Pour The Wine, It's Rom-Com Time

Hallmark's Love in the Clouds

• Garry & Amy

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In this sky-high episode of Pour the Wine, It’s Rom-Com Time, Garry & Amy float above the breathtaking New Mexico desert to review Love in the Clouds! Set against the colorful backdrop of the world’s largest hot air balloon festival, this film follows Brooklyn, a driven Seattle media producer, as she touches down in Albuquerque for a career-making assignment. When she crosses paths with Jared, a third-generation balloon pilot with sky-deep passion, things start to drift off course. Will this rom-com soar—or is it just full of hot air? Tune in to find out!


Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/mood-of-summer

Amy:

Welcome to Pour the Wine. It's rom-com time where we'll sip some wine and review all things rom-com on the Hallmark channel. I'm Amy.

Garry:

And I'm Gary.

Amy:

And it's time to pour the wine.

Garry:

All right, you're going to pour it. I'm on it.

Amy:

Yes, You're on it. What are you pouring tonight?

Garry:

We are pouring a Orson.

Amy:

Like Orson Welles.

Garry:

Ooh, I don't know, maybe it's a Cab Sav 2023 from California.

Amy:

There you go. It's our first time trying this one.

Garry:

Yes, it is.

Amy:

It's a new one. Today we're going to be reviewing Love in the Clouds that aired on Saturday, may 10th 2025. If you missed it, you can catch it now on Hallmark Plus. Yes, you can, and I'm sure they'll have some encore airings of it.

Garry:

Well, let me hand you your glass of wine. Thank you, my glass.

Amy:

I think I'm going to need it for this one.

Garry:

Well, let's have a little cheer before we get started on this one Cheers. Okay, we would love it if you would click the follow button on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss an episode If you listen on Apple or Spotify. You can also leave us a review and, hopefully, it's a positive review.

Amy:

Yes, hopefully you can also find us on social media like Facebook, instagram, blue Sky, x, reds Keep naming them.

Garry:

Name them, name them Right. And now on with the show. On with the show.

Amy:

time to drop that synopsis no, first aren't we going to talk about who's oh yes, the actors and actresses who's it do we want to talk about who's in it first?

Garry:

yes, drop the synopsis. Okay, we'll talk about who's in it. Who's in this one. I'm's in this one. I'm waiting.

Amy:

Love in the Clouds stars Paul Green. He plays Jared, the hot air balloon pilot.

Garry:

Yes, are they called pilots? Yes, I guess I don't know he was wearing a pilot jacket.

Amy:

Oh, true, true. He's been in a lot of Hallmark productions. He was in 2021's Christmas CEO. He also played Dr Carson Shepard for 49 episodes on when Calls the Heart between 2017 and 2021. He was in Christmas in Evergreen Tidings of Joy in 2019. He was in three Hallmark movies in 2017, and his first Hallmark movie was in 2015 called Perfect Match. Okay. He's been in several TV series, including Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce Ooh that's a good one.

Garry:

He was in two episodes in 2014.

Amy:

A show called Bitten he was in 13 episodes in 2014 and an episode of CSI in 2014.

Garry:

CSI.

Amy:

Mackenzie Westmore plays Brooklyn. This is her first Hallmark production. Okay, prior to this film, she was last in the movie Ice Storm in 2023. She was actually the hostess for the TV show Face Off.

Garry:

Oh really.

Amy:

Yeah, I think you watched a few of those, didn't you?

Garry:

I might have.

Amy:

It ran from 2011 to 2018, and that's the special effects makeup artist.

Garry:

Oh yes, yeah, I knew it didn't ring a bell.

Amy:

Yes, when they compete in challenges and things. So she was the hostess for that show during its run.

Garry:

Go back and take a look at that.

Amy:

She played Sheridan crane for nine years. That would be 1,111 episodes on the soap opera passions. And then and then she had multiple last names due to getting married a lot.

Garry:

You know how. So I getting married a lot. You know how soaps are? Yeah, you get married a lot. You get divorced.

Amy:

Just like Erica Cain. Wow wow, do you know who Erica Cain is?

Garry:

No, tell me.

Amy:

She was played by the fabulous Susan Lucci on my favorite soap opera, All my Children.

Garry:

Oh, okay.

