To make it more confusing, this movie has two different names. If you watch it on the Hallmark channel, it is "Chance at Romance". However, if you watch it on the PixL channel, like I did, it is "Friend Request", which was the original title.
There are some slight editing differences in the the Hallmark version, but it is unlikely a viewer would notice, or even care about them.
Erin Krakow and Ryan McPartlin are both well known current day actors which each have a huge fan base. The movie name change could easily have your thinking you missed one, only to discover that you had previously seen the movie, just under a different name.
Regardless of the title, it is a great movie that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys romantic comedy movies.
Friend Request Synopsis
While walking home after another failed blind date, Samantha Hart (Erin Krakow) slips into an art show featuring the photographer, Heath Madson (Ryan McPartlin).
Friend RequestCheck PriceWhen Heath makes eye contact with Samantha during his short speech about seeing "something that just takes your breath away", she is immediately enamored with the man, as well as his photos. Because she misses the opportunity to speak to Heath at the show, she decides to write to him through his contact link on his website. When he answers, she is encouraged and continues to correspond with him. After several emails, he offers to send her a ticket and book a hotel for his next show.
When she arrives, his 12 year old son meets her at the train depot and takes her to their home. When Heath arrives, there is a very awkward greeting between the two. Heath has no idea who she is.
Can you guess who Sam has been communicating with, how she got a train ticket, and why Heath didn't recognize her even though everyone else around knows who she is?
Things get really distressing for Sam when there is no hotel room available and her suitcase is stolen. Then she meets "the woman" who already has designs on the photographer.
Personal Note
In the movie, Heath's photography is referred to as "High Dynamic Range Photography". He accomplished this technique by making computer enhancements to his photos.
His technique reminded me of our own fellow contributor Mary Beth Granger, photographer mbgphoto, who has shown us how to enhance our own photos with Photoshop. She has perfected the art of removing or adding to the photos, eliminating or changing unwanted backgrounds, plus shows us how to take photos with dramatic elements like rain drops, snow, or even adding an overlay of music scores over a musicians fingers on their instrument.
I can see proof of Mary Beth's training through her articles in my own photos. She has encouraged me to step out of the "point and shot" mode and look more closely at focus, technique and editing.
I believe my own interest in photography made this movie more relevant to me personally, especially when I kept thinking of my friend and co-contributor here on Review This Reviews.
Here are the links to mbgphoto's articles that I referenced above:
- Perspective in Photography
- Review of Texturing Technique in Photoshop
- Creative Photography- Combining Techniques
- Editing Your Photos
- Photographing on a Rainy Day
- Review of Bird Photography in the Snow
- Creative Flower Photography
- Photographing Reflections
- Review of Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom Updates
- Reviewing New 2021 Updates in Lightroom
- Review of Designing Collages and Composites in Photography
Check Out More Movie Reviews at
ReviewThisMovies.com
Friend Request aka Chance at Romance (2014) Movie Review by:
Thanks for this recommendation. You know the photography angle has me interested!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a fun romantic comedy and the photography angle is most interesting. Thanks for introducing this movie to me through your review.
ReplyDeleteI found this movie on You Tube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3qD1KMIHx8 It sounds really good and I plan to watch it first chance I get. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteYou know I love a good romantic comedy, and the photography angle makes this one even more appealing. Thanks so much for your review and recommendation
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading your romance Hallmark movie reviews. When I'm in the mood for this genre and come across one that you've reviewed, it helps me decide to watch it. With all that's going on in the world, I've been in the mood for light and fun lately - or when I finally decide to watch a movie, I'm much more likely to choose a softer flick over a violent one - Don't you find there's so many movies about violence these days? It's kind of annoying. So, I do appreciate these reviews given the little press the better side of life gets.
ReplyDeleteOh, this sounds like a movie I would really enjoy! Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDelete