![]() Ryan Cooper is a hockey player who is not 100% ready to play after an injury, so his manager, who happens to be Jenna's cousin, suggest he takes ballet to be ready to play the season, which worked for Jenna when she had the same injury. Overall, promising beginning to the 2021 year for Hallmark. Although the story has no real surprises, it is very light hearted and has a warm heart, also didn't think that it moved too slowly. The script is not cheesy or too sentimental and has a warm glow to it. The ballet is athletic and elegant, and being a ballet fan it was lovely to see it. While there could have been less music, it at least fits stylistically and has character. Production values are very pleasing, especially the scenery, something that Hallmark nearly always delivers on. The characters come over as more than just shallow ciphers and don't come over as too perfect or have exaggerated flaws. ![]() Their relationship moves at a realistic pace, not rushed or aimless, and isn't over-shadowed by what goes on in the story. She and Macfarlane have very natural, genuine and sweet chemistry, where their love is very believable. PenaVega really surprised me, she is perky, she doesn't try too hard and this is one of the few times where it feels like she is connecting with her character. Macfarlane has such an endearing easy going charm and looks completely at home. ![]() Maybe the music could have been used less. Also did find the ending too neat and on the hurried side, a common issue with Hallmark, though not as easily telegraphed as most Hallmark endings. Like many Hallmark films, 'Taking a Shot at Love' does follow a tried and tested formula and doesn't do much new with it with many recognisable Hallmark cliches. Yes it is, and it was nice to see some Hallmark films recently for a change that wasn't one of their Christmas offerings. Is 'Taking a Shot at Love' great or perfect? No, then again asking for perfection from Hallmark is setting expectations too on the high side. It is a solid start to the 2021 year for Hallmark and a solid entry in the New Year New Movies category. 'Taking a Shot at Love' is far from being one of the stinkers and is more than watchable. Hallmark's films are on the most part very formulaic, though they have done changes of pace that come off well, but quite a lot of their output is watchable, though they have done a fair share of stinkers. Am also another person who doesn't normally care for Alexa PenaVega, tending to find her forced and that she doesn't usually connect with her roles. Am another person who likes Luke Macfarlane, his filmography is hit and miss but he has always been a very likeable actor. As I mentioned, there were maybe a couple of other possibilities. The climax and ending are sappy and predictable in general terms. Together they had very good chemistry, but not quite sizzling. I love Luke Macfarlane and he fits the hockey player role very well. But in this movie I found her character very appealing and her acting decent, if a bit restrained. I had mixed reactions to Alexa Penavega's Hallmark performances in the past, some very negative. You can see how this character would be an inspiration. What I liked about Jenna is that she was always even tempered, even cheerful. Jenna's backstory is revealed a little at a time and it is a sympathetic one. One minor twist in the story is that there's another potential pro hockey player that comes into play. There are different possibilities as to what that might be, however. The teacher's studio is in trouble and you just know the celebrity athlete is going to do something to help. But after the set up, things go pretty much as you'd expect. Despite the first blush impression of ballet, those people are every bit as athletic as any pro athlete in a major sport and it is especially torturous for the dancer's feet. It's also a nice touch to make it a pro from a tough guy sport being put with children to learn ballet. The professional athlete getting help with rehab from a romantic opposite is not the most common trope.
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