Hallmarked!

Another week, another movie that's not the worst one we've ever seen. We're reviewing, Love on Harbor Island!

Synopsis: Interior designer Lily returns home to help her Aunt Maggie run her marina-side bed and breakfast when she meets Marcus, a handsome seaplane pilot whose work delivering rescue dogs helps Lily discover that home really is where the heart is

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat)

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

We couldn't resist watching Lindsay Lohan's new movie on St Patrick's Day. We promised we'll get back to Hallmark movies after this! Synopsis: Maddy, an aspiring author and editor, has fallen in love with the author who's book she is editing. Unfortunately, he has fallen for her best friend but their wedding in Ireland gives Maddy an opportunity to work some that of that cheeky Irish magic. Wishing she were the bride to be, Maddy sees first hand what that alternate reality may look like... but is it what she actually wants?

SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

Another episode, another Reel One and vineyard-themed movie to review! Now, this movie actually surprised us, but how? You'll have to listen! Synopsis: Heather, host of 'Read Between the Vines', is determined to create the perfect Christmas episode by featuring a unique winery from her hometown. The only thing standing in her way? Rudy, the attractive, stubborn owner of the winery. SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

We're back! We know we left you for a bit, we're sorry. Life got in the way of our Hallmark binging! But what better way to get back into the swing of things than with some wine and love? Watch A Vineyard Romance with us, found on Prime here in Australia.

Synopsis: Wedding magazine writer, Sam is assigned to cover the influencer wedding of the year at Hawthorne Vineyards, right smack in her hometown. She gets there only to discover it's the wedding of the ex her broke her heart! Can she write an unbiased article while keeping her feelings at bay?

SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

HAPPY NEW YEAR! We know we're a week late but for this week's episode, we thought we'd review a New Year's movie. Enter Midnight at the Magnolia, found on Netflix here in Australia.

Synopsis: Best friends, Maggie and Jack, pretend to be in a relationship to get a better time slot for their radio show! But how much are they both really pretending?

SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

Merry Christmas, everyone! For this week's episode, we thought we'd review a Netflix original Christmas movie classic: The Christmas Prince.

Synopsis: When a reporter goes undercover as a tutor to get the inside scoop on a playboy prince, she gets tangled in some royal intrigue and ends up finding love - but will she be able to keep up her lie?

SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

We're all Christmas, all the time now! This week, we review A Christmas Love Story featuring Kristin Chenoweth and Scott Wolf and it's agreed, it's great! Synposis: A school choir director loses focus when a new boy joins her choir and she meets his widowed father. SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

It's Christmas time! And what better way to kick off the season than with a Chad Michael Murray delight, "Angel Falls Christmas".

Synposis: A devoted doctor with little time for the Christmas spirit is in desperate need of an intervention from the unlikeliest of places.

SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash #hallmark #hallmarkchannel #hallmarkmovies

Our last non-Christmas movie review before the holiday season really kicks off! This week, we're reviewing Choose Love, the Choose Your Own Adventure Rom Com, on Netflix! Synopsis It would seem that Cami has the perfect life and yet she feels like maybe there's something that she's missing. Her boyfriend Paul is ready to propose but two new men coming into Cami's life make her question if that is what she wants. Too hard to figure it out on her own, she asks you, the viewer, the help her out! SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash #hallmark #hallmarkchannel #hallmarkmovies #netflix #netflixmovies #netflixmoviereview

We're in fall mode with our movie reviews (despite being in Australia). This week, we're reviewing Autumn Dreams which you can watch on Prime Video. Synopsis Annie is about to marry her fiancé Joe when she finds out her annulment to her high school sweetheart, Ben, was never processed. While reconnecting with her old love, will sparks begin to fly again? SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash #hallmark #hallmarkchannel #hallmarkmovies

We're in fall mode with our movie reviews (despite being in Australia). This week, we're reviewing Love On a Limb which you can watch on Prime Video.

Synopsis

Aimie Roarke is always up for a cause, whether it's helping a local animal shelter or hosting a bake sale for the Fire Department. When the town's beloved oak tree is set to be cut down, she takes it upon herself try and save it.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat)

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

We're back after a short break and this week, we thought we'd do something different a review a TV series; the pilot episode of Good Witch. And honestly, it's nowhere near the worst thing we've seen!

Synopsis: "Good Witch" will take viewers on a new magical journey with Cassie Nightingale and her daughter Grace. When Dr. Sam Radford moves in next door to Grey House with his son, they are charmed by the 'magical' mother-daughter duo.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat)

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

We've strayed from Hallmark again this week with another Netflix special, A Perfect Pairing. We couldn't help it! Want to count how many times we say how much we love that it's filmed in Australia with Australian accents? Also, sorry Lucy Durack!

Synposis: A young sommelier venturing out on her own wants to start her new company with a top Australian wine brand but she'll need to prove herself by learning the ropes and fight for her chance to be their rep.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat)

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

This week's movie is not the worst one we've seen but it got pretty close to being the worst! We're reviewing The Convenient Groom, a Hallmark Channel classic that makes questionable character choices for the female lead.

Synposis: A young celebrity marriage counselor discovers herself left at the altar of her own highly-publicized wedding. To save face, she accepts an offer from her contractor, who secretly has a crush on her, to step in as groom and marry her.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat)

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

We've jumped ship to Netflix this week to see just how much Hallmark movies have influenced the streaming service! Synopsis: Just before Christmas, a hotel heiress has a skiing accident and finds herself in the care of a handsome lodge owner, his mother-in-law and his daughter after being diagnosed with amnesia. SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

We love a sweet Hallmark Channel movie! But we also love a movie with a bit of drama... and this movie did not deliver. Synopsis: A travelling doctor finds love and a home at her latest assignment in Willowbrook. SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

Another interesting Christmas movie by Hallmark Channel! This week, we're reviewing Ice Sculpture Christmas. Minor spoiler but is it possible to go from culinary school to dish washer to sous chef in basically a week?

