Pour The Wine, It's Rom-Com Time

Hallmark's Love on the Danube: Royal Getaway

• Garry & Amy

Share episode

In this episode of Pour the Wine, It’s Rom-Com Time, Garry and Amy dive into their review of Love on the Danube: Royal Getaway. After being left at the altar, art gallery manager Ava decides to go on her honeymoon cruise solo, hoping to mend her broken heart. What she doesn’t anticipate is meeting "Joe"—a charming fellow traveler who shares her passion for art and seems refreshingly sincere. But, Joe has a secret: he's actually a Duke, torn between embracing his royal future or following his own dreams. Will this rom-com float or flounder? Pour yourself a glass of wine, get cozy,  and 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 I really think after today you need to pour the wine.

Garry:

Yes, I think you are right.

Amy:

First day back at work after a long weekend.

Garry:

Yes, it was rough, yes, it was I want to be on a permanent vacation.

Amy:

I can tell you that much, me too. Well, we would really love it if you would click that follow button on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss an episode. Yes, If you listen on Apple or Spotify, you can also leave us a review, which we would really really appreciate. Yes, we would, and we hope it's a positive review. Yes, you can also find us on all the socials Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky X and Threads. Make sure you go on over there and follow us on social so you don't miss a new episode Drop.

Garry:

Drop.

Amy:

That we do.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

And keep up and tell us your thoughts. Let us know what you're thinking about the things that we're reviewing, cause we'd love to hear different opinions, or maybe the same opinion.

Garry:

Yeah, yeah, we're not afraid.

Amy:

We're not afraid. So what are we reviewing today?

Garry:

Well, today we're reviewing where. Today, told you, it's been a day we're reviewing the second of the three Love on the Danube movies, royal Getaway, that aired on the Hallmark Channel on Saturday, may 24th 2025. It originally aired on Hallmark Plus on September 17th 2024.

Amy:

Actually it was September 19th. That's my mistake. I told you the wrong date.

Garry:

You see how she did me. Oh my goodness.

Amy:

All right, go ahead Sorry.

Garry:

So I stand corrected.

Amy:

No, that's my fault. I stand corrected.

Garry:

Anyhow, if you missed it, it's on Hallmark Plus.

Amy:

Yes.

Garry:

So there.

Amy:

So, there, so tell us who's in this one who's in Love on the Daniel Broyle Getaway.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Starring drumroll, Jessica Sipos plays Ava. Her hallmark work includes Betty's Bad Luck and Love in 2024, A Season for a Family in 2023. She was in Signed, Sealed, Delivered to the Altar in 2018.

Garry:

Ooh.

Amy:

Ooh, which we haven't watched yet.

Garry:

We haven't watched that one yet, but we're going to and then review it.

Amy:

And she was also in 38 episodes of Chesapeake Shores from 2017 to 2022, where she played Sarah Mercer.

Garry:

Yes, and that's where we know her from.

Amy:

That is what we know her from. And Betty's Bad Luck and Love we saw. We did see that one. I don't think we saw a season for family but yeah, yeah, I don't think we saw a season for family, but yeah, yeah, I don't think we did. Some of her other work includes two episodes of Charmed in 2021, a Daughter's Revenge the movie in 2018, and four episodes of Unreal in 2016. Doesn't it feel like forever since we watched that?

Garry:

Yes, it does.

Amy:

Yes, good, I mean, it was a good show.

Garry:

It was no-transcript.

Amy:

I mean, it was a good show.

Garry:

It was.

Amy:

About reality. Yeah, I'm doing air quotes like people can see me like reality TV Reality. Dan Janot plays Duke Yosef. How do they say it during?

Garry:

the movie Yosef Yosef.

Amy:

AKA Joe Fisher For Hallmark. He was in All I Need for Christmas in 2024, falling in Love in Niagara also in 2024. Oh and, sense and Sensibility in 2024. He was busy in 2024.

Garry:

Yes, he was yes.

