If there was ever a scenario where your friends should not just show up. Aren't Avery and Emma new mommies? I have nothing against the ladies' friendship and bond, but the constant picking up and going wherever one of their crises happens to be gives co-dependent much more than "I'll be there for you." (I typed that while singing the Friends theme). Does anyone ever talk to their friends on their honeymoon? I didn't? In the first three movies, it was tolerable, but these are married women now. Why would Paolo and Peter be ok with this constantly? How was this any different from Tracy being upset that Nick was cooking ("working") in Greece? Nick saying Emma and Avery were there before him is exactly how mothers-in-law end up in the middle of marriages. Also let it be known that Emma flew to Greece for Tracy but never once flew to Italy to support her husband in the last movie. Insanity!
Honestly, the first three movies were absolute gold for Hallmark. Definitely their best series of films since the Vineyard movies (I'm still kind of mad we didn't get a Baby in the Vineyard for Frankie and Nate) and the Wedding March films. By far their best movies of 2022. But the next three WV movies are poor in comparison. It's like they (maybe) didn't expect the success of the three and just threw these together. First w/Avery and Peter being a spoiled and dramatic couple, and Paolo and Emma having problems where they (really Emma bc Paolo was trying) seemed to forget how they met and came to be in the first place, and now Tracy and Nick, who are my favorite couple in this series, having personality transplants as well.
I found it hard to believe that Tracy and Nick did not make time for their honeymoon. Waiting three years does not seem like something they would allow to happen given the last movie and what they went through to be together. Granted, Nick had a new restaurant when they got together, but three years? Hold on, didn't they marry after dating a year, so maybe it's been four years? And after that lack of communication and connection that hasn't been dealt with....a preteen child? (more on that later).
Tracy and Nick are my favorite bc somehow, even in Hallmarkland, their relationship and conversations seem way more grounded and realistic for their age group. They have the most mature (not old, but grown up) chemistry. I loved their movie the most (Emma/Paolo being second bc duh...Italy). I've been watching these HM movies forever and I'm only in my 30s, but after seeing so many, I appreciate the more to-the-point conversations about what each character wants. I also loved that in the first movie, they were both very clear that they were dating (even if Tracy got cold feet). Too often in these movies, the characters are clearly dating and interested, but refuse to even be direct about it. I loved that these two were not that and that they kissed before the end. I found it weird that the other two movies didn't do that when arguably their relationships developed over a longer period than Tracy's. I love angst, but angst that makes sense. All three continually blindside their husbands with whatever big decision they make (after ONLY talking to their two friends) and the husbands just accept it and eventually agree. The only decision that made sense in this was Nick deciding that he wanted to take a step back with business side of his restaurants to be in the kitchen more. That seemed like a perfectly reasonable realization after some time away from it all and after realizing it was affecting his marriage. Tracy's "void" was completely out of nowhere and iirc Nick even acknowledged her sudden change.
I also LOVE my kiddos...however, I recognize that not every couple wants children and that's ok! T/N weren't the "ewww kids...gross," types of child-free characters, so it was fine! Tracy and Nick can't even make time for each other, but a preteen child that would have to get used to a new country and culture? After a week??? Because that's what Tracy wanted? As soon as I saw Leo, I knew. As soon as he said "he loves New York!" I knew even more. Listen, I prefer if movies don't make "statements" and get on soapboxes all the time, but there would have been absolutely nothing wrong with T/N agreeing that their lives were fulfilled without children. IIRC, I think EMMA also had the same hesitations and we saw how that turned out, so why repeat it with Tracy? I could even see them being more inclined to do youth-centered cooking and art programs. Or even sponsor Leo from the States. It's almost like Nick and Tracy needing to reconnect plus the next veil match wasn't enough (it was). Her deciding Leo needed a better life (essentially strong arming her way) was just like EMMA working it out for her Italian student in Unveiled. What is with them using Peter for everything? I usually find the movies with adoption storylines endearing (Christmas Town, Holly & Ivy, A Mrs. Miracle Christmas, also a movie I saw as a kid in the 90s The Boy Who Loved Christmas. North to Home was also good), but for Tracy to just decide that she knew what was best for Leo put me off. I think she and Nick had exactly two convos about it: when she decided she wanted it and when he agreed. They could have cut out some of subplots or unnecessary visits from Avery and Emma and used that time for N and T to develop more as a couple and work through whether or not a preteen child was really what they wanted. IDK, it really felt like Leo was for Tracy until the point in the movie where he had to start interacting with Nick....since Nick was going to become his dad.
Also the awkward next veil couple is here with Tessa and the Dalton guy, just like with Emma's assistant Lily and Carlo Marks. I truly did not expect these stories to mimic each other this much. Is it me, or does the legend of the veil become less so if the veil is being manipulated? Again, I find the vibe and relationship of Tracy and Nick to be much more unique than the other two couples, so this was annoying. Such a romantic setting and I really expected more of them together. It was a honeymoon after all! Even a montage would have worked. Also, I appreciate them technically incorporating Nick more into this sequel and giving him his own side story ONSCREEN, unlike with Peter and Paolo, but Xander not realizing the difference in "his" food was silly after two dinners. I found it ridiculous that a native Greek could not identify the missing ingredient in a GREEK family dish, but Nick could.
Loved Alison's wardrobe in this (she was glowing) and I love Victor Webber. He's been a fave since a baseball movie he did with Candace. I loved the Matchmaker series as well. They have great chemistry, Alison and Victor, and I believe them as a couple! The scenery and location is BEAUTIFUL (one scene had a gorgeous sunset I want to paint). I always love when HM does location movies (no offense Canada), but that only goes so far when the script is meh. I started FF every time the Leo plot came around. I missed the reason why T took the veil to Greece (edit: taking to Nick's sis in Spain), but I guess it has to costar in all the movies no matter what. It really bugged me that Emma and Avery showed up on their honeymoon as if it was the most normal thing ever, particularly since Tracy expressed they were having trouble connecting. More than any of the other pop up visits in all the movies, this one showed a supreme lack of boundaries.
I'm not the type to say they shouldn't milk it, but if they do more, I'm checked out. But hey, if they want to try it again with a necklace (see the ending), have at it. Although again, does it not take away from how special the veil is supposed to be? I would rate the follow ups in this order: Inspiration, Journey, and Expectations wayyyy behind in another time zone. I let these movies linger on my dvr way too long, and now I'm glad I've seen them all and can move on. I'll stick with the first three. I watch Lifetime, HM, and GAC, etc so I know what I'm getting with tv movies, but I had higher expectations (ugh sorry...unavoidable) for the second trilogy and they weren't worth the wait. 6/10.
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