There were two main reasons for seeing 'Moonlight in Vermont', Hallmark film completest sake and Lacey Chabert. Have begun seeing fairly recently Hallmark's non-Christmas output and it's been an interesting endeavour, though like the Christmas quest it's been hit and miss with some good, some bad and some somewhere in between. Chabert is one of the most popular regular Hallmark actors and it is not hard to see why, while not all her films are great or even good perhaps she is always watchable.
And she is watchable here, more than that even. Despite not being all that wowed by the story when reading the synopsis, and even on film it is still not the most exceptional of stories, 'Moonlight in Vermont' is a very charming and easy to digest film as long as not too much is expected. Much better than the previous 2017 Spring Fever film 'Love at First Bark', which didn't do much for me despite liking the leads elsewhere.
'Moonlight in Vermont' isn't mind blowing. Story-wise, it is very formulaic, where most plot points are foreseeable well before they happen (due to Hallmark doing them a number of times before). And also on the lightweight side, meaning on the slightly thin side and also where it is all wonderfully pleasant and polite with lots of charm but also with not a lot of depth or goal.
Occasionally the dialogue is on the corny side and the ending is slightly too neat.
Having said all of that, 'Moonlight in Vermont' succeeds in many areas too. Chabert is immensely engaging in her roles, with a real expressive warmth and perkiness. Her character sounded neurotic and pushy on paper, but Chabert manages to not emphasise those negatives too much (almost at all even) and makes her likeable by the end. Carlo Marks is every bit as appealing and always looks relaxed and positive in energy. The chemistry between them is playful and charming. The supporting cast are solid.
Also thought that the scenery was beautiful to watch and that the photography complemented it nicely, never cheapening it. The music didn't come over as over-powering or used too much and the main song is sweet without being to sickly effect. The film is assuredly directed, while the script mostly flows well and has an appealing light-hearted-ness. The story is cute and heart-warming and even with the predictability being high there is also a cheerful energy that stops it from getting mundane. Characters that didn't sound like that they would be appealing conceptually did turn out to be a lot more interesting and easier to get behind than expected.
In summary, not great but a very pleasant watch. 7/10.