Amy:

He was in Our Christmas Mural and Sweeter Than Chocolate in 2023. And his very first work for Hallmark was in the Good Witch. He was in 25 episodes and he played Brandonon russell, one of the family members, from 2015 to 2019 okay, yeah, there's that good witch again love the good witch.

Amy:

Some of his other work includes north of north, which is a series on netflix. He was in one episode in 2025, the big cigar. That's an apple tv plus series one, episode 2024. He was in the Freeform series, the Bold Type 28 episodes from 2015 to 2019. And he was also in the very popular, I believe, hbo series Reign for 18 episodes 2016 to 2017.

Amy:

And can I just say that he is a Canadian actor who has a typical North American accent. He plays British in this and in Rain and I think he said he's played someone French in one of the movies. Okay, yeah.

Garry:

Well, he did a good job. I had no idea yeah. Usually it's the other way around it's British playing American.

Amy:

Right, right, and they do a good job at doing that.

Garry:

Yeah, his accent's pretty good, I got a crappy accent so I can't do either one of them.

Amy:

Catherine Drysdale continues her role in this film as Teddy, the cruise ship's activity director. Yes, she was in the first Love on the Danube movie, love Story, which was her Hallmark debut, and she will also appear in the third Love on the danube movie uh, kissing stars. She was in 18 episodes of bridgerton between 2020 and 2024 and in a series called the wincers for 11 episodes from 2016 to 2023, where she played megan markle. Okay, and it's a comedy soap opera about the royals, oh wow. So there you go.

Garry:

Wow, awesome.

Amy:

She's also voiced a lot of animated series, like Circle Square, for 21 episodes between 2021 and 2022. Dennis and Nasher Unleashed 17 episodes between 2017 and 2020. And Dennis and Nasher on the big screen in 2020. Steven Pacey plays Reynolds. This is his hallmark debut. He was also in the stolen girl. One episode in 2025, that is a disney plus original series. Okay, mob land. Two episodes so far in 2025, that's on paramount plus. That's the pierce brosnan yeah helen mirren one.

Amy:

We haven't checked that out, but we've seen the previews. He was in House of Dragon for one episode in 2024, and the series Doctors five episodes between 2007 and 2018. And he actually played three different characters.

Garry:

Oh, my goodness.

Amy:

Throughout those five episodes. It's pretty cool that's on the BBC.

Garry:

That's awesome.

Amy:

Mark Holden plays the captain of the ship, Captain Magnusson Magnusson.

Garry:

Magnusson.

Amy:

He has done a ton of work. He was in the first Love on the Danube movie, Love Story, and he'll be in the third movie as well, Kissing Stars. He was in the movie Damaged with Samuel L Jackson in 2024. Two episodes of Discovery of Witches in 2021. World War Z in 2013. Final Destination, the OG, in 2000.

Garry:

All right.

Amy:

And two episodes of the X-Files between 1997 and 1998. Getting a little soundtrack there. Okay, cool. Roy McCreary plays King Carl. His homework work includes Love on the Right Course in 2024. Some of his other work he was in Interview with a Vampire for one episode in 2024, atlantic Crossing for five episodes in 2020. He was in one episode of Drop Dead Diva which we love. Such a cute series. That was in 2010. And he was also in two episodes of One Tree Hill between 2009 and 2010. So I'm guessing one in each year.

Garry:

That's crazy, all right.

Amy:

Daniel Frazier plays Duke Maximillian Maximillian.

Garry:

Maximillian.

Amy:

Maximillian. He has 14 acting gigs listed on IMDb and this is his Hallmark debut. He was in two episodes of the crown in 2020, and he too was in the series doctors for one episode in 2012. That seems to be a long running british series. Katherine disher returns to play betty. She's been in several homework productions, including all three of the Love on the Danube movies. She was in my Sweet Austrian Holiday, also known as the Christmas Chocolatier in 2024. And we know and love her from the Good Witch series where she played Martha Tinsdale for 76 episodes between 2015 and 2021.

Amy:

And she was actually in all of the Good Witch movies dating back to 2008.

Garry:

Yeah, she was the mayor.

