Hallmark may be very inconsistent in all their season blocks every year (their Christmas films particularly), but there are films of theirs that are surprisingly well above average and more in every season block and every year. Their 2018 output did have misfires throughout the year ('Christmas at Pemberley Manor'), but also films that impressed me ('Pearl in Paradise'). Was very impressed by the 2018 Fall Harvest efforts, and consider the 2018's Fall Harvest block one of the more consistent Fall Harvest blocks.
'Under the Autumn Moon' is on the whole a pretty good effort. Is it a great film? Not quite, actually an easy film to criticise if one is particularly not familiar with Hallmark's output, which is quite more of the same and very up and down in all its own. Is 'Under the Autumn Moon' worth watching and does it have a lot of good things? Yes, and as far as Hallmark's 2018 output that had been aired already goes it's one of the solid middle ones but also among their better ones overall that year in a typically variable year for them.
It is far from perfect. It is formulaic and doesn't have many surprises, almost everything is obvious well before it happens (and it is not just the neatly wrapped up ending).
As well as the too neat and convenient ending, the whole final act is rushed and contrived. Also didn't like the too constant and over loud music, not uncommon with Hallmark.
On the other hand, there are a lot of good things. Lindy Booth and Wes Brown, both pretty consistently strong Hallmark regulars, are good, and their chemistry connects well and is suitably romantic. The supporting cast are solid. It is a good looking film, especially the scenery. While not a script that will win awards, the script is light-hearted and witty, clearly knowing what it was trying to be and clearly understood the genre the film fits under. Doing so without trying to throw in too much tonally or adding anything unnecessary.
Story is not original, but is full of charm and never takes itself too seriously, while also treating the subject with maturity. The pace never felt dull while not being rushed. The supporting cast are solid.
Also felt that the characters weren't too stereotypical and were more than just typical Hallmark cliches that is seen too often with Hallmark. Also cared for them, with them being true to life with personality traits that appealed with situations worth relating to.
Nice film overall. 7/10.
