I’m a simple girl. Give me a movie that takes place during autumn with leads who have chemistry, and I’ll be a happy camper. Hallmark’s Falling Together is, thankfully, one of those movies. Starring Ashley Williams and Paul Campbell, while elements of the film are a bit much at times, the relationship between Natalie and Mark progresses in a way that’s easy to appreciate.
This one is for the grump and sunshine fans and the viewers who adore a slow-ish burn in the process, too. For Hallmark movies to work, the leads have to have chemistry, and they need to give us character motives that ground them. With this, both Natalie and Mark are easy to care about, even with all their quirks, which at times could’ve gotten frustrating, but they never do.
Like many romance novels we read and adore, Falling Together focuses on the idea of characters helping one another become better versions of themselves. For Mark, it’s about forgiving himself and letting down some of the walls he hides behind. For Natalie, it’s about remembering that she must also live for herself. As someone consistently looking out for others and trying to make them happy, she fails to slow down and take everything in for herself. As the two of them start making changes together, they both learn how to grow while understanding how to appreciate each other at the same time.
The approach in Falling Together to make neighbors more neighborly is a bit saccharine for my taste, but the movie is charming enough that by the end, it doesn’t even matter how we got there. More importantly, it’s Mark’s journey as a super that works to tell a more authentic and believable story. Even Gilmore Girls didn’t have every character getting along at all times. We don’t need that.
Centering the story around Alzheimer’s awareness, however, is a lovely and hopeful approach. It’s often in tragedies where people come together and show their support, so the walk and Natalie’s team coming out to support the cause makes the story more wholesome and sweet. Linda Payne’s (Linda Kash) arc devasted me, but how she and Natalie grew close during the film was a bonus. There’s also the detail of how the film is personal to Williams, who’s opened up about her own mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s. Even without this knowledge, it’s effortless to tell that Williams’ approach to this film is authentic and vulnerable, so much so that when you learn this, it becomes evident why you were crying alongside her character.
Falling Together takes every glorious little thing about autumn and includes it in the film, which is something I’ll personally never complain about. Pumpkin spice lattes and pies? Let’s go. The words “crisp autumn air” coming out of a character’s mouth? Yes. Leave peeping? Please and thank you. It’s a delightful little joy ride with a gorgeous romance at the center and a significant film to release on World Alzheimer’s Day. If, like me, you rarely watch Hallmark movies outside of Christmas, let this one be an exception. It’s worth it.
Falling Together is now streaming on Hallmark+.
First Featured Image | Official Poster Credit: ©Hallmark