Amy:

She was the mayor and she was actually in all of the Good Witch movies dating back to 2008. Yeah, she was the mayor.

Garry:

She was the mayor.

Amy:

Yeah, she's quirky and fun.

Garry:

Love her.

Amy:

Yes, she has also been in Law Order Toronto, criminal Intent two episodes in 2024 and 2025. She's voiced a lot of animated work X-Men 97 in 2024, thomas and friends all engines go she voiced 11 episodes there between 2021 and 23 and roly-poly oly 75 episodes between 1998 and 2004 left me some roly-poly I know leslie maloney play plays Marta. She has 14 acting credits and this is her first Hallmark production. She was in the TV series the Bay for two episodes in 2024. Doctors the.

Amy:

BBC series again two episodes between 2021 and 2023. The Inside man she was in seven episodes between 2021 and 2022.

Garry:

Sweet.

Amy:

Che Faraday Brown plays Tobias Hoffler. This is his Hallmark debut. He had a total of nine acting credits, with six of them being shorts Okay, so it's kind of cool. He's getting there right. He was actually kind of good in this. You know, we saw him briefly as Tobias, but he's pretty good. Jessica Preddy plays Duchess Katrine. This is her Hallmark debut. She was in the series Archie. She was in two episodes in 2023. And that is a series about Cary Grant which I really would like to watch. Yeah, me too. She's voiced several video games. She was in one episode of Doctor who in 2018 and six episodes of the First Musketeer in 2014.

Garry:

2014. Yep, so is that the list?

Amy:

That's the list, ooh.

Garry:

That was a big list.

Amy:

Yeah, not too bad, though. Not too bad to me, no, it's not.

Garry:

No Well, do you want a Hallmark trivia?

Amy:

I would love. Okay, is this going to be something I can answer, something that I know?

Garry:

I think so.

Amy:

Something that you're going to fulfill. We had a recent Hallmark trivia fail.

Garry:

Yeah, you'll have to check out. It was a major fail Anyway.

Amy:

Yes, but let's get off of that. All right, let's get off of that. Let's go back to this one. Okay, so here we go. Hit me with it, you like to hear it, here it goes.

Garry:

What is the name of the Hallmark?

Amy:

Channel's spinoff network that focuses on mystery movies.

Garry:

Hallmark Mysteries and Movies. Hallmark Movie and Mysteries.

Amy:

Oh, okay. You just had the two Movie singular, not movies.

Garry:

It says movies, movies. Oh, okay, I'm sorry, mysteries Okay, I know, sometimes I forget that. That was almost like a gotcha like it's so obvious.

Amy:

Yes.

Garry:

Makes you think.

Amy:

Makes you think, makes you second guess yourself. Okay, very good.

Garry:

All right. Well, that was good, we'll give it to you.

Amy:

Look at me, so Score one Time to drop the synopsis.

Garry:

I'm like one and 50 at this point.

Amy:

No you're good, all right. Here we go with the synopsis. Heartbroken, after being jilted at the altar, ava, a straight-talking urban art gallery manager, takes her honeymoon anyway and meets a charming European gentleman who shares her passion for art. However, trust and deception are an issue. Shares her passion for art. However, trust and deception are an issue and like the other, like all three films, this was filmed largely on the river cruise ship and in Budapest. Yeah, yep.

Garry:

Very beautiful scenery.

Amy:

Very, very beautiful scenery, so Should we give a spoiler?

Garry:

Yes. So before you listen to this podcast, if you have not seen the three or this particular one which is Royal Getaway.

Amy:

Pause it now. Take a sip.

Garry:

Yeah, I need to take a sip, pause it now, go watch it, then come back and hit play Correct, because we do give some spoil.

Amy:

Well, we talk about our favorite scenes, yeah we do and some things that happen and we don't want to ruin it for anybody. But, Sort of like a recap and a review.

Garry:

Right, yes. So again, if you have not seen Royal Getaway hit pause, go watch it and then come back.

Amy:

Or if you want to listen to the review, you know, I mean, you could still listen to it and go watch it.

