Review

"Love and Sunshine: A Hallmark Movie So Predictable, Even the Sunshine Saw It Coming"

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to watch paint dry, but with more pastel cardigans and awkward small-town charm, Love and Sunshine (2019) is the movie for you. This cinematic masterpiece—or, as I like to call it, "Hallmark movies’ greatest hits on shuffle"—delivers everything you’d expect from a Hallmark holiday movie, except it’s set in July, and the only snow is the flurry of clichés raining down on your soul.

The plot? Oh, you already know it. A big-city career woman (let’s call her Claire, because of course her name is Claire) returns to her quaint hometown to sell her late grandmother’s bakery. But wait! There’s a hunky local handyman (let’s call him Jake, because obviously) who just so happens to be single, loves puppies, and has a heart of gold. Spoiler alert: Claire doesn’t sell the bakery, she falls in love with Jake, and they adopt a golden retriever named Sunshine. Groundbreaking.

The dialogue is so cheesy, it could double as a fondue recipe. At one point, Claire says, “Sometimes, love is like sunshine—it warms you when you least expect it.” I’m not kidding. That’s an actual line. I half-expected Jake to respond, “And sometimes, Hallmark movies are like sunshine—they blind you with their predictability.”

The supporting cast is a parade of small-town stereotypes: the nosy neighbor who bakes pies, the wise old man who dispenses life advice, and the quirky best friend who owns a flower shop and says things like, “You’re glowing! Is it love, or did you finally try my kale smoothie?” (It’s love. It’s always love.)

But here’s the thing: Love and Sunshine knows exactly what it is. It’s not trying to win an Oscar. It’s trying to win your heart with its saccharine sweetness and relentless optimism. And, against my better judgment, it kind of works. By the end, I was rooting for Claire and Jake to ride off into the sunset on a tandem bicycle, even though I knew they would. Because that’s what Hallmark movies do. They’re like a warm blanket of predictability, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

So, if you’re in the mood for a movie that’s as comforting as a cup of hot cocoa (but with fewer calories), Love and Sunshine is your jam. Just don’t expect any surprises—unless you count the shocking revelation that the bakery’s secret ingredient was love all along. Spoiler alert: it was.