Groundswell
6.5/10 · 1,442 ratings20221h 24mWeirdness 4/10
Where to watch
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Canada5 ways
United Kingdom1 way
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The premise
Emma, a chef, travels to Hawai'i and meets a surf instructor whose lessons help her to regain her footing on the heels of a personal and professional setback.
How unusual is it?
A fairly classic Hallmark setup with a quirk or two.
A rare specific
Tap to find the other Hallmark movies that share it.
Who’s in it
Behind the camera
ShowHide
Directed by
Wait, what?
The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.
- The critic Sheridan Reeves happens to leave his phone recording in the kitchen, which captures the exact moment the antagonist admits the protagonist did all the work.
- The protagonist wears a full wetsuit in 90-degree Hawaii weather because she is afraid of a 'rash'.
- The 'Miyagi-style' surf lessons involving breathing exercises on the sand for an extended period.
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 31 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Setting2
Time & season2
Characters6
Romance6
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)
The film begins at 'Chez Garrett' in Atlanta, where Emma is the creative force behind the kitchen, though her boyfriend and boss, Garrett, takes all the public credit. When renowned critic Sheridan Reeves praises a meal Emma conceptualized, Garrett claims the recipes as his own and introduces Emma merely as a 'mentee' to protect his 'bachelor' brand for his TV show. Realizing Garrett will never respect her professionally or personally, Emma quits and flies to Hawaii to stay with her Aunt June. There, she meets Ben, a surf shop owner who refuses to give lessons due to the trauma of losing his wife, Estrella, in an accident while he was out surfing. Through the maneuvering of Aunt June and Ben's brother Franky, Ben agrees to teach Emma. Meanwhile, Emma joins Franky as his partner in the 'Big Wave Cook-off' after his original partner is injured. The stakes rise when Garrett arrives in Hawaii as the competition's celebrity mentor, attempting to win Emma back by offering her a restaurant under his corporate umbrella. Emma and Ben bond over shared losses; Emma reveals she missed saying goodbye to her mother due to work, mirroring Ben's guilt over Estrella. Ben teaches Emma to 'ride the current' and trust the ocean, which serves as a metaphor for her life. In the competition, Emma struggles with her confidence under Garrett's gaze but eventually decides to trust her own instincts, blending her Southern heritage with Hawaiian and Puerto Rican flavors. Garrett presents Emma with a contract for her own restaurant, and Ben, misinterpreting the situation, pushes her away to avoid being hurt again. However, Emma turns Garrett down, realizing she needs to succeed on her own terms. Emma and Franky win the competition and the $50,000 prize. Ben realizes he is running from love and confesses his feelings to Emma before she leaves. Six months later, Emma and Franky have established 'sister' restaurants in Atlanta and Hawaii. Sheridan Reeves visits Emma's new restaurant and reveals he knew she was the true talent all along because his phone had accidentally recorded Garrett's dismissal of her at the bistro. The film ends with Emma and Ben reunited in Hawaii, ready to face the future together.
Beat by beat
Opening
Emma quits her job and relationship after Garrett takes credit for her work in front of critic Sheridan Reeves.
Inciting Incident
Emma travels to Hawaii and meets Ben, a grieving former pro surfer who has abandoned the sport.
Midpoint
Emma enters the Big Wave Cook-off with Franky, and Garrett arrives as the competition's mentor to manipulate her.
Turning Point
Ben and Emma share their stories of loss, leading Ben to return to the water and Emma to find her voice.
Climax
Emma rejects Garrett's restaurant offer and wins the cooking competition with Franky.
Resolution
Emma and Franky open successful restaurants, and Ben confesses his love, choosing to stop 'fighting the current'.
31 tropes in one movie
We counted 31 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 54% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog Groundswell belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.
Lines worth quoting
The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.
“Without my recommendation, you are just another line cook. You need me.”
— GarrettGarrett trying to intimidate Emma into staying with him. “No, Garrett. I need me.”
— EmmaEmma's moment of self-actualization before leaving for Hawaii. “Fight the current, that's when you get in trouble.”
— BenBen explaining the philosophy of surfing and life to Emma. “Your gut is the most reliable opinion you can get.”
— Aunt JuneJune encouraging Emma to trust her own culinary instincts.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Emma
LeadChef
TalentedResilientInitially insecureHardworkingBen
Love interestSurf Instructor / Former Pro Surfer
Surf instructor and romantic interest
GrievingBroodingHonestProtectiveGarrett
AntagonistCelebrity Chef
Ex-boyfriend and former boss
NarcissisticManipulativeEgotisticalAmbitiousFranky
SupportingChef
Cooking competition partner and Ben's brother
FriendlySupportiveTalentedAunt June
SupportingDistillery Owner
Maternal aunt
WiseEncouragingSpiritual
Questions people ask about Groundswell
Where can I watch Groundswell?
Groundswell is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is Groundswell?
Groundswell runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2022.
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