Stream or Skip: ‘Love on the Amazon’ on Hallmark Channel

The latest offering from the Hallmark Channel,Love on the Amazon, feels familiar. The film follows a woman who is determined to deliver a package to her sister, a scientist residing in a secluded area of the Amazon, so she goes to Brazil and hires a boat pilot to take her upstream. Following numerous unforeseen obstacles, the crucial package eventually reaches the correct recipient, and the woman and her boat pilot come to realize they make quite a good (first) pair. It’s a story as ancient as time. Or at least as old asThe African Queen.

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The Gist:Claire (Jaicy Elliot) is a logical, down-to-earth vice principal who is always immersed in reading. Her cautious and unadventurous lifestyle stands in sharp contrast to her sister Amelia, a biologist residing in a remote area of the Amazon, researching pink dolphins. Claire has been taking care of Amelia’s house while she is in Brazil and has been searching for details about a major grant that Amelia applied for. It seems this letter was lost and forgotten, and by the time Claire locates it, she realizes that Amelia will not have enough time to complete the form before the deadline. Therefore, Claire decides the best course of action is to travel to Brazil and personally deliver the letter to Amelia.

Amelia resides in such a secluded location that no one is willing to take Claire up the Amazon to reach her. The only exception is Danny, a tough, good-looking boat captain who needs the job and, as it happens, previously worked with Amelia, meaning he knows precisely how to locate her. However, he warns Claire that the journey could be dangerous and that he doesn’t operate as a tourist guide. Claire is desperate and convinces him she won’t be an inconvenience, and eventually, she ends up joining Danny’s crew when one of his workers leaves. As they attempt to find Amelia to deliver the letter she urgently needs, they gradually develop feelings for each other.

What Films Might It Bring to Mind?Love on the Amazonis comparable to movies such asThe African Queen and Jungle Cruise, which all include a hired captain assisting a kind woman along an exotic river for various reasons.Love on the Amazoneven offers a slight and delicate reference toThe African Queenwhen Claire mentions one of her favorite writers, C.S. Forester, the author of the 1935 novel that the film was adapted from.

Performance Worth Watching: Occasionally, you get the feeling that an actor in one of these Hallmark romances could be on the verge of something bigger. That’s the impression I have about Rafael de la Fuente, who portrays Danny. He’s avery charming leading man.

Sex And Skin: None.

Our Take:Love on the Amazonis an adventure that lacks actual adventure, which is its most significant weakness. One of the reasons that films likeRomancing The Stone, Jungle Cruise, or any other films about vulnerable individuals attempting to traverse a mysterious and foreign jungle, is that there is frequently an underlying feeling of danger, the risks are significant enough to create suspense (and also develop a growing romance). The fundamental weakness withLove on the AmazonThat’s true, Hallmark movies don’t really create that kind of intense suspense. When the ship runs aground, it’s a problem that’s quickly resolved. When it goes through dangerous rapids, the inside scenes of Clair stumbling around the ship are more humorous than alarming.

The movie doesn’t have to depict actual danger, but without it, Claire’s desperation and efforts to find her sister come off as mere irritations instead of exciting journeys. Although the characters are generally likable, there’s no real romantic spark between Danny and Claire (for much of the film, I thought Danny and Amelia might have had a romantic relationship, but again, this) is Hallmark, and that would make things too complicated), so although a happy ending was certain, it was also just kind of average.

Liz Kocan is a pop culture journalist based in Massachusetts. Her most notable achievement is the occasion when she emerged victorious on a television game show.Chain Reaction.