Garry:

Yeah, we just don't want you to get upset, because we spoiled something for you Right Without warning. Yes, without warning. So what was your impression of this one?

Amy:

Oh, you want me to go first? Yeah, you go first. Okay, all right, so we're going to do my overall impression. I liked the first one, yes.

Garry:

Love song Okay.

Amy:

Right, we watched that. I liked it, but I really kind of loved this one.

Garry:

Me too.

Amy:

Oh, did you? Okay, I don't know. There was just something about the chemistry between Jessica and Dan that totally worked for me in this one. There was good chemistry in the first one, but it just was sort of just. It fell just short of being great. Yeah, you know the first one, but this one I thought really, really worked. And of course you know the backdrop of cruising down the Danube, coupled with shots around Budapest and a few other places, you know didn't hurt, right.

Amy:

I mean, it was so beautiful, there were some. I felt like we got different shots on this one too.

Garry:

We did On the river.

Amy:

some sunset shots, yes.

Garry:

Some of the cities you know the difference was in the first one, I felt like a lot of the shots it was raining overcast. In this one, there was a lot of sunshine. Sunshine, yeah, we saw a lot of it, which made a huge difference. Right, some beautiful, beautiful shots.

Amy:

Yes, yes, and you know. So we watched Chesapeake Shores and, like we just talked about with Jessica Sipo, she's in 38. There were a total of 55 episodes, so she's in a good majority of those episodes. And you know, Chesapeake Shores had a pretty impressive ensemble cast, so she got airtime. But you know, I guess we didn't see her.

Garry:

I saw her.

Amy:

We saw she was sort of sprinkled throughout. Right, she had a major storyline there towards the end and we enjoyed her. But looking back, I don't think we got to see what she can do. Yeah, I mean, I really don't. She's a fantastic natural lead.

Garry:

Yes, she is.

Amy:

And I'm really hoping we get to see her more. She, just her. It was so effortless for her and I just I really really enjoyed her as a lead in this movie, and Dan was great too.

Garry:

Yeah, he was.

Amy:

But I just I was really impressed by that and you know I'm a sucker for an English accent. Even though now, I know it's not really his accent, but I did love it. He did a good job.

Garry:

He did a good job, Made us believe right. I love a man with a good English accent. I love a man with a good English accent.

Amy:

That's right, that's awesome. What about you? What do you think?

Garry:

I too like this one better than the first one, than Love Song.

Amy:

And it's not that Love Song was bad. No, we didn't hate it, we didn't, you know it just didn't like blow us away.

Garry:

No, and one of the reasons for me was I felt like in Love Song, there was too many storylines going on. They really didn't focus on the two main characters, because you had her mom, who was afraid to go on stage again. You had both of them were, you know, widows.

Amy:

Yes.

Garry:

But in this one they really focused a lot on Ava. And what is it? Joseph, Joe, joseph, call me Joe, call me Joe, which I thought was good yeah.

Amy:

I also yeah, it really was focused on the couple, you're right.

Garry:

Yeah, and, like I said, the fact that there was more sunshine throughout this one than the first one, it just made the scenery really really pop, like pop right, yeah, yeah, I totally agree. I totally agree. So yeah, I like this one better.

Amy:

Yes, Did you have some favorite scenes oh?

Garry:

yeah, let's go down our favorite scenes. I really enjoyed them walking through the city.

Amy:

Yes, I have that as one too. Yes.

Garry:

And the one scene where they were trying on sunglasses and hats.

Amy:

Yeah.

Garry:

And hats. I thought that was like a really playful scene. It was really cool and it just looked like they were having a good time.

Amy:

Is that what she says? It looks like you're in the witness protection program. Yes. When he puts on the hat yes, or he's wearing a hat or something. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, no, I agree with you. Yeah, no, I agree with you.

Garry:

Yeah, I really like that one, the scene when they were taking a tour of the castle and Yosef stops and scares Ava and it really looked genuine like she was scared, Like he startled her and it kind of reminded me of Richard Gere and Julia Roberts when he shuts the jewelry box on her when she goes to reach for it. Oh yeah, and she jumps. And they start to laugh.