Amy:

So Passions aired from 1999 to 2008. So Passions aired from 1999 to 2008. And, speaking of All my Children, mackenzie was also on All my Children for 25 episodes between 2008 and 2009. And her first acting gig was in Raging Bull.

Garry:

Oh, wow.

Amy:

With Robert De Niro Raging.

Garry:

Bull, that's not too shabby of a first acting gig that was a while ago.

Amy:

Lorenzo Lamas plays Brad, which is. Jared's dad, Brad Brad, Jared's dad. This is his Hallmark debut, I believe. Now he has a ton of acting credits. They go back to 1969. So he's done a lot, a lot of work. His recent work includes the movies Team of Two in 2024 and Bleach in 2022.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

He was Hector Ramirez and 191 episodes of the bold and beautiful another soap opera from 2004 to 2006. And he's largely known, though, for his roles as Reno rains and renegade. He was in 110 episodes of that from 1992 to 1997. And, of course, as Lance comes in, in two in 228 episodes of Falconcon crest falcon, falcon crest, yes and I don't have the years, but I believe that was 80s, wasn't it?

Garry:

I believe, so yes, so yeah, there you go, all right gail o'grady plays jane, jared's mom.

Amy:

Okay, so she's married to brad um. Her hallmark credits include heart of the Matter in 2022, love on Ice in 2017, the Mystery Cruise in 2013. She has a ton of work dating back to 1987. She was in the movie Boneyard in 2024. She was in seven episodes of Criminal Minds from 2018 to 2023. She was in revenge we love that show from 2014 to 2015. She was 11 episodes and she was in american dreams 61 episodes. Did you ever watch that?

Garry:

no, that was from 2002 to 2005.

Amy:

It took place in the 60s. There it was like a um took place in the 60s and they played the 60s music and there was a show like American Bandstand or maybe it was. American Bandstand and, like her daughter, gets on the show. You know kind of reminded me of Hairspray a little bit. In the 90s she was in an episode of in like one episode of shows like Designing Women. Let me try that again.

Garry:

That's a super line.

Amy:

She was in an episode of shows like Designing Women Murder. She Wrote Cheers Silk Stockings, but she's probably best known for her role as Donna in NYPD Blue.

Garry:

Oh, okay, where she was in 58 episodes from 1993 to 1999.

Amy:

And boy did I love that show All right. Alexis Zollicoffer plays Elise, brooklyn's camera woman. This is her Hallmark debut and she has nine acting credits, including the movie Winter, spring, summer or Fall in 2024. And one episode of Quantum Leap in 2023. Ooh, quantum.

Garry:

Leap.

Amy:

Kopany, Pistazi or Pistay. Sorry, I pronounced his last name. I'm so sorry. He plays Carlos Jared's cousin. This is his Hallmark debut as well. He has eight acting credits, including one episode of the series Obliterated in 2023, and one episode of Roswell, New Mexico, in 2021.

Garry:

What a coincidence. Yeah, because this was filmed in New Mexico, I know.

Amy:

Catherine Copplestone plays Mary Brooklyn's boss. This is her homework debut. She has 13 acting credits, including, funny enough, one episode of Obliterated in 2023. I wonder if it was the same episode and one episode of Sleepy Hollow in 2015. Wow, and that wraps up the leads.

Garry:

Oh, my goodness. And now it's time to drop the synopsis.

Amy:

All right, here we go. Romantic comedy between a balloon pilot and a media personnel in Seattle during the hot air balloon fiesta. Very brief, that was the synopsis on IMDb.

Garry:

On IMDb. That was it, huh.

Amy:

I think one of the working titles was Love in the Air.

Garry:

I know they kept saying that throughout the whole movie. Well, his company, wasn't that the name of the hot?

Amy:

air balloon company. Yeah, it was filmed in Albuquerque, new Mexico, but not during the Balloon Festival. It was actually filmed in December of 2024, but they did get shots of the Balloon Festival that they used.

Garry:

Wow.

Amy:

During the filming. I believe it was of that film or balloon festival.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

The writer, lisa Hepner, is from New Mexico and this is her first Hallmark movie. Oh, well, congratulations there, you go and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a real event. Yeah, and it is going to. It's nine days, and this year it is October 4th through October 12th of 2025.

Garry:

Yeah, want to go. They have over like 500 ballooners or whatever you call them, isn't?

