Expectations were very mixed to not particularly excited. This sort of film can be charming if done right and Australia is absolutely wonderful in terms of scenery and culture, not to mention food. A large part of me knew that 'Hearts Down Under' (aka 'Romance on the Menu') would be very predictable and nothing special, and with a few exceptions Cindy Busby is not my cup of tea as an actress and has a fairly limited and samey range (even for somebody typecast/pigeon holed in these roles).
My mixed to not particularly excited expectations were not improved upon in the execution. This could have been much better than expected and there are many films that sound nothing special and very basic that turn out to be at least above average and even pretty decent. 'Hearts Down Under'/'Romance on the Menu' is not one of those films and actually turned out to be worse than expected. It has a few good things but also a lot of major bad things.
The good things shall be begun with. The scenery is absolutely magical and the photography does nothing to cheapen it and even enhances, clearly in love with it without being self-indulgent. The food looks amazing and makes the mouth water.
Also thought that Tim Ross did very well with what he was given, the character is underwritten but he has a natural charisma and is easy going.
Busby unfortunately is another story, she never looks comfortable and can be hammy. She also provides no variation on a type of role she contiually played in in a similar way each time for Hallmark. The supporting cast are stuck with cliched ciphers and are forgettable. So is the music, which is also intrusive. Busby and Ross have no chemistry together in a romance that doesn't develop very well and everything about it has a seen it all before vibe.
Something that is true with the story throughout, a well worn formula with all the typical Hallmark plot and character cliches executed in a mundane and more of the same formulaic way. The final third is especially predictable and is contrived and too convenient. Not to mention that it is paper thin and often moves at too slow a pace. The script is full of cheese and schmaltz and never flows naturally.
Overall, weak. 3/10.
