Starring Jocelyn Hudon and Dan Jeannotte
***SPOILER ALERT***
An anxious accountant, Madeline (Hudon), will be marrying Jason (Chris Violette) in five weeks, and she’s planning their Niagara Falls honeymoon down to the last detail. But Jason finds her lack of spontaneity stifling and calls off the wedding. Madeline’s sister, Harley (Masa Lizdek), convinces her to go on the trip anyway, and the two set off for a “sistermoon.” In Niagara Falls, Madeline meets Mike (Jeannotte), her tour guide. They get off on the wrong foot, but as they spend more time together, he persuades her to stop playing it safe and to take risks. To her surprise, their adventures leave her exhilarated—and falling for Mike. But soon Jason returns and attempts to win Madeline back, which tosses a monkey wrench into her romance with Mike.
PROS
This movie was written by Carley Smale, whose credits include Christmas by Design (2023). Although its plot was certainly nothing new, the smart, feel-good script and engaging acting by the leads elevated this film beyond my expectations.
Fun in a glorious setting. Falling in Love in Niagara ranks as the most entertaining new Hallmark movie of the spring season—at least so far. Often when Hallmark couples indulge in touristy activities, it feels like filler and it’s not that interesting. But the activities Madeline and Mike were doing were thrilling to watch and a big part of this movie’s appeal. They began with a heart-pounding session of zip-lining, then rode a cable car over the Falls, took a bumpy boat ride in swirling waters and got soaked to the skin, and rode the Sky Wheel (a giant Ferris wheel). Less intense entertainment included a visit to the power station. It was delightful to watch Madeline, encouraged by Mike, throw caution to the winds. The actors looked as if they were having a blast. And it all happened against the majestic backdrop of Niagara Falls. I felt as if I was being carried right along with them on their exciting adventures. And the flashbacks to these adventures, while Mike sang a song he’d written especially for Madeline, were a wonderfully fitting end to this movie.
Hudon and Jeannotte. Hudon, last seen acrobatically twisting on the silks in Romance with a Twist (2024), was an excellent match for Jeannotte, who appeared in this year’s Sense and Sensibility. The more I see of each of these actors, the more impressed I am by their talent. They brought a light, comic touch to this fluffy meringue of a film, which moved along briskly with the help of their lively banter. Madeline and Mike’s meet-cute was a nifty variation on the usual coffee-spilling scene; when she heard him strumming his guitar, she tossed a few coins into his cup, splashing coffee on him. During their next couple of encounters, they traded entertaining insults: he called her the nutty honeymoon lady, while she called him the man-boy with a skateboard. Thanks to Hudon and Jeannotte’s enjoyable on-screen chemistry, sparks flew between the two characters right from the start and continued throughout.
The serious side. Although this movie was mostly breezy, Madeline and Mike each had a serious side, which was apparent once their backstories, complete with psychological baggage, emerged. Madeline was anxious and needed to be in control because her childhood had been so chaotic—she and Harley had fended for themselves because their parents were mostly absent. And Madeline undervalued herself because Jason had treated her so badly. Accustomed to his treatment, she wanted him back and later accepted his proposal because the relationship was familiar, and taking a chance on Mike, even though she loved him, was too scary. Her behavior made perfect sense when you considered her childhood. As for Mike, he was hurting because his girlfriend had left him for someone more cultured. And he feared that his heartbreak had ruined the tourism business he’d built with his best friend, Emily (Jinesea Bianca Lewis). These aspects of the characters gave them more dimension, enriching the movie. And I liked the tense scene in which Madeline confessed that she was marrying Jason and Mike confronted her, insisting she didn’t love Jason and was acting out of fear.
CONS
The other plot thread. Madeline’s sister, Harley, was on a journey of her own. Dissatisfied with her marketing job, she longed to be a photographer but was afraid to take that chance. Emily’s brother, Keegan (Burt Cardozo), boosted her confidence. She was also invited to photograph the trip and the wedding of a couple the sisters met in Niagara Falls. Because of the leads’ excellent performances, it was Madeline and Mike’s romance that really grabbed me, and Harley and Keegan’s story paled in comparison.
My grade for Falling in Love in Niagara: A-
Caroline Kaiser is a professional book editor who specializes in fiction and memoirs, and she’s been guiding writers toward publication since 2007. Caroline is also the author of two ghostly mystery novels, Virginia’s Ghost and The Spirits of South Drive. Before she embarked on an editing and writing career, she spent many years working in a Toronto auction house as an antiques appraiser. Apart from curling up on the couch and drinking tea as she watches Hallmark movies, Caroline enjoys baking and exploring London, Ontario, the picturesque city she now calls home. Her website is www.carolinekaisereditor.com.
