Review

"My One & Only: A Hallmark Movie That Forgot It Was a Hallmark Movie (But Still Brought the Cheese)"

Ah, My One & Only (2019), the cinematic equivalent of finding a half-eaten candy cane in your couch cushions—sweet, a little stale, and somehow still satisfying. This movie is like if Hallmark movies and Hallmark holiday movies had a baby, but the baby grew up, went to college, and majored in "Trying Too Hard to Be Quirky."

The plot is as predictable as a Hallmark movie’s third-act kiss: Girl (let’s call her “Generic Protagonist”) moves back to her small hometown, reconnects with her high school sweetheart (let’s call him “Mr. Perfect Jawline”), and discovers that true love was right under her nose all along. Spoiler alert: There’s also a quirky best friend, a meddling parent, and a scene where someone spills coffee on someone else in a meet-cute that’s about as subtle as a Christmas sweater with blinking lights.

But here’s the twist—My One & Only tries to distance itself from the Hallmark formula by adding a dash of “edginess.” There’s a subplot about a struggling bakery, a montage set to indie folk music, and a scene where the lead couple argues about avocado toast. Yes, avocado toast. Because nothing says “romantic drama” like millennials debating brunch options.

The acting is… well, let’s just say it’s on par with your average Hallmark holiday movie. The leads have chemistry, but it’s the kind of chemistry you’d expect from two people who just met at a corporate team-building retreat. The dialogue is peppered with clichés like, “Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find what you’re really looking for,” which is either profound or something I read on a motivational poster in a dentist’s office.

That said, My One & Only knows its audience. If you’re the kind of person who unironically enjoys Hallmark movies, you’ll probably love this. It’s got all the hallmarks (pun intended) of a feel-good romance: picturesque small-town settings, a soundtrack that sounds like a Spotify playlist called “Cozy Autumn Vibes,” and enough cheese to make a fondue pot jealous.

In conclusion, My One & Only is the cinematic equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte—it’s not groundbreaking, it’s a little overdone, but dang it, it’s comforting. So grab your coziest blanket, pour yourself a glass of wine (or eggnog, if you’re feeling festive), and let this movie remind you that love is always just a small town away. Or, you know, on the next Hallmark channel marathon.