User Reviews

This is no-doubt a sweet movie, even if it does play directly into Hallmark's overused plotlines. The struggling-business-versus-the-gigantic-corporation-set-to-buy-it trope is around every corner on Hallmark channel, and it's certainly earned the label "tired." Similarly overdone is the idea of the city-slick businesswoman being quickly charmed by the simplicity of a remote outdoor lifetsyle, which is much, MUCH more ubiquitous than the inverse of a country bumpkin falling in love with the big city. Still, the acting is fairly good, and the romantic B-plot between the secondary characters is super cute. Also a plus for the movie is the fantastic scenery and fall decoration, both of which definitely made the ranch tempting as a vacation destination.

Aside from an incredibly predictable plot, the movie's downfall comes from some strange storytelling decisions. The almost comically wicked coworker competing for the coveted VP position. The mucking out of extremely clean stable stalls. The ranch's "lost and found," which miraculously has a large selection of cute clothes that fit the protagonist perfectly. The very unfortunate make-up choices for Lindy Booth, whose disappearing eyebrows and Barbie pink lipstick are rather distracting throughout the entire movie. The fact that a pair of guests and a competing buyer are present at the end when the hail-mary plan to save the ranch is unveiled to the owners.

However, applause must be given where it is deserved: Hallmark opted to avoid the trope of a character eavesdropping and misunderstanding a conversation, usually leading to the demise of the couple, instead allowing for honest communication and trust between the main characters to be reaffirmed. That scene was unbelievably refreshing!

Pros: Scenery. More and more films being produced in/around Winnipeg which is great due to the great outdoors there.

Cons: typical lame soundtrack.

Perpetually smiling faces.

Sweet sugary feel throughout.

Lack of realistic antagonist.

Contrived juvenile dialog.

Obligatory political correctness.

. Hallmark movies make Disney look 'R' rated.

Specifically to this movie: Driver loves his ranch so much, but leaves for 6 years for school when the ranch is so in need of money.

Driver gives Alex clothes from lost and found, boots are realistically brand new, jeans fit like they are painted on. Alex is/was a professional rider, but first put on this gentle saddle horse looks apprehensive and nervous... Fly fishing with spincast equipment, pair of 'guests' included in final deal(?).

The actors must go home with contorted faces from the exaggerated continuous smiling.

This movie was your standard Hallmark romance. Nothing special. The plot is chock full of overused tropes. Noble small business is threatened by evil big corporation. Representative of evil corporation is charmed by owner of noble small business and helps save noble small business while falling in love with its owner. Big city girl comes to the country and finds herself charmed by it and ends up wanting to stay. Have we seen this movie before? Only every 2 out of 3 Hallmark movies.

To be fair, I liked the lead actors. Lindy Booth as Alex has a certain charm that goes well beyond her signature red curls. She's cute, warm, engaging and her winning smile lights up every scene she's in. Wes Brown as Josh was good too. He's got a winning smile of his own, which makes him instantly likable and immediately elevates him above the status of chiseled Hallmark pretty boy of the week. Their interactions with each other were sweet and nice. I wouldn't say there was sizzling chemistry there, however. Most of the time, they just seemed like good friends, in spite of the looks and smiles they shot each other on a regular basis. Never, until the obligatory Hallmark kiss at the end, did I get the feeling that she was really into him personally. She was into the ranch and gushed over and over about how beautiful it was. But I didn't feel like there was any intense longing between either of them. I found the relationship between the other couple in the movie to be much more believable.

The whole plot point about Alex's company coming in and potentially buying the ranch to turn it into a distribution facility was really stupid. Okay, so it was just a test from the company president and was never going to happen. But why would it ever seem credible that their company would buy a dude ranch in remote North Dakota, of all places, and tear it down to build a distribution facility? They'd build it somewhere more centrally located, or if they did want to build it in North Dakota, they would have found cheaper land elsewhere without a ranch that they needed to spend money to tear down. Silly details like this that they got wrong just detracted from the story.

Everything was wrapped up way too neatly at the end, also. Alex gets the promotion to VP but still gets to stay in North Dakota and pursue a relationship with Josh. Josh's sister Taylor gets to travel the world after all, being the big company's head chef (how long did it take them to come up with that ridiculous scenario?) And big corporation takes care of the ranch's debt, while making money off a new line of western wear (so, if the company in the movie was supposed to be REI, can you really imagine REI selling western wear? Please!) Way too clean and unrealistic an ending for my taste.

If you're looking for a Hallmark romance that gives you exactly what every other Hallmark romance gives you and doesn't draw outside the lines at all, this movie is definitely for you. Realize, though, that that's exactly what you'll be getting.