Hallmark Channel
As a newbie to the Hallmark Channel movies, what I’ve seen so far has followed the same basic template — attractive woman with some business aspirations meets attractive man from a large corporation who can help her, but the interference of the woman’s rival threatens to derail not only her business but her romance with the handsome stranger. Of course in the Hallmark universe, all ends well and love and business triumphs in the end. The latest Hallmark original, His and Hers, thankfully breaks that particular template with something a bit different and even more entertaining.
Dana (Lacey Chabert) and Mark (Brennan Elliott) are married lawyers working at different firms, but they always like to say they’re on the same team. As they celebrate their seventh anniversary week, giving each other one minor gripe they have with the other (she leaves stuff on chairs, he has his phone at the dinner table), they are drawn into a divorce case of a celebreality couple … except neither of them knows at first that they will both be representing one of the parties. Dana is stuck with Tabby Noble because she helps support various causes that her firm supports, and her firm is run by her Uncle Paul. Mark gets stuck with Brett, a self-centered narcissist who’s more concerned about his Crossfit than any legal matters. Dana and Mark eventually figure out who they’re representing, and both want to just get things settled in arbitration and move along, but their clients aren’t cooperating, each wanting everything … even though New York is a state which requires property be equally divided. In the middle of it all, Mark announces to Dana that … he’s ready to be a father. Dana is not sure either of them are ready to have kids (umm, clock’s ticking, girl), so she tries to placate him with … a dog, or the suggestion of a dog, something that won’t encroach on their busy lives or vacations to Hawaii. As things get more contentious with the Nobles, Mark and Dana begin to feel a strain on their relationship making them wonder if they can fix the Nobles’ before their own falls apart. And there’s a twist or two, one involving ‘the other woman’ … which is part of the fun of the story (and which you may see coming).
His and Hers marks a milestone of sorts for Hallmark and its two leads. This is the tenth Hallmark Channel movie starring Chabert and Elliott, so the chemistry the pair has is unquestionable. Chabert, who is also an executive producer on the film, is effortless as Dana. She’s assured in what she does, but she’s also vulnerable especially when things escalate to the point that their clients end up in court. Elliott’s Mark is more self-assured and extremely supportive of his wife, even when he knows they will have to face each other in the courtroom. It’s nice to see a Hallmark movie with a married couple as the focus point so we don’t have to wonder will they or won’t they fall in love, even though we know they will. Here we have to wonder if they’ll fall out of love … even though you know they won’t. But the two play it so well that you almost think it’s a real possibility that they may have to part ways, especially as their careers are poised to take dramatic turns. It’s not hard to see why Chabert and Elliott have made ten of these movies together, because their charm just oozes off the screen.
Also terrific are Stephanie Bennett and Clayton James as Tabby and Brett. Bennett has perfectly captured the essence of reality stars like Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson, projecting the image of a clueless airhead who is actually a savvy businesswoman off camera, but still completely self-absorbed. James’ Brett is just self-absorbed and apparently entirely clueless, more focused on his fitness than business, a bit of a pretty boy meathead who Tabby sees as just riding her coattails. But Brett may have some secrets up his sleeve. Both give wonderfully comedic performances and their over-the-top characters balance nicely with those of Chabert and Elliott.
The rest of the supporting cast is top notch, and the movie is very well-directed by Linda-Lisa Hayter. The teleplay by Susan Black and Joie Botkin is clever with natural dialogue between the couples and a few good laugh lines as well. His and Hers isn’t earth-shattering or groundbreaking, but it is a well-made, pleasant diversion with a great cast and an engaging premise that makes you invested in the outcome of not just Dana and Mark, but Tabby and Brett as well.
His & Hers has a run time of 1 hour 24 minutes, and is rated TV-G.
Hallmark Channel
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