All for Love

I liked the idea of the movie but I think the character of Colin being a "technical adviser" for a romantic novel on a Navy SEAL needed a "technical adviser." I think Steve Bacic would be a little too young to be a retired Navy Captain. That rank is one step below Admiral and he looks just too young for that rank. Lieutenant Commander or even Commander would have been more believable. In the scene where Colin has to save the day by being the photographers model irked me. I didn't pause the movie to check the correct order of all the ribbons although at a quick glance, they looked correct. However, the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon that he is wearing is on upside down. It's horizontally striped ribbon, Navy blue, gold and red top to bottom. His is red stripe up. It is something that would be a glaring mistake to a high ranking naval officer. Bottom line, though I enjoyed the movie.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie tonight. Yes there might have been a question at the end about a passport. but this did not interfere with the building of this story and development of each character. I liked the restraint of affection as most love stories today end up with a date or two then become very intimate. If you are looking for a nice movie to curl up and watch and enjoy love stories I am sure this would be a pleasure for many.

The light touch of comedy was also good and very tasteful. Most movies I fall asleep after I have figured out the ending but this kept me watching and hoping the end would be what I hoped it would be.

This was a very good movie and kept you guessing to the very last moment.

Throughout my recently started Hallmark film completest quest expanding (so The Spring Fever, Summer Nights, Fall Harvest etc blocks on top of the Christmas films) an interesting quest but very mixed one, there was never the mentality of expecting a classic or the film in question to be flawless. Which never was the case. There was always the expectation of seeing a film where one can see at least some effort rather than merely cash-in level.

For me, a good deal of effort was seen with 'All for Love' (or 'All Anything or Love'). It is far from perfect, more uneven, and isn't great, with one or two things particularly unbalancing it somewhat (such as finding it very difficult to get behind the female lead character). But there was a lot to like about 'All for Love', and the best aspects were pretty impressive (primarily most of the cast). As far as the 2017 Hallmark efforts go, it is in the middle of the pack category, though credit is due for trying to do something different to usual for Hallmark at this point of its filmography.

Am going to start with the good things about 'All for Love'. It is a very nice looking film, one of Hallmark's best looking 2017 films in my view. The scenery really does entrance and the photography doesn't cheapen it at all. The music at least fits tonally and in placement and has presence without being over-loud. The dialogue is sharp enough and flows naturally, while also having the right amount of sentiment (not too much in quality and quantity).

Characters aren't complex, then again that shouldn't be expected watching Hallmark, but aren't too stereotypical and are generally likeable enough. The story may be predictable and not perfect in execution, but it is incredibly charming, sweet without being too sugary and very heart-warming. There is a nice lightness to it too on the whole. The cast on the whole are impressive, with Steve Bacic a truly subtly charismatic and easy to like lead. Teryl Rothery does no nonsense so well and is a definite scene stealer.

Less good is Sara Rue. She does try hard, but in my mind too much of the time her efforts came over as over-compensating where she exaggerates her character's flaws (of which there are plenty to the extent it is not easy seeing her virtues). Her character Jo is pretty hard to take, too whiny, too spineless, too indecisive, too quick to jump to conclusions, too disrespectful and quite childish. Actually found every bit as difficult to swallow what Bacic's character saw in her and why he put up with her.

While the central chemistry is there and has appealing moments, there are times where it too low key. The story is formulaic and other than the setting and some of the scenario not much is new so there are parts later on that feel bland. The conflict is very forced in writing and in Rue's acting, comes out of the blue and lacks tension and the ending is far too convenient and pat, another case of it feeling undeserved.

In conclusion, quite nice but unbalanced by the unlikeability of the female lead character and Rue trying too hard. 6/10.

Hallmark movies, for me, are usually 4-to-5-star affairs, formulaic and moderately cute, with interchangeable actors. But Sara Rue completely elevated this movie, in my opinion. She took a character that most other Hallmark actresses would have turned into your stock "America's sweetheart" heroine and made her quirky and engaging. She gave off a "Reese Witherspoon" vibe. Rue totally elevated the script she was given; I actually watched the film thru to the end.

Also a shout-out to Teryl Rothery, who plays Jo's editor. I thought she, too, did a great job with the material she was given.

Now, to be clear, the story itself was still (IMHO) formulaic. I think the plot points unfolded in a very predictable manner.

So for me, the plot is, like, 4-to-4.5 stars, but the actors elevate everything enough to raise my IMDB rating to a solid 6.

Oh, and I felt the first part of the movie--where Jo starts attending the seal boot camp--was a shout-out to the wonderful movie Private Benjamin. Or rather, Private Benjamin as it would be played by Legally Blonde's "Elle Woods" character.

Romance novelist Josephine Payden (Sara Rue) has not been doing well. Her last two books have flopped. She's alone. Her publisher Diana (Teryl Rothery) is concerned that her newest book with a Navy SEAL male lead is even worst. She pairs her up with an actual Navy SEAL war hero, her brother Colin Kelly (Steve Bacic).

This feels like Hallmark came up with the premise in a weird brainstorming session. It's not the most realistic concept. Romance novels are not well known for their accuracy. Although Bacic could conceivably be Navy SEAL material, most of the recruits do not look like it. The obstacle course is closer to a corporate retreat. On the positive side, Sara Rue is game for anything and she's great. Boiling it down to its core, there is a functional romance and it's a perfectly fine Hallmark movie.