Autumn Dreams (2015) Jill Wagner, Colin Egglesfield, Ken Tremblett, Michael Karl Richards, Rachel Hayward, Matty Finochio Movie Review

Autumn Dreams (2015)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Jill Wagner in Autumn Dreams (2015)

Summer Loving

As teenagers Annie (Ivy Matheson/Jill Wagner) and Ben (Matt Visser/Colin Egglesfield) were in love, so in love that one night they sneaked off to get married before planning to head to the big city together. But when Annie's father discovered that they had got married he not only stopped her from leaving with Ben but then had the marriage annulled. Except it turns out he didn't get the papers finalized and fifteen years later Annie, who is now running the family farm, is due to get married to Ben's brother, Joe (Michael Karl Richards - Making Mr. Right), when she receives divorce papers from Ben's lawyer as Ben is also about to get married. Heading to the city to find out what is going on she discovers that Ben has become a huge success. But when they go before the judge she won't give them a quick divorce whilst they find spending time together leads to old feelings being rekindled.

As most devotees of Hallmark movies will know, many of their stories feel like they have been inspired by storylines found on the big screen. As such as I watched "Autumn Dreams" there were various aspects to this movie which were familiar such as they discover that Annie's parents stopped the letters which Ben wrote to Annie from reaching her whilst on the day Ben left for the city Annie's father had the first of a series of heart attacks which meant she didn't get to see Ben off. But on top of that there are familiar character types as well, such as Ben's big city girlfriend clearly being wrong for him whilst his lawyer, Tony, provides "Autumn Dreams" with a touch of screwball comedy.

Colin Egglesfield in Autumn Dreams (2015)

But as I frequently say; familiarity is part of the Hallmark brand and as long as you enjoy that familiarity then you get the fun, the warmth and the cuteness. And "Autumn Dreams" delivers all of these with the likeability of Jill Wagner being a strong part of what makes the movie work. But in a strange way the actor who really makes "Autumn Dreams" is Matty Finochio who plays Ben's lawyer Tony as he brings a touch of Tony Randall style comedy to his part with some nervous energy. And that brings me to what "Autumn Dreams" is; it is the sort of light weight comedy which back in the 1960s could have been a vehicle for Doris Day & Rock Hudson on the big screen.

What this all boils down to is that "Autumn Dreams" is a bit of obvious, light weight fun for those who enjoy the sort of romantic comedy which might seem utterly ridiculous to some people but an enjoyable distraction for others. And with some touches of 60s romantic comedy about it "Autumn Dreams" has a chance of entertaining those who grew up watching Doris Day in her romantic comedies.


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