Love on Iceland

Wanted to love this movie as I really liked Colin Donnell and Patti Murin from Chicago Med. They were great and I did enjoy them. But the lead actress, Kaitlin Doubleday, turned me off from the get go! She came across as a spoiled, egocentric! She had no warmth to her! To get up and walk out because her ex joined them, tells exactly who she is, self centred & rude! If he was part of their college gang, why would she not have invited him in the first place--again rude! She just overacted and it took away from the group of friends! And if Kenneth arranged for the tour guide which she knew nothing about, why did she feel it was her place to introduce the group--it should have been Kenneth! Rude again! Sorry, but Charlie was too good for Chloe! She didn't deserve him!

This lovely film stars my favorite foreign country. As someone who visits Iceland every winter, I'd say it does a great job spotlighting a treasure on Earth. Here we follow the travels of American podcast producer Chloe (Kaitlin Doubleday) and friends as local guide Johann (Joel Saemundsson) shows them wonders of the Land of Fire and Ice. This film, whose cinematographer Tomas Orn Tomasson is Icelandic himself, shows the country in its glittering glory -- places like the steamy Secret Lagoon, an ice cave, Diamond Beach, Viking Village and stretches of coastline featuring the wonderful Saebraut, Gardskagi, and Akranesviti lighthouses. Along with the beyond-charming Saemundsson, the movie features a handful of Icelandic actors, a sprinkling of Icelandic phrases -- i.e., we often hear the good-day greeting "goðan daginn" -- and an introduction to Icelandic food specialties including vinarterta (a layer cake) and rugbraud (a dense bread baked underground beside thermal springs). In contrast with past reviewers, I think the movie's story line is perfectly fine. We don't expect profundity in a story about a vacation and finding inspiration. "Why choose the next adventure when everything I want is right here?" concludes Charlie (Colin Donnell), Chloe's erstwhile boyfriend, in a quiet lesson for us all. In the best tradition of the Bard -- yes, Shakespeare -- the movie ends with all of the characters happily pairing up. My only quibble with this film, and it is a minor one, is its geographical incorrectness. The tourists hopscotch across the Icelandic map during their week-long adventure. In real time, it would take longer to reach by SUV. I find it intriguing that this film entirely skips some of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland, including the Blue Lagoon thermal pool and Geysir, namesake of all of the world's other geysers. In addition, the tourists never see a sheep or a fishing trawler -- lifeblood of Icelanders since the time of the Vikings -- stop at an iconic Reykjavik hot-dog stand famously visited by Bill Clinton years ago, or get a glimpse of Hofid, the stately Reykjavik mansion in which a meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev presaged the end of the Cold War. The movie ends as the sky fills with the dancing Northern Lights. In my own experience, this spectacle of nature typically makes its appearance less suddenly and its performance gradually grows in splendor with less-rich hues. Such points are minor. As for me, after seeing this film, I immediately wrote my travel agent to see if she is still up and operating, given the coronavirus. I cannot wait to return!

Favorite scene with Chloe (Kaitlin Doubleday) - The not so midnight snack, the compass, and the interrupted kiss.

You expect the less than mediocre acting, the frequent wardrobe changes that somehow pop out of the tiny suitcases and of course the fake snow. But distinct night and day in January? Landing in Reykjavik with a mountainous background? Two things you notice this time of year when you land at the airport. The terrain looks like a flat section of mars and the light is dim. Does Hallmark think so little of its viewers' intelligence? I gave this 2 for the first few minutes of scenery. Then pressed delete.

Story sucked the big one but scenery was amazing but not enough of it ...as much as I saw. Coming from the airport or moving anywhere through the country .... YES ...it does look like the landscape of Mars .... lava field and more lava fields. Depending on when it was filmed ... it is usually dark all day or light all day or between one and another. One thing I totally shuddered at was when the tire blew on the car and they pulled off the road and walked on the lava field. You do not ever NEVER pull off the road and walk on the lava field. There is hardly any traffic on the roads and if you have to stop due to an emergency ... traffic will go around you.

There is not an awful lot else to add to what has been said already and very well, though unfortunately it was very difficult to be so generous towards 'Love on Iceland'. Love Christmas, love Christmas films but there are numerous humbugs amongst the numerous crackers. While my festive film quest was interesting, there were some surprising crackers (not enough though) but a fair share of humbugs or at least ones that came close. 'Love on Iceland' is closer to being one of the humbugs. Not one of the worst festive films seen ever or of the ones seen recently as part of the quest, but it's closer to that distinction than being one of the best or the surprisingly good efforts. It takes me absolutely no pleasure being critical of 'Love on Iceland', being such a fan of Christmas and being somebody who has always tried to be encouraging and honest without being brutal when reviewing, but there are just too many problems that stopped me from enjoying it. Absolutely agree about the scenery being stunning and at its best magical. Actually think of the films from the recent festive film quest, 'Love on Iceland' is easily one of the best looking, with the photography complementing it beautifully. The music evokes the spirit of the holiday affectionately and it didn't have a "bombarded constantly" feel, or to me it didn't. While the acting on the whole was not good at all, Colin Dunnell and Patti Murin try their best and their efforts are game. Everybody else flounders. Most of the acting is stiff, but on the other side of the spectrum there is the very affected acting of Kaitlin Doubleday as one of the most irritating female leads seen in quite some time for any film. Sparks certainly do not fly in the chemistry between her and Dunnell, didn't detect any and actually the chemistry between the whole cast seemed disconnected. None of the characters are that interesting or worth rooting for properly. Moreover, the script lacks any flow or life. Much of it is pretty pedestrian and there is a lot of cheese. Worst of all is the near-non existent (when there is any it's very predictable), barely coherent and very dully paced story. In summation, lacklustre but the scenery saves it from being worse. 4/10

This was worth watching for the scenery, but not the story!

So many errors here. Canada's north has never been called the outback. And no one would ever wait more than 10 minutes for a bus in London near Buckingham Palace. Great scenery here but two minutes of research would have given this movie some credibility. 3 stars for the images of Iceland.

Who expects a lot from Hallmark stories will get disappointed. There aren't just that many good stories that are family friendly and not boring. So this is a nice little story with an on location tour of Iceland from the snowy valleys to waterfalls waterways and pretty caves. And finally the Northern Lights. Some food and music and locals along the way. A bunch of college friends reunite for a tour. The couple in the center of the story had dated before but his photography career drove them apart. Colin Donnell and Kaitlyn Doubleday make a pleasant looking couple. Iceland looks cold. One irritating thing can't he do Tokyo then be with her? Hopefully Hallmark will do more overseas movies.

Was hoping this would be a great movie. The scenery saved it. Writing was uninspiring, chemistry of the actors was flat...but not terrible. I caught myself doing other things. But as I said in my title, the views of Iceland saved this movie.