Vermont in the Fall there is nothing lovelier. Angela is a young adult fantasy author who has written a very popular trilogy about a girl named Athena who can time travel. It has been picked up and made into a film on the verge of release and Angela is set doing a huge publicity junket, for which she is exhausted and just craving some normalcy like carving pumpkins, drinking apple cider, a drive in the New England fall. She is set to go live on a local Boston tv show when she sees her sister's (who acts as her personal assistant) car keys and grabs them taking off unnoticed.

The problem...she ends up having a car crash and being found walking on the highway barefoot with a head injury and amnesia. The good local doctor takes her in and takes a look at her. They didn't find her car, so have no clue as to her identity...but the sherif is looking in to it. Meanwhile she stays with the handsome town doctor who is a widower with two kids and assumes the name Elizabeth.

Elizabeth nee Angela gets to do all of the things she had wanted to do while she tries to figure out who she is...fitting in and falling in love with the ready made family and small town life. This movie kind of writes itself.

There is great chemistry between our two leads and the story was kind of fun making this a great fall recommendation.

Throughout my recently started Hallmark film completest quest expanding (so The Spring Fever, Summer Nights, Fall Harvest etc blocks on top of the Christmas films) an interesting quest but very mixed one, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Something that was never managed with the Christmas output. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level.

One can definitely see effort in 'Falling for Vermont', which may be derivative but it is far from cash in level. Of the four Hallmark films seen this weekend (the others being 'Love on Ice', 'Love at First Bark' and 'Eat, Play, Love') this was for me by far the best. It is not flawless or a classic, but have come overtime to not expect any of those things watching Hallmark's Christmas output overtime or take it too seriously. Really liked the ideas here and they are executed well.

'Falling for Vermont' isn't perfect. It is a bit slow to begin with, the set up taking a little too long. As said, it is predictable from being derivative of other films with similar premises (ie. 'A Christmas to Remember').

Some of the dialogue early on is pretty ropey too, the cheese really stinking up the room. The music could have been toned down too tonally and in placement, too constant and too loud.

If in any doubt early on, it is worth sticking with. The production values still manage to be pleasing. It's not too drab or garish in photography, the editing didn't seem rushed or disorganised and the scenery has a real charm to it. Some of the music has some pleasant nostalgic moments. The dialogue is not great to begin with but improves when the plot properly kicks in, not being too sweet and it flows at least.

Furthermore, the story is light-hearted and really warms the heart without going into over-saccharine territory. As well as being very poignant in the more emotional moments. The characters were on the most part ones easy to get behind and carry the film well. The acting is well above average, very good in the cases of Julie Gonzalo (in one of her better Hallmark performances in an affecting performance) and Benjamin Ayres (on sympathetic but never dull form). The chemistry between them is natural and genuine. The children are also strong, especially the daughter, and the relationship has a lot of heart.

In conclusion, not great but well worth watching. 7/10.

Thanks to the excellent acting of all concerned, especially the two leads, this was a very enjoyable little movie. The gimmick in this one was amnesia. This is not one of the usuals. A stressed out and manipulated best selling young adult author makes her getaway right before she is about to be interviewed on TV. Yes she leaves everyone in the lurch at the last minute. She has an automobile accident and loses her memory. This is where a little suspension of disbelief kicks in because she needs a week or two without her memory for a story and a romance develop. She is a world famous author who was about to be on the red carpet for a movie premier of a movie based on one of her novels. And no one except her sister and her boyfriend/manager knows she is missing. Add to that the police do not search for a car which should have been found in hours as a tree fell across the road where her car drove into a gully. That is where her cell phone is and the clues to her identity.

Oh well, these are the little things you just have to roll with when looking at a Hallmance. These things rest on the appeal of the leads and secondary characters and based on this, it was a win. The actress, Julia Gonzalo, reminded me of another actress, and it was driving me crazy until I figured it out: A little known in America English actress Charity Wakefield. Looked just like her. I liked the widowed doctor as portrayed by Benjamin Ayers as well. Very likable guy.Pleasant scenery, gentle romance, nothing much to mock. The amnesia trick added some suspense and interest as well. I loved the way the set decorators stuck fake orange leaves in random places as well to convey the Fall theme. Very amusing. Well worth watching.