Hallmark Review: 'Two Tickets to Paradise'

Synopsis:

Hannah Holt (Ashley Williams) and Josh Wyatt (Ryan Paevey) are two strangers brought together on their wedding days...after they're both left at the altar by their respective partners. After their chance encounter, Hannah and Josh make a pact: they'll both still go on their honeymoons, despite now being without spouses. But when Hannah touches down in Hawaii and arrives at the Paradaiso Ipo resort, she's stunned to learn that Josh has picked the same resort for his own solo honeymoon! Initially, it's a little awkward for Hannah and Josh to be the only single guests in a romance-themed resort. But as they begin enjoying what the Aloha State has to offer together, their battered hearts start to heal...and they begin to wonder if fate has conspired to bring them both face to face with a second chance at love.

Story:

Another Hawaii-set Hallmark movie, another story with a lot of heart. With Hannah and Josh's disastrous breakups lurking in the background, Two Tickets to Paradise comes with more stakes than what could be found in Hidden Gems. But when it comes to drawing you in with fun Hawaiian activities and an appealing love story, the two films are very much aligned. Whether they're going on adventures or sharing tender moments alone, you'll be completely invested in watching Hannah and Josh enjoy their tropical vacation and come to terms with how their previous relationships ended. With its mix of romance and comedy, Two Tickets to Paradise's uplifting mood (as well as its sunny setting) makes it perfect for gloomy afternoons.

It's only when Hannah and Josh's journey starts nearing its conclusion that the script begins to waver. The plot momentum notably loses some of its steam once SPOILER ALERT Hannah's ex-fiancé Marcus arrives in Hawaii looking to patch things up with her. After coming to realize that Marcus well and truly isn't right for Hannah, seeing her try to make the lifeless relationship work after Marcus gives her a half-baked apology is bound to have you frustrated. Marcus being such a complete doofus (more on that below) makes this sequence and the undeserved praise he receives from Hannah while she's officially breaking up with him even more frustrating. Spoilers Over

Characters:

With the film beginning with Hannah and Josh both getting their hearts broken, it won't take long for the pair to earn your sympathy. The two become even more endearing once they meet and start bonding throughout their Hawaiian "honeymoons." Hannah and Josh are a lovable pair, both together and as individuals, so following them as they go about various vacation activities and develop a romantic bond is pretty enjoyable.

The people they encounter in Hawaii are also adorable in their own ways. Paradaiso Ipo receptionist Kailani is as sweet and wholesome as Hidden Gems' Hannah. Josh's family friend Alice is a supportive maternal figure who's always ready to give Josh encouragement and advice. Fellow honeymooners Nick and Cal are as cute as can be with their abundant energy, quick friendship with Hannah, and Cal's mini-competitive streak with Josh. Sadly, Hannah's non-resort-related associates aren't as compelling. While Hannah's mother and sister are generally loving and supportive of her, they get docked a few likability points for trying to talk Hannah into taking Marcus back after the thoughtless way he ended their relationship. And speaking of Marcus, his method of calling off his and Hannah's wedding isn't even the only reason he's the worst character of the movie.

WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW

When Hannah rightfully ignores his attempts to call her, he responds by going all the way to Hawaii to give her a flimsy excuse for an apology and act like it's enough to make things normal between them again. Overall, Marcus is an all-around oblivious pinhead who also acts mildly possessive of Hannah (he gets jealous of Josh the second he sees him and gets pretty snide with him during both of their interactions.) It would've been more empowering had the finale seen Hannah firmly call Marcus out for his hurtful actions rather than gingerly assure him he's still a "wonderful guy." That would've also allowed Marcus to be a foil to Josh's ex-fiancée Becca, who is considerably less toxic and whose remorse about how she ended things with Josh feels much more authentic.

Spoilers Over

Acting:

Between the two leads, Ashley Williams makes the bigger impression. In addition to selling her character's comedic bits, Williams allows you to connect with Hannah's heartache and her feeling like she's lost her sense of identity. These are issues Josh deals with too, but with the script's diminished focus on Josh's internal struggles, Ryan Paevey doesn't get as much opportunity as Williams does to explore his character's broken heart. Still, Williams and Paevey are both charming and share a strong chemistry that makes you believe in their fast friendship turned blossoming romance. Mary-Margaret Humes exudes maternal warmth as Alice, especially when she opens up about a touching experience she shared with Josh when he was a child. Kimee Balmilero practically oozes winsome energy in the role of Kailani, as do Cody Easterbrook and Reyn Halford in the roles of newlyweds Nick and Cal.

On the lower half of the cast list, Jhey Castles and Olivia Hoffman are given practically no time to make Hannah's generic mother and sister pop. Tim Herkenhoff's performance is far from perfect and it's not aided by his character being more unlikable than the writers intended. But when it comes to displaying just how dorky Marcus is and how incompatible he and Hannah are, Herkenhoff does some pretty solid work. He might have you feeling just a little bit sorry for Marcus in his final scene, even if the guy's previous behavior had you wishing he'd go get stung by a jellyfish. Lastly, Ashley Weismantel does similarly good work as Becca, successfully securing her character's status as Marcus's less annoying female counterpart.

Overall:

Compared to Hidden Gems, Two Tickets to Paradise scores a notch lower on the ranking scale because of the third act plot breakdown and the handful of underwhelming characters present. It's thanks to the film replicating its predecessor's heartwarming charm and adding a little bit more of a comedic edge to its story that its faults are limited in how much damage they cause. Having charismatic leads and some stellar supporting actors only sweetens the deal. So while it may not outshine Hidden Gems, Two Tickets to Paradise is still a first-class Hallmark movie guaranteed to brighten up your mood.

Score: 8 out of 10 mango lime mimosas.