Amy:

Yeah, that's a good analogy.

Garry:

Yeah, that reminded me.

Amy:

Yeah, it was really cute.

Garry:

Yeah, it was. What about you?

Amy:

I had a couple of what you just said, the scenes of them walking through. I loved when they're sitting at the cafe and they're each having a beer. Yes, I thought that was so cool, you know, and I don't know if they had I don't think it was pizza, was it pizza? Or I don't know what they had for food, but they're sitting there and they're both. I mean, they both had the big, you know, beer. I just thought that that was really cute.

Amy:

I wonder if it was pills in there I don't know I I thought the meet cute was really cute, where he thinks that he gets on the ship and he thinks that she works.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

For the ship you know and he's. I just thought that was really fun.

Garry:

It was.

Amy:

But what was that weird? Okay, we're going to get to that. That's a little bit, unless you want to talk about it now.

Garry:

No, no, no, that's later Go ahead.

Amy:

That might not have made my cheer list. You know what I'm saying. Yeah, I enjoy the captain's dinner table just because I like that moment when they all meet each other for the first time and that's when Joe realizes that Ava does not work for the ship Right, and that she's a guest on the cruise just like he is, so I enjoyed that. You talked about the castle, the castle tour. I like when you know Ava says all you need is a ticket and an open heart.

Amy:

And they're walking through and that's when they found they went to the art right? Did they do that in the castle or when they go down?

Garry:

Yeah, they go down and look at the piece.

Amy:

Try to decide.

Garry:

Yeah, they had to co-work regal right right reynolds is like reynolds is his, like butler. Right green is coming.

Amy:

Yeah, I enjoyed the painting scene yes, that was fun that the banter the paintings themselves. So he, joe and ava are competing against betty and reynolds. And it was just a fun light. The banter was good, the scenery was really cool and, by the way, would a captain get off a ship? I mean, I don't really know.

Garry:

Do they get off the ship too?

Amy:

Oh, okay, I didn't know that.

Garry:

He's got a first mate, or whatever they call him. Oh yeah, you know what I liked about the painting scene was how they painted abstract, because throughout the movie, that's what they were talking about.

Amy:

And then, oh, I didn't even notice that.

Garry:

And then Betty and Reynolds, they did, they were like literal, Just a natural you know drawing and it's funny because he was colorblind.

Amy:

Who was Reynolds? I missed that. Yeah, are you serious?

Garry:

Yeah, he told Betty I'm colorblind. She goes, but at least you can draw.

Amy:

Oh, I missed that. That was during that scene.

Garry:

Yep, it was during that scene.

Amy:

Oh, I must have been like writing a note or something, and I totally missed that. That's so cute, and you know. That's such a good observation, though, that you're right. Ava and Joe's painting was.

Garry:

Was abstract. Was more abstract and Betty who actually painted those I'd be very curious. Yeah.

Amy:

Maybe some of them have bad skills.

Garry:

I can't draw a stick figure, but it's fine, I'm not judging me either. I can't either, so I'm not judging.

Amy:

Yeah, but so I really liked that. I really liked that painting scene. Did you have any other favorite scenes?

Garry:

No, I mean it was going back to the captain's dinner. Yes, I love that concept where he invites guests different guests every night for dinner and they all sit around and they introduce themselves, I think that's really cool. I think that really happens, I would assume. So We've never been on a cruise. Why would you?

Amy:

throw that in there. I don't know about a big cruise. If you've been on a cruise, let us know. Have you ever been invited to the captain's?

Garry:

table, table, dinner table.

Amy:

I don't know, I don't know, and is it always private, or does he sometimes? Does a captain have it out?

Garry:

And let me ask you this Is Betty. Does she go to every dinner, or is it just the ones?

Amy:

We don't know. Oh, okay, I don't know, maybe we'll find out, maybe we will. No, I don't.

Garry:

I was just asking.

Amy:

You kind of asked it like and did you know?

Garry:

And did you know Dun dun dun?