Amy:

that crazy. Yeah, it's pretty cool. I wonder if they have a name. I didn't look up that. Do they have a name? We'll call them ballooners, ballooners, I don't know, maybe that's it, I that's it, I don't know.

Garry:

Well, I do have a couple trivia questions Trivia questions.

Amy:

See, you're doing the same thing. I know we haven't even had that.

Garry:

We've had a couple sips, but Okay, go the first flight of a balloon with animals was back in September 19, 1783.

Amy:

You're not going to give me a chance to guess.

Garry:

You're not going to guess this one, oh, 17.

Amy:

It You're not going to give me a chance to guess.

Garry:

You're not going to guess this one. I would have known it was 1783. By the Montgolfa brothers they launched a sheep duck and a rooster A sheep, a duck and a rooster.

Amy:

Did they come home or did they?

Garry:

They didn't say Okay. But, however, that was in September of 1783. But in November of 1783, a man named. Jean François, pilote de Rosier.

Amy:

Look at you Okay.

Garry:

French, françois Léon de Arlens, were the first people to fly in the balloon that the Montgolf brothers created.

Amy:

Created. Oh, so they were the first humans.

Garry:

First humans.

Amy:

On there, so they sent the pets up first, or the animals up first. They're like bye.

Garry:

And I think Jared mentioned this in the movie that hot air balloon crashes are rare.

Amy:

Oh, he did. Maybe he did.

Garry:

Yeah, he said ballooning is statistically one of the safest forms of aviation, due in part to low speeds and very strict rules.

Amy:

Oh well, that's kind of cool. Well, I was wondering, because I do remember Jared during the movie says you can only go up or down, right, and I'm like how does that work? And then the wind takes you.

Garry:

That's scarce, scarce, and you just fill the balloon up with propane air and then you pull the strings to let it out and that goes up and down.

Amy:

Well, I think there's more a little more probably than that, but you know, that was just a brief.

Garry:

Yeah, yeah yeah, okay. So what did you think?

Amy:

All right, I'll give you the positives first.

Garry:

Okay, give me the positives.

Amy:

These location shoots rock they really do.

Garry:

I'm loving location shoots.

Amy:

They're just great. There were gorgeous shots at the beginning and then throughout the movie, of course, of the hot air balloons in new mexico. I don't I don't think I've ever actually seen a hot air balloon in person me either a few nope yeah, so it was really cool to see just how massive they are, like when they were on the ground yeah the, the area that they take up. I mean, that was. That was a little crazy to me and it reminded me of elementary school. Did you ever do the parachute thing?

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

So when we were in elementary school they would do this big circular, huge parachute thing that would take up practically the whole gym and the kids would circle around it and you would shake it. They'd put like tennis balls on it and it was just so fun, and then you got to run underneath of it. Run underneath of it, it was really, really fun.

Garry:

Yes, I remember that.

Amy:

So that just kind of reminded me of that and I thought that was kind of cool Outside of that and a few other scenes. This movie just really felt sort of it fell flat for me.

Garry:

Yeah, I think I'm with you on that one, especially the first half.

Amy:

Yes, the second half was better.

Garry:

Yeah, much better.

Amy:

I just I didn't think the chemistry really hit the mark between anyone, except maybe Elise and Carlos.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

And they really did. I think they kind of their chemistry worked and I really liked Jane actually, because I love Gallo grading and I was more invested in the balloons than the characters I know, isn't that? Did I mention how much I love the location shoot yes, the location so that you know and I hate to say it, um, but there you go what about you?

Garry:

what were?

Amy:

your. What were your thoughts?

Garry:

I don't even know what to say. I don't even know what to say. I don't even know where to begin. Like you, your overall, I thought the opening scene of all the balloons going up and down the various colors, shapes and sizes.

Amy:

it was beautiful, Whoever took those shots kudos to you because that was a really good job. Yes, like you, I didn't feel like the characters. It wasn't natural. Yes, it wasn't natural.

Garry:

Yes, especially, I had unnatural in some of my notes yes, unnatural, and I felt like in some scenes brooklyn I don't know if she jumped the line before the other character finished it felt like in some of the scenes maybe yeah, I don't know it just they just felt the same.

