I expected this to be one of Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel's sentimental stories rather than just a rom/com. And it was, sort of. Sometimes with a sentimental story, the romance is tacked on. It's secondary. In this movie it was integrated into the adoption story of the brothers who didn't know they were brothers. The romance almost takes over. There are still some sentimental moments, but the reveal is early in the movie to everyone but the boys. The romance develops like it would in most rom/coms and the obstacle, the secret from the boys, is always hanging there part of the romance story too.
Actually, the story is very predictable once the pieces are in place. The viewer can see how the details are going to be worked out as circumstances develop just screaming to come to that predictable conclusion. That's too bad. I'm not sure how it would have worked in a more sentimental way, but it sure seems like that would have made it better.
I've only seen Stacey Farber a few times but she is appealing as Maddy from the get-go. I actually liked her in those appearances too, but at least one, Butlers in Love, the movie itself was iffy at best. She has chemistry with Brendan Penny. Maddy is always upbeat and encouraging.
A couple of other things I didn't love. The plot thread of not telling Cody because Paul and his wife had agreed was just too rigid. It was necessary to make the story come out the way it did, but it didn't make sense. The other - just before the climactic moment there was a musical montage showing the main characters being thoughtful and it just left me flat.
The question that for me has become key to how much I love a movie - will I watch it again? Answer - I don't know. I think Stacey Farber as Maddy will bring me back.
