Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel’s third Hearts Around the Table reunites the all of the major cast members from the first two films, including Steve Lund (Andrew), who was absent from the second film. His participation here sets up a major storyline for the fourth and final film in the series … which was spoiled in all of the commercials for that film way ahead of the climatic moment in the third movie.
Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving is centered around Josh, hence the title, delving a little more into his life outside of Angie’s weekly Sunday dinner (although it’s still unclear where exactly he lives, and the stock footage of DC and Baltimore makes it even more confusing, especially when Georgetown is brought into the mix; come to think of it, it’s not even clear where Angie lives, either in a Virginia or Maryland suburb adjacent to DC). The story is mainly centered around his work like as a coach at a local high school (he’s also a math teacher but we never see him mathing), getting the kids prepped for some major track meets (and the boy from the second movie who we assumed would be part of this movie is nowhere to be seen). Enter new English and music teacher Ella Hawthorne, who quickly catches Josh’s eye, and new student Gina, who is also one of Angie’s new ‘hearts’. Gina was in her grandmother’s care until she had to be moved into a assisted living facility, so she was placed with Angie at some point between the second and third movies. Gina has a subplot involving a potential learning disability that Angie and she would like to have tested but her grandmother is against, fearing it would lead to her being bullied (not stopping to think that allowing Gina to struggle would probably cause more bullying). She eventually does get a diagnosis of mild ADHD and is upset about being different, but Angie insists that everyone is different and it would be boring if we were all the same, so that lifts her spirits.
In the main plot, Ella is disheartened by the condition of the music room, which is run down and smells moldy. She decides to take her four students outside to practice but this interrupts Josh’s practice with his team and the two gently butt heads until they are called into the principal’s office. Not for the argument, but because the funding for extracurricular activities has been cut in half, putting the track team at a huge disadvantage (they’ve won four championships in a row) and dashing any hopes Ella had to refurbish the music room. But the two put their differences aside and try to woo the PTA members with pitches to give one or the other more funding. Both issues are important to the school, and the PTA is deadlocked so more thought will have to go into the decision. Ella runs into Angie, who is picking up Gina, and tells her about the issues and Angie tells her she will do what she can to help. Meanwhile, Ella and Josh join forces to raise money at school (and Josh isn’t aware that Angie has been helping Ella), but their efforts raise less than $2,000. A coin toss decides who gets the money and Josh wins, but it makes him feel terrible (not just because he knows the money would help Ella but because he’s growing very fond of her as well). The head of the PTA suggests Ella reach out to the alumni association, all very wealthy, who funded the school library makeover. She does but is told her project isn’t grand enough, and when Josh finds out he suggests they combine their needs into one big project for the arts and sports. The head of the association, Mr. Gupta, is willing to hear their pitch. A scout shows up at track practice and comments on the condition of the track, and Josh tells him about the pitch to Gupta … omitting the part about the music room (accidentally). The scout knows Gupta and puts in a good word, and Gupta emails Ella to tell her the pitch is not necessary because the group (which just seems to be Guptak and his wife) have decided to fully fund … a new gymnasium and track. Ella is heartbroken and furious, believing Josh stabbed her in the back, totally fracturing the warm relationship they had been building. Josh is mortified when he finds out what happened and needs to do some serious damage control or risk losing Ella, even to the point of turning down the money altogether. Can he fix things before the next Sunday dinner? And will everyone be completely surprised when Andrew makes his big announcement?
Hallmark Channel
Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving is probably the best of the movies so far. It’s still nothing earth-shattering but it’s pleasant enough and it incorporates all of Angie’s ‘hearts’ into the story (well, Shari doesn’t get a lot to do but at least Evan makes an appearance to cook dinner) and brings Gina’s grandmother to the table as well. Jake Epstein makes Josh the most endearing of the siblings we’ve seen so far, self-effacing, cracking bad jokes, but deeply committed to his students, and wearing his heart on his sleeve when it comes to Ella (when he wins the money, she has to console him with a hug because he feels so bad). Epstein’s performance just feels so natural that he makes this movie the most enjoyable so far. He is matched to perfection by Stephanie Bennett as Ella. She develops a nice relationship with Gina, helping her understand The Old Man and the Sea, and teaming with her to raise money. She is also a big advocate for Gina to be tested. She clearly shows that she likes Josh too, but she holds her emotions in check better, not letting those feelings get in the way of what they are trying to do, but when she feels betrayed her anger is authentic. Both of these actors really buoy this film.
The rest of the regular cast are consistent in their performances, and Kathryn Davis gets a bit more to do as she interacts more with Gina, revealing she also had some learning disabilities that she was able to overcome. We’ll assume that none of this will carry over to the fourth film which is centered on Kiki. Millie Davis also gives a nice performance as Gina, not as introverted as Rory was when he came to Angie’s home, showing her ups and downs as she struggles at school but never letting things get her down too much. Her inclusion could serve as an inspiration to other young people struggling and not knowing why, giving hope that there are ways to cope with those feelings of being different. Davis is a nice addition to the cast.
Paula Tiberius’ script is a bit more light-hearted, more in the vein of Jenna’s First Love than the more dramatic Shari’s Second Act (by Neale Kimmel). Tiberius just had a more genial character to work with in Josh, and the introduction of Ella felt natural as she was someone who just came into the picture through employment, not as a past relationship like Andrew or owner of the building Shari happened to move into. Having a different director this time out, Mike Donis, also helped change the tone a bit but it still felt like it was part of the series. The only real off thing about the movie was the title. Josh’s third serving … of what? Love? It’s never explained, and we have no idea if Ella is Josh’s third serious girlfriend so the title is rather nonsensical. It will be interesting to see if the next film can build on all the goodwill Josh’s Third Serving provided, or if this one remains the best of the series.
Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving has a run time of 1 hour 24 minutes, and is rated TV-G. The film is streaming on Hallmark+.
Preview – Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving
Hallmark Channel