Cheesy rom-com minus the com. Fantasy premise sets the plot in motion (not necessarily a problem) but derailed by failure of the two star-crossed lovers to do or say the obvious things. I believe TV writers call this the "idiot plot" - The entire movie could be short-circuited by one or the other of them giving the other a phone number or address, or even just by following up on the numerous hints dropped all over the place. But they're morons, so they don't. 'Eh, I'm too cool to bother checking up on anything, instead I'll just mope about and say things like "I'm not wasting time on a fantasy." ' The female lead is gorgeous, but neither one of them has much in the way of charisma, nor chemistry with each other.Skippable.

This is one of those Hallmark Hall of Fame movies with the great commercials. I've watched quite a few of them over the years and some are better than others. This one, not so much. I did like the premise but ultimately there was just nothing special or outstanding in this star-crossed lovers story. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with it either though, it's cute, light and will pass a couple hours without any bloodshed. The romance follows a restaurant owner and an architect who are both unlucky in love. After they each cast a penny into a magic fountain (known for bringing lovers together) they both begin to dream of the other, falling in love in their dreams without ever meeting. However according to fountain mythology, they only have a seven day window to meet in the real world to turn those dreams into reality.Oh and I was still brought to tears by those card ads (damn you Hallmark) -Filmed in Vancouver. 05.08.14

You know, I like romantic movies if the leading characters are charming enough and the story is believable enough. And maybe the situations and supporting players are also believable enough. But not if things seem contrived enough that I can predict what can happen or think "How convenient!" like when this Mario character suddenly declares he's not in love with the leading lady and instead he's into her assistant! And this thing about the Katharine McPhee and Mike Vogel characters actually "meeting" each other in a dream and seeing how "perfect" they are for each other in Real Life because of those dreams did not completely hold butter or water for me, either! It was nice to see JoBeth Williams, who I long remember from Stir Crazy, Poltergeist, and Switch, on screen again, so there's that. And this wasn't a complete waste of time for me or my mom. It's just if the story doesn't seem real enough for me, I can't completely get into it. But I respect anyone who falls for such trifle...

Now that her mother is deceased, Natalie Russo is running the L'agrifoglio (Italian for holly) Italian restaurant, and it is in trouble. But she has hired a new chef Mario who knew her family but is temperamental, and she has some changes in mind.Mike and Charlotte Smith are about to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Their son Nick is a successful architect who is not allowed to be creative or even present his ideas directly to clients. But he is up for the Green Bridge Award. He just went through a bad relationship with Jessa, and Charlotte wants to fix him up.Natalie and Nick both throw a penny into the Hayward Fountain at the same time and the pennies touch. According to the woman who sold Natalie flowers, there is a legend about that fountain and having dreams.Natalie and Nick both have the same dream, where they meet and find out details about each other which are real, even though they have never met. They dream about each other more than once, and Natalie start looking forward to going to sleep. She even puts on a sexy nightie so she'll be ready.Nick ends up dating Lori Beth, who he knew when they were in school. She's perky but in an annoying way. They're just not right for each other. Then he gets an emergency call from Jessa. It's just a mouse. But it's a big mouse! Soon we see in Jessa the shallow, demanding attitude that apparently caused trouble between these two.Meanwhile, Natalie starts making changes at her restaurant. This includes a new name, Russo's. She makes changes in the recipes handed down my her family. And she replaces the opera music (including what I believe to be that song Charles Emerson Winchester was whistling while playing poker) with annoying music that women seem to like, which gets played on what are called Triple-A radio stations. And Mario seems interested in her.So will Natalie and Nick meet? Will Natalie's restaurant succeed? Will Nick win his award? Will Nick decide to quit his job? As one might expect, there are plenty of obstacles standing in the way.Katharine McPhee does a very good job. She's confident and determined and so easy to like. We want her to succeed in everything she wants to do. Plus I know her from "Smash". The one negative is her bangs. She's not Zooey Deschanel, who can make that look work. But she is pretty, and her hair looks better later on.Mike Vogel is unfamiliar to me but likable enough. But he and McPhee are so perfect together. No other couple in the movie gets it just right. The dreams where they are together are one of the best parts of the movie, with one exception where the relationship is no longer ideal.Jessalyn Wanlim as Sharla, Natalie's waitress and best friend also does very well. She has a great personality and makes the perfect waitress. And no, she's not merely a lowly worker but has a relationship with Natalie that makes her more like a business partner. When needed, she can be the boss.Joe Massingill makes a real impact as Joe, Nick's best friend and co-worker, who might join him in a new architectural firm.JoBeth Williams does a good job as Nick's meddling mom.And Lilah Fitzgerald and Dakota Guppy are so cute as Nick's nieces.It's a worthy installment in the Hallmark Hall of Fame series.