Pour The Wine, It's Rom-Com Time

Hallmark’s Hearts Around the Table: Kiki's Fourth Ingredient

• Garry & Amy

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Join us as we dive into the finale of Hallmark’s Hearts Around the Table series — Kiki’s Fourth Ingredient! When skilled chef Kiki takes on the challenge of catering her sister Jenna’s wedding solo, the pressure starts to mount. Enter Chef Clay, whose calm presence and culinary talent bring more than just support to the kitchen. As sparks fly and their bond deepens, Kiki must confront a tough question: can a perfectionist learn that the most essential ingredient is letting someone in? With heart and heat, Kiki and Clay’s story is one to savor.


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Amy:

welcome to pour the wine. It's rom-com time where we'll sip some wine and review all things rom-com on the hallmark channel.

Garry:

I'm amy and I'm gary and it's time to pour the wine pour it, pour it, pour it.

Amy:

It's been a long day what do we have today? What do we have today? Well, we've been watching something and we'll talk. Do you know that christmas in july is only a few months away? Can you believe? It, stop it no, I won't, I just won't stop it, it's coming up, it's what? April, may, june, three, three months away, less than three months away now.

Garry:

Yes, I can't wait, we're so close.

Amy:

I can't wait.

Garry:

You know, hallmark Is going to come out with some movies, is going to come out with some stuff, some series.

Amy:

We should look that up. I'm sure there's some stuff coming. And, speaking of Hallmark and Christmas, we've been watching Unwrapping Christmas.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

We watched the first movie. It's a series movies, kind of like what we're talking about today. I know, right, we watched Tina's Miracle and that was pretty cute. It was.

Garry:

I was pleasantly surprised.

Amy:

That was pretty cute. And then the second one is Mia's Prince, and we haven't finished that one. We started it but we didn't finish it.

Garry:

But the lead in that one is Kiki.

Amy:

She's in that one, jenna's also in them as well. Yes, Jenna's in it too, and, I think, some other actors that are in. Hearts Around the Table. So we're going to finish watching that and then we'll watch Lily's Destiny and Olivia's Reunion.

Garry:

Yes, but you know what I like about the Christmas ones.

Amy:

What.

Garry:

The music. It's just more upbeat. I know we just love Christmas.

Amy:

A lot of music in them, well, and just the holiday music and the festive and we just love that.

Garry:

And the hallmarks weather snow.

Amy:

Well, there was some of that going on in Tina's Miracle that's for sure. Are you ready to dive in?

Garry:

Sure, but make sure to follow us on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss an episode. You don't want to miss it. No, you don't. If you listen on apple or spotify, you can leave us a review. Hopefully it's a positive five-star review yeah, you can also like and follow us on social media.

Amy:

All the things the facebook, the Facebook, the Instagram. I almost said Twitter, but it's X.

Garry:

The X.

Amy:

It'll always be Twitter right, tomatoes, tomatoes.

Garry:

What do?

Amy:

you do, do you X? Is it X Because you know how they used to call them tweets?

Garry:

Yeah, I don't know, I don't know Threads. Threads.

Amy:

Blue sky Find us, follow us.

Garry:

Oh, but before we get started, do you want me to do a trivia?

Amy:

Sure Okay, oh, let's do another trivia.

Garry:

Hallmark trivia. Okay, so in what year did Hallmark take over the religious network Odyssey and rename it Hallmark Channel?

Amy:

Oh, I didn't know, hallmark Channel was a different channel, I know right, yeah, apparently. Odyssey. I'm going to guess. Can I have a drum roll? I'm going to guess Joy to the world. Oh my gosh, Sorry, wrong movie. I'm going to guess 2011.

Garry:

Ooh, you were close. Oh, when was it it was 2001. Ooh, you were close, when was it it was 2001. Oh well, I was. Hey, you were in this, you know almost the same decade, In the 2000s.

Amy:

I was in the 2000s. I wasn't yeah.

Garry:

Yeah, that was pretty interesting, right, Wow?

Amy:

2001?.

Garry:

In one yeah.

Amy:

Wow, pretty cool yeah, I thought so. Pretty cool. So what are we reviewing today?

Garry:

Okay, so today we're reviewing the fourth and final Hearts Around the Table movie, kiki's Fourth Ingredient. That aired on Saturday, april 12th 2025. If you missed it, you can catch it now on Hallmark+. Should we rank the four Hearts Around the Table movies at the end?

Amy:

Of course.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Yeah, we should. Yep, yep, yep, we'll rank them.

Garry:

We'll rank them, rank them, we'll cork them and then we'll rank them.

Amy:

Cork it rank it.

Garry:

So tell us who is in this one.