Amy:

And this is one movie I'll say and you know we've mentioned this before we watch them and we might laugh and kind of you know if there's a funny part or be like oh or something, but we don't talk about it, we try not to. And this is one where we were just dying to be like.

Garry:

I know you kept telling me to save it for the podcast. Save it for the podcast, Save it save it.

Amy:

Save it because I don't want to, I didn't want to ruin our genuine reaction to one another's reactions, but this was one where we were just dying to, I think, say, oh, I know, I know so. And the green screens scenes we're going to get to that. We'll get to that. We're going to get to that.

Garry:

My first take on that was yeah.

Amy:

We're going to get to that. That is definitely yeah. Oof man. What were some of your favorite scenes? Do you have any written down?

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

No.

Garry:

I did say, like we said, the opening scene.

Amy:

I have that also.

Garry:

That was probably my favorite scene, with the balloons going up and down and landing. I mean to not run into each other, or bounce around off of each other was crazy.

Amy:

Would you ever go up in one?

Garry:

If it was tethered, maybe I'm a pass, but it can't go more than 20 feet. It looks cool, but I am not interested in doing that at all. Yes, I just have nightmares of that basket just.

Amy:

Yeah, no In the landing where sometimes you just tip over.

Garry:

I don't know if I could handle that either I'm too old for that but that was one of my favorite scenes. And another one Do you remember when Jarrett took Brooklyn to the Bloom Museum? Yes, and there were some vendor booths.

Amy:

Yes, yes, yes.

Garry:

One of them was called Viva Vino Wine Glasses.

Amy:

Yep, you noticed that. Yeah, yeah, one of them was the wine glasses.

Garry:

Yeah, cheers to that.

Amy:

Cheers to that For sure.

Garry:

What about you? Did you have?

Amy:

I mean I did, like you said, the opening aerial shot. I was saying, I thought the night scenes were cool too, and they lit up the balloons. I thought those shots were super cool. I really enjoyed the scenes with Elise. I liked her character, I liked the actress who played her. Yes, and I just I thought her character was light and bubbly and it it really worked and I hope that she gets a chance to be in a you know another homework movie I think production, because I really liked her yeah, I liked it and I think she you know has potential there that she could explore outside of this.

Amy:

You know this movie so I liked her. There were a few scenes with um, with jane, and, like I said earlier, I love gail o'grady and she really did everything she could to bring it in this film. I just really she had a softness to her that I really liked. You know in her character, like when she says you have to be happy and fulfilled in yourself before you can be happy in a relationship right and that's very, very true.

Amy:

what do I always say? You have to be happy and fulfilled in yourself before you can be happy in a relationship. Right, and that's very, very true. What do?

Garry:

I always say you have to feed your own soul before you can feed someone else's. You won't be able to feed anybody else.

Amy:

I appreciated that. I also like the scene where Brad is teaching everybody taekwondo in the family and he's been depressed the whole movie right. I know Moping around but there Depressed the whole movie, right, I know, but she there's the part where you see her and she's just genuinely happy, right, because he's finally happy, he's back out, and it just was a. It was a cool. I just I just thought that scene was cool Because he had retired For her Right.

Garry:

From ballooning and he just did not like that. He didn't know what to do with himself Right which A lot of people that retire. You know, when you work somewhere for 20, 30, 40 years and you retire from that place and you no longer have that routine, people go into a depression.

Amy:

You lose your purpose and you feel like you don't Although I don't know, I have something to say about that. In a little bit, too A little bit later. Did you have any other scenes that you?

Garry:

Yeah, I liked the drone scene.

Amy:

Yes, that was very cool, that was so cool when it made the shape of the balloon.

Garry:

It was very cool, yes, and then they had the fire propane drones going on and off.

Amy:

Yeah, I thought that was so cool. I meant to look that up. I wonder if that is part of the fiesta, the balloon fiesta.

Garry:

It probably is. Now it probably is. I thought that was cool. The drone thing is like really big now. No, I know, I know, I just wondered if they.

Amy:

Yeah, I thought that was really cool the fire pit scene, when they talk about their biggest fears. I thought that scene actually one of very few between them really worked.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Because the chemistry really don't work. But you know, but I thought that that you know, he says he's afraid of dying with regrets and I just I thought that that you know, he says he's afraid of dying with regrets and I just I thought that scene really worked.

