I am giving this 6 stars mostly because I thought Jill Wagner and Victor Webster were so wonderfully in sync as costars. (Jill Wagner is one of my very favorites! )
They had a fun, flirty spark that made it completely watchable.
I also absolutely loved Rukiya Bernard in this! She added so much more funnier my opinion that this movie really needed. I would definitely like to see more movies with these actors.
I found the writing of this to be rather slow. But it did have just the right touch of sweetness and romance.
Hearts of Winter
2020
Action / Drama / Romance
Hearts of Winter
2020
Action / Drama / Romance
Plot summary
Talented Boulder-based interior designer Bethany Cain is on the cusp of making it big in the business, much of reaching that next echelon riding on her design concept of "MAP" - Meaning, Abundance, Peace - which she has branded as her own, and which she has outlined in a just released book. Along with the book release, she, to market the book and concept, is holding a contest to award the winner an all expenses paid home makeover using MAP. She gets extra possible publicity, but along with it extra pressure, when a national home decor magazine wants to cover the contest process for their new year edition, meaning that she has just three weeks to just before Christmas not only to choose the winner, but to complete the makeover. From the touching letter she receives, she chooses thirteen year old Zoe Oliver as the winner, Zoe who wants the makeover for her widowed father, Grant Oliver. Beyond seeing the bare bones house with a good foundation, what Bethany is not fully aware of is Grant's story: he and his wife Rebecca bought the house shortly before she passed, he resisting making any changes since her death to preserve his memory of her, he often using Zoe as an excuse. In addition to now being both mother and father to Zoe, Grant has immersed himself in work, he just promoted to activities director at the Windermere Mountain Lodge, winter their busiest time. Except for doing it for Zoe, Grant resists almost everything about the makeover, failing with Grant which could derail Bethany's career. With the help of several people around both Grant and Bethany including Zoe, Bethany is slowly able to break through the wall that Grant has erected for him at least to be open to new ideas. In the process, Grant and Bethany start to fall for each other. Beyond whether Bethany is open to a romance at this important stage of her career, Grant, through the makeover, may show if he is truly ready to open his heart romantically to someone other than Rebecca.
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Terrific onscreen chemistry between actors, bland writing...
Romance in winter
Have liked Jill Wagner in a lot of things and can understand why she is a Hallmark favourite. Rukiya Bernard has a great knack for stealing every scene she's in in all her films, even in the duds. Victor Webster's filmography is a bit of a mixed bag, but in the right role and with the right leading lady he has a good deal of appeal. Having said that, the story didn't sound anything special and little different from most Hallmark Winterfest films and didn't care for most of the 2020 Winterfest films.
Of the 2020 Winterfest films, of which there are five, 'Hearts of Winter' is second best with 'Winter in Vail' being the best. Didn't care for the other three, especially 'Amazing Winter Romance' which was anything but amazing. 'Hearts of Winter' is not an exceptional, or even great film, but it is above average. Despite the story being wanting generally, it is worth seeing for the cast in particular. As far as the 2020 Hallmark films go, it's somewhere in the middle.
Beginning with what doesn't come off, the story is slow going at first and is bland in spots due to little new done with a formulaic scenario. The final quarter could have done with more tension and felt less neat, the end is never in doubt and easily telegraphed.
Webster's character is not easy to warm to at first and his uptightness and grumpiness seemed overdone. He also has a 180 change in character that is introduced too abruptly and is rushed, also thought it came too early when the character had not really grown yet. Wagner occasionally tries too hard.
However, there is a lot to like about 'Hearts of Winter'. Wagner on the most part is very charming and plays her role with enthusiasm and good intentions. Once the character loosens up in the writing, Webster becomes a lot more relaxed and has an easy going charisma that appeals. He and Wagner look natural and genuine together and the romance is developed just about right. Lauren McNamara is adorable and heartfelt and has lovely chemistry with Wagner and Webster. Once again Bernard steals all her screen time with a real zesty sparkle, though it would be nice if Hallmark stretched her abilities and landed her in another type of role.
Furthermore, the scenery is truly beautiful and the photography makes the most of it without being self-indulgent. While not unforgettable, the music at least fits and isn't overused or bombastic. The script flows and doesn't come over as too talky (though perhaps it could have been tighter in the early stages),corny or saccharine. The story is far from perfect, but it has a warm heart and never cheesy light-heartedness while the characters are ones worth caring for once they settle.
To conclude, not great but above average. 6/10.
Good cast
Jill Wagner and Victor Webster are always solid and I can't fault either of them for "something is missing", as said by another reviewer with whom I agree. Maybe it was that Wagner was trying too hard. Rukiya Bernard and Lauren McNamara were possibly even better in their roles than the leads. Both of these two should have a great future in this genre.
The story follows common themes and I thought the first few scenes were rough - the way Bethany comes in with guns blazing made me cringe a little. The trigger to the only conflict does get foreshadowed, and it works. My biggest complaint would be Grant's abrupt 180 early on which really didn't make that much sense. It made much more sense for him to remain reluctant. I also agree with the reviewer who talked about the reasons Grant was overwhelmed. That these factors seemed to suddenly go into hiding in the middle of the movie goes along with what I just said about his 180 toward Bethany. Perhaps the director or writers thought doing it this way would intensify the impact for when Grant's pent up feelings about the past being pushed aside comes out. In a way it does intensify that aspect, but it just doesn't feel right how much those feelings suddenly but temporarily disappeared.
I liked how they did "mom's prayers". Otherwise there are no other religious themes.