Amy:

No, I don't know. That's a good question, though. Does she go to every captain's? Dinner every night on the ship if they're not off the ship in port doing something fun.

Garry:

Because I really liked her relationship with Reynolds.

Amy:

Yeah, they had their bantering back and forth.

Garry:

I thought that was very yeah. Yeah, they had a good one.

Amy:

But I and this will come up later too for me but I wish she was different in this movie.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Her relationship with Reynolds was really good and she does have those like one-on-ones where she, you know, talks to Ava and but she wasn't as like, jovial, I don't know, it was a different.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

I kind of missed what we saw in love song. Right In this movie, but maybe it was intentional. I mean, I don't know. It was there, yeah, yeah so.

Garry:

But we did find out that her husband had passed away. Yeah, we did find out that. We do find out that nugget.

Amy:

We do find out a little bit more about her.

Garry:

So, yeah.

Amy:

So I wonder if in the last one we'll really get more of a story of hers or if she's just someone who likes to cruise now and take on adventures in life If I was retired, yeah, and her husband passed away and she's meeting. You know, all these new people?

Garry:

She doesn't have to clean, right, she doesn't have to cook. Yeah, she doesn't have to cook. Yeah, she doesn't have to make, that's very tempting, isn't it?

Amy:

I really liked um, a couple more scenes when they're looking at one painting and he says they should celebrate with a kiss. I forget where that is, if that's in the castle that's in the castle.

Garry:

No, I think that might have been amusing.

Amy:

I forget now where, yeah and he goes. Oh, we should celebrate with a kiss and you think they're gonna kiss, but then they go up to the painting that's called the kiss.

Garry:

I thought that was a really cute twist. That one got me too, yeah.

Amy:

Yeah, I thought that was cute and, of course, the ball at the end. I love the ball with the ball gowns and all of that.

Garry:

Did you notice that they danced to the same song?

Amy:

when he took her to dinner, that song played in stop it really it was the same song no, I did not, and I'm usually attuned to the music yeah, you are whoa, I know right look at you yeah no, I did a little bit of something I just want to watch it again, okay all right cool cool, cool.

Garry:

Okay, did you have any chairs? What was your biggest?

Amy:

no, I had none, I hated it. No, I'm just kidding after all that what was your biggest chair? Um, they didn't use greens well they did Well a little bit when she's in the room.

Garry:

Yes, yeah, and please tell me how the screen was moving when they were docked.

Amy:

I don't know, I don't know.

Garry:

The ship was docked, but in her room it was moving.

Amy:

That's supposed to be your biggest cheer, not jeer oh.

Garry:

I'm sorry, that was my jeer Sorry.

Amy:

But I was like you love it, but you're talking poorly about it.

Garry:

I'm so confused right now what I meant was they didn't use a lot of green screens.

Amy:

Right, that's what you started.

Garry:

But then I went on to my jeer without even whatever.

Amy:

Well, in your defense I did say I talked about the window when she was like in her room, so that's kind of where you're right.

Garry:

And it was also, I think, in.

Amy:

Ladies and gentlemen, that was his room too, his room too, and one Joe's room too, I think. Say what.

Garry:

I think they did the same thing in Joe's room too. Oh, probably yeah, but they finally show the captain talking on the loudspeaker.

Amy:

Yes, they did.

Garry:

That bothered you. In the first one it did yes and I kind of liked it. I think it was two or three times they showed him.

Amy:

Yes, I wonder why they changed that, because the first one they really didn't show him ever did they Talking? On the. And then this time they show the captain announcing the ports they're about to pull into.

Garry:

It sounded better to me. On this one I felt like it was a voiceover on the first one.

Amy:

Oh, it was.

Garry:

But this one. It felt like it went along with the shots, so I enjoyed it more.

Amy:

You enjoyed that more. Yes, I wonder if they had the shots the first time but for some reason the sound or something didn't work and they just went with the voiceover. Then it happens, I don't know. Yeah, sometimes you don't get the shot. Yeah, like we're filmmakers, it happens.

