Playing Cupid

The power and influence of a teacher in children's lives, first love, starting over, trust, perseverance, letting go and so many worthy themes - all there. And it took me a while to warm up to the cast - but found them all all charming and engaging as the movie progressed. An enjoyable and quite unique family movie.

Nicholas Gonzales and Laura Vandervoort are beautiful together, a seriously attractive couple.

Single newly divorced dad and restaurant owner, David Martinez is very involved in his daughter Clara's life...particularly her education. He meets his daughter's school teacher Miss Fox on a particularly bad night for her. As restaurant owner of Cantina Corazon, he is witness to her waiting for and breaking up with her current love interest. He is very kind and tries to ease the unpleasant evening as much as possible. Then they meet again at her school where he as the conservative dad who does not appreciate the teacher supporting his daughter's outlandish ideas for a big project that will count for 40% of her grade.

David's daughter comes up with an idea to start a matchmaking service. She starts with her classmates to help them find a dance partner for the school's Valentine's Day dance, but grows it into a singles event for adults at her family's restaurant. Clara really goes all out and keeps some of her grandmother's traditions with a mariachi band and heart shaped tortillas.

David and Miss Fox trade off help, her with making candy grams for the PTA which he is president of and him with volunteering to be a mentor in her class for the big project. It is through this that the two grow closer together and get to know one another.

This was not your boilerplate Hallmark romantic comedy, it was a step above and worth seeing.

Now for a couple of small complaints...being a born and raised Seattle native, it kills me to see shows set in "Seattle" that are so clearly not. Why the charade? Just say it is in Langley or Vancouver, B. C. You are not fooling anyone...at least not anyone from the northwest. One stock image of Seattle does not create the ambiance of Seattle. Also at a big school awards program, it should have had images from the kids actual project on the big screen behind the podium...if not examples on stage.

"I'm Cupid Clara dad. I know who is right for each other and who is not."-Clara

"I picked that chair."-David.

This one adds elements of real world situations that is much appreciated. Good lead actors. A step above the usual formula, for sure.

2021 so far has been a mixed bag for Hallmark, which is true for their previous years too and their output in general. Considering the difficult circumstances, the standard could have been a lot worse. While there are some good winning efforts, such as 'A New Year's Resolution', there are also some major duds such as 'Beverly Hills Wedding'. The premise didn't sound anything exceptional, but it did sound sweet and the two leads have been watchable in other things.

Both are certainly more than watchable here in 'Playing Cupid' and it is a cute, while not being too cute, film. Not mind-blowingly amazing and far from perfect, but not the cheesy, overly sweet film it could easily have been if executed wrong and in the top middle 2021 Hallmark films. So much better than the previous Love Ever After outing from Hallmark 'Beverly Hills Wedding', as at least 'Playing Cupid' is a good film. That is of course in my hopefully respectful view.

'Playing Cupid' isn't perfect. It does feel a bit contrived towards the end, like the out of the blue return of the ex-wife, and ends too neatly, which is not uncommon for Hallmark actually.

David was also not easy to warm to straightaway, a bit uptight and abrasive to begin with. A bit of a slow starter perhaps as well.

However, both Laura Vandervoort and Nicholas Gonzalez are immensely engaging leads with bags of charm and feeling. Their chemistry is plentiful and genuine and actually develops at a rate that is not too fast or too aimlessly. The supporting cast are all strong, especially the spirited and heartfelt portrayal of the daughter. The chemistry doesn't ever feel disconnected and the characters don't come over as fake stereotypes and instead like real people worth caring for once one warms to them.

Once 'Playing Cupid' finds momentum, it's good natured, light-hearted and very charming, the cuteness not becoming too much and the playfulness not being forced. The script doesn't feel too corny or affected. The production values are slick enough and not cheap looking and the music doesn't intrude or overbear. The direction is not flashy, nor is it static.

In summary, not great but nice. 7/10.

I think the story is fairly fresh, although I suppose you could generalize it as kid brings parent and teacher together. I especially liked the last 10 minutes or so beginning with the dance.

I'm a fan of Laura Vandervoort for various TV series. She did a Lifetime Christmas rom/com and I hope she does more for Hallmark. She and Nicholas Gonzalez had chemistry. The obligatory antagonism at the beginning had playful moments and the playfulness carried into the relationship. Most of the supporting acting was decent. This appears to be Mia Quaranta de la Rosa's debit, at least as far as this web site tracks appearances, and hope she can become a regular too.