25 reviews
I hate when I can name the other Hallmark film being copied...
This film wasn't unpleasant to watch, just a little lacking in energy. It also was weird that a film that was obviously created for the channel's Fall Harvest promotion wound up on the air in June.
A lot of these films do the Romeo and Juliet family squabble thing, but this one directly steals almost its entire setup from last year's Fall Harvest entry, Love, Fall, and Order as a it involves a dispute over property lines.
A lot of these films do the Romeo and Juliet family squabble thing, but this one directly steals almost its entire setup from last year's Fall Harvest entry, Love, Fall, and Order as a it involves a dispute over property lines.
A very hallmark movie.
Let's be honest, neither Hallmark, Lifetime or UpTv (to name a few) are very creative when it comes to plots. However, this is not a bad movie in general terms.
So, yes, it's another seasonal storyline involving some family feud and inconsecuential competitions. Another reviewer said it was a boring movie because he didn't care much about olive oil. I couldn't help but laugh, because most of these type of films involves things like that: pumpking pies; cranberries; maple syrup and a big etcetera. It's always the biggest and most important competition.... but you end up seing how many contestants? 3 or 4 at most, and less than 15 pleople in the public. But is what we are used to. You take it or leave it. I mean, we have seen way too many films based on small towns with plots like "save christmas", "save the anual celebration", "let's plan the town's dance".... and you end up watching less than 15 people in it.
So, my point: The plot is simple, non creative, but it works for this kind of movies (seasonal romance). The main characters were ok. Chemistry between them was just fine... not amazing, but certainly better than at least 30 other hallmark movies I've seen.
About the gay couple (which as being bashed by some old-dynosaur-school reviewers . Shame on you), I think both actors were great and their chemistry was quite good. Everything about them was very subtle (maybe way too subtle) and it was treated naturally, avoiding stereotypes, just how it should be.
So, yes, it's another seasonal storyline involving some family feud and inconsecuential competitions. Another reviewer said it was a boring movie because he didn't care much about olive oil. I couldn't help but laugh, because most of these type of films involves things like that: pumpking pies; cranberries; maple syrup and a big etcetera. It's always the biggest and most important competition.... but you end up seing how many contestants? 3 or 4 at most, and less than 15 pleople in the public. But is what we are used to. You take it or leave it. I mean, we have seen way too many films based on small towns with plots like "save christmas", "save the anual celebration", "let's plan the town's dance".... and you end up watching less than 15 people in it.
So, my point: The plot is simple, non creative, but it works for this kind of movies (seasonal romance). The main characters were ok. Chemistry between them was just fine... not amazing, but certainly better than at least 30 other hallmark movies I've seen.
About the gay couple (which as being bashed by some old-dynosaur-school reviewers . Shame on you), I think both actors were great and their chemistry was quite good. Everything about them was very subtle (maybe way too subtle) and it was treated naturally, avoiding stereotypes, just how it should be.
Not an original, but good nonetheless.
- savethewatchmaker
- Oct 3, 2020
- Permalink
Good Main Plot
The story of the two feuding families and the two main leads is nice. But the movie could have left out the gay hints with Adam.
- athompsonblue
- Jun 12, 2021
- Permalink
Vexing
6.0 stars.
Both lead characters have an overt hatred for each other. There is absolutely no way in this universe that these two people would ever fall in love, or ever were in love in the past. This story is a half-baked attempt at a love-hate relationship, but a logical audience will not be further insulted by this senseless infantile behavior. Let's be real, if a man comes back to town after 15 years, and her immediate gut reaction is disdain...next we witness endless banter, but not healthy banter. A short while later this man effectively wrecks her future plans to expand the family's olive oil business. Adding insult to injury, you are reminded that he is the heir to a rival olive oil business. In spite of there being a literal threat to her family's financial future, she chooses to be civil and nonchalantly flirtatious mingled with moments of seething hatred?