Garry:

Yeah, I know right Whatever. And my last At the end, where the captain gave a little party for all the guests, thanking them and thanking the crew for a good cruise.

Amy:

Oh yeah.

Garry:

I thought that was nice, that's pretty cool. What about you? What were your cheers?

Amy:

My biggest cheer was, overall, the journey of self-discovering growth. Both Ava and Joe were on for this cruise. They each went on for a different reason, so he's trying to decide whether being king is what he really wants. And Ava realizes she's lost her passion. And, yeah, she's on her. It's not, it's her. It was supposed to be her honeymoon. It's not the dates of the honeymoon, but it's like a year later or so, but it was supposed to be her honeymoon. So she's there and she wants to rediscover her passion and love for art and she wants, like the blank canvas back. I just thought that the messaging was really, really cool. So that's why she tries to find the artist Tobias right, because he wants to share his art with people who will appreciate it for what it is, not the pretentious world that art has become Right, where people just view it as possession instead of really appreciating the art. Now, I know nothing about art.

Garry:

So you know, but I like what I see right.

Amy:

Right right.

Garry:

And I don't like what I see sometimes and you don't. Well, yeah, and I don't understand some of that stuff.

Amy:

I don't get some of it, but anyway so, but I just thought that that was really cool. Another cheer for me would be that Joe and his brother were not enemies.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

And that his brother wasn't trying to steal To steal yeah. He wasn't trying to undermine Joe's rightful place to be king, if that's what he wants.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

So I just I appreciated that.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

Because you can have supportive family you know what do they say?

Garry:

The sister-in-law wasn't in his ear. Right, you need to get that.

Amy:

Yeah, it was like the air in the spare, yeah. I don't want to say what that relates to. But you know I really love that Joe's dad was, you know, forcing his hand in a little bit to really think about whether or not he wanted it. And at first you think, gosh, he really, you know, like he's making to make a decision now. But then you find out it's because that Joe's grandfather died suddenly, Right, and Joe's dad had to take over, whether he wanted to or not.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

And it may not have been his choice. So he's really wanting Joe to make that decision, like is it something you really want? Because, if not and I like that they have supportive parents instead of this, the way it used to be, you know, this is the way it is and you're going to do it no matter what, and it's more modern that way in some places.

Amy:

But you know, yeah, yeah, it's a more modernized look. Chicago always got a. I said I'm always going to give a cheer to chicago. And is that the beginning? Yes, close to my hometown, the music reminded me so much of Downton Abbey. I just love that. I guess I had a couple other cheers. Just Joe, you said I'm just Joe. Yes and grace. That's yeah, and then um he says with her with ava.

Amy:

He can be just joe instead of you know, duke, yeah, the duke, I love the dateline shout out. That was kind of funny. He calls her quite the sleuth and she says she loves a good dateline episode yeah, they're trying to find the painting yeah, so the brink.

Garry:

Those are called the brink right the brink yeah, which they had purchased. The royals had purchased, or actually, no, it no, it was given to his brother. His brother and his, his sister-in-law, as a wedding gift. But you don't know that until the end she's right, right Spoiler Spoiler. What about jeers? Did you have any jeers?

Amy:

Okay, the beard has entered the chat.

Garry:

Okay, yes, my biggest jeer would probably be the beard.

Amy:

They could have done a better job with it, and you find out. So he has this beard at the very beginning. That's very dark and and you can I mean you can really tell it's like glued on his face right and um. So first you're so put off by it and then he wants to kind of go where he's not recognized.

Garry:

So he shaves the beard.

Amy:

So you you understand why they did that. But I was like I was thinking am I gonna have to look at this?

Garry:

I won't be able to look at anything else no, I know the whole movie, so I understand the eyes were just drawn right to it come on, hallmark, you know do better make him grow a beard. Or maybe he's like me and he can't grow.

Amy:

I read where somebody said it was like the darkest beard. And then he shaves it, he's got like gray stubble.

Garry:

Yeah, how does that work, you know.

