‘Love in Harmony Valley’: A Lovely Family-Friendly Romance

After over a decade playing the headstrong teen to grown up mother, Amber Marshall appears on the UPtv romance premiere, Love in Harmony Valley. Based on a novel (Dandelion Wishes), the film is, like Marshall purports in making of videos, a lovely family friendly movie anyone can enjoy.

Love in Harmony Valley (2020) UPtv Review

Returning to Harmony Valley is something Emma (Marshall) is unsure about. But despite her past mistakes, she wants to see her childhood best friend, Tracy, and mend things. After a near death experience, Emma isn’t the best liked person, especially given she leaves them behind; but now she needs to see Tracy, and try to find forgiveness.

Trouble is, Tracy’s brother, Will (Eric Hicks) is anything but ready to forgive. Still holding a grudge for his sister’s near death, he holds Emma responsible, and wants her gone. Only before any can move on, he and Emma both need to find a way to move past these differences – and Will’s long-standing disapproval of Emma’s adventurous soul.

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Unlike Hallmark, I don’t watch a ton of originals from this network, but this one is a kind of sweet dramedy that has romance, yes, but also a story of hope and forgiveness. There’s some good messages about forgiveness, but what’s more surprising is that the heroine confronts, head on, her feelings for someone, and it’s actually a bit of a turn from the norm in these types of films.

The story progresses rapidly, and the back-and-forth of the driving force (trying to revitalize a town) surprises me. The way this is put on pause (and by whom!) is also unusual, and makes it hard to like said character. The cast is pretty good, and Marshall is really quite good. Best known as Amy from Heartland, the actress turns in a solid performance. Her depiction of Emma is better than most, and I’d quite like to see her in other such films. Though, one thing that shouldn’t be replicated is the make-up in this film. It’s a little too much.

If you like sweet stories that are family friendly, this is one of them. It’s got good story sense and the cast is good if not all familiar.

Content: There’s nothing really to mention. There’s some social drinking, and a woman suffers severe panic attacks. References are made to a near-deadly car crash [we never see it].

Photos: UPtv