Amy:

Who is in this one? Catherine Davis plays Kiki Mercer, one of Angie's fosters and the lead in this particular movie right and the lead in this particular movie right.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Kiki's fourth ingredient.

Garry:

I know right.

Amy:

Her Hallmark credits include the three previous Hearts Around the Table movies, all four of the unwrapping Christmas movies which was in 2024, which we just discussed Everything, Puppies and Welcome to Valentine. Those were in 2023 and A Christmas Carousel in 2020. Welcome to Valentine those were in 2023 and A Christmas Carousel in 2020. She was also in another Christmas movie called the Six Degrees of Santa, with Steve Lund, who plays Andrew, in 2022. And that aired on Lifetime.

Garry:

That's awesome. I like her. I know she's really good. I really like her. And you said she was British right.

Amy:

She is British. You catch her accent just a little bit in all your peoples. You're not British.

Garry:

I know I'm Scottish.

Amy:

Same. It's not the same thing.

Garry:

Well, you're right, you're right.

Amy:

Torrance Combs, or is it Coombs?

Garry:

It's C-O-O-M-B-S I should look that up. I would say Combs, I don't know. No, no, no, torrance Combs. I'm not good with names, I apologize.

Amy:

Torrance. He plays Clay Rutherford, steve's best man and possibly Kiki's love interest.

Garry:

Possibly. Maybe you don't know.

Amy:

It's Hallmark. Yeah For Hallmark. He was in all four Unwrapping Christmas movies in 2024.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

Romance in the Air in 2020, and Royally Ever After in 2018. Sweet. He was also in the TV series Rain, which I'd heard about. It was really good. It aired on the CW. We didn't watch that.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

He was in 62 episodes, wow, from 2013 to 2016.

Garry:

Oh, good for him. Yeah, good for him, mindy.

Amy:

Cohen plays Angie Hartman. She's the foster mom and of course we always have to start Mindy with.

Garry:

The Facts of Life. The Facts of Life.

Amy:

The Facts of Life aired from 1979 to 1988. And she played Natalie, who was this very bubbly personality. If you grew up in the 80s, you were watching the Facts of Life For sure. Coming of age series about an all-girls boarding school, that's awesome and my boyfriend was in it. I know I have to say it every single time, and you do, george Clooney, clooney. He was on it for a couple dozen episodes as a carpenter. Aw, aw, george. Mindy also voiced Nancy Francis in 35 episodes of the animated series the Kids in Room 402.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

She voiced Velma in the Scooby-Doo video games from 2002 to 2015. Scooby-doo and we most recently saw her in Palm Royale on Apple Plus. Which is a really great series.

Garry:

Another good series. Yes, I agree with you.

Amy:

Ashley Newbrough plays Jenna Whitaker, one of Angie's fosters Okay, kiki's sister jenna for hallmark. She was in the love club in 2025. The love unwrapping christmas collection of four movies. Once again. We mentioned the unwrapping christmas in 2024. Operation Nutcracker in 2024. Love on the Right Course in 2024. Flipping for Christmas in 2023. Are you sick of me saying movies yet?

Garry:

No, no Love in Glacier National. I'm taking a sip of wine A.

Amy:

National Park Romance in 2023. Christmas for Keeps in 2021. And the Love Small Town Christmas in 2018. Huh, she was also in a TV series called mistresses on abc, okay it might not be very homework, but you know yeah sure it was good from 2013 to 2014 and in another series called privileged in 2008 and 2009.

Amy:

She was in 18 episodes. Hmm, michelle. Michelle morgan plays sherry adams, another one of angie's fosters and another one of kiki's sisters. She was amanda sinclair on the young and the restless from 2013 to 2024, that's a, that's a, that's a good gig, yeah her debut hallmark movie was christmas with a kiss in 2023. No, no, jake epstein plays joshler, one of Angie's fosters and the brother of. Kiki and Jenna and Sherry.

Garry:

And guess which show he's in the one we just watched. He's somebody's boyfriend.

Amy:

He is in the unwrapping Christmas movies in 2024. He's in two episodes of the Mistletoe Murders in 2024, which we have yet to watch. He was in the Wedding Contract in 2023 and Eight Gifts of Hanukkah in 2021.

Garry:

Oh, awesome.

Amy:

He was in the Hardy Boys, 11 episodes of that series Umbrella Academy in 2022. And he was in 13 episodes of Suits between 2017 and 2019.

Garry:

Do I get to sing my song?

Amy:

No, please don't, Please don't.

Garry:

Greenback Boogie.