Garry:

So that was. Yeah, you know that was.

Amy:

that was it for me for favorite scenes Did you have any others?

Garry:

No, that was it. Yeah.

Amy:

Well now, what about your biggest cheer?

Garry:

My biggest cheer. I have to say that balloon glow. I think that's what they called it when it's.

Amy:

They say that balloon glow. I think that's what they called it. Yeah, I think so. Where the sun is getting ready.

Garry:

Yes, the balloon glow, the sun is setting, and they all fire up the propanes and they just blast the fire up into the balloon.

Amy:

Yes, I thought that was pretty cool. Yeah, that was really cool. Yeah, that was one of my, I agree.

Garry:

Very neat concept. I thought what about you?

Amy:

Shouldn't be surprised the location shoot.

Garry:

I know We've mentioned that and the balloons themselves.

Amy:

Yeah, thought that was cool. Yeah, it was. I did learn a lot more about balloons than I ever thought I would know, or hot air ballooning anyway, like the mass ascension.

Garry:

Yes, when they all go up.

Amy:

I thought it was cool, you just talked about it. The balloon glow.

Garry:

Yep.

Amy:

I didn't know. They had yellow and green flags, which makes total sense to fly or not. You know when the conditions you shouldn't be flying.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

And when you get the green flag, you get all excited, so I thought that really worked. Did you have any?

Garry:

other cheers. I also liked when Brooklyn and Elise put together Brooklyn's little audition reel where she talked about Jared and the actual made it about herself but I thought that was probably one of the better scenes in the whole.

Amy:

One of the more genuine, where it felt like it flowed. Yes, right, yes, I forgot about that.

Garry:

Is that when? She's standing in front of the balloons and she does like the interview. Yes, I thought that was another one of my cheers. Your cheers, your cheers.

Amy:

Elise. I mentioned her earlier. I thought she was kind of a bright spot in the movie.

Garry:

She was.

Amy:

And Jared's sunglasses Remind you of anything?

Garry:

Yeah, Mission Impossible, oh not.

Amy:

Mission Impossible. Well, Top Gun Top.

Garry:

Gun Tom Cruise.

Amy:

Oh, you know, Top Gun Sorry not Mission Impossible, I know Well, we got Mission Impossible on our brain because we bought tickets recently to the latest and greatest, because we love the Mission Impossible movies. We sure do, but it reminded me so much of.

Garry:

Tom Cruise's sunglasses and Top Gun. I was waiting for the song to start playing. Yeah, it was so funny. The opening scene that we love, I know.

Amy:

And like you said, he wore the pilot's jacket on, so that was pretty cool.

Garry:

And kudos to him, man, because he wore it. I'm telling you.

Amy:

Oh yeah, he did a good job. Yeah, he did a good job.

Garry:

So did you have any other shirts?

Amy:

No, that was it for me.

Garry:

Now I will say this the cinematography in this. Yeah, Like you know, when they went up in that tram, Mm-hmm. Like, and she was scared to death.

Amy:

Mm-hmm.

Garry:

Those shots from that man.

Amy:

They were gorgeous Were really gorgeous.

Garry:

Really gorgeous, that's what I mean, like the landscape in New Mexico, and then she's like do we have to take this thing back down?

Amy:

And it's like, and that's really a tram, yeah, what's it called?

Garry:

A tram, I don't know.

Amy:

I'm not sure what else you would call it.

Garry:

No, I mean, it's got an official, the CN. Oh, you're talking about the whole, the name of the place. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't remember what it was.

Amy:

It's called the Sandia Peak Tramway.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

And that's a real tramway which is pretty cool.

Garry:

They look pretty high up.

Amy:

It's one of the longest passenger aerial tramways in the world.

Garry:

I was going to say I wonder how long it takes them to get up there.

Amy:

It's one of the longest. Yeah, I'd be scared I might do that instead of high air balloon, but I'd still be a little bit scared.

Garry:

When they came back down, she ran out, ran out and kissed the ground, kissed the ground.

Amy:

That was kind of a funny scene.

Garry:

Yeah, that was that would be me. I know Well what about jeers? Did you have any jeers?

Amy:

Oh man Okay. I'm going to try to you know, be kind. You mentioned it earlier the green screen.

Garry:

It was so bad.

