Much like what some of the other reviews have stated, this movie's saving grace is the side couple of Megan and Sean, who have great chemistry and are enjoyable to watch. On the other side of the spectrum is our main pair, Cara and Ben, whose story is riddled with completely unnecessary drama.
Taylor Cole, who plays Cara, is undeniably beautiful, but lacks dimension in seemingly all her Hallmark characters, who all come across as the exact same woman, just with different occupations and names. Her characters all share the same characteristics of being driven career women, having a fairly smooth personality, and absolutely no warmth whatsoever---one other reviewer referred to as an "ice princess," and this is directly on the money. Her flat portrayal of Cara the romance journalist was uninspired.
She also shares very little chemistry with Ben, the good-hearted philanthropist who gives needy children access to snowboards (a worthy cause, of course), who for whatever reason, she snipes with at every given opportunity (until this suddenly turns around after one well-placed lunch together). He spends the majority of the movie apologizing to her for things that are not his fault, such as the misunderstanding that led the four of them to sharing the chalet, or excusing himself to have a quick chat with the woman who arranged an auction for his snowboards (Cara leaves in a huff when this happens, because Ben speaking to other women is apparently a crime).
This drama all comes to a head when a picture of the two of them at the auction surfaces on the Internet and comes to the attention of Cara's boss. Cara is unexplainably burned upon learning that a man she knows for all of two days did not disclose his job title to her (CEO) and feels snubbed; Ben, in turn, smells a rat when he learns that Cara is a journalist, which his publicist immediately informs him of because taking a photo with a woman at an auction showcasing his good fortune is apparently bad publicity. But just in case this isn't enough drama, after patching up the aforementioned misunderstandings, Ben leaps to yet more conclusions upon seeing a text from Cara's boss encouraging her to write an article about Ben. He storms off with his friend, although comes to his senses in the last two minutes of the movie in a rushed, quick resolution in which they reunite in a coffee shop.
A few moments of utter ludicrousness also pepper throughout the story, such as assistant Megan taking interview phone calls on the middle of a snowboarding hill instead of retreating inside, or then being forbidden from taking phone calls after injuring her hands (apparently speakerphone isn't an option?). It's also worth remembering that all of this occurs in under two days, yet our protagonists act as though months of heart-wrenching drama has just affected them at every turn.
On the bright side, the movie did make me want to book a trip to a snowboarding/skiing resort. The atmosphere was wintery, adventurous, and the views were sensational. The chalet as well painted a very cozy picture with its wooden interior, outdoor fire pit, and comfy furniture. It definitely evoked a sense of enjoying winter to the fullest, which was most likely the movie's intent---a shame that the plot did not match the atmosphere in pleasantness.
Taylor Cole, who plays Cara, is undeniably beautiful, but lacks dimension in seemingly all her Hallmark characters, who all come across as the exact same woman, just with different occupations and names. Her characters all share the same characteristics of being driven career women, having a fairly smooth personality, and absolutely no warmth whatsoever---one other reviewer referred to as an "ice princess," and this is directly on the money. Her flat portrayal of Cara the romance journalist was uninspired.
She also shares very little chemistry with Ben, the good-hearted philanthropist who gives needy children access to snowboards (a worthy cause, of course), who for whatever reason, she snipes with at every given opportunity (until this suddenly turns around after one well-placed lunch together). He spends the majority of the movie apologizing to her for things that are not his fault, such as the misunderstanding that led the four of them to sharing the chalet, or excusing himself to have a quick chat with the woman who arranged an auction for his snowboards (Cara leaves in a huff when this happens, because Ben speaking to other women is apparently a crime).
This drama all comes to a head when a picture of the two of them at the auction surfaces on the Internet and comes to the attention of Cara's boss. Cara is unexplainably burned upon learning that a man she knows for all of two days did not disclose his job title to her (CEO) and feels snubbed; Ben, in turn, smells a rat when he learns that Cara is a journalist, which his publicist immediately informs him of because taking a photo with a woman at an auction showcasing his good fortune is apparently bad publicity. But just in case this isn't enough drama, after patching up the aforementioned misunderstandings, Ben leaps to yet more conclusions upon seeing a text from Cara's boss encouraging her to write an article about Ben. He storms off with his friend, although comes to his senses in the last two minutes of the movie in a rushed, quick resolution in which they reunite in a coffee shop.
A few moments of utter ludicrousness also pepper throughout the story, such as assistant Megan taking interview phone calls on the middle of a snowboarding hill instead of retreating inside, or then being forbidden from taking phone calls after injuring her hands (apparently speakerphone isn't an option?). It's also worth remembering that all of this occurs in under two days, yet our protagonists act as though months of heart-wrenching drama has just affected them at every turn.
On the bright side, the movie did make me want to book a trip to a snowboarding/skiing resort. The atmosphere was wintery, adventurous, and the views were sensational. The chalet as well painted a very cozy picture with its wooden interior, outdoor fire pit, and comfy furniture. It definitely evoked a sense of enjoying winter to the fullest, which was most likely the movie's intent---a shame that the plot did not match the atmosphere in pleasantness.