Amy:

Oh, greenback Boogie. We love that song. That's the Suits theme song. Steve Lund plays Andrew Clarington, jenna's first love. His Hallmark credits include the Mistletoe Murders two episodes in 2024, a Mrs Miracle Christmas in 2021, the Christmas Cottage in 2017, and Christmas Incorporated in 2015. He's been in several other Hallmark movies. He also, as I mentioned earlier, starred in Six Degrees of Santa in 2022 with Catherine Davis aka Kiki. He was in Schitt's Creek five episodes of Schitt's Creek from 2016 to 2020. And he was in one episode of Suits. We see some recurring themes here with shows.

Garry:

Greenback Boogie.

Amy:

His credit is attractive guy, I told you that's my that isn't.

Garry:

That would have been your role. He stole it.

Amy:

I know I'm going to have to talk with Steve Lund about that, all right. Brendan Morgan plays Evan James, sherry's boyfriend, and his first acting credit is from 2022. Oh man, and for Hallmark, he was in a Jane Mysteries movie in 2024 and Christmas with a Kiss in 2023. He was also in Meet Me Next Christmas in 2024 on Netflix, where he's racing through New York City to get tickets to the sold-out Pentatonix concert.

Garry:

Yeah, that was a good one too. That was pretty good. Yeah, I liked that one Pentatonix concert. Yeah, that was a good one too. That was pretty good yeah.

Amy:

I liked that one. Stephanie Bennett plays Ella Hawthorne, the English teacher who heads up the band and is also now Josh's girlfriend. Girlfriend yes, Her Hallmark credits include His and Hers in 2024, Wedding Season in 2023, Christmas Class Reunion in 2022,. The Nine Kittens of Christmas in 2021,.

Garry:

The Nine Lives of Christmas in 2014.

Amy:

There's a theme there Nine and her premiere on Homework was in 2014 on Signed, sealed, delivered. She was in one episode Huh, okay, outside of Homework she was on Travelers, that was something you watched. Yes, I did, I never watched that Four episodes in 2017 and one episode of Lucifer.

Garry:

Lucifer, that was a good series too.

Amy:

Yeah, eve Crawford plays Margaret Clarington. That's Andrew's mom. Okay, she has over 90 acting credits. Her hallmark work includes Jenna's First Love. She was in the first.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

The Hearts Around the Table movie and the heiress and the handyman in 2024. She was also in one episode of suits in 2012 and in movies. Every time I mention it, you're going to give another part of the song yes, I am, until we get the whole song other movies include eloise at the plaza in 2003, mean girls in 2004 and serendipity in 2001. Our favorite christmas. Yes, one of our favorite christmas yes rick amsbury plays theo whittaker, jenna's dad.

Amy:

Okay, this is his hallmark debut. He was in a movie called a bluegrass christmas in 2024. That was not on homework. He was in a movie called armed in 2024, and then there was there's a series called the silent service, season one, which seven episodes of that wow so Awesome.

Amy:

Shohana Sharman plays Crystal. She is a friend of Clay's and she is a chef. She has a handful of credits. It seems like, as far as I could tell, this was her debut Hallmark production. She was in a movie called Christmas in the Spotlight in 2024, which actually was loosely based on Travis Kelsey and Taylor Swift. Oh okay, she was also in one episode of the TV series the Accused which aired on Fox or airs on Fox I'm not sure if that's still on or not.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

Millie Davis plays Gina Taylor, Angie's newest foster. Do we see her in this one? Yes, briefly At the very end, her, her in this one.

Garry:

Yes, briefly at the very end, her and rory yeah, at the very end, right okay yes this is her hallmark debut.

Amy:

She was in the umbrella academy six episodes of that in 2024 and she actually is a voice in a lot of animated series the Bravest Knight six episodes of that in 2024, and that's on Hulu. Okay, Galapagos X 26 episodes of that between 2023 and 2024, and that's a Canadian animated series. She's from Canada, Of course.

Garry:

Makes sense. A lot of people are from Canada.

Amy:

Justice James plays Rory Nelson, angie's current, also angie's quarantine boster. He was in let's see beyond. This is well. I would say this is his hallmark debut. But his hallmark debut was actually in the very first right hearts around the table movie jenna's first love.

Amy:

Yeah, that was his hallmark debut. He was in a movie called oh I'm sorry, a series called Black Beauty 11 episodes in 2024. He was in Ruby and the Well one episode in 2022. And he's done voices in several animated series, including Paw Patrol and Blue's Clues and you, blue's Clues. Jared Bronstein plays a sous chef. He has nine acting credits. This is his Hallmark production debut.

Garry:

Yay, good for him.