Amy:

It was terrible, it was so bad. Oh my gosh it just. I'm glad they didn't really do that until the end, right? Or was it when they?

Garry:

went up. Well, when she went up the first time, the first time, and then A year later, when he proposed to her.

Amy:

It just was, so you may as well have been on the ground. Do the weird voiceover with showing the balloon, which I thought was really weird too, which they did a couple times. They did that a couple times. They did a couple of times. They did that a couple of times. I did not like that. No, but that would have been so much better than the green screen, because it was terrible, it was just. Oh, I didn't like it no.

Garry:

I didn't like it no.

Amy:

I mean, I hate to say that.

Garry:

Do you want me to give my take on that green screen?

Amy:

I don't know, I'm a little scared. Maybe Go ahead.

Garry:

To me that was some chitty-chitty, bang-bang special effects from 1968. And, to be honest, back then I'm sorry and that was good for back then, but back then it was better than what they gave us, especially after all those beautiful opening scenes I know you give us. Why not tether one of them? Well, logistically I don't know how that would work. I don't know how that would work logistically, I know but that green screen, I mean, I will give them the benefit of the doubt for that.

Garry:

But CGI, that thing yes Do something Because it was crazy, but that's how I felt that is.

Amy:

Some Chitty Chitty Bang Bang stuff right there. That's so funny, chitty, chitty Bang Bang.

Garry:

Sorry, I would say, but I haven't watched it since 1968, but I wasn't born yet, yeah well, well, one of us wasn't born yet, well it depends on when it was released. I was born, but I was too young I didn't watch Chitty.

Amy:

Chitty Bang Bang until you know, I think.

Garry:

I was around 10 years old.

Amy:

Oh my gosh, that's funny. All right, Jane in Brooklyn, so Jared's mom in Brooklyn. The love interest looked very similar in age.

Garry:

Didn't they? They almost looked like sisters.

Amy:

And that's a compliment to Gail O'Grady. By the way, that's not an insult to Mackenzie.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

Because I'm not saying Mackenzie looks old. I'm saying that Gail O'Grady looks younger than her age. That's what I'm not saying Mackenzie looks old, I'm saying that Gail O'Grady looks younger than her age. That's what I'm saying. So that bothered me in ways and they look similar. So I was like, well, jared likes someone who's like his mom. I just thought I don't know.

Garry:

I just yeah, they really could have been sisters.

Amy:

So yes, yes.

Garry:

You know, what bothered me was the black streaking her head. Yes, okay, it was the black streak in her head. Yes, okay.

Amy:

I just I'm glad you brought it up, not me, because as a woman, okay, I have to say I was dreading. I had this that I was going to say as a G or two I don't know if that's the in thing now, because I'm not always hip to all of the styles the latest trends. But it didn't look right.

Garry:

No, it did not.

Amy:

It didn't read well on the screen. No, that's probably the best way I can put it without you know Well, my eyes just kept being drawn to it.

Garry:

I don't like to.

Amy:

you know, talk about our looks. I mean, mackenzie is a beautiful woman, but the hair that streak down the middle there were a couple scenes in her hair looked different colors depending on the light that bothered hair, that streak down the middle.

Amy:

There were a couple scenes in her hair look different colors depending on the light. That bothered me too and it just and I know that's. You know that happens naturally sometimes, but it was so drastic sometimes and that dark streak down the middle just bothered me throughout the whole film, like I almost couldn't not look at it. It's like one of those things where it's like if somebody has a mole on their face or something, you're trying not to look at it, but it's all you can look at. You know it's like, oh, somebody has a mole on their face or something. You try not to look at it, but it's all you can look at. You know it's like, oh, so yeah, yeah, I was going to bring that up, so All right, so what about that?

Garry:

So when they first get there, Elise and Brooklyn to Jared's house yes, and you know, Elise goes to her bedroom and Brooklyn and Jared are talking. And when she goes to bed, she goes into Elise's room and Elise has these headphones on.

Amy:

Yeah.

Garry:

She's jamming to some music, but if you look at the window outside, the window is a fake plastic tree.

Amy:

Oh yeah, you say Really you couldn't get it. I didn't notice that. Go to.

Garry:

Home Depot or Lowe's or something and get you a real tree and just plant it outside, you know what I mean, and a pot Did not look good I mean, it was just a little branch leaf, but it was plastic. And I was like come on.

