Review

"Head Over Heels: A Hallmark Movie on Steroids (But with More Tripping)"

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a Hallmark movie got drunk, put on roller skates, and tried to navigate a rom-com obstacle course, Head Over Heels is your answer. Released in 2024, this film is like a Hallmark holiday movie on a sugar rush—complete with small-town charm, quirky side characters, and enough cheese to make a dairy farmer blush. But instead of snowflakes and hot cocoa, we get… well, a lot of falling down.

The plot follows Emma (played by the perpetually perky Lily Carmichael), a big-city architect who returns to her hometown to save the local roller rink from being turned into a parking lot. Enter Jake (the ruggedly handsome but slightly confused Chris McDimples), a single dad who moonlights as a roller-skating instructor. Sparks fly, but so do they—literally—as Emma spends most of the movie tripping over her own feet, her skates, and occasionally Jake’s dog, Mr. Waffles.

The dialogue is peak Hallmark movies: “Sometimes, the best things in life are right where you started,” Emma says, while dramatically clutching a pair of vintage roller skates. Jake responds with, “And sometimes, you just need someone to catch you when you fall.” Cue the slow-motion montage of them skating hand-in-hand under disco lights, interspersed with shots of Emma face-planting into a giant inflatable snowman.

What sets Head Over Heels apart from your typical Hallmark holiday movies is its self-awareness. The film knows it’s ridiculous and leans into it hard. There’s a scene where Emma’s best friend, played by the scene-stealing Karen Kringle, deadpans, “This is the most chaotic love story I’ve ever seen, and I once watched a squirrel propose to a mailbox.” It’s moments like these that make you forgive the fact that the entire town apparently owns matching sequined skating outfits.

The movie’s climax involves a roller-skating flash mob, a cameo by a retired Olympic figure skater, and a surprise appearance by a llama named Larry. Yes, a llama. No, it doesn’t make sense. Yes, you’ll laugh anyway.

In the end, Head Over Heels is a delightful mess—a Hallmark movie that’s been injected with caffeine and set loose on a rink. It’s not going to win any Oscars, but it might just win your heart (or at least make you snort your popcorn). If you’re looking for a feel-good flick that doesn’t take itself too seriously, grab your skates and roll with it. Just watch out for the inflatable snowman.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars (and one extra star for Mr. Waffles, the real MVP).