Amy:

He was in a movie called Love's Match in 2021 and a TV series called Paranormal 911. He was in one episode of that in 2020.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

Christine Donato plays Michaela. This is her Hallmark debut and she was in a movie called Holiday in Happy Hollow in 2024, Wrapped Up in Love in 2021. And she was in one episode of the Relic Hunter in 2002.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

There's a lot of characters. Yep Lynette Ware plays Cynthia, the adoption agent For Hallmark. She was in Unwrapping Christmas, mia's Prince 2024, two Turtle Doves in 2019. She was in several Christmas movies for other production companies. She was in a series. It's a new series called Brilliant Minds. It premiered in 2024. Okay, I think about the doctor who has special.

Garry:

Yes, yeah, yeah.

Amy:

We didn't watch it, but I remember seeing the previews for that one. She was in a series called Hudson and Rex five episodes 2022 and 2023. And she was in one episode of the Sopranos in 2007. Sopranos yeah, toni Elwan plays Martha and she's sort of the head of the pantry the food pantry in this For Hallmark. She was in my Sweet Austrian Holiday, which we thought was really cute. That was in 2024. A Not-So-Royal Christmas in 2023. Christmas Festival of Ice in 2017. And then she was in two episodes of Tiny Pretty Things on Netflix. Okay, In 2020.

Amy:

One episode of the Handmaid's Tale in 2017. And Warehouse 13.

Garry:

Whoa In 2011, which I really liked. That was some characters there. That was the list, right?

Amy:

Well, I don't want to forget anybody. And of course we don't mention every acting credit. We don't mention every Hallmark acting credit. There's just not enough time sometimes to do all that.

Garry:

Yeah, this podcast will be like two hours long.

Amy:

But we like to give them their due right. They work hard, even if they're in it briefly.

Garry:

Yes, I think so, and you should have a sip of wine with that long list you just rattled off.

Amy:

Yeah.

Garry:

Oh and by the way, we are having a CMB Cartilage Brown Cabernet.

Amy:

Chabillon. Oh yeah, we didn't talk about which one. Let me take a sip.

Garry:

It's a vintage, it's one that we like 2022.

Amy:

2022. It's inexpensive? Yes, it is, but we like it. We like it.

Garry:

It's a good go-to wine if you're looking for something. So let's get back to this reviewing. So what did you think?

Amy:

about it. You want me to drop the synopsis first.

Garry:

Oh, you know what?

Amy:

Too much wine.

Garry:

Too much wine yes, drop the synopsis here. Too much wine yes, drop the synopsis.

Amy:

Here we go, kiki's fourth ingredient. Kiki is overjoyed, then overwhelmed. When she agrees to cater a big wedding, she turns to Clay for support. Together, kiki and Clay prove the best ingredient is love.

Garry:

Love Stop. Was that the fourth ingredient?

Amy:

Maybe yeah, it has to be, it has to be right. So what did you think?

Garry:

I want you to go first, I want your-.

Amy:

I thought I was supposed to drink the wine. You just did Okay. All right, it's my turn now. I thought it was a pretty great finale to the four-movie collection. Yes, I really did. I really liked the relationship between Kiki and Clay and thought their chemistry came across so naturally. Yes they did. I really, really liked that. I liked that they gave Kiki special moments, slash scenes with both sisters.

Amy:

Yes, that was good when she was giving advice or getting advice, but it's kind of that sisterly relationship. I just really love that. We got great insight into Kiki, how she thinks she has to do the catering all on her own because it's her way of showing love to everyone and you know, and she does it so much so to her own detriment.

Amy:

You know she loves to cook and she feels like people won't accept her if you know if she doesn't get it done or doesn't do it on her own, and I really liked the way that um her interaction with clay, like when he was telling her why he wouldn't want to cater the wedding right he's trying.

Amy:

He was just so kind and thoughtful throughout it and I just that's part of what I really loved about about their chemistry. Um, you know she thinks she needs to please people. I also like the message that we miss so much of our lives stressing, worrying, trying to be perfect or make it all work without help. You're kind of just existing, going through instead of actually living and enjoying the moment. I like at one point when Clay says to her don't miss out on your own life. It's happening right now.

Amy:

And that's very true, and we all do that. We all get so busy. But those were briefly what I thought. What about you?

Garry:

Well, I kind of felt the same way. I loved their relationship and how it built, you know, into what it became, but I also felt like it like you said. I also felt like it like, like you said, she had a little moment with with Sherry and she had a little moment with Jenna, which I thought was, you know, pretty cool, because throughout the whole series, each series had a moment like that, and you pointed out in a couple of podcast episodes prior to this one, but yeah, I really enjoyed it.

Garry:

I liked the food truck concept, you know.

