One of the new “Passport to Love” original films from Hallmark Channel is A Greek Recipe for Romance, starring Danielle C. Ryan and Rafael Kariotakis. The movie was filmed on location in Greece so all the spectacular scenery is real – no green screen! 

Abby (Ryan) is a can-do gal. She always comes up with a great solution for any problem that arises. When she is fired from her NYC hotel assistant managerial position, she heads to Greece to visit her mother who had moved there years earlier. 

In a fun “meet cute” moment, Abby meets Theo (Kariotakis) whose Vespa is blocking her mother’s car. 

As circumstances unwind, Abby and Theo seem to meet in various situations. When she is approached to help Theo reopen his late-mother’s restaurant, she decides this would look good on her resume so she takes the “temporary” job.

Theo’s life dream has been to open his own restaurant and his studies at the Cordon Bleu in Paris has helped prepare him and propel him toward his goal. Having grown up on the little island, he is now back and ready to open his restaurant. He wants to carry on his mother’s legacy.

Abby and Theo make a great team. His culinary expertise is unsurpassed and trust me, viewers will be calling Hallmark for a recipe book of the delicious looking delicacies he creates. 

There is one problem plaguing Theo when it comes to his restaurant. He owes a lot of back taxes, which he doesn’t have. So Abby, who always solves problems, comes up with a solution. Then they are plagued by another problem. It’s one thing after another and Abby always manages to solve whatever issues come their way. As stated earlier, she is a can-do gal!

Then, by chance, Abby discovers Theo is the son of a billionaire (think: Onassis). His father wants him to stop chasing his restaurant dream and come to work in the family business. But Theo sees the restaurant as part of the family business. After all, it was his mother’s. 

The scenery is magnificent. The movie was filmed on the island of Syros, in Athens, in the ancient city of Thorikos, and in Stamata. The ancient ruins in Greece provide some wonderful backdrops to this story, and just as the title says, there is some “romance” here, but viewers must wait for the ending for that aspect of the story.

A Greek Recipe for Romance premiered on Hallmark Channel and is available to stream on Hallmark Movies Now.  Opaaa! 

note: After watching this film you might be tempted to head to the nearest Greek restaurant.

 

Image courtesy Hallmark Channel

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

 

The new Hallmark original movie Falling Like Snowflakes kicks off the channel’s annual Christmas in July festival. Rebecca Dalton and Marcus Rosner star in this delightful story that will put a chill in your hot summer day.

Even though it is 90 degrees outside, Hallmark comes through with a cool slate of films for July. Each one brings viewers into the holiday season with plenty of interesting stories and definitely romance.

Teagan (Dalton) is a photographer who delights everyone with her images of various snowflakes. According to her there are 35 different kinds of snowflakes. She has been able to photograph 34 varieties with the illusive 12-sided flake always out of reach. 

When a rich art collector says he will buy the entire collection as well as make a sizable donation to the local community center, this makes everyone happy. The caveat is that Teagan must come up with the 35th style or the deal is off. He wants his collection to include all 35 varieties of snowflakes.

Teagan sets off into the mountains with her high school boyfriend Noah (Rosner), a widower who just moved back to town with his daughter and who has taken over Teagan’s father’s snowplow business. What a coincidence. Noah insists if Teagan is going up the mountain during one of the biggest storms in recent memory, he is going to drive her – in a snowplow. 

While the two are off on their quest to photograph the illusive 12-sided flake, they renew their old friendship and rediscover what they liked about each other. 

The images of all the snowflakes are gorgeous. It’s amazing to see the artwork displayed in this film.

Teagan is determined to capture the 35th flake, not only for her own commercial success but also for the community center that means so much to her and the town. She teaches art there and Noah’s daughter is one of her students.

The question is, will Teagan find the 12-sided flake in the middle of a big storm? Actually, there is another question. Will Teagan and Noah renew their relationship?

Come on, this is a fun Hallmark Channel film so viewers know the answers. Just like their other movies, the heart of the story is getting from point A to point B, and Teagan and Noah do not disappoint when it comes to Hallmark couples and their stories.

Falling Like Snowflakes premieres Saturday, June 29, 2024 on Hallmark Channel. And watch the channel for other original films and Christmas stories throughout July. When the temperatures are hot outside, tune into Hallmark Channel for some mid-year holiday fun.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Image Courtesy Hallmark Channel

 

The Idea of You is a 2024 original movie on Prime Video starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine and All that Heaven Allows is a 1955 movie streaming on Prime Video starring Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman. They are almost 70 years apart but both hold the same emotional tug for viewers as a younger man falls for an older woman, and vice versa.

Anne Hathaway is Solène, a divorced mother with a teenage girl who manages an art gallery in Silver Lake, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. Due to a scheduling conflict with her ex-husband, Solène is drafted into taking her daughter Izzy to Coachella for a concert and while there she accidentally meets Hayes Campbell (Galitzine) one of the singers of the popular boy band  August Moon, a favorite of her daughter. Note: This is a true “Meet Cute” moment.

• Jane Wyman is Cary, a widow with two children in college. She’s basically an empty-nester except the kids often  return home to check up on their mother, enjoy their friends and family time. Cary and her gardener, Ron Kirby (Hudson) begin chatting and enjoying spending time together. The age difference doesn’t bother her – yet – because all they are doing is having some good times together.

Solène and Hayes begin seeing each other and have fun times together. But she keeps him at arms length because of the 16-year age difference and in consideration of her daughter who, thankfully, will be going off to summer camp. It’s then when Hayes invites Solène to join him on his European tour. Sure, why not? They enjoy each other’s company so why not let loose and enjoy her life? Her ex had been a real jerk and left her years ago for a younger woman. It is time for Solène to have some fun – and love – in her life.

