The Perfect Catch
6.6/10 · 2,463 ratings20171h 23mWeirdness 3/10
Where to watch
Via 
JustWatch · can change anytime.
The premise
Jessica, a single parent, owner of a struggling diner, finds the inspiration she needed when her high school boyfriend, Chase, a professional baseball player returns to town.
How unusual is it?
Mostly classic comfort-watch, give or take a second-chance romance.
Who’s in it
You’ve seen this pairing before: Nikki DeLoach and Andrew W. Walker have made 8 Hallmark movies together.
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 town auctions off a human being (Chase) for a date, and a group of women pool their money to win him for $312.
- The 'safe' boyfriend gifts the protagonist an air purifier for her birthday as a romantic gesture.
- The protagonist's son suggests that being 'Spring King and Queen' is legally equivalent to being married.
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 34 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Setting2
Time & season2
Characters6
Conflict7
Romance6
Why we’d put this one on
Nikki DeLoach plays a single mom running a struggling diner in small-town Parker Falls, and Andrew W. Walker is her high school sweetheart, a pro baseball pitcher who comes home after a rough stretch in the big leagues. He starts coaching her son, old feelings stir, and the question is whether either will take a big swing on a second chance. The small-town flavor is fun: the town auctions Walker's character off for a charity date, with women pooling cash to win him for $312, and a rival suitor gifts the heroine an air purifier as a romantic gesture. At a 6.6 it is a warm, easygoing second-chance romance.
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 in Parker Falls, Ohio, where Jessica 'Jess' Parker is struggling to keep her family's multi-generational diner afloat while facing stiff competition from a modern rival restaurant owned by Charlie. Her life is a cycle of single parenting her son Wesley and managing the diner's dwindling finances. Meanwhile, pro pitcher Chase Taynor becomes a national laughingstock after giving up a grand slam in Game 7 of the championship series. With his career in jeopardy and the media hounding him, Chase returns to his hometown to 'lay low.' He reunites with Jess at the diner, where it is revealed they were high school sweethearts and the former 'Spring King and Queen.' Jess is currently dating Brett, a hyper-logical insurance agent who prioritizes safety and statistics over passion. When Wesley expresses interest in baseball but lacks skill, Chase offers to coach him. Through these practice sessions, Chase bonds with Wesley by being vulnerable about his own failures, which impresses Jess. Inspired by Chase's encouragement to take risks, Jess decides to buy a vintage food truck to expand her business, a move Brett vehemently opposes with failure statistics. This fundamental difference in outlook leads Jess to break up with Brett. As the town's 'Spring Fling' festival unfolds, Jess and Chase's relationship deepens, particularly after a charity auction where Chase is 'auctioned off' for a date and chooses to spend the time dancing with Jess. However, conflict arises when Chase's agent calls with a major league offer in Southern California that requires him to leave immediately, potentially missing Wesley's father-son baseball game. Jess, having been left behind by men before, encourages him to go but prepares for the heartbreak. In the climax, Wesley is saddened by Chase's absence at the game, only for Chase to make a surprise appearance on the field. He reveals that he turned down the pitching contract to accept a position as a regional scout based in Parker Falls, allowing him to stay with Jess and become the new coach for Wesley's team. The film concludes with the couple embracing on the baseball diamond, finally finding their 'perfect catch.'
Beat by beat
Opening
Chase Taynor returns to Parker Falls after a public failure in the World Series, reuniting with his high school sweetheart, Jess.
Inciting Incident
Chase begins coaching Jess's son, Wesley, which brings him back into Jess's daily life and creates tension with her boyfriend, Brett.
Midpoint
Jess decides to buy a food truck to save her diner, choosing to follow her dreams despite Brett's discouragement, leading to their breakup.
Rising Action
At the Spring Fling auction, Chase is auctioned off for a date and uses the opportunity to dance with Jess, solidifying their romantic reconnection.
Climax
Chase receives a pro offer in California but realizes his priorities have changed after a heart-to-heart with his father about love versus career.
Resolution
Chase surprises Jess and Wesley at the father-son game, announcing he has taken a local scouting job to stay in Parker Falls.
34 tropes in one movie
We counted 34 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 63% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog The Perfect Catch 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.
“If it's not on the menu, then it's not on the plate.”
— JessicaExplaining her grandfather's strict diner rules to a customer. “I'm not 'hiding out'. I'm... 'laying low'.”
— ChaseDefending his presence in town after his professional failure. “The other column only had one word in it... 'Lindy'.”
— Chase's DadExplaining how he chose love over a career opportunity.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Jessica Parker
LeadDiner Owner
HardworkingResilientNurturingRisk-averse (initially)Chase Taynor
Love interestProfessional Baseball Pitcher
High school sweetheart
CharismaticEgo-bruisedAthleticEncouragingCharlie
AntagonistRestaurant Owner
Business rival
CompetitiveArrogantBusiness-mindedWesley
SupportingStudent
Son
DeterminedSensitiveBaseball-lovingBrett Thompson
SupportingInsurance Agent
Boyfriend (at start)
LogicalBoringRisk-averseReliable
Questions people ask about The Perfect Catch
Where can I watch The Perfect Catch?
The Perfect Catch is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is The Perfect Catch?
The Perfect Catch runs about 1 hour and 23 minutes, and was released in 2017.
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Data and sources
Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.Last updated .