This woman and this man pursue a prolonged competitive relationship and pretend it's a friendly one, but in reality there would be inevitable foul play.
At the end, Hallmark wraps it up in a cute little bow, but it's too late to fix it. Sure they make nice and eventually kiss, but for how long would this couple last? I'm running out of ways to describe such an irksome story. She is annoying, he is infuriating; this does not make for an enjoyable film. Don't waste your time.
Both lead characters have an overt hatred for each other. There is absolutely no way in this universe that these two people would ever fall in love, or ever were in love in the past. This story is a half-baked attempt at a love-hate relationship, but a logical audience will not be further insulted by this senseless infantile behavior. Let's be real, if a man comes back to town after 15 years, and her immediate gut reaction is disdain...next we witness endless banter, but not healthy banter. A short while later this man effectively wrecks her future plans to expand the family's olive oil business. Adding insult to injury, you are reminded that he is the heir to a rival olive oil business. In spite of there being a literal threat to her family's financial future, she chooses to be civil and nonchalantly flirtatious mingled with moments of seething hatred?
This woman and this man pursue a prolonged competitive relationship and pretend it's a friendly one, but in reality there would be inevitable foul play.
At the end, Hallmark wraps it up in a cute little bow, but it's too late to fix it. Sure they make nice and eventually kiss, but for how long would this couple last? I'm running out of ways to describe such an irksome story. She is annoying, he is infuriating; this does not make for an enjoyable film. Don't waste your time.
No love for this film
Am not saying this with any pleasure. Despite not being that excited by the plotline, which sounded very derivative and unengaging, Hallmark did have some good films in 2020 and Tori Anderson has been good in other things, with well written characters and good material making a big difference. Hallmark did two A Little Romance films in 2020, the other being the weak 'Love in the Forecast' and of the two films that film is marginally worse despite trying to do something different.
'Love Under the Olive Tree' just didn't do it for me at all. Hallmark were no stranger to surprisingly decent and more films and no stranger to better than expected execution of very basic concepts. It has a few good things, few Hallmark films are irredeemable and there are very few of those made in 2020. It however has a lot of bad things, all major and the worst of them are executed absolutely terribly. Was really hoping that 'Love Under the Olive Tree' would be one of the better than expected films but alas that was not the case.
It's not without its good things. The scenery is very nice and well shot. There are parts where the music is also pleasant.
Shawn Roberts gives the film's best performance, he was quite charming.
Charming is an adjective that neither of the two leads are. Benjamin Hollingsworth is very bland and too uptight, but Anderson comes off even worse. She can be very appealing in the right role, but her character is too mean-spirited and neurotic and Anderson badly overdoes the neuroses. There is no chemistry between them, which feels disconnected and under-rehearsed. Other than Roberts, the supporting cast are unmemorable and none of the characters are remotely interesting, well developed or endearing. Only Roberts comes close.
Despite some light-hearted-ness later, though it does come too late, 'Love Under the Olive Tree' is dull and has a very mean-spirited edge. Just hated how over-the-top negative a vast majority of the characters were, the arrogance is especially overdone, and how they treated others, which made the first half pretty intolerable. It is thin narratively, which affects the pacing, and the lack of freshness with a done to death type of story makes it very predictable. The script is stilted and could have been a lot lighter and more subtle.
Not a good film at all. 3/10.
'Love Under the Olive Tree' just didn't do it for me at all. Hallmark were no stranger to surprisingly decent and more films and no stranger to better than expected execution of very basic concepts. It has a few good things, few Hallmark films are irredeemable and there are very few of those made in 2020. It however has a lot of bad things, all major and the worst of them are executed absolutely terribly. Was really hoping that 'Love Under the Olive Tree' would be one of the better than expected films but alas that was not the case.
It's not without its good things. The scenery is very nice and well shot. There are parts where the music is also pleasant.
Shawn Roberts gives the film's best performance, he was quite charming.