Amy:

so I just so the beard Okay, the beard was one the second and third kisses were way more dramatic than the first one. I felt like we had like two really big buildups and it just wasn't necessary, right. It big buildups and it just wasn't necessary, right, it was like really dramatic and then at the end it was really dramatic again and we just didn't need it. I don't know, I just felt like it was maybe over the top. Ava, her overreaction to him finding out he's a royal.

Garry:

Yeah, it was a little bit over the top.

Amy:

It was a lot, you know, and it's like I don't know, did he really do anything that bad? He didn't really lie, you know. So I just you know, and she, you know, and I think she says something like I understand, I just you know. That's no excuse for him to not tell me and you know whatever. Lie to me about the painting because they were looking for the painting.

Garry:

Right right.

Amy:

And he knew his family had it.

Garry:

Yep.

Amy:

She didn't know that. Soe saying things to ava like you know you deserve the best just before their dinner and then he said um, you've made me the happiest man in the world. I just feel like that's a lot yeah and they've known each other for five days.

Garry:

So you know, I agree with you but these are minor, minor things.

Amy:

We already talked about betty. I felt like her character was toned down and, and, and that's only a cheer, because I love her and I love and there was a shout out to james bond yes, what was that?

Garry:

shaken, not stirred I have that my nose yes that was a good one.

Amy:

Reynolds says that right no, she does or she. Doesn't he try to imitate sean connery though?

Garry:

yes, yes, reynolds, that was a good scene.

Amy:

I like that scene too and then my, my final jeer would be those heels on that cobblestone street oh yes it. My ankles broke watching that. They were so thin. I do not know how jessica the actress pulled that off. They were so tiny and good for her yeah because I would have fallen flat on my face. So and that's not even a bad year, that's just a holy crap. Those were really thin high heels on that cobblestone street. Yeah, what about you Jeers? Let me guess.

Garry:

The green screen in the rooms. They didn't need it. I don't understand why they felt the need to put windows in. It's not enough to ruin the movie, but no, it wasn't Because it was so minor, I just felt like I didn't need it. Yeah, I agree. So that was my only jeer.

Amy:

That was your only jeer. That's not too bad. No, look at you, look at you. So, out of five corks, how many would you give it?

Garry:

I'm giving it a five Giving it a five. Yeah, because I like this one better than the first one.

Amy:

Even with all the, I'm going to go with four and a half.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

Five is going to be hard to obtain. It was almost there.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

But it was really good. Yeah, I really enjoyed it.

Garry:

Well, that's good.

Amy:

So yeah, wow, so we yeah. So is that a wrap, then You're going with the five and going with the four and a half. That's a wrap.

Garry:

All right, great Thanks for listening. Be sure to follow the podcast wherever you listen so you don't miss one. Also, follow us on social media.

Amy:

We'd love to have you leave us a review on Apple Podcast and or Spotify. Hopefully it's a positive review. Hopefully it is Fingers crossed. We would just really appreciate it. Reviews, help, follows, help likes help.

Garry:

Drop us a line. Yeah, drop us a. Let us know. On one of drop us let us know, we'll chat back with you.

Amy:

Yeah, yeah, we'd love to hear from you, and we'd really like to know your thoughts on the love on the danube series maybe you've watched. We have one more movie to go. Yeah, right, so we'll see where that takes us I'll be curious if we learn any more about betty I'm pretty sure we will and about teddy betty.

Amy:

teddy, maybe the captain, I don't know. I'll tell you what. That staff is very friendly. If we learn any more about Betty, I'm pretty sure we will. And about Teddy Betty and Teddy, maybe the captain, I don't know.

Garry:

I'll tell you what that staff is very friendly with all the guests.

Amy:

Yeah.

Garry:

They're all on first name basis. That's pretty good.

Amy:

Be sure to join us next Wednesday for our review of the third and final Love on the Danube movie for 2025, Kissing Stars. It airs Saturday night, May 31st 2025, on the Hallmark Channel. You can also now join us on Tinsel Tuesdays for our Hallmark reviews of all things Christmas. Until then, fill up your glasses and push play. Thanks for listening.

Garry:

Cheers.