Amy:

Hey, let's cater a wedding out of a food truck, right? Yeah, you know, I mean who does that?

Garry:

right? But food trucks are in right now, yeah. So, and I liked how they kind of wrapped it all up with the other episodes, how they brought it all together At the very end when they were showing the scenes.

Amy:

Yeah, that was the cool part.

Garry:

So that's what I liked about it.

Amy:

They showed scenes of all of them.

Garry:

Yeah, the flashback scenes were pretty cool and we'll hit on it a little bit more. Yeah, yeah, sure, so. Did you have any favorite scenes?

Amy:

Of course I had a few. I thought the meet cute happening right at the beginning.

Garry:

I mean that happens right out of the gate, Right out of the gate.

Amy:

Yeah, and I thought that was pretty cool because I was trying to think, do we? I guess we see it a little bit, it happens sort of towards the beginning, but I mean it was literally like right away. So I kind of I enjoyed that scene. I really loved the dress. Shopping with the sisters yes, you know, I just love that. They showed their relationship, they were having fun, they were bantering, they were talking about the catering you know they're kind of. And then I was sitting there thinking where is Angie? Like are they not going to address? And then of course they addressed it Right, they had her come on FaceTime, facetime. I was like, oh, there she is. So I shouldn't have doubted hallmark. But I was like seriously, like angie's not there. Angie, the one the glue, you know. So, um, I enjoyed that. I loved the cooking scene. Yes, between clay and kiki. It was playful, fun. I love the song that played during it. Um, and then when they go to the food pantry, yes you know, I thought that that really worked really well.

Amy:

And when Kiki tells Clay, you know, martha is your Angie.

Garry:

Yes, like her, and I thought that that was pretty cool. That was pretty awesome. A great analogy. What?

Amy:

about you. Any favorite scenes, now that I hogged them all up.

Garry:

Yes, yeah, you did hog them all up. I did, I know, I liked when Clay and Kiki, when Clay took her to Seven Basil and they cooked.

Amy:

Yeah.

Garry:

And it just seemed like they were having fun and it was like natural and you had pointed something out about when they were cutting the pepper and it looked like they were kind of having problems cutting it right. But you're a chef, you have sharp knives, so that really shouldn't be an issue. But he turns to her and says something like are you having trouble? Yeah and then she kind of mouths like, like it wasn't supposed to be in the scene, it it's not cutting, it won't cut. I think she says something she mouths it.

Amy:

What I love about that is that her, I think I. I would love to know if that was a mistake, but they put it in because it works, because the look on her face is so genuine because she's trying to cut the. You know they're making this cool scene where they're cutting all this food up and she's laughing like it seems like a genuine. Yeah, I can't believe this knife isn't cutting these vegetables and we're trying to shoot this. That that's the way it looked.

Amy:

That's exactly the way it looked and he kind of went with it too and said so. I would love to know if that was an accidental wonderful mistake that made it into the film. So yeah, I agree, I like that too.

Garry:

And I too like the community food pantry scene.

Amy:

Yeah, that was pretty cool.

Garry:

Yeah, it was, and, like you said, Clay had opened up to Kiki about you know how he came to the food pantry and how Martha took him in and made him feel welcome and he met a lot of people there and how she did say that she's your Angie and he was like huh. And then she explained it to him and he was like, yeah, I guess you're right, she is. Yeah, I thought that was really good. But I also liked when they were coming up with the food truck names or you know catering names.

Amy:

Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that was during that scene too.

Garry:

The Flava Crusaders.

Amy:

Yeah, they. Yeah, that was during that scene too. The.

Garry:

Flava.

Amy:

Crusader yeah, they were all good.

Garry:

The superhero right, superhero food truck names, yeah, and a clay goes, power pies and mighty meals. But what was your favorite one?

Amy:

It was the.

Garry:

Guardians.

Amy:

You say it, it was Guardians.

Garry:

Guardians of the Gourmet.

Amy:

Guardians of the Gourmet. I thought that was cool. I thought that was really cool. That was cool.

Garry:

So, yes, and the meat cute too. I liked that because it was right out of the gate and I liked how, after she left, he turned around and he was like what smells so good? And she told him the cashier.

Amy:

The cashier or the owner.

Garry:

Yeah, that was a chef and she made these and dropped them off and they were chocolate squash.

Amy:

Something, yeah, something, and he bought some, yeah, so I thought that was kind of cool.

Garry:

So did you have any more favorites? No, that was no.

Amy:

I listed my favorite ones.

Garry:

All right. Well then, we're going to move on to biggest cheers.

Amy:

Biggest Cheers, biggest Cheer. You want me to go, you want to go.

Garry:

I'll go first you go first.