Charming is an adjective that neither of the two leads are. Benjamin Hollingsworth is very bland and too uptight, but Anderson comes off even worse. She can be very appealing in the right role, but her character is too mean-spirited and neurotic and Anderson badly overdoes the neuroses. There is no chemistry between them, which feels disconnected and under-rehearsed. Other than Roberts, the supporting cast are unmemorable and none of the characters are remotely interesting, well developed or endearing. Only Roberts comes close.
Despite some light-hearted-ness later, though it does come too late, 'Love Under the Olive Tree' is dull and has a very mean-spirited edge. Just hated how over-the-top negative a vast majority of the characters were, the arrogance is especially overdone, and how they treated others, which made the first half pretty intolerable. It is thin narratively, which affects the pacing, and the lack of freshness with a done to death type of story makes it very predictable. The script is stilted and could have been a lot lighter and more subtle.
Not a good film at all. 3/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 23, 2022
- Permalink
At least you can learn about Olive oil.
Even though this Hallmark has a relatively high rating all of the reviews seem to be very negative. So I feel like it's my duty to give it a good review. First of all yes, yes, yes, it does incorporate many many many of the hallmark cliches and stock story lines. What a shocker! Alert the media.
First of all I liked the Olive Oil making plot line. It was certainly different and I enjoyed the fresh setting other than chocolate and wine. It was interesting unlike blueberries or pumpkins. The two leads had good chemistry. The family conflict and rivalry kept my interest. I liked that the grandfathers who started the feud were actually more reasonable than their offspring. It was realistic. I also loved the secondary romance of her best friend and the coffee shop owner. It was sweet. I was invested in the outcome of the olive oil Judging and wager and happy that there was a clear winner and it was the one I was rooting for.
- rebekahrox
- Jun 26, 2020
- Permalink
Too reminiscent of another previous Hallmark film
This film has a rehashed plot of the 2016 Hallmark Film "Autumn in the Vineyard".
The female leads in both films are both neurotic and start off closed off in the beginning until the male lead helps them "open up". In both films the female and male leads have a "History" and are competitive. Both films had competition where the one of the leads gets the land if they win. The only difference this time around is that its olives/olive oil and not wine. The few occasional cutesy moments were not enough to redeem this film. The rehashed plots are getting more and noticeable. Hallmark films are a fun guilty pleasure but not when you can recognized a rehashed plot. "Autumn in the Vineyard" did it better. Hallmark needs to stop taking its audience for granted.
- mcarneil-09882
- Jun 21, 2020
- Permalink
subtle but nice surprise
Worn out story with nothing to redeem it.
The plot has been over-used, and the acting not very believable. Even the supporting cast left a lot to be desired. I saw no comedy or romance in this movie.
Maybe some fresh new talent from the writers on down to the bit players would be able to salvage this wreck.
Disappointing
I'm an avid Hallmark channel watcher and this was the first time I couldn't get through a movie. No chemistry with the main characters. Was actually kinda boring, didn't hold my interest at all. Turned the channel about mid way through.
- julianniepaco
- Jun 20, 2020
- Permalink
Nicole Cabella (Tori Anderson)
Dull and familiar
This was an unnecessary movie that just repeats the theme of other Hallmark movies in an uninteresting way. Don't bother. The 2 leads seem ill at ease. Olive oil is not the most interesting subject.
- phd_travel
- Jun 25, 2020
- Permalink
Watched the trailer
The actors are more wooden than the olive trees. Ha.
- injury-65447
- Nov 3, 2020
- Permalink
So 2020...
Just like the year it was made (2020), this movie was a dud. The characters seemed very likable, but I just could not get into the story at all. I quit watching about 3/4 the way through it. Definitely not one of Hallmark's better showings.