• When things get serious between Cary and Ron, she wonders what she should do. Her heart is leading her towards him but her subconscious is telling her the small village in which she lives would really turn against them. Society, especially in the 1950s, frowned on May/December romances.

Solène happily joins the tour and for a long while everything is exciting and wonderful, and it’s not about just the fun of the tour. It’s about the relationship with Hayes that is making her happy. For the first time in a long time Solène is genuinely happy and thinking only about her own feelings and feeling true love.

• Ron thinks he and Cary should get married and although it takes a while, she finally agrees. And now it’s time to introduce him to her kids. But things don’t go the way she had hoped. The kids are not happy about this union. The age difference is something they cannot get over. And the fact that their mother is going to sell the family home and move into his mountain cabin (it is big and beautiful) is something they will not stand for. It’s their family home. Why does she have to move?

Hayes moves into Solène’s house and when the news gets out (this is the time of paparazzi) it starts to get the better of  Izzy.  And all the bullying she has to put up with at school doesn’t help. Both of them are faced with constant comments in person and throughout the Internet.

• Cary’s kids also face the same kind of abuse, although without the internet hounding them. They get it face to face and in side eyes and whisperings behind their backs. When Cary realizes what her love life is doing to her kids, she calls off the wedding only to be haunted by physical problems. According to her doctor she does not have anything physically wrong with her but her unhappiness manifests itself as headaches. She is told by her doctor to marry Hudson and forget about what other people say. Her personal happiness should be front and center.

Solène decides she must break off her relationship with Hayes. After all, she does have a young daughter to think about. Reluctantly he agrees but insists they will pick up their love in 5 years once Izzy is off to college.

• Cary realizes she must follow her heart after her kids come home and announce they are moving and getting married. The kids and their attachment to the family home was one reason she called off her marriage and now they are leaving to start their own lives. So once again, she has to take stock of her life. This time she will be a real empty nester, and without the man she loves. It looks like it is finally time to give into her heart and follow it all the way to Ron’s cabin.

After the proposed five years, Solène and Hayes decide to renew their love and continue where they left off.

Both films have somewhat the same underlying story. But in the end, no matter what others say and without any children to consider, both couples are drawn back together again. Age makes no difference when love is involved. 

Both movies are streaming on Prime Video. 

The Idea of You is rated R for some language and sexual content.

All that Heaven Allows is not rated as it is from 1955, however there is smoking and unseen sexual content.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

courtesy images Prime Video

If you’re looking for some new and fun programming designed especially for kids and families, Netflix has a summer 2024 schedule that fits the bill. 

Some highlights include Trolls Band Together (July 15) with Poppy and Branch in their latest adventure on a journey to reunite Branch’s boy band brothers and Poppy’s long-lost sister Viva.

Cobra Kai returns on July 18 for season 6.

On August 2 the film Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie premieres. Sandy Cheeks and SpongeBob SquarePants travel to Texas to save Bikini Bottom.

August 5th sees the return of Gabby’s Dollhouse for its 10th season.

For more information and shows, check out the Netflix Summer Family Fun page .

And download the Ultraman Rising Activity Guide here:
ULTRAMANrising_activity guide

 

About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

The 2022 movie Baked with a Kiss is available to stream on UP Faith and Family. Ansley Gordon and Jonathan Stoddard star in this made for TV film about what could be magic. Or not.

Peyton (Gordon) owns a small bakery and delights her customers with the delectable treats she conjurs up. They are baked with care from her grandmother’s recipes however she is getting ready to create her own recipe. She just needs a little more confidence.

Archer Brooks (Stoddard) runs an event planning company and is aware of Peyton’s bakery because of all the weddings he has planned through the years. Brides love the various cakes Peyton creates.

The thing about all the baked items is they each have a special name. The customers think there is magic in them, depending on which pie, cake, cookie, or cupcake they select. “Best Day Ever,” “Bun in the Oven,” “Sweet Success,” and “True Love Pie” are just some of the items she offers.

When her assistant Riley (Milly Figuereo) surprises her by entering her as a possible baker for the annual Starlight Ball, Peyton is not as happy as Riley thought she would be. The last time she attended the annual ball was with her grandmother, who has passed away. 

With Archer being in charge of the event and on the committee to select which bakery will supply the treats for this year’s ball, Peyton knows she has to be at the top of her game. Archer is known for being very selective.

When Archer stops by the bakery to talk Peyton gives him a True Love Pie to take home, thinking it was a Sweet Success cake. The boxes got switched and her customer who ordered the True Love Pie got the Sweet Success, and lo and behold, instead of getting the proposal she was hoping for, she got a promotion at work. And Archer, who got the True Love Pie, has a change of heart and starts pursuing Peyton. But is it because of the magic in the pie or just because he finds her attractive and very interesting?

Peyton believes it is the magic in her grandmother’s recipe, but Archer knows his feelings have nothing to do with magic. Their attraction is magic of a sort, but nothing from any ingredients in the pie. 

The movie was filmed in Florida, where it is set. Gordon and Stoddard have a nice chemistry on screen. Yes, it’s predictable but also enjoyable.

Grab a cup of tea or coffee, and perhaps bake your own little treat so you can enjoy the film while also a special treat. Go ahead, name it something like “movie fun,” or whatever. The magic is in yourself, not the pie.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Image courtesy UP Faith and Family