Amy:

Oh, you're going to go. Yeah, you go first Biggest.

Garry:

Cheer. I liked it when Angie gives Jenna the box that her mom had.

Amy:

Oh, yes, uh, that her mom.

Garry:

When Jennifer uh showed up at the uh, the foster house, she came with a box and a box of like clothes and some stuffed animals, but she also had a box that had jewelry in it and you know, uh uh Angie didn't know that there was a picture in it and the picture was of, uh, jenna's mom and her dad when they were younger and that started the whole thing about. She wished her mom was alive and you know where's her dad series. But I kind of like that, yeah.

Amy:

You know, that's sweet.

Garry:

I guess her father Theo Whitaker, but yeah, that's my favorite cheer.

Amy:

That's your favorite cheer or cheer, sorry Cheer.

Garry:

What was yours?

Amy:

I had a few. One was the overall message about asking for or accepting help when you need it, because sometimes we all get stubborn about it and think it's a weakness when actually it's a strength, but you feel like you have to do everything on your own, especially women. You know we have stuff to prove, or so we think, and you know, with Kiki it was the food. She's showing how much she loves someone with it and if she gets help she must not love them enough. Right? And you know the feeling of she was constantly sort of justifying the fact that she had a food truck and not a restaurant, not justifying defensive.

Garry:

Right you know about. Yes.

Amy:

Because people are willing to do it and sometimes you need it, you know, and it's hard. It's hard to do, but you have to do it, so that was one that was probably my biggest cheer. Did you have any other cheers, or is that no?

Garry:

that was it for me, but just to jump off of yours. She felt like she had nothing to give and making food.

Amy:

You know, growing up in the foster house was her way of giving back, and that's why she was so passionate about the cooking. Right, right. So another cheer. I love that they made Clay's character kind and understanding and patient and he just tried to, you know, build her up the whole time instead of bring her down and I'm just glad they didn't have him be.

Amy:

You know some, they know they didn't have a big fight or you know nothing like that. Um, he gave constructive criticism and guidance and his persistence to help her all the time to help her.

Amy:

He was, yeah, and he was encouraging and showing her. You know, like when he showed her he has. He has two chefs to help out and you know he didn't want to cater the wedding because he wanted to enjoy it, so that's why he had people helping him or making the dinner and whatnot, and I just love the chemistry between the two of them.

Garry:

Can we just mention the eyes?

Amy:

On him. Yes, oh, yeah, yeah.

Garry:

They were piercing.

Amy:

Yeah, yeah, and I also. The other big cheer would be the relationship between the sisters which we've talked about just the one-on-ones and then the three of them. I just really, I really enjoyed it. Yes, well, that's good. What about jeers? Did you have something?

Garry:

that you had a whole bunch. You had a whole bunch. Yes, oh, no only okay. I have to mention the elephant in the room.

Amy:

What's the elephant?

Garry:

Who was the third bridesmaid?

Amy:

Bridesmaid, I know.

Garry:

Why didn't they use Jenna?

Amy:

Jenna was the bride.

Garry:

I mean not Jenna Gina, gina, gina. Why?

Amy:

didn't they use Gina? I don't know, I didn't even think about it, because Because Gina was sitting in the chair.

Garry:

Yeah, she was sitting with Rory, so I don't.

Amy:

I don't know who. The third it was like she? Yeah, I didn't even think about Gina, You're right.

Garry:

Yes, I was, and she wasn't even at the wedding dress. Try on, they could have brought her too.

Amy:

That's true too. I don't know what happened there?

Garry:

What about you? Name one.

Amy:

Because, you have so many, I have so many my biggest year I have a few, but my biggest one would have been that it felt like a Jenna and a Kiki movie instead of just a Kiki movie.

Amy:

Yes, I feel like Jenna had her first movie, and it's nothing against the actress herself. It's nothing against her, it's just I wish they'd either done like five movies where the last one is the wedding yes, or had the wedding be a smaller part in this one, because there was so much focus on Jenna and her family history yes.

Amy:

And her dad and her dad coming and her relationship with Angieie. I mean, I just felt like it was sort of half-sies like and I felt bad. You know, I've just and yeah, kiki, there was a lot with her, but I just felt like it was it was shared and that wasn't really fair you know, it was too, was too prominent the wedding.

Amy:

They could have had it in there, but had it just be a much smaller part. Yes, it could have been she's getting married. You could have had it in there, but had it just be a much smaller part yes it could have been she's getting married. You could have shown clips of her getting upset whatever you know, and then so well, that's a great segue to my next okay okay, which is this whole build-up about the food right?

