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Really liked the idea of the story. Have never seen ice wine in a Hallmark film before, wineries are familiar locations but ice wine is a new one for Hallmark if memory serves correct. Hallmark have done plots featuring amnesia before and on the most part very tastefully. Brennan Elliott is not among the most consistent Hallmark regulars, but he has done his fair share of good performances. Am less keen actually on Nazneen Contractor and my first impressions of her in 2020's 'The Christmas Ring' was very negative. 'The Perfect Pairing' sees her giving a much better performance as a character that is a lot more interesting and better developed than the exaggerated flaws-like character she sounded like on paper. 'The Perfect Pairing' was quite good and very worthwhile, while not living up entirely to its perfect pairing name. Comparing it to the previous 2022 New Year New Movies films, it is not as good as 'The Wedding Veil', but it is infinitely better than 'Where the Heart Belongs'. It could have been better in a few areas. Did feel that the amnesia angle and how it affected her personality and way of thinking was on the rushed side. Also did not buy Elliott's character's reaction to the truth, which was very anaemic, considering how big the lie was one would expect him to be a lot more hurt and angry. Did feel that it started off a little rough, really hated the stereotypical and annoying boyfriend character who adds nothing to the plot and is only there as a Hallmark plot device. However, there is a lot to like about 'The Perfect Pairing'. Contractor has grown significantly as an actress since 'The Christmas Ring' and this is easily the best of her three Hallmark performances as her most complex character. Here she is relaxed, even when her character is uptight and cold early on, and is expressive as her character warms. Was really preparing to dislike her character intensely, having seen all her negative traits shown early on exaggerated in many of Hallmark's films and dreadfully, but ended up finding her quite well fleshed out and more complex than the usual female lead character (with her showing significant growth that didn't feel hurried). Elliott is a very down to earth and amiable partner, disappointing only in how he reacts to the truth, and liked the subtlety of his charisma that complemented the more animated Contractor very nicely. Their chemistry is sweet and genuine and the supporting cast are solid in mostly interesting roles (the one failure being the boyfriend). Production values are lovely, especially the scenery and the look of the winery. Which is utilised very well in the story, and made me very interested in trying out ice wine (have never had that much despite being quite a regular wine drinker), something that the film does really well educating the viewer on. The music is not too loud or used too much. The script is witty and heartfelt, always sounding natural and never juvenile or tasteless. The story is light hearted and heart warming, didn't feel it dragged, got too melodramatic or felt contrived (even the conflict didn't feel that) and while the formula is fairly familiar the execution wasn't too predictable. In summary, nice well executed film. 7/10.

source: The Perfect Pairing

The premise of amnesia has been used, but not so much that it can't be interesting. Likewise, a struggling winery, although heroine works to save struggling business is pretty common. I'm not a fan of "the secret" between the leads, but that aspect was mollified by the amnesia, at least some. Baking with the widower's kid is another common device. Take them all together and the story is just different enough to be interesting. But the draw of this movie is Nazneen Contractor. She plays both confident and then, after the amnesia, uncertain. The uncertainty brings out vulnerability. She has chemistry with Brennan Elliot, and with Zarina Rocha, Michael's early teenage daughter. The middle part of the movie shows a hopeful vista where you can see a new family forming. The dialogue is good at times. The acting is mostly good.

Now that I've watched this story, and her other Hallmark movies a few times, I can't shake the feeling that Nazeen Contracter would be more comfortable doing live theater rather than film. She trained for, and did, live performances before moving in to film. She's the female lead, and it shows, as it would on stage. The script in "Perfect Pairing" calls for her charecter to be a strong, unfiltered, although anonymous, critic of the wines she judges and writes about. She followed the script well enough that the transformation from harridan to a truly nice person is a bit suspect. Can amnesia really affect a major personality change? Brennan Elliot's character is pretty well absorbed by Ms Contracter's, and kind of fades into the shadows. I was quite disappointed with his character's weak reaction to discovering her true identity, when she had all but ruined everything he and his family had worked for. Brennan Elliot has a lot of very strong roles to his credit. Unfortunately, this is not one of them! I think the writers and director can share the blame here. For a memory loss story, this can't come close to the one with Mia Sorvino and Cameron Mathis!

It is missing a lot of elements to make the plot intact, the writing isn't top notch, but it definitely works. Not a bad movie, I would recommend it to anyone who feels down and is looking for a romantic movie to watch.

TV movie vet Don McBrearty directs 2022's The Perfect Pairing. And yeah, he dabbles in Christmas, mystery, and Valentine's Day stuff too. With "Pairing", McBrearty fashions a film that mixes the wintry LMN with the postcard-ed Hallmark Channel (of which it is a product of Hallmark). "Baby It's Cold Outside". Indeed. The Perfect Pairing is like watching a holiday flick that's well, set in the second month between autumn and spring. Hey, the silly season may be over but you can still feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Every snowy frame is makeshift as Ontario, Canada masquerades beautifully for Upstate New York. "Pairing", well it wants you to kick those post-festivity blues right out the window with a little vino. The Perfect Pairing is a little schmaltzy, a tad cutesy, and about as predictable as Sunday brunch. But wait, all is not lost. You have the hooks of wineries and amnesia to give Hallmark some veritable heft. Oh and the two leads are amicably appealing (Eva Longoria lookalike Nazneen Contractor and Marlboro Man Brennan Elliott). "Pairing" follows the blueprint of Hallmark and Lifetime as if it were laid out on a floor plan. Girl meets guy. Wait, let me back up. Girl is a critic writer in the big city and her job makes her a little chilly (har har). Girl ventures out of the big city and gets stuck in a small town. Girl now meets guy. Guy is a good-looking dude who's a single dad. Girl finds her true self and falls in love with guy. Girl tries to save wine guy's business while ditching her old occupation. Finally, there's that smooch at the end (and I mean at the very end). All is right in the world again. The Perfect Pairing is far from "perfect". I mean its running time is 82 minutes of fluff with its characters rambling on as if they need a self-help group or a life coach to latch onto. Still, "Pairing" is something to watch in the doldrums of January (for me NFL football is another option). Just think 2004's Sideways but with less technical plonk talk and G-rated remnants.

Ms Contractor is an appealing, talented actress, who has a terrific Hallmark vibe. It's wonderful to see her again in a Hallmark project. More, please! However, she has no chemistry with the male lead (Mr Elliott, who mails it in). And how does a woman forget her purse?? Plus, ice wine is not grown where Pinot Noir is also grown. Take note, writers: It makes the film feel fake. As does the ice wine cave at 14F where you cannot see their breath. And please tell me who is the zillionaire who can afford a New York apartment like hers! Finally, Hallmark, let's use some fresh names for characters.

I really liked this movie which was surprising to me. I usually cannot tolerate the male lead but he was ok in this movie because of the lead actress' performance. I've seen at least two movies on Hallmark with similar plots. This is the only one that seemed realistic and that's because of the talented lead actress. I hope they cast her in more movies.

Cristina (Nazneen Contractor), a food critic with a tendency to accent the negative, loses her memory while out of town. Her identity unknown, she settles into a comfortable situation while she waits to regain her memory. Separated from her past prejudices and conventions, she learns new attitudes and gets to know Michael (Brennan Elliott), owner of a struggling vineyard. This Hallmark film is blessed with two likable stars who have an easy chemistry. And the writing is intelligent. You might even learn about ice wines.

Im sorry but this movie was so boring , i was waiting for chemistry to happen and it just didnt , i lasted 5 mins , the acting was so forced and the actors just didnt fit , i found it rather annoying to be honest , I went back to watch more and give it another go, but NOPE total waste of time in my view ...