Synopsis: Callie, an aspiring chef, with her childhood friend David, enters Callie into a club's annual Christmas ice sculpting competition against her boss. Callie's passions for cooking and ice sculpting are met with romance and Christmas spirit.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat)

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

It's still Christmas in July and for week two, we thought we'd pop over to Stan and check out Candy Cane Christmas! Was it a wise move? You tell us!

Synposis: Phoebe is searching for a new tradition to fill her holiday spirit, after life events mean that the lights of Candy Cane Lane can no longer continue. What she ends up realising is that it's the people with whom we share these experiences with that make them special, not just the traditions themselves.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat)

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

It's Christmas in July! 🎄 We're celebrating with a Hallmark gem, "My Christmas Love". This was an interesting movie - the lead is a described as a hopeless romantic, but we see it differently!

Synposis: A hopeless romantic who can't ever seem to give a guy a real chance begins receiving each of the "12 Days of Christmas" as gifts anonymously at her door and begins to believe that the mystery suitor may finally live up to her expectations.

SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

Apparently a lot of Italians live in the state of Washington! Well, according to Hallmark Channel. This week, we're reviewing 'Always Amore'. Spoiler alert... we really enjoyed the two main character's acting and chemistry! Synopsis: Follows Elizabeth who is forced to work with Ben, a pro restaurant consultant, to keep her late husband's Italian restaurant afloat, but as they get closer, she realizes that not all change is bad and might even open her heart to new love. SHOW NOTES: Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod YouTube: @hallmarkedpod Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat) Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

We are super excited about this week's episode. We are reviewing a Hallmark-inspired movie by Australian production company, Jaggi Entertainment. Filmed in North Queensland, specifically, Cairns, we were keen to see some Aussie actors and sites. Our thoughts on the movie? Look... it's not the worst one we've seen...

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat)

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

We chose candy over Christmas this week with our Sweet Autumn review. Look, it's not the worst we've ever seen but...

Movie plot: When her Aunt Dee passes away, Maggie inherit's her candy store. But will her new business partner be her downfall?

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat)

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

We've ditched Christmas in this week's episode and added a culinary delight to the review schedule instead. Just Add Romance may be the movie that divides us but it's healthy to have differing opinions, right?

Movie plot: Two head chefs go head to head in the ultimate cooking showdown but what will win; career or love?

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle (via Uppbeat)

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

In this week's episode, we review a 2013 Hallmark Channel TV Movie, "Let it Snow", starring Candace Cameron Bure. This movie has our favourite Hallmark trope: a big city corporate gal who goes to a small town and falls in love with a flannel-wearing local guy.

Movie plot: An executive examines her company's new property and prepares a presentation to transform the rustic lodge into a new hot spot.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: Hallmarked! or @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

How many plots in one movie is too many? This week, we're back with a MarVista Entertainment movie review! We try and understand the plot of "A Taste of Christmas"/"The Christmas Calendar" starring Broadway star, Laura Bell Bundy!

Movie plot: When Emily, a struggling baker in a small town, receives a handmade Christmas Calendar from a secret admirer, the local residents become obsessed with finding out the identity of the sender.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: Hallmarked! or @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

It's Aya's birthday week so, of course, we're celebrating! In this episode, we review Hallmark's The Birthday Wish. Fitting, right?

Movie Plot: A young woman, who desperately wants to be engaged by 30, wishes to see the future and is surprised by the premonition's results.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

YouTube: Hallmarked! or @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle

Background Graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

We are going to be bold and say this is THE WORST movie we've ever seen/reviewed. In this episode we review a MarVista Entertainment movie, "Love Strikes Twice" also known as "Second Chance Christmas".  

Move plot: In this Christmas time romantic comedy, Caroline is unhappy in her marriage and makes her way to file for divorce. On the way, she is in an accident and she sees her love life differently, as amnesia is now setting in.  

SHOW NOTES: 

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros 

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod 

Youtube: Hallmarked! or @hallmarkedpod 

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle 

Background graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

Keen to watch a Hallmark movie where a career-driven city gal decides to go back to her small country hometown for Christmas? Then 'Return to Christmas Creek' is for you!

Movie plot: With Christmas approaching, a career-focused Chicago app developer returns to her small hometown to rediscover the meaning of Christmas. There she reunites with her estranged uncle and her childhood best friend, who she begins falling for.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram & TikTok: @hallmarkedpod

Youtube: Hallmarked! or @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle

Background graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

It wouldn't be a Hallmark Channel Valentine's Day movie if the plot didn't include two people who hate Valentine's Day! In this episode, we review another classic: All Things Valentine. This is possibly the most confusing storyline Hallmark has ever written!

Movie plot: A blogger who has had terrible luck on Valentine's days meets a handsome veterinarian. Then she finds out he is the one who has been leaving rude comments on her Valentines day articles and she questions if her luck has changed at all.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram: @hallmarkedpod

Youtube: Hallmarked! or @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle

Background graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash

A Christmasphobe!? In our debut episode of Hallmarked!, we review the Hallmark Channel's 2016 movie, The Mistletoe Promise. Listen along as we try to understand the costume choices, the number of Christmas trees and the true meaning of this made up word! 

Movie plot: Two self-confessed 'Christmasphobes' sign a contract which will mutually benefit them over the holiday season.

SHOW NOTES:

Hosts: Aya Valentine & Kristen Barros

Instagram: @hallmarkedpod

Youtube: Hallmarked! or @hallmarkedpod

Music: Tres French by Jonny Boyle

Background graphic: Luke Besley on Unsplash