Garry:

yes, and in the end, we get something like a voiceover from Jenna yes, I agree with that Somebody said the food was great and she said, yes, thanks, Kiki. I'm like, was that? Did they miss that? And they just voiced that in there. I don't know.

Amy:

That's a really good point, because it was all about her trying to come up with a menu and deciding what she wanted to do and Kiki running into all these obstacles that were in front of her and then she comes up with this great idea for this chicken and then we never hear but and then it was. It was just like a voiceover, I I don't know it was.

Amy:

I mean, I guess you could argue that it was never really about the food, but it was you know I don't know, so maybe that's why they went that route, but that's a good that's a good point you have another cheer um the scene when andrew's mom calls and jenna gets, and jenna gets upset because his mom says something like what about jenna's family's traditions?

Amy:

and she wasn't saying it in a rudely in a bad way, I think she was just saying it. She's like are they being honored? Because the mom is kind of like you know, I definitely want to dance with my son, I want the mother-son dance. And then, of course, they probably weren't going to do that because Jenna's parents aren't around and you know, her mom has passed away and her dad isn't in her life or whatever, and I just, and then and Jenna's like I just need some air. And then the next scene, andrew's calling Angie, like is the wedding off? And I'm like what?

Garry:

I know when did that come from.

Amy:

What do you mean? It was just so overdramatic and I know it's Hallmark, but I just felt like did they cut out some big fight they had? I just felt like we missed something. Did we miss some big blowout fight? All she said was I need air, blowout fight. Like all she said was I need air. And he's like is the wedding off, you know, to angie? And she's like no, you know, this is more about her, less about you and your mom and more about her and her family. So that would be a cheer. What about you? What's another?

Garry:

one for you. My last one was, and we kind of touched on it a little bit was the fact that, uh, rory, gina and ella, they weren't in it until the end of the movie, and I didn't understand that, because all the other characters were there. So I don't know, maybe they couldn't make the. I don't know, maybe they couldn't make the filming, but that was a jeer for me.

Amy:

Well, that was just the route they decided to go, I guess.

Garry:

I mean that's fine.

Amy:

My final jeer would have been Theo Jenna's dad showing up at the rehearsal dinner. First of all, it's the rehearsal dinner.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

Like who would just come back into somebody's life after 15 years or 20 years or whatever it's been, and then be like hey, and he's like well, I'm here now. I just felt like that scene did not work. I did not. I mean, I appreciated them trying to find him and all that jazz, but I just felt like that scene, I don't know, it was just odd to me.

Garry:

Oh, and that brings up another point, is when Angie went to the foster place.

Amy:

How did she find Jenna's record so fast, like it was in front? You mean, when Angie called Right, she was on the phone In 20 years, right yeah, it, it was in front. You mean, when Angie called Right, she was on the phone In 20 years, right yeah, it was still in the front. It wouldn't have been archived with all the other. The adoption agent yes, goes, let me find the file. Oh, look, here it is.

Garry:

Yeah, it's right there. It's funny. We tried to find her dad. You know one scene.

Amy:

Yeah, yeah, well, you know, google, that was lovely. Well, she got the name at least.

Garry:

Yes, they couldn't find him. Yeah, yeah, she did.

Amy:

Well, in the adoption agency's defense they probably you know, 20 years ago you didn't have the resources that you have now.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

So you know, if they couldn't find, they probably tried for a little bit and then stopped and then never revisited it. Right, so maybe that's what they think.

Garry:

That's fine. And plus, she was grown up by that point you know, she was all grown up, she was an adult.

Amy:

Okay, an adult, that's fine. So, out of five corks, how many corks would you give?

Garry:

the fourth and final installment. Well, with all my jeers, I'm still going to give it a five. I'm going to give it a five. You're going to give it a five. Yeah, I thought the acting was good.

Amy:

Yeah.

Garry:

I mean, like you said, I'm not going to ding the actors for some of the writing and scenes that you know shouldn't have been.

Amy:

We thought didn't work.

Garry:

Yeah, so yeah, what about you? I would. So yeah, what about you? I would give it a five also, I think I really liked it.

Amy:

Yeah, yeah, I think I really like samers samers, yes, samers. So what did you think about the hearts around the table collection in general? As a whole as a whole. Did you know?

Garry:

I really enjoyed it. You know of. Of this series movie series that we've watched, this was one of my favorites. I just like how each episode kind of bled into the next one.

Amy:

Right.

Garry:

And in the last one, I love the scenes, the flashbacks to certain scenes in each of the episodes.

Amy:

Yes.

Garry:

Or movies, and it was always about love and family, and you know, that's what I just loved it.

