We live in a society that rewards lying and cheating. But I really don't like most movies that are based on characters who lie and cheat to get ahead. Aside from the ethical questions, it's always really cringey when they get found out, and they always do get found out. At least the fake date movies involve characters who, arguably, don't hurt anybody other than family, and are ostensibly set up to prevent family criticism (or allow grandma to think everything is fine).
But here, somebody who told the truth didn't make it in the competition because Jen posted a fake video entry that got picked instead. Ironically, everything else that Jen says in her videos is usually quite "genuine" and it seemed possible that she could have made it to the final 20 and final 10 and maybe even the final 3 by being completely honest.
But having gone down the wrong path, with sales in her struggling business going up, Jen asks rhetorically:
"Why do I think this is going to spiral out of control to my detriment?"
Because it will.
And, for much of the movie, we are forced to watch Clare Bowen (effectively) make Emily look like the most miserable and emotionality distraught person on the planet. She constantly looks like she's seen a ghost or just watched her ice cream fall on to the sidewalk. I get it; she's really damaged by the loss of her dad when she was a child and by her resentment of a mom who looked for love elsewhere and wasn't there for her. And she's guilt ridden over the fake life she's living. But watching that nonstop pain, angst and anxiety is not the most enjoyable experience. Especially when stretched out over the better part of two hours.
I kept waiting and wishing that she would just let loose and enjoy Max who, inexplicably, has loved her for years. It's Hallmark, so everyone knows where they will end up, but in a good movie, as in life, the focus should be on the journey not the destination. Here, the journey was painful.
I did like watching Anna Van Hooft, who played Emily's sister and business partner Ali. I'd like to see her in more Hallmark movies and maybe even in a lead role.
I grade Hallmark on a curve, but I can see why I never saw any commercials or trailers for this movie.
