Really liked the idea of the story. Have never seen ice wine in a Hallmark film before, wineries are familiar locations but ice wine is a new one for Hallmark if memory serves correct. Hallmark have done plots featuring amnesia before and on the most part very tastefully. Brennan Elliott is not among the most consistent Hallmark regulars, but he has done his fair share of good performances. Am less keen actually on Nazneen Contractor and my first impressions of her in 2020's 'The Christmas Ring' was very negative.
'The Perfect Pairing' sees her giving a much better performance as a character that is a lot more interesting and better developed than the exaggerated flaws-like character she sounded like on paper. 'The Perfect Pairing' was quite good and very worthwhile, while not living up entirely to its perfect pairing name. Comparing it to the previous 2022 New Year New Movies films, it is not as good as 'The Wedding Veil', but it is infinitely better than 'Where the Heart Belongs'.
It could have been better in a few areas. Did feel that the amnesia angle and how it affected her personality and way of thinking was on the rushed side. Also did not buy Elliott's character's reaction to the truth, which was very anaemic, considering how big the lie was one would expect him to be a lot more hurt and angry.
Did feel that it started off a little rough, really hated the stereotypical and annoying boyfriend character who adds nothing to the plot and is only there as a Hallmark plot device.
However, there is a lot to like about 'The Perfect Pairing'. Contractor has grown significantly as an actress since 'The Christmas Ring' and this is easily the best of her three Hallmark performances as her most complex character. Here she is relaxed, even when her character is uptight and cold early on, and is expressive as her character warms. Was really preparing to dislike her character intensely, having seen all her negative traits shown early on exaggerated in many of Hallmark's films and dreadfully, but ended up finding her quite well fleshed out and more complex than the usual female lead character (with her showing significant growth that didn't feel hurried).
Elliott is a very down to earth and amiable partner, disappointing only in how he reacts to the truth, and liked the subtlety of his charisma that complemented the more animated Contractor very nicely. Their chemistry is sweet and genuine and the supporting cast are solid in mostly interesting roles (the one failure being the boyfriend).
Production values are lovely, especially the scenery and the look of the winery. Which is utilised very well in the story, and made me very interested in trying out ice wine (have never had that much despite being quite a regular wine drinker), something that the film does really well educating the viewer on. The music is not too loud or used too much. The script is witty and heartfelt, always sounding natural and never juvenile or tasteless. The story is light hearted and heart warming, didn't feel it dragged, got too melodramatic or felt contrived (even the conflict didn't feel that) and while the formula is fairly familiar the execution wasn't too predictable.
In summary, nice well executed film. 7/10.
