Summer Villa
2016 · Directed by Pat Kiely
Original language: English
- romance
- comedy
- tv movie
The story
Although a successful romance novelist, Terry Russell hasn't had luck in her own love life. After a disastrous first date with cocky, hot-shot New York chef Matthew Everston, she retreats to her friend's French villa for the summer to finish her latest novel, with her reluctant teenage daughter in tow.
What it’s like
Sun-washed and easygoing, with bright daylight pouring through open shutters onto whitewashed villa walls, terracotta tiles, and sea-blue shutters, and the clear, even lighting of a made-for-television romance. Its vibe is warm, breezy escapism: a comfortable summer-holiday comedy with glossy but unfussy framing, lots of medium shots of characters eating, talking and bickering over long lunches, and a light, bouncy piano-and-strings score that never asks for much attention. It suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a comfort rewatch with a glass of something cold, or background viewing while folding laundry. The pace is brisk and predictable in the Hallmark mould, with the emotional shape following a successful but guarded writer slowly softening toward a new romance while she and her wary teenage daughter reconnect over the summer. Intensity is very low: gentle, with no violence, no gore, and only light, non-explicit romantic touches and some mild sniping. It is made for viewers who want a sunny, feel-good romantic comedy with a kitchen-and-cliff-top setting, cheerful banter and an undemanding, happy ending.
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