Amy:

And I'm really not sure about two women staying with a man like that.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

Who they don't know. I I've that was another jeer of mine that I just felt like I don't know. That just didn't seem like that would fly, unless, unless they were trying to phrase, you know, like he was supposed to be a friend of mary's or something right, I mean she talked to him, I thought as a um editor or whatever she was you know, but um, I just thought that that was a little odd. Like you're gonna be in a house in your pajamas with some man you don't know and know anything about.

Garry:

I mean, I think it was a friend of the guy that was supposed to go and shoot the balloon festival okay, so they trusted him at that.

Amy:

Oh, the other reporter the other reporter.

Garry:

Oh, okay, okay, I think couldn't go.

Amy:

Oh, okay, okay. I think, Well, no, because Mary says you know, we can't find a, or did they?

Garry:

maybe I'm misunderstanding she said you can't find a hotel, because Mary said you can't find a hotel.

Amy:

Oh, so meaning you have to stay with him? Okay, okay, maybe I glossed over that. I was probably too busy. Looking at the black streak in the hair, I didn't think Mary worked the character, not the actor.

Garry:

No.

Amy:

But that was a little.

Garry:

I just, yeah, that was my thing, I mean, when she first told Brooklyn she was going. She's like we're not going to talk every day. I don't want you Right. You're going to report to me at the end, but yet she called every day.

Amy:

Every day.

Garry:

Sometimes a couple of times a day.

Amy:

Yeah.

Garry:

To where Jarrett was like wow, it didn't add up. Yeah, I just didn't like the acting and brad brad's hole.

Amy:

You brought it up earlier how people you know they retire and they don't know what to do with themselves. But I just felt like his doom and gloom was just so overacted and so you know, it just didn't, it just didn't work for me. And then when he was upset at the at the fiesta for a while I was like what you're at the, you know, and he's like walking around, like he's you know all I, I just I didn't buy it, I didn't what about the scene when he was polishing the silver?

Garry:

oh, and he what? What show was coming on?

Amy:

I don't know, I don't know, it, just, it just didn't. And what show was coming on? I don't know. I don't know, come on, it just didn't, yeah. And then when okay, it's supposed to be a very emotional moment when Jared and Brad hug.

Garry:

Oh yeah.

Amy:

It just didn't. Again, I was like it just didn't. It was supposed to be this big, powerful moment and it was like literally nothing to me, so you know, know, and I appreciate the actors, but yeah, that just didn't work. So, yeah, any, any other jeers from you?

Garry:

okay, yes, I got a couple more okay, the whole, after the whole cut from early morning darkness to what seemed like late in the afternoon sunlight scenes oh, I didn. I didn't even notice, yeah they're like at the Bloom Festival it was dark, and then they're at some kind of marketplace and it looks like it's noon. Yeah, I just didn't like the cut between those scenes.

Amy:

You didn't like the cut between oh okay, I get it. I love the Spanish guitar.

Garry:

I didn't notice, but yeah, I like the music.

Amy:

Yeah, music, yeah you know, I thought that was pretty cool and I like the christmas tree uh, peppers thing, the christmas oh yes, I'll have a red one and a green one christmas tree.

Garry:

Yeah, that was kind of a shout out to christmas yeah, hey, so I don't know you said you had a couple more, you have another one, the whole scene like okay, so when they, when um jared walks in on brooklyn talking Uh-oh, you're gritting your teeth he just hears a little bit of it and then he walks away. Mad, yeah, right. Yeah, and then so they fight and I'm like you didn't even try to save that.

Amy:

It was much ado about nothing Like they. Is that what you mean? Yeah?

Garry:

And then Elise treats Carlos like dirt.

Amy:

Yeah, that was the very next morning right. So that was another one of my jeers and I loved, you know, the Elise character.

Amy:

I didn't understand why she was so mad, like she was acting kind of pissed off at Carlos and I didn't understand and he didn't even do anything Like I was like, okay, I could understand if she was kind of like sad, like oh man, you know, I don't want to go Like if she looked, she looked mad at him and I'm like what? Yeah, so was she mad at him because he didn't ask her to stay or was she mad at him on behalf of I have no idea brooklyn I, I didn't get it I didn't get it either.

Garry:

I didn't get it either.