- lilhutch-819-947485
- Feb 28, 2021
- Permalink
See Love, Fall & Order
The beginning of the end of the Hallmark we have loved
Awful. Flat. Stiff. Bad. For the first time ever I pressed stop and fast forwarded to the last two minutes to get it over with. This movie was not in keeping with the spirit of the Hallmark we have known and loved for many years. A sad day. Plus, it is very clear that this was supposed to be a fall movie not a summer one. What gives?? Skip Olive Tree. Watch Mystery 101 on the sister channel instead. Now that is a real chemistry!
Beware
Although the main story-line is sweet, I cannot endorse this movie because of the relationship that was shown between two of Nicole's male friends.
See or Skip:
I must recommend skipping this movie for those who believe in traditional marriage as I do. I also hope that this is not the road Hallmark is going to be going down. James Welch Henderson Arkansas 6/15/2021.
See or Skip:
I must recommend skipping this movie for those who believe in traditional marriage as I do. I also hope that this is not the road Hallmark is going to be going down. James Welch Henderson Arkansas 6/15/2021.
Same as so many others
Hallmark is going to start loosing some of their audience. Movies have been really bad. Same story line, chemistry off, and so much more.this one is at the top. If Ben is wearing a toupe it's a really bad one.
Lame
Just boring. I realize Hallmark rehashes the same topics time after time. This is just one of the really bad ones. I wasn't real fond of the casting either. They just didn't mix well.
Hard to get by the incredibly bad toupee
Come on guys. It is OK for a man to have a receeding hairline and still be handsome. Bejamin's wig or toupee was ridiculous - one of the worst I have ever seen on TV. Really hard to take him and the movie seriously. Overall very flat production well below par of average Hallmark romance movie. I'm pretty forgiving on plot quality with Hallmark movies as long as they achieve some genuine feel-good moments in contrast to the Hollywood garbage. This film did not do that.
I love hallmark movies but....
- shanrae-02941
- Jun 23, 2020
- Permalink
Clothes switch
- guyrogers-19989
- Jul 8, 2020
- Permalink
All hail Hallmark for representing the tapestry of humanity in all its beautiful colors.! Oh,wait....
Diversity and Hallmark: oxymoron in its truest meaning. Hallmark has a pattern that they follow, and that pattern excludes vast segments of the real world. I get that they are trying to tap into the Harlequin novel idea of romance, but do we have to eliminate 3/4 of the planet to do that? It's 2020, Hallmark, and given the era we are living in, isn't it long over-due that these tired, exclusionary visages were broken?
- dallaseleventh
- Jun 24, 2020
- Permalink
Two competitive childhood friends reconnected amongst the olives at the fall festival.
A lot of competition between childhood friends Nicole and Jake. Their grandfathers started an olive oil making farm/business together that ended on less than amiable terms...creating two neighboring farms and businesses.
This year Nicole is taking over the business from her grandfather and wants to expand the business...only Jake who is now a lawyer finds a document that disputes the property line and halts her progress.
This brings Jake back for the fall festival...can these two clear up a lot of misunderstandings?
There was some awkwardness in the interaction between cast members, particularly at the beginning of the film. The jocular competition became fun after awhile and I appreciated that Jake's grandfather was so kind to Nicole throughout the film.
It was interesting to see a little of the olive oil industry, something I have enjoyed on Turkish TV for awhile (shout out to a great series called Dolunay). Was this my favorite hallmark romance, no...but still better than a lot of what is on tv at the moment.
This year Nicole is taking over the business from her grandfather and wants to expand the business...only Jake who is now a lawyer finds a document that disputes the property line and halts her progress.
This brings Jake back for the fall festival...can these two clear up a lot of misunderstandings?
There was some awkwardness in the interaction between cast members, particularly at the beginning of the film. The jocular competition became fun after awhile and I appreciated that Jake's grandfather was so kind to Nicole throughout the film.
It was interesting to see a little of the olive oil industry, something I have enjoyed on Turkish TV for awhile (shout out to a great series called Dolunay). Was this my favorite hallmark romance, no...but still better than a lot of what is on tv at the moment.