Yesterday, I had the pleasure of viewing one of Hallmark’s newest releases, Cooking with Love. I cannot wait to share my thoughts on this movie with you! In fact, this is the first time I’ve reviewed a movie for 18 Cinema Lane that I was truly excited to talk about! This movie made me remember how much I enjoy sharing my love of movies with others. Well, when there’s too many cooks in the kitchen, then that’s my cue to review Cooking with Love!

Things I liked about the film:

• The acting: Cooking with Love’s cast was fantastic! From the leading actor and actress to all the child actors, everyone brought the best of their acting abilities to Hallmark’s table (get it? Tables? Cooking?). Ali Liebert has come a long way since appearing in her very first Hallmark movie six years ago and, as a Hallmark fan, I couldn’t be prouder. Her character reminded me so much of Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991) in terms of her mannerisms and how Ali’s character interacted with the other characters. Brett Dalton pulled off an amazing performance, especially for his first time starring in a Hallmark movie! A much-deserved kudos to everyone in this cast!

• The incorporation of Valentine’s Day: Even though this movie was a part of Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Valentine’s Day” line-up, the film’s use of the holiday didn’t come off as overbearing. Also, the story was fueled on the moral aspects of Valentine’s Day instead of relying on the typical visuals and symbols (such as heart decorations, conversation candy hearts, etc.). Things like being kind, helping others to be the best they can be, and getting to know someone and keeping their best interests in mind are aspects to Valentine’s Day that don’t always get prominently showcased in a Valentine’s themed movie. However, these elements are what made Cooking with Love seem like a breath of fresh air.

• The behind-the-scenes element: The majority of this movie featured a peek behind the curtain of the process involved in creating a television show. Hallmark doesn’t tell stories like this often, but when they do, it’s a real treat (see what I did there? Treats? Cooking?)! This aspect of Cooking with Love reminded me of one of my favorite Hallmark movies, This Magic Moment, where a good portion of the film explored the filming of a movie from a behind-the-scenes perspective. I felt this behind-the-scenes look at television shows made Cooking with Love’s story educational in an engaging and entertaining way!

• The messages and themes: I really liked the story of Cooking with Love! One of the reasons why I found this story captivating is the messages and themes that were effortlessly woven into the script. Ideas such as the power of kindness, making a positive and influential difference in someone’s life, and not being afraid to speak up are morals and beliefs that Hallmark should continue to promote! These morals and beliefs made the story not only feel believable, but also uplifting.

  

What I didn’t like about the film:

• There’s only a few, minor things in this film that bothered me. However, I need to point out that these things did not affect my overall enjoyment of the film. The things that did bother me are the following:
• Not showing anyone who was cooking washing their hands beforehand, as well as not mentioning hand washing
• The two-or-more-people-taste-testing-the-sauce-with-the-same-stirring-spoon cliché
• Not featuring an elimination process for the show’s contestants

  

My overall impression:

Even though it’s only February, this is, so far, the best Hallmark movie I’ve seen in 2018! It’s also one of the best Hallmark movies I’ve ever seen! The all-around quality of this film has instantly made it one of my new favorites. I really hope Cooking with Love gets released on DVD and I would love it if Cooking with Love got a sequel.

Overall score: 10 out of 10

Did you watch Cooking with Love? What are your thoughts on it? Please let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen