7.2 stars.
I like the leads, they never fail to entertain. Let's imagine you've never seen a Hallmark film before. If that is the case 'Sweet Autumn' will be a most wondrous romantic journey. But if you've seen 200 of them, like I have, (give or take) this one becomes so cliché that I have to shake my head. Where to begin with the glaring errors (or at least call them annoying).
The story begins about 20 years in the past, two young girls are with their aunt. They totally miscast the younger version of Deloach's character. They should have switched the roles, the other girl is a better fit. Error #1: casting.
We jump into the present, Deloach's character is in the big city now, she goes back home for her aunt's funeral. Aunty left behind a video to be viewed at her funeral. In the video she gives post mortem instructions for her family and friends. There is no development of the story, it's a bit confusing, and the video is cheesy, unrealistic, and cliché. Error #2: lack of foundation.
There are other incidents I'm not listing in this review. I was strangely turned off by this movie for a large portion of it. The writing is so repetitive with every other Hallmark movie, it's insulting. 'Sweet Autumn' was made in 2020, so all of these ideas have already been rehashed 50 different ways. If this had been done in 2012, I'd say it was unique.
The leads also get these letters from her aunt who passed, and as they read them, we can see that her aunt is some sort of supernatural being who has the gift of prognostication. The lead female is too authoritative with him while he takes a back seat in everything. There is one thing he won't budge on, yet he eventually does. I don't think so, this is a recipe for later disaster. He will grow to dislike her assertiveness one day. Error #3: The mechanics of this type of relationship are fanciful.
Even the older version of her sister looks more like the younger version that was miscasted as Deloach's younger self. Almost as if there was a misprint in the script, they got switched. Also, her sister looks 10 years older, but is actually younger? Error #4: script error, and casting error #2.
I don't want to spoil it. If you like this whole fantastical fabrication of destiny, fine, it doesn't work for me this time around. It's too overdone and is my final straw for this particular trope. HOWEVER...
...The chemistry is so real, the acting is sublime, the music, lighting, and scenery are superb, the film is well made. Outside of some writing and storytelling blunders, the dialogue is intelligent and witty. It was also entertaining after the first hour. If I watch this one again, this is a reminder to myself: be patient, it gets better after 60 minutes.
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