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Lead with Your Heart

5.3/10 · 586 ratings20151h 24mWedding AnniversaryWeirdness 3/10Bingo card
Lead with Your Heart poster
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The premise

When their parents contemplate splitting up, two teens hatch a scheme to make them realize how much they need each other.

Themes:Empty nest syndromeMarital compromiseEmbracing changeCareer vs. personal lifeThe importance of communication

How unusual is it?

Honestly? Not very — and that's the charm. It plays the hits, which is exactly the point for a cozy night in.

Who’s in it

Kari Matchett headshot

Our Girl

Kari Matchett

as Maura McCabe Walker

William Baldwin headshot

Our Guy

William Baldwin

as Ben Walker

Alongside them

Show all 10 cast

Behind the camera

Show

Directed by

Written by

Wait, what?

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

  • The central conflict is about an existing 24-year marriage potentially ending in divorce, which is rare for the brand.
  • The recurring obsession with 'Jeb Dogs' (hot dogs) as a plot point for character compatibility.
  • Ben's father threatening to punch him into the middle of next week if he doesn't work out his marriage.
  • The 'Married but living separately' concept being treated as a viable modern strategy before it inevitably fails.

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 23 to find more movies that do the same thing.

Setting2

🏘️Small Town💼Office

Time & season3

☀️Summer💞Wedding Anniversary🗓️Contemporary

Characters5

💼Lead: Executive/Corporate🤲Love interest: Nonprofit Worker⏰Workaholic lead💘Matchmaking relative🖤Widow / widower

Conflict3

⚖️Career vs Home/Family👨‍👩‍👧Family stakes🗺️Long distance

Romance4

💕Start as already dating💕First kiss: early (first third)💗Love confession🎁Grand gesture

Tone & quirks4

🎬Light/Heartwarming🎵Musical element👨‍🍳Cooking scenes💃Dance scene

How it ends2

💋Ends with a kiss🔄Career change

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 opens with Maura and Ben Walker celebrating their 24th anniversary in the small town of Campbell. While Ben is a creature of habit who works for the Parks and Recreation department, Maura is an ambitious bank manager. Their lives are in transition as their daughter Lacey is in college and their son Adam is graduating high school. Maura is surprised by a visit from Continental Bank's president, Thomas Hardison, who offers her a six-week temporary management position at the main branch in Minneapolis. Ben encourages her to take it, though he remains behind in Campbell. While Maura thrives in the city, Ben spends his time with his coworker Sienna, leading to local gossip and concern from his children. The conflict escalates when Thomas offers Maura the Minneapolis job permanently. Ben is resistant to moving, citing the high cost of living and his love for his hometown. They attempt a 'married but living separately' arrangement, which quickly causes emotional distance. Their children, Lacey and Adam, become convinced their parents are headed for divorce, especially after Adam sees Ben dining with Sienna and Lacey sees Maura attending the ballet with Thomas. Adam, mirroring his father's fear of change, nearly sabotages his own relationship with his girlfriend Charlotte. Lacey eventually confronts Maura, telling her that their family is the best thing they ever built and she shouldn't let it die. Realizing the distance is untenable, Ben decides to resign from his job and move to Minneapolis to support Maura. Simultaneously, Maura decides to quit her new job to return to Ben. They meet at their 'special spot'—a scenic overlook—where they reconcile. Ben insists that Maura take the promotion, promising that they will grow together in the city. The film concludes with the family preparing for a cross-country RV trip to visit major league baseball stadiums before the couple officially relocates to Minneapolis.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Maura and Ben celebrate their anniversary while facing the reality of their youngest child, Adam, leaving for college.

  2. Inciting Incident

    Maura is offered a temporary six-week management position at the main bank branch in Minneapolis.

  3. Midpoint

    The bank president offers Maura the permanent position, but Ben refuses to leave his life and job in Campbell.

  4. Rising Action

    The couple attempts a 'married but living separately' lifestyle, leading to misunderstandings involving coworkers and friends.

  5. Climax

    Lacey confronts Maura about the family falling apart, prompting both Maura and Ben to independently decide to sacrifice their careers for the marriage.

  6. Resolution

    Ben and Maura reunite at their special spot and agree to move to Minneapolis together, embracing change as a team.

23 tropes in one movie

We counted 23 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

The backstory

  • Music by Sean Nimmons-Paterson.

How it stacks up

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

Rating 5.3 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 5.3567

Among the lower-rated Hallmark movies — the median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog Lead with Your Heart belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

Hallmark Bingo

Your Lead with Your Heart 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.

  • “Love lifts us up where we belong.”
    — Maura and BenThe couple sings this together at the start and dances to it at the end, serving as their 'song'.
  • “It feels like Maura's trying to shoehorn in some imaginary version of me to make it work for her.”
    — Ben WalkerBen expressing his frustration that Maura wants him to change his lifestyle for the city.
  • “This family? I mean, that's the best thing that you guys have done. And it's the best thing you guys will ever do. You can't just let that die.”
    — Lacey WalkerLacey confronting Maura about the potential dissolution of their family unit.

Meet the characters

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

  • Maura Walker

    Lead

    Bank Manager

    AmbitiousOrganizedDevoted motherScrapper

  • Ben Walker

    Love interest

    Parks and Recreation Supervisor

    Husband

    Creature of habitBaseball fanSupportiveResistant to change

  • Adam Walker

    Supporting

    Student

    Son

    Anxious about the futureAthleticObservant

  • Lacey Walker

    Supporting

    College Student

    Daughter

    PerceptiveProtective of familyBlunt

  • Sienna Halverstein

    Supporting

    Parks and Recreation Employee

    Ben's coworker

    SportyFriendlyKnowledgeable about baseball

  • Thomas Hardison

    Supporting

    Bank President

    Maura's boss

    ProfessionalSlickAppreciative of talent

Questions people ask about Lead with Your Heart

Where can I watch Lead with Your Heart?

Lead with Your Heart is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is Lead with Your Heart?

Lead with Your Heart runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2015.

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