I enjoyed the movie alot. Lilley's character I felt was a bit too neurotic and I'm not sure how she would have lasted in the industry with how she acted at times storming out of meetings and disrespecting peers. Nevertheless she began to grow on me. I thought Jen Lilley's portral of her was solid.
Kevin McGarry's performance as Elliott Somersby was superb. He was charming, compassionate and boy can that guy wear glasses, rock a sweater, read and work a crowd. That man can read from his book to me any time he wants to. He has this presence on screen that draws you to him. I saw this in The Wedding Veil and I saw it again in this movie. He captivated me with his words, expressions and good looks. If he has this ability to captivate his viewer in almost everything he is in, then I'm sure this is why he is adored so much by his loyal fan base.
The chemistry and dynamic of Lilley and McGarry was very good. Yes they only had 1 week to "fall in love," however the movie was different in that they had a lot of screen time together. Throughout the majority of the movie Lilley and McGarry shared the screen only with each other whether they were bonding in the car, in the B&B, stranded in a cottage, or even at their various book engagements. I really enjoyed this and it added to the believability of their bonding. They had some fantastic moments just talking in the car, and the delivery and emotion that showed while opening up to each other was fantastic. I actually wanted them to spend more time just in the car traveling as I thought they were so comfortable with each other. I really loved them together and it made their interest and love for each other that much more real to me as the viewer. I would really like to see them play opposite together to see if this chemistry carries forward into a different movie.
I wanted to point out a few things that I really liked and some other less lovable things I found:
First...where can I get a B&B with that suite? I have stayed in a lot of B&B places and have never stumbled across one that has a suite as lovely as that. It was gorgeous. And I think it was hilarious that the owner provided them dinner, in a Bed & Breakfast, however in the morning Elliott had to venture out to get coffee. So funny!
That cottage that they had to stay in unexpectedly due to the snow storm? Wait what? That place was stunning. I would not have only stayed there the one night. I think it was here that I really saw alot of growth in their relationship. A couple things to note, they both made hot chocolate and had one sip and that was it 😀. Also who falls asleep when Kevin McGarry is right there with you? Definitely wouldn't be me. And the way he looks at her when she goes back into the cottage to get ready to leave...sigh.
Finallly, Cassie's reaction at the award banquet was way over the top for my liking. Talk about stealing the guys thunder. I thought it was a bit immature of her to storm off after he thanked his ex-wife at the beginning of the speech. I mean the guy was giving you moon eyes just before that. Don't you think you could have sat there for a few seconds like an adult and let him finish the speech? If you still didn't like what he had to say, then exit gracefully. I really didn't like this and thought it was so immature. It's disappointing as her character was so immature at the beginning and yes this reaction would have made sense then, however by the end of the movie I was beginning to feel like she had matured some only to see her revert back to such nonsense. Anyway, I'm not going to let that ruin the movie for me.
The ending for me was totally obvious but I didn't mind at all. I loved his confidence in the way he maneuvered through the crowd and talked about her new book. Loved his declaration of love and of course that kiss! Wow.
If you haven't had a chance to see this movie yet I highly recommend it.
I personally really enjoyed the movie and I think I may have stumbled upon a new male lead favourite in this romance movie realm. Time will tell as I have alot of movies waiting for me.
Comments