NYC Autumn Love Story

source: Autumn in the City

7.6 stars. The theme is a simple one: never give up. Piper (Teegarden) is a woman who breaks off from her parents' dream for her to work the family business the rest of her life. She has ideas for finding her own path, but the catch is she has no idea where to start. This is the a peculiar film for Hallmark. The main character has no specific aspirations, no goals, no skills that she is aware of. She blindly goes to NYC and sublets an apartment, basically for free. She tries a dozen or so jobs and finally settles on a dream that was always right in front of her face. I like this movie for the acting and the cityscape. The chemistry is nice, although I'd prefer something more to sink my teeth into. There are several unlikely circumstances that I will choose to ignore for the sake of enjoyment, but I must mention them. 1) The apartment would be so expensive she would need ten roommates to afford it. 2) Her art is just doodling? Nobody just doodles like that. Someone would have pointed out her talent years ago. 3) She lands so many jobs that anyone would basically give up an arm and leg for, and yet she just quits each on a whim. 4) Woke. Hallmark has gone headlong into wokeness, there is no turning back at this point. I think 2022 is the year they will look back and see this was the turning point that led to their decline and eventual ruin. 'Autumn in the City' is entertaining and has a good message. I like Teegarden a lot, and she is solid in this film.

This movie spoke to me on a personal level, as a creative professional, both with Piper's sketching and Austin's writing. It was predictable, of course you knew they would end up collaborating together. The movie was moving along just fine until the culmination of Piper's dreams dashed. Bursting into a publisher's office and demanding she look at your work? Not realistic. Austin's declaration of telling the publisher he wouldn't let them publish his book(s) without Piper's illustrations should have come much earlier -- like when the publisher told him. As the author, he had absolute power -- it would have been a matter of negotiation between he and the publisher. Loved the diversity slipped in with Will and Toby -- nicely done, they were a part of the story, rather than something shoved in there to check a box. Overall, it's a fun watch, but the ending was a bit disappointing and rushed.

I am very surprised at the overall low ratings! Hallmark movies have a special part in my life, in the sense that they are the go-to movies I will turn on when I am feeling overwhelmed, and just need a bit of a lift. Also, if I want nothing complicated. Almost all of the Hallmark movies I have encountered have pretty much, the same idea, but with a bit of a different storyline. For example, all Christmas movies have a tree lighting, a Christmas market, somebody who hasn't been home for Christmas in a very long time, but finds themselves there. You get the idea. But even when it's not Christmas themed, somebody ends up usually in a very small town and are either getting away from something or have a strong purpose and meet up with someone who is the very person who is trying to stop them from achieving their goal. Of course, these are the two that end up together in the end, but not without a misunderstanding right before the final few minutes. Then it ends in a kiss which pans out quickly. The end. But surprisingly this movie takes place in New York City, far from a small town! And even though you get the idea who's gonna end up with whom, it's still fun to be along for the ride. Also, there is no misunderstanding or a big fight, and even though things work out in the end, they don't have a random kiss out of nowhere, and then the movie is immediately over. Rather they skip to the following year, even briefly, so you feel that there is an actual ending to the movie that doesn't come out of nowhere. I thought the female lead was wonderful in her role, and I believed the growth of the relationship. A nice treat!