‘Harmony in Paradise’ streams on UP Faith and Family

Category: Television and Streaming

Personal note: I love manatees. So, when I read the information about this show Harmony in Paradise, I was eager to check it out.

Amelia (Liliana Tandon) is a wildlife journalist who is anxious to have her own column. She has written about wildlife around the world and has a good reputation as a journalist. The thing is, Amelia has never left the east coast of the United States. She is not comfortable out of her “comfort zone.” So when she is given the assignment to cover the release of two baby manatees in Puerto Rico, she is happy to take on this assignment. But then her editor Madelyn (Vivica A. Fox) informs her she has to go to Puerto Rico to cover the event in person. That’s not the best news for Amelia.

Nevertheless, this intrepid journalist sets out for the island with her computer, note pads, and plenty of books about manatees. There she meets Fernando (Thony Mean) who heads the wildlife conservation clinic and who is initially unhappy with the idea of a journalist coming into his world. He immediately recognizes Amelia is not prepared for all that the island offers.

Fernando takes Amelia snorkeling, kayaking, and exploring the beauty surrounding them. For once Amelia has her head out of her books and her eyes off of her monitor. She is, for the first time in her life, really exploring the world and she is loving every minute of it.

The piece de resistance are the two little manatees: Moana and Oceano whose mother died during the big hurricane. They are adorable however do not have as big a role in the film as I would have liked. 

So, as the days go on and the goal is to release the manatees into their natural habitat, Fernando and Amelia form a close bond. When an issue arises with the release date, it looks like Amelia might not get the story she is after. But being the journalist she is and having discovered the wonders of the outside world – outside of her apartment – she rises to the challenge.

For manatee lovers, it would have been a better story if there was more interaction with the two little manatees.

This 2022 movie was filmed in Puerto Rico. It is available to stream on UP Faith and Family. 

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.