Chance at Romance

Name: Chance at Romance
Genre: Small Town, Mistaken Identity, Cute Kid, Complete Strangers
Released: 2014-01-01
Duration: 2 h
Rating: 6.4
Cast: Erin Krakow, Ryan McPartlin, Ian Andrew, Patricia Richardson, Jean Louisa Kelly

6.4/10 · 2,279 ratings20142hWeirdness 5/10Bingo card

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The premise

Frustrated by her unsuccessful blind dates, Samantha stumbles into a photo exhibition, sees and likes the photographer, and writes him an email. But the email is intercepted by the photographer's son, who uses his father's identity to arrange a date for his widower father, because he doesn't like his father's blonde manager and fears that she could become his stepmother. Still under his father's name, the son asks out Samantha. When she arrives, of course the identity theft is uncovered, and an embarrassed Samantha turns and tries to go home. But their fate might still hold some unexpected twists and turns.

Themes:Second chances Artistic inspiration Family matchmaking Honesty in relationships

How unusual is it?

Middle of the road, with a twist — mistaken identity keeps it from being totally by-the-book.

Who’s in it

Our Girl

Erin Krakow

as Samantha Hart

Our Guy

Ryan McPartlin

as Heath Madsen

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Bradford May

Written by

Wait, what?

The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

The entire romance is predicated on a 12-year-old catfishing an adult woman.
The son siphons gas to intentionally strand his father and a stranger in the woods overnight.
The protagonist's primary personality trait is her obsession with making chicken potpies.
Heath was named after a Heath candy bar because his mother was eating one when she met his father.
A secondary character mentions making porcupine quill jewelry that required medical attention.

Every trope, all in one place

Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 29 to find more movies that do the same thing.

Why we’d put this one on

A sweet small-town romance with a wonderfully odd engine. Erin Krakow plays Samantha, a chef and hopeless romantic who travels to meet a famous photographer she has been emailing, only to discover the charming messages came from his twelve-year-old son, who was matchmaking on his widowed dad's behalf. A washed-out road traps her in town long enough for a real connection with the father, played by Ryan McPartlin, to grow. Krakow is lovely and the matchmaking-kid energy is endearing. The detail I love: the dad is named Heath because his mother was eating a Heath bar when she met his father. Charming, gentle, and a little quirky.

How it all plays out

Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

Full story (spoilers)

Samantha 'Sam' Hart is a chef at a coffee shop called The Drip, longing for a real culinary career and a 'white horse' romance. After attending a photography retrospective by the renowned Heath Madsen, she sends a fan email that is intercepted by Heath's 12-year-old son, Donny. Donny, wanting his widowed father to find love, poses as Heath and strikes up a months-long correspondence with Sam, eventually inviting her to their town and sending her a train ticket. Upon arrival, Sam is horrified to learn the truth: Heath has no idea who she is, and she has been pouring her heart out to a seventh-grader. Before she can leave, a storm washes out the only road, forcing her to stay at the Madsen residence. During her stay, Sam bonds with the family's housekeeper, May, and helps out at a local diner owned by Jackson. She begins to inspire Heath, who hasn't taken a new photograph in years, to pick up his camera again. Donny continues his matchmaking efforts, culminating in a scheme where he siphons the gas from their vehicle during a trip to a remote meadow, forcing Sam and Heath to camp overnight. The plan works, and the two share an intimate connection. However, Heath's ambitious and jealous agent, Celeste, intervenes. Celeste lies to Sam, claiming Heath only kept her around as a 'muse' to finish a new series for a London gallery and that he had lied about the road being closed. Heartbroken, Sam flees back to the city. Heath eventually realizes Celeste's deception, rejects her advances, and travels to Sam's coffee shop. He clarifies that his feelings were real and that he didn't lie about the road. The film concludes with Sam agreeing to join Heath and Donny on their upcoming trip to London, finally finding her 'white horse' romance.

Beat by beat

Opening
Sam attends a photography show and begins an email correspondence with 'Heath,' unaware she is actually talking to his 12-year-old son, Donny.
Inciting Incident
Sam arrives in the small town and discovers the catfishing scheme, but is trapped there when the main road washes out.
Midpoint
Sam helps the local diner and starts a 'Potpie of the Month' business venture with Donny while becoming Heath's new photographic muse.
Complication
Donny siphons gas from the family vehicle to strand Sam and Heath in a meadow overnight, forcing a romantic camping scenario.
Climax
Celeste sabotages the relationship by lying to Sam about Heath's motives, leading Sam to leave town in tears.
Resolution
Heath tracks Sam down at her job in the city, explains the truth, and they reconcile, planning a future together in London.

Did you know?

A few things that make this one stand out once you stack it up against every other Hallmark movie.

At 2 hours it's a genuine epic by Hallmark standards — only about 58 of their movies run two hours or longer.

29 tropes in one movie

We counted 29 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

How it stacks up

Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.

Higher-rated than 46% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Chance at Romance belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

BINGOA jealous agent guards her client closelyA heartfelt love confessionA chef fixates on chicken potpiesA widow or widowerA heart-to-heart on a porch or benchSomeone cooks or bakes on screenSomeone becomes the artist's new museThe love interest is a photographerSparks fly the moment they meetA single parentA love triangleA walk-and-talk through town★The leads kissAn online suitor turns out to be a kidAn old keepsake or photograph turns upA shared meal around a crowded tableA diner owner gets extra kitchen helpSet in a charming small townA happy endingA classic Hallmark meet-cuteA slow-burn romanceA relative plays matchmakerA wise elder dispenses adviceThe leads start out at odds

Hallmark Bingo

Your Chance at Romance card is dealt.

Twenty-four squares pulled from this movie’s own quirks — the cosy classics, a few only-in-this-one curveballs, and a couple of decoys. Mark them as you watch.

Open your card

Lines worth quoting

The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

“I've been waiting pretty much my whole life for a guy on a white horse to come along, and now, because of you, I finally realized he doesn't exist.”
— SamSam expressing her disillusionment to Heath after the catfishing reveal.
“I'm not unhappy. That's the same, right?”
— HeathHeath discussing his emotional state since his wife's passing.
“Seventh grade. I skipped a year.”
— DonnyDonny correcting Sam after she asks if she's been emailing a sixth grader.

Meet the characters

Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

Samantha Hart
Lead
Chef
Hopeless romanticTalented cookImpulsive
Heath Madsen
Love interest
Photographer
Love interest
WidowedArtistically blockedKind-hearted
Celeste Jeffers-Johnson
Antagonist
Art Agent
Business manager
AmbitiousDeceptivePossessive
Donny Madsen
Supporting
Student/Catfisher
Son of love interest
PrecociousManipulativeTech-savvy