Let's be realistic.

A Disappointing Continuation

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Leah Townsend (Holly Marie Combs) is in a rut. She's struggling to write her second book after a successful debut with a book about her childhood as a senator's daughter. She's reluctant to confront her bland boyfriend Edward about their stagnant relationship. She avoids conflicts and gets signed up for a conflict management group. She's annoyed at being struck with her nemesis, critical shock jock Cinco Dublin (Ben Bass).She hates him. She loves him. It's classic rom-com and fits perfectly for Hallmark. It's funny that rom-com tropes become conflict management. Combs and Bass are essentially second tier players sent to lead the team. I like them as actors and they have a fun chemistry. Combs is always good at being cute infuriated and Bass has a great devil-may-care attitude. This is a formulaic TV rom-com movie and there is nothing complicated about that.

I thought the movie was okay, but was a little disappointed. I thought Ben Bass did a great job with his character. I have loved everything he is in especially Rookie Blue. The chemistry on screen with him and Leah on this movie wasn't there for me which is unfortunate. The plot of the movie was good just think could have been a different actress maybe to play Leah. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone.

I've been a people-pleaser most of my life, but now I'm just here to be a member of this forward progress team of movements that help us improve our life game. I used to do the same and go out of my way to avoid conflict. I hated conflict, but now I believe some of that brings out clear change as well. So my ideas about conflict have changed. Conflict can deliver the necessary changes needed to move forward in life. Confronting others (outside of me) in a limited fashion now instead of arguing with anyone. To me, being with more happier people is more pleasant in my opinion, than being with unfocused anyone. I'd much rather be with a much happier unfocused person, than an unhappy, unfocused person....that's double trouble! I can't deal with both unhappy and unfocused. So my focus is to do my best to include the happiness of others (in my focus), so we all can have some happiness. So yes, just like this movie, I have the same desire to keep the people around me happy. It just make more sense to me. So the movie was more about resolving inner conflicts, all the while she is writing a book called 'My Life As A Doormat'. Ironically, a doormat is something people walk all over. And that is what can happen to unhappy, unfocused people...resulting in a lack of control in one's own life and others controlling it instead. I have learned how to nip that in the bud for myself, thankful!! Clever script-writing! Well thought out and different for Hallmark! Sometimes, Hallmark choices are really outside of the routine box and I love that. Thanks Hallmark!

The real joy in viewing this film is to see a conflict-management class that is not just straight lecture. What a great idea to have people not only to talk things out in a group setting, but to go on field trips and stir up confrontational issues and see how they are resolved.The grocery store frequented by the group was an education in itself. Holding up the checkout lines for a variety of reasons was great and to see how their partner in this reacts was even greater.Of course, our heroine will find love in the group, especially when it's the guy who had panned her first book that turned out to be successful. How conflict resolution may lead to romance was engaging and enjoyable to watch.