Amy:

Oh, you got any more jeers no, that was it yeah, I have a. You know I have more in my notes, but I'm gonna leave it at.

Garry:

Although I do like there was one scene when Jared I don't know if they were in the balloon up in the air for the first time or what, but they were talking about love and he said love, that's like trying to control a hot air balloon in a windstorm.

Amy:

Who said that? Jared, jared. Oh, that was like, was that towards the beginning?

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

I think that was like. It was that towards the beginning. Yeah, I think that was it.

Garry:

Yeah, yeah, you're right, you're right.

Amy:

Yeah, that was kind of funny, that was kind of cool yeah, I mean at least they did the year later, because we're always talking about how the? Movies, just sort of end but they're either like I love you or they, you know, or they have that kiss or whatever. Well, yeah, it was the green screen, but they at least did like a year later and then they got engaged. So that was. It was a good idea and the story was good.

Amy:

I don't think, I don't know, I don't think they've ever done a hot air balloon type of story.

Garry:

So I liked that, I liked the New.

Amy:

Mexico of it all.

Garry:

Yes, the Albuquerque part of it all, yes.

Amy:

Makes me kind of want. I don't think I've ever I think I've driven through New Mexico but I've never actually, you know, stayed or stopped yeah. Yeah, but it makes me kind of want to. I love the hot. I would go watch the hot air balloon festival Fiesta.

Garry:

So would I.

Amy:

But I would not go up in one, but I would love to see it. It's probably beautiful. I'm sure it's beautiful. Yes, you know day and night, so it kind of intrigued me that way. So there were positives.

Garry:

There were some good positives. So Well, you know, yeah, did you have anything else?

Amy:

No, I'm fresh out, all right.

Garry:

So out of five, how many corks do you give this one? Be honest, oh gosh, do you give this one Be?

Amy:

honest. Oh gosh, I would say, probably debating. Do you know yours for sure? What's yours?

Garry:

Three. Really yeah that high Well only because I would have to go at two, I'd have to go at two Only because Two corks for me.

Amy:

Yeah, I mean I almost did like one and a half, but I mean in two. I'm gonna say two corks yeah, what were you gonna say for you three?

Garry:

yeah, three, only because I did. You know, what saved this movie was those scenes, the balloon scene yes, not enough for me to give it a three, though acting on the back end of the movie got a lot better.

Amy:

I think it was better. The second half, yes, and the chemistry got a little bit better but it's kind of like.

Garry:

But it was tough. New series starts, the first couple episodes they just don't jive yeah, they don't. That's a good when you come in and when to you know yeah, back off.

Amy:

That's a good analogy sometimes you got to get a series, a couple more. Like I said, I think the actors and actresses you know if they find different projects in there and they've been in many other projects obviously it's not like you know I mean the younger ones that's their first few. But you know, and it's worked in other places, Maybe it was just this particular cast. It could have been the director.

Garry:

Sometimes the director's got to pull that out of people.

Amy:

Yeah, I mean it could have been the director and it's not the right. The story was there right in my opinion it. It had everything. There were moments that were too rushed and you know what I mean, and it was like she quit her job and then she gets she literally gets a phone call like the next minute. I was like okay, you could have waited like five minutes you know, it was just a little there were little things like that, but so the story was was there, it just wasn't executed.

Amy:

Well, okay, I don't think well, hey so I'm going going with my two all right, that's the lowest one I've ever given yeah, me too three.

Garry:

So is that a wrap? That's a wrap okay, guys, thanks for listening. Be sure to follow the podcast wherever you listen so you don't miss one. Also, follow us on social media. We'd love to have you leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and or Spotify. Hopefully it's a positive one.

Amy:

Yes, if you wouldn't mind, we'd really really appreciate a review. That would really help. Yeah, it would. Sure, that would really help yeah it would. Sure, Join us next Wednesday for our review of Love Song, the first of three Love on the Danube movies. It originally aired on Hallmark Plus in September of 2024, but makes its premiere Saturday night, May 17th 2025, on the Hallmark Channel. It is streaming now on Hallmark Plus so you could technically catch it early.

Garry:

Yes, you can.

Amy:

If you have Hallmark Plus, you can also now join us on Tuesdays for our Hallmark series reviews. Until then, fill up your glasses and push play. Thanks for listening, cheers.