Warming up to You
6.3/10 · 893 ratings20211h 25mWeirdness 5/10
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The premise
An outdoorsy fitness expert (Busby) at a luxury wellness retreat must whip a bad-boy movie star (Russell) into shape before shooting begins on his next action film.
How unusual is it?
Middle of the road, with a twist — an enemies-to-lovers arc keeps it from being totally by-the-book.
Who’s in it
You’ve seen this pairing before: Cindy Busby and Christopher Russell have made 3 Hallmark movies together.
Behind the camera
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Directed by
Wait, what?
The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.
- The protagonist is fired for being too good at her job (making people exercise).
- The 'Agent Darian Hall' movie titles like 'Assault on the World Rising'.
- The 'Purple Polar Bear' rescue zoo which consists of stuffed animals.
- The agent, Jared, audibly breaks wind in the final act while rushing Rick to the car.
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.
Setting2
Time & season2
Premise1
Characters6
Conflict6
Romance6
Tone & quirks3
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)
Kate Wolfe is a dedicated personal trainer in Los Angeles who is fired by her boss, Nigel, because she refuses to adhere to the gym's new 'no sweat' motto and insists on actually training celebrity clients. Unemployed, she accepts an offer from her best friend Sasha to move back to Silver Springs, Washington, to help run a wellness retreat. Shortly after arriving, Kate is hired by a movie studio for a 'hush-hush' one-month intensive to train an out-of-shape star. The client is Rick Steele, the face of the 'Agent Darian Hall' spy franchise, who has gained weight following a messy breakup with his co-star, Liza Cahoone. Rick is initially resistant to Kate's strict regime of green smoothies and uphill cardio, even attempting to cheat using an electric bike. However, they begin to bond as Rick uses his 'spy skills' to learn about Kate’s past, discovering she was raised by her grandfather after her parents died of cancer. Kate reveals her dream to rezone her grandfather's land to create a summer fitness camp for children. The romantic tension grows, but Kate maintains a strict 'no dating clients' rule. The situation complicates when the studio sends Liza Cahoone to the retreat to film action scenes with Rick, hoping to spark a tabloid-friendly reconciliation. Rick realizes he no longer loves Liza and rejects her advances, leading her to quit the film. To help Kate, Rick uses his celebrity influence to support her presentation to the town council, successfully getting her land rezoned. Knowing Kate won't date him while she's his employee, Rick has the studio 'fire' her and shred the contract. The film ends with Rick returning to Silver Springs to help Kate build her camp, finally free to pursue a relationship now that they are no longer client and coach.
Beat by beat
Opening
Kate is fired from her L.A. gym for being too focused on actual fitness and moves to Silver Springs to help Sasha's retreat.
Inciting Incident
Action star Rick Steele arrives at the retreat undercover to lose weight for his next 'Agent Darian Hall' movie.
Midpoint
Rick and Kate bond during training; Rick uses an electric bike to cheat on a hill climb but eventually commits to the program.
Complication
Rick's ex-girlfriend and co-star Liza Cahoone arrives at the retreat to film 'chemistry' scenes and stage a fake romance for publicity.
Climax
Rick rejects Liza and helps Kate win over the town council to approve her kids' fitness camp land rezoning.
Resolution
Rick has the studio terminate Kate's contract so they can bypass her 'no dating clients' rule and start a relationship.
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 38% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog Warming up to You 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.
“No sweat, no effort—no problem.”
— NigelExplaining the new lazy motto of the L.A. gym. “I survived capture and fought my way out of a Thai prison using nothing more than a piece of string and a plastic comb.”
— Rick SteeleQuoting his own movie character to impress Kate at a juice bar. “I wasn't raised in the woods to be scared of owls.”
— Kate WolfeQuoting her grandfather to show her toughness. “We are officially no longer client and coach.”
— Rick SteeleExplaining why they are finally allowed to date.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Kate Wolfe
LeadPersonal Trainer
DisciplinedPrincipledAthleticGuardedRick Steele
Love interestAction Movie Star
Client and romantic interest
CharmingJadedHumorousSecretly SensitiveLiza Cahoone
AntagonistActress
Rick's ex-girlfriend and co-star
VainManipulativeCareer-focusedSasha Jones
SupportingWellness Retreat Owner
Best friend
EncouragingBusiness-mindedLoyalJared Munroe
SupportingTalent Agent
Rick's agent
High-strungOpportunisticSecretly romantic
Questions people ask about Warming up to You
Where can I watch Warming up to You?
Warming up to You is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is Warming up to You?
Warming up to You runs about 1 hour and 25 minutes, and was released in 2021.
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