Hallmark Review: Perfect Match (2015, dir. Ron Oliver)


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This Hallmark movies cuts any setup out of it and goes immediately to the couple meeting. The second shot in the movie is of our boy and girl reaching to press the same elevator button. Our boy is Adam (Paul Greene). Our girl is Jessica (Danica McKellar). You know, Winnie Cooper! Last time I saw Danica McKellar it was in an episode of that short lived Fred Savage sitcom Working. I probably could have entitled this Hallmark Horror Review because it’s horrifying that she has been reduced from doing something like The Wonder Years to this. It’s also horrifying that this movie was penned by Patricia Resnick who co-wrote 3 Women (1977), A Wedding (1978), and Quintet (1979) for Robert Altman and co-wrote the screenplay for Nine To 5 (1980). Then again, she also co-wrote the screenplay for Second Sight (1989).

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Our leads decide to take the stairs to the big event room. This is when we find out what they do and why they are going to clash. She’s a wedding planner. Now prepare yourself for this because what he does is so incredibly different. I mean I was just shocked! Ready? Here it comes. He’s an event planner. Yep, did my build up seem like a bunch of BS? Good, because that is what any and all of the conflict between the two characters in this movie is. This may be the lamest excuse for the boy and the girl to dislike each other I have seen in a Hallmark movie. They both want the same space for their own events. But it gets better when we find out the excuse for why they are going to have to spend time together.

After the two of them have a little argument about who gets the space for her wedding and his event, we meet Jessica’s kid (Graham Verchere). He’s a classic movie fan. He brought home a copy of Kansas City Confidential (1952). But the kid is watching it stretched to widescreen.

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Poor kid probably didn’t have a choice. That’s what happens when you buy knockoff OSHIB televisions. Anyways, this is one of those Hallmark movies where the kid is actually a kid. He’s not a cardboard cutout, nor just a plot device. In fact, he’s the most likable character in the whole movie.

Jessica now goes to meet a client. She basically tells the bride everything that sounds good to her, but it’s freaking him out. And I would to if I were him. I can handle a pink themed wedding, but a groom wearing a pink cummerbund and bow tie seems a bit ridiculous to me. But luckily he has a member of the family he wants to bring in to help plan the wedding. Guess who?

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He throws out some ideas that are so stupid I’m surprised the actor could keep a straight face. However, I am curious what his and hers dart boards look like. Jessica leaves, but after being called back by the groom’s mom, Adam and Jessica set out to plan the wedding together.

What follows are the two of them clashing less and less as they begin to like each other more while planning the young couple’s wedding. The only other thing to note is that on his birthday he throws a dart at a map of the world and then takes a trip there. She doesn’t have any adventure in her life because of her kid, but that kid makes it clear to her that she needs to have more in her life cause he’s doing just fine.

You know how the rest plays out. There are more sleepwalking formulaic Hallmark romances out there, but this one is so forced that it hurts. I really can’t recommend it.

A couple things to look for if you do.

It really seemed like they were in front of a green screen for this scene to me.

It really seemed like they were in front of a green screen for this scene to me.

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The license plate says it’s the “Coastal State”, which doesn’t exist.

We see him take the photograph in portrait.

We see him take the photograph in portrait.

But later in the movie the photograph is in landscape.

But later in the movie the photograph is in landscape.

The only other thing is a sound goof right near the beginning of the movie. When the groom’s mom calls Jessica to come back and help plan the wedding, Jessica answers the call on her cellphone. They accidentally start the mom’s audio before they cut back to her. So, for a few seconds, it sounds like the mom is on a PA system since it’s the sound recorded for when we are supposed to be in the same room with her.

7 responses to “Hallmark Review: Perfect Match (2015, dir. Ron Oliver)

    • No, I didn’t. I’m sorry. I’ve seen 6 of the Hallmark movies you’ve directed. The best one I’ve seen so far is Recipe For Love. I thought that was good and I believe I have referred back to it numerous times as the better alternative to other Hallmark movies. Also, as an example of how to get right some things that other ones don’t.

      By the way, I’m not sure how the heck you knew I was going to do it and needed you to show up, but am I going to be lost watching Prom Night III: The Last Kiss without having seen the prior ones? I’ve been trying to watch some movies by Hallmark directors before they made Hallmark films. Like when I watched Kevin Connor’s Motel Hell earlier this month.

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  1. Hi, we are the parents of Graham Verchere who plays Luke, Jessica’s son. Thanks so much for your comments about his role in this film; he had a wonderful time filming this character, as it did have more richness than some of the other little boy roles he has come across. Just to give positive credit where it is due, we are quite certain that Ron Oliver was actually responsible for the film noir references, dialogue, tone and many of the quirks that made Luke a more interesting, dimensional, likeable boy in the final production. And as a director, Graham would certainly feel privileged to work with Mr Oliver again.
    Thanks again for your review and comments!

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    • I went ahead and modified the review to include your son’s name. It’s been a little while since I watched the movie, but I do remember your son doing a good job. And I’m sure Ron had something to do with bringing out that performance in your son. I’ve seen enough of his movies to know he isn’t a bad director and the film noir bit I can definitely see coming from him.

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  2. Why in the “Movie Perfect Match” did Lynda Grey, the mother of the groom, not get mentioned in the movie’s credit? Mother of the bride was specified as Natalie Von Rotsburg!!
    Seems like an obvious mistake!

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