I have rated nearly 2500 shows and movies and reviewed over 1500. The majority are in this genre or Christmas movies. Read other reviews of this movie. Many don't ring true. Several of them are expansive with sophisticated wording far more than average reviews. In other words, several of them are too similar. Look at profiles. There are some definite Megan Markle haters. One of the really negative ones don't even accurately describe this movie or the actors and still receives more helpful votes than not.

Don't get me wrong. This movie is not good. But it is not "the worst" of Hallmark or in any category. Markle is not great, but she is a cut above some of the newbies that show up occasionally from production companies like Reel One.

Markle is playing a part of a character that is caught in the middle often or caught in a situation where she has to appear neutral even though her real opinion is negative. That character reaction is going to be uncertain and ambiguous. Almost always in this type of movie, the reaction is going to appear lame to the viewer. The actor has to show the viewer that her reaction is false and/or hiding something, but the other characters accept the reaction as real. In countless movies of this type, I have seen almost identical reactions when the character is almost caught out. Markle isn't great, but she doesn't stand out, especially not negatively.

Sammie is ridiculous. She is supposed to be. That is one of the consistent themes in the movie until her crisis. It is almost funny and some will laugh at how bad it is.

The movie follows many of the usual tropes and is predictable. As soon as Phil starts meeting people, you can see what is going to happen and you already knew how it was going to turn out for Amy. Lochlyn Munro has done several almost similar roles and usually comes off as a jerk, but there is nothing wrong with Phil in this one.

I thought it was hilarious that there was a watermain break. I used to joke that they happened in every Christmas movie to threaten some pageant. In this case it leads to a trope similar to many of those other movies.

Chemistry between the two actual leads? Yeah there is some, but it isn't sizzling.

I'm not a fan of moves that have one main character demolish a relationship between fiancés, and even more so at the last minute. I'm also old school in thinking you don't date your bestie's ex. Do they cancel or double? Not sure, but I lean toward double. Probably not a good idea to have your fiancé's ex as bride's maid. Even so, this movie may not be good, but it is more middle of the road.

When Sparks Fly, a Hallmark TV movie, is as cringe-inducing and predictable as they come. It follows the formulaic romantic comedy drama, where two people from different worlds fall in love. Amy Peterson (Markle) is a young journalist trying to make it in the big city. She's unhappy with her current boyfriend Phil (Munro), who's handsome but talentless, and her work is suffering as a result. When circulation at the Chicago Post starts to dip, Amy's editor sends her back to her hometown to write an article about growing up with her parents' (MacKechnie and Samuda) fireworks business.

The film begins with the same old trope: Amy meets Ben (Connolly), a charming local veterinarian who just so happens to have grown up across the street from her family's fireworks business. Despite their conflicting lifestyles - she's a city girl, he's small-town resident - it doesn't take long for them to fall for each other. Of course, their relationship has its fair share of obstacles along the way that create tension and drama leading up to an inevitably happy ending that no one could foresee from miles away.

The main problem with When Sparks Fly is that there isn't enough depth or complexity in either story or character development. Markle and Connolly both fail to deliver any kind of emotional investment; their performances comes off as wooden and unnatural. The romance between the two of them falls flat because there isn't enough time spent building it up into something meaningful - it all feels rushed and forced - which is ultimately why this movie can't hold its own against more memorable romantic comedies like Love Actually or When Harry Met Sally.

The dialogue between characters also lacks any real sense of wit or charm - most conversations are mundane and lack any sort of spark that would bring life into the film itself. This is especially disappointing when certain lines should have elicited some emotion but ended up being nothing more than empty platitudes like "love will find its way" or "you can do anything you set your mind to".

When Sparks Fly may be good for those viewers looking for lighthearted entertainment during a lazy Sunday afternoon, but anyone expecting anything more than expected clichéd romance tropes might want to steer clear of this forgettable Hallmark production. Instead of investing your time in this trite flick, consider checking out something better such as Crazy Stupid Love or 500 Days Of Summer.

In conclusion, When Sparks Fly is not a memorable romantic comedy. Its shallow characters and predictable plot make it an underwhelming watch, that fails to deliver any genuine emotion or wit. While it may be suitable for easy viewing on a Sunday afternoon while doing your chores, viewers would be far better off investing their time in more substantial films of the same genre.

'When Sparks Fly' (2014)

Opening thoughts: Hallmark have proven many times that they are capable of making something watchable at least and the best of them are actually very good. Some of those being films with very unappealing premises but somehow managing to make something charming out of it. The premise was quite cute and Lochlyn Munro has been decent elsewhere. Am however not a fan of Meghan Markle, whether in acting or in real life, though it was interesting to see her before she became one of the world's most hated people.

'When Sparks Fly' has no spark whatsoever and really is as bad as has been said. There are worse films about that have nothing good about them (this has a couple despite being lost amidst the numerous major flaws), but it is for me definitely one of the worst films of a hit and miss and not particularly exceptional year for Hallmark. While only just about missing being down there as one of their overall worst. And this is coming from somebody who has always tried to be generous with their ratings and encouraging with their reviewing.

Good things: There are not many good things at all, but the scenery is quite nice and Munro has moments of easy going charm.

Bad things: Markle however is awful, she has little personality that is evident in some wooden line delivery, over-compensates at other points with some very affected facial expressions and comes over as very self absorbed. That her character is so impossible to endear to badly unbalances the film and actually wrecks it, a character with no real redeeming qualities seeemingly and with too many exaggerated negative traits to count (shallow-ness and arrogance being the most frequent, with no signs of learning from mistakes). She also has no chemistry with Munro, who as said does fare a lot better but there are other times where he seemed to know the material was bad and was not comfortable about it. The rest of the cast are bland and poorly utilised, Christopher Jacot looks confused and embarrassed in his screen time.

Also found the story execution very unrealistic, the worst of it exceeding breaking point in credibility straining. Especially the too pat and completely unwarranted ending. Namely because it was so hard to believe what anybody could possibly see in Markle's character and not being able to see through her motives and what she is like when it is so obvious made them come over as ridiculously naive.

Furthermore, all the characters are one dimensional and not fleshed out, basically bland typical Hallmark cliches. It is also very predictable, it's an old premise executed conventionally and with nothing new sprinkled with too much of a manipulative streak (with how Markle's character treats everybody else) that is distasteful and overdone.

Dialogue is awkward with the comedy being contrived and the drama being too sentimental. As said, the ending is far too neat and convenient. It was very obvious from the start what the final decision was, as it is one that is common with Hallmark and always with films with at least one unbearable lead character (one that always has one rooting desperately for the opposite to happen), and it is one that makes one go "why" because of how unearned it is.

Concluding: Overall, it really is that bad.

2/10.