User Reviews

Awkward.

Unrealistic.

Cringeworthy.

At least at the beginning.

But then there is some fun banter and some nice getting to know you moments between the two leads. And the Lily Lake B&B is located in a lovely setting near some beautiful waterfalls cleverly known as "The Falls". The movie also uses a lot of split screens in a way I found to be (mostly) effective. And the background music is quite good.

Still, a B&B with no WiFi?

No TVs in the rooms?

A front desk with no computer?

A front desk person who goes into another room, puts on headphones, and dances obliviously right when guests are expected to be checking in at 4pm?

Rhiannon Fish is not for everyone, but I enjoyed her in this movie and in the recent A Picture of Her. She's quirky, fun, spirited and engaging. And a little silly. And she looked great in this movie, especially in that white hat. Unfortunately, I didn't like how her role was written in the scenes involving her ex, Jason, who dumped her back in NYC, but just happened to be checking into the same B&B where Rory and her family were staying. I would have preferred it if her character had been written with more of a backbone.

James Williams O'Halloran was solid as Noah. Frankie Savige was savage as Rory's heartless boss Melody. Erin Connor had some lovely moments playing Rory's mother, and Renee Herbert was sweet and enthusiastic as Rory's sister Cleo.

Bottom line, it was worth watching.

"You'll look back one day and you'll realize that all the little things, they add up to be the big things in life. And that makes every moment so much more precious."

"There are two moments in life, those you miss and those you seize."

The first time I tried to watch "When Love Springs" the first half hour was so bad I quit and rated it 1 star. As others have noted, Act I is truly bad: Rhiannon Fish's hyperactivity, her boss' robotic gruffness, the recent ex-'s arrival with a new (mostly mute) girlfriend, etc.

I gave it another chance recently. That start hasn't improved with age, but the rest was a pleasant improvement ... and worth the wait if only for the introduction of a hidden gem: Renee Herbert. As the lead's sister, she could have been a trope: a sounding board with words of wisdom about what the lead's best life is missing. But she was a true presence on screen (ok, after her goofy elevator intro), and her style was endearing and easy. Just her facial expressions stole several scenes. She is an ethereal beauty. I hope that Hallmark gives Renee more roles soon, and a well-deserved lead. She's a discovery!

I almost turned this off a few times through the first half hour. Ms Fish, lead actor, so completely over-played the goofy, ditzy role that I thought 'I can't sit through an hour and a half of this'. Cringey is putting it mildly. Luckily, she toned it down a bit as the film went on. I liked the male lead, James O'Halloran; very handsome and likeable. Renee Herbert plays the sister, and I really liked her. She played the part very naturally, I'd like to see more of her. The parents were played by actors who were also very natural and believeable. The plot itself is the same re-tread theme, right down to the evil boss and pretentious B & B travel critic (who says 'splendid'?!). Nothing new here at all.

The beginning of this film is just plain awkward and hard to watch...thanks in large part to it's lead actress Rhiannon Fish, but as the film goes on if you stick with it...it settles down into a decent Hallmark Romance with some good getting to know you moments and an excellent male lead James William O'Halloran. In addition to the very awkward beginning there is also the miss cast ex-boyfriend played by Callahan Colley who doesn't seem age appropriate for our lead.

This tells the story of a jr pr executive who end up doing pr for a small bed and breakfast owner in exchange for him playing her fake boyfriend for her parent's vow renewal. The message is slow down and don't miss out on the important moments.

"There are two kind of moments in life, those you miss and those you seize."

Romantics will enjoy this film if they can get over the initial awkwardness. The lead is not only handsome but really help pull this film together.

Renee Herbert stole every scene she was in. She was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise sometimes awkward story.

The story line is your typical fake relationship that grows into a real one, with the ever present miscommunication and misunderstanding right before they realize they belong together.

It's not the acting I have an issue with, it's the stale plot lines that keep getting regurgitated on The Hallmark Channel and other channels that are simply cookie cutters of the same thing. It would be nice if someone could come up with something new. Perhaps look at the Pride community more and leave the boring same ole in the past.