Amy:

I want to with a collection like that and they like to focus on one generally throughout each one. I thought it was really cool, yeah, I mean, I agree, I love the whole theme of a non-traditional family becoming the traditional family.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

With traditional family. I don't want to say values in like a religious way, but just you know, like they just the Sunday suppers they have. They are just like any other family.

Amy:

They're as close as yeah, and they consider each other siblings and I just I love that message, the fact that they put foster care and the kids and the adults in a positive light. The negative stories are the ones that hit the news and, honestly, most TV shows or you know, movies if, if it involves some fostering at some point, it's some terrible situation. You know the foster parents abusive or the kids are just you know.

Garry:

Terrible, you know, and I just I don't know, I just I just like to see, I thought the positive spin on that was refreshing.

Amy:

Of course I loved mindy cohen, kind of mindy cohen being, you know, the foster mom. Given her facts of life history it's kind of like a full circle moment. You know she's the mrs garrett from facts of life who was the um the boarding school marm so to speak.

Amy:

You know she was. She was the one who rallied all the girls in that show, so I thought it was kind of cool. And, of course, the sunday suppers we've talked about. We do that with the kid. Well, we did for a long time when they were younger. Now it's harder because they're older and some are moved away and they're on vacation and whatnot. So it is harder. And, of course, all the Angie-isms.

Garry:

Oh yeah.

Amy:

All the little nuggets of wisdom that we got. So I just I really enjoyed the series as a whole. I thought it was great.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

And positive and.

Garry:

Just a really great series, just a really great collection.

Amy:

Maybe we'll get more.

Garry:

I hope so.

Amy:

I would love to see some more heart, and I love that she calls them her hearts.

Garry:

I know.

Amy:

I have another heart at the table and I loved how they gathered people around the table. You know they would add people in. You know like Andrew's mom would come and you know, gina's grandma came and you know, and, um, and we need to talk about what's Sherry's boyfriend's name.

Garry:

Evan.

Amy:

Evan, evan, how he was trying to fit in. So you know he was having a hard time because they all knew each other. You feel that too when you're introduced to a family and you're like, oh, you know, all you guys have such you know a long history and I just really he finally got his moment. What last? Yeah, in the third In the past, in the third, in the third, by the way, josh's third serving. What is that reference? I can't. I don't know I haven't been able to figure that one out.

Garry:

I just know he loved food Jenna's first love we can get. He loved to eat Sherry's second act.

Amy:

I understand.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

Kiki's fourth and greatest, but what's the third serving? I don't know.

Garry:

I know they had to do three something, but I need to figure that out Because I have no idea, but anyway, all right.

Amy:

Should we rank them in order of your favorite to least favorite, although least favorite is not really. We like them all. Yeah, there's just a little degree of maybe a couple we like more.

Garry:

So how would you? I would go with the first one, jenna's first love, as my number one. Josh would be number two, kiki would be three and sherry's would be four and it and the only reason I'm putting her as number four is I just didn't feel like their chemistry throughout the movie we talked about that, you know. I just I just did not like the other ones, did I agree? And I don't know why, because it was working so good at the beginning, and then it just kind of faded out.

Amy:

Yeah, I mean, I would rank them Jenna's first love.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

Then I would say Kiki's fourth ingredient no you wouldn't, then? Josh's third serving and then Sherry's second act. And I agree with you and I love the character of Sherry.

Garry:

No, it wasn't because of her.

Amy:

I mean, I loved her and I like Evan and I just you know, and I wanted to see more of her. We saw more of her in the first five minutes of this fourth film than we saw of her in all of the third one.

Garry:

Yes, you know, and I love her character. I know she had a good. So much she was a good character.

Amy:

But yeah, yeah, so hopefully I do hope we'll see more, whether it's more actors or actresses, or whether they pop in again, I would love to see more.

Garry:

Yeah, me too. I think that would be great. Yes, all right. Well, is that a wrap?

Amy:

That's a wrap, I think All right.

Garry:

Well, thanks for listening. Be sure to follow the podcast wherever you listen so you don't miss one. Also, follow us on social media if you really really like this show and are listening on Apple Podcast or Spotify, leave a positive, five-star review.

Amy:

Positive five-star. I like how you threw in the five-star, positive five-star or just positive, if you didn't really really like the show.

Garry:

You can still leave a positive five star review.

Amy:

Join us next Wednesday for our review of the Dayspring movie Journey to you, starring Aaron Cahill and Eric Valdez. This will wrap up Hallmark's Spring into Love collection. It airs Saturday night, april 19th 2025, on the Hallmark channel and streams the next day on Hallmark Plus. You can also join us on Tuesdays for our reviews of Hallmark series. Until then, fill up your glasses and push play. Thanks for listening, cheers.