A boy and a girl fall in love during summer camp and promise to stay in touch, but they don’t. Fifteen years later they meet again in the same camp under very different circumstances. What will happen to the camp and will they try again?

When I first saw this film, I only barely knew who Brennan Elliott was, and since his character reminded me of Warren in Cedar Cove, it was an interesting watch.  It had been some time since I saw it, and a couple of weeks ago, it was on again. I knew I needed to watch it anew, and I will now give you my thoughts. There are honestly no content advisories as this is a Hallmark film, but regardless, it is truly delightful.

While I should know all of the actors from their past works elsewhere, I am so far behind in modern television that I have only heard of what the four principals have done. However, I am quite familiar with Bill Engvall due to his work with the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. In this film, his part is small but integral. He merely plays the all-around nice guy for whom the audience feels sympathy.  I have to admit I only really see him as the persona he created aside from this film, but that works quite efficiently in this Hallmark movie. And if nothing else, it’s a chance to see him!

Zoe (Mia Kirshner), Luke (Barry Watson), Erica (Victoria Birdwell), Tommy (Matty Finochio)

Although I know none of these stars, they were absolutely fantastic in their roles! Maybe it wasn’t the highest level of acting and writing but that veritably makes no difference. This is a family friendly, feel-good film, and the story was predictable (but had a few surprises along the way). The chemistry between these four actors was tremendous, and I especially enjoyed the characters of Zoe and Luke. I believed they were the characters they were portraying, and I would be gratified to be able to see them in more things. I plan to put them on my “watch list.”

I’ll be honest–I sometimes get tired of the sugary-sweet Hallmark films where nothing bad happens and there is no real conflict along the way. Quite truthfully, this movie would have been in that category, and I may not have even reviewed it had it not been for the inclusion of the proverbial villain, Pete Shoreman, played brilliantly by Brennan Elliott.  Before this, I had seen him in Cedar Cove, The Nanny Express, and Flight 93. This film was made before his “Warren” character came about, but I was purely elated to see that this character was very similar to that diabolical character. It made me think that this may have been good training for him (whether he was aware of it or not).

As Pete Shoreman, Brennan plays the typical businessman who definitely doesn’t seem to have a kind bone in his body. He has a bit of a soft spot for Zoe, but that is probably more due to mid-life crisis and the fact that she’s young and pretty (oh, it reminds me so much of Justine and Warren in Cedar Cove).  Brennan completely immerses himself in the role with a gusto that not every actor can pull off. His natural charisma permeates this character, and whenever he is on the screen, I just cannot help but be riveted by his presence (well his looks certainly help in that respect too).  It is his character that provides humor and conflict, and also keeps the movie from becoming sappy or overly predictable.

Additionally, my favorite scene in the entire film happens because of Brennan’s character. When I originally watched the film, I didn’t expect the plot twist in just the way it occurred. I do believe I applauded the ending (I know I did the first time), and there are times that I wish Warren in Cedar Cove would meet a similar end (nah, I like Warren too much).  No spoilers from me–you absolutely must watch the film if only for those final scenes (oh and Brennan’s captivating performance). Even though Brennan’s part is relatively small compared to the four principals, whenever I think of this film, his character is the primary one that comes to mind.  I doubt Hallmark would ever do a sequel to this film, but as I consider it now, I could see a sequel where Brennan’s character comes back with even more ferocity.  I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves sweet romances with a bit of sinisterness along the way (provided by Brennan’s expertly played character), this is the film for you. And if you’re a fan of Cedar Cove, this is a must-see–no matter what you think of Warren Saget.

For more information:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1942900/

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