Rhianna Fish. I've watched several movies she has starred in. Not a fan, chaotic actor, unrealistic and not very good at her profession. I'm hoping she can find a role that suits her abilities soon, essence Hallmark has her starring in so many films. One person suggested "watching through the first half, the movie gets better" I really tried but just couldn't.

I'm hoping Hallmark can find some new actors soon. I'm afraid it's getting harder to enjoy their movies with such poor acting.

The beginning of the movie is chaotic and hard to follow, and extremely uncomfortable . Way too much " cuteness and giggles "

7.9 stars.

Like others have mentioned, this starts off a bit funny. Rory goes to a B&B with her family for her parents anniversary. It's the same place her parents fell in love and first kissed many years ago. Rory is recently single. Her recent ex-boyfriend shows up with his new girlfriend (coincidence?). Rory pretends to be dating the B&B owner Noah in order to avoid embarrassment because she is still sensitive to the breakup, and his new girlfriend is super pretty. The rest of the story is the same as every other Hallmark of its kind. The pretenders start to become more than friends, the ex wants her back, yada yada yada.

There is nothing original in 'When Love Springs', and Rory is a bit too silly at times, kinda shrill, maybe too quirky...

HOWEVER....the positive aspects of this film far outweigh the negatives for me. The ambience is very inviting somehow, Noah's character is very likable, the relationship that matures between them is endearing, and there are several charismatic moments one cannot ignore.

They went way too heavy on the goofy cornball jokes in the opening 20 minutes. It was a struggle to get through it. I would describe the lead character as preposterous, immature, quirky, unrealistic, and annoying. It's hard to get into a movie when the lead is so over the top.

Even the flirting is cringeworthy. I feel like I'm watching a Saturday Night Live skit -- and not a particularly funny one either.

Maybe the movie gets better after the first half hour, but I just couldn't take it past that point myself. I really hope Hallmark gives up on this sillier side of their usual genre of movies.

The scenery...not set in Canada but Australia...was amazing. Loved the split screen photos. The music was lilting and uplifting. The supporting actors were better than usual and amiable. .. with the exception of the role of the primary star's boss who was completely over acted.

Really enjoyed this movie. I don't recall viewing it the first time it aired on Hallmark channel. I typically watch all their movies. I can only presume that, as some reviews stated, the first half hour was so bad that I originally bailed on watching. This time I continued to watch and I am happy I did. It was very good.

Another forgettable rom-com, this one filmed in Australia. It was filmed around Brisbane, Australia which is beautiful and that's about the best thing I can say. The script is another cliched mess, not very well written. Rhiannon Fish overacts in everything I've seen her in, she's beautiful but can't act. When producers cast a bad actor in a lead role it brings down the production. Don't know where the director was, probably directing remotely or asleep. Erin Connor and Steve Nation are the best of the rest of the cast. Renee Herbert's acting is natural, O'Halloran and Colley are just ok. Not Hallmark quality.

A 2022 Australian made rom-com "A Perfect Pairing" is much better.

One more take on the "fake boyfriend" scheme. Rhiannon Fish plays Rory who, with her dorky-adorable sister Cleo, joins their parents, in a renewal of their vows at the very B&B where they fell in love. This is, definitely, not one of Rhiannon's better performances. There, she unexpectedly finds her ex and his new love interest, and becomes unglued. Impulsively, she convinces the B&B owner, Noah, played by James William O'Halloran, to pose as her new boyfriend. The rest of the plot develops along predictable lines. At first, Noah appears almost like a hapless klutz. Yet, he soon proves to have appreciable human dimensions and turns out to be a real "prince". Rory's family are very warm and pleasant people with captivating qualities. The problem with the show is Rory's character. Her embarrassment and discomfort are so enormously overplayed that she appears childish, emotionally disturbed, if not semi-hysterical for a good half of the movie. Honestly, I felt uncomfortable, just watching it all. Happily, she tones down in the second half. From there, the movie offers some sweet moments and glimpses of family values and sensible romance, as one would have expected. While this may reassure that a usually endearing actress has not totally lost it, it is not enough to completely salvage the production.

I liked this movie, not sure why there are so many negative reviews. Yes, it's awkward at the beginning when her ex shows up but it's goofy, quirky, awkward and Rhianna Fish does that well. Does no one recognize slap-stick comedy anymore (comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events)?

I first came across Rhianna in Norwegian Holiday, which ended up being a favorite Hallmark Christmas movie for my daughter and I. She plays a different type of character in this movie, which shows off her range.

Noah (James William O'Halloran) is someone I haven't seen in Hallmark movies, but I would love to see him in more (dimples, undeniably attractive - yes, please).

Renee Herbert, the sister, is adorable, would love to see her in more movies.

I also appreciate the parent roles featuring younger, hipper looking actors. I noticed this change on another recent Hallmark movie. I have a 36 year old daughter (I'm 56) so it's nice to see parents I can relate to.

We all watch Hallmark movies knowing how they are going to end, with the couple falling in love. Most Hallmark movies are uplifting, hopeful, sweet and depict the innocence of falling in love (and no-cringe love scenes that show way more than I want to watch with my daughter/family).

I really wanted to like this movie. The leads are very good and supporting cast very likable except for boyfriend It seems Hallmark produced this movie with cheapest budget in the world. The characters wear the same clothes throughout the entire movie. Also the rest of the cast the same. Did Hallmark not have a budget for clothes hair etc. This movie had the makings of a good romcom but lacked any kind of production. Everything was the same from the first scene to the last.

I was hoping more from Hallmark but what I did like very much there were no social messages. That's to me was the most refreshing part. Maybe that's why they gave it no budget.

When Love Springs is a captivating romantic drama that gracefully explores the complexities of love, loss, and personal growth. It takes me on an emotional rollercoaster, beautifully brought to life by a stellar cast and a particularly memorable performance by Layla, portrayed by the talented Erin connor.

Layla, the central character in When Love Springs, exudes both vulnerability and strength, making her an intriguing and relatable protagonist. From the very beginning, we are drawn to her authentic portrayal, feeling an immediate connection to her experiences and struggles. Throughout the movie, Layla's character undergoes a remarkable transformation, navigating through a series of emotional challenges with resilience and grace.

Erin connor brilliantly captures the essence of Layla's character, delivering a performance that is both nuanced and heartfelt. She effortlessly portrays the complexities of Layla's inner world, allowing the audience to empathize with her joys and sorrows. Her ability to convey a range of emotions, from moments of deep sorrow to moments of pure happiness, is truly commendable.

Erin connors journey in When Love Springs is an exploration of self-discovery and finding love when least expected. The film masterfully weaves together various subplots, each shedding light on different aspects of Layla's life. Through her relationships with friends, family, and potential love interests, Layla's growth as an individual becomes the heart of the narrative.

I truly love the movie, can't wait to watch more of Erin connors movie.

So far every movie I've watched with Rhiannon Fish has been cringey because she's so over the top with the childishness (see "A Picture of Her"). But this time, in addition to that, the Australian accents peeking through each secondary & tertiary character's dialogue was so distracting. Could've just let them keep their original accents at that point & had Rhiannon try one considering she's the only non-Aussie in the film. Or have a dialect coach if you're going to use local actors? Didn't see any chemistry with the leads either. The sister Cleo was the most natural actor out of all of them. I just finished it to check it off my Hallmark Movie Checklist.

This is one of the better Hallmark romances.

When Rory (Rhiannon Fish) travels from New York City to a rural B&B for the renewal of her parents' wedding vows, she gets involved in sprucing the place up and pretending the future owner of the B&B, Noah (James O'Halloran), is her boyfriend, trying to fool her ex who happens to be there. Unlike some other Hallmark stories, there is chemistry early on for the two pretenders.

The will-they/won't-they dance between Rory and Noah is very effective. But what really makes the film is Ms. Fish's energy. She is a joy to watch.

Fortunately, there is a good supporting cast and some beautiful scenery, as well.