Hallmark's "Just One Kiss" Movie QUIZ!

Just One Kiss Plot Summary 

Mia is a newly divorced, single mom who meets a lounge singer through a series of chance encounters arranged by both of their mothers.

Starring:  Krysta Rodriguez, Santino Fontana, Illeana Douglas, and Aida Turturro

Image:  Crown Media

A Throwback to the Classics

Mia Rivera is a college professor who teaches romantic literature, so if you're an English nerd like me, you enjoy when she references the classical works of John Keats, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Emily Dickinson. 

The most entertaining part about Mia's class is that her relationship status influences her literary interpretation.  When her love life is happy, her analysis centers on hope, but when she's an emotional wreck, her assignments are filtered through despair.  At one of her low points, Mia lectures her class, falling in love is just common sense leaving your body.   Love can feel like that sometimes!  Mia's best friend, Nick, pulls the fire alarm to bring an end to one of Mia's classroom tirades. 

Tony Romano has been unlucky in love, though he does relish being the soundtrack to the love lives of others.  His mother says he has a voice of an angel, but I would argue it's smoother, like butter.  Viewers are treated to songs from the legendary Frank Sinatra and others, which include these classics:

• Fly Me to the Moon

• Something Stupid

• It Had to be You

• Someone to Watch Over Me

• New York, New York

• You Make Me Feel So Young

• Over the Moon   

Mia's and Tony's love for the classics doesn't end with literature and music--they also love black and white movies, featuring the likes of Cary Grant.

Fedoras off to the cast and crew for creating a nostalgic vibe in the movie that transports us back to an iconic era.  It also helps that both leading actors are Broadway veterans.

Meddlesome Mothers

Fans are raving about the interference of Marlene and Sofia, our couple's two mothers, because they both bring a lot of comedy to the movie.

Sofia takes advantage of her son's superstitious nature by making sure a ladder and a black cat are in place for his morning jog to guarantee a run-in with Mia.  Marlene drops the info about an apartment for rent in her daughter's mailbox, which happens to be across the hall from Tony.  When Mia can't figure out which dress to don for the supper lounge, she initially makes an ultra-conservative choice before her mom quips that she looks like a "pilgrim from the first Thanksgiving."  

In fact, the antics of Marlene and Sofia are reminiscent of the characters Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy from the Debbie Macomber's Angels Everywhere series.  

Hallmark ends the movie with a unique twist and these words:  This movie is dedicated to all our mothers in heaven.  We still feel your love every day."  

A Dash of Realism

Most Hallmark movies intentionally insulate us from harsh reality and the complexities of real life, but this one takes a more honest look at the life of a divorced couple and the stress addiction brings to a relationship.

Mia divorces her husband, Casey Malone, due to his alcoholism.  She's stuck by him for many years, always hoping for a better outcome, but Casey never manages to stay sober for long.  His downward spiral has lead to job loss, forcing them to sell their apartment.  Mia can't stand the up-and-down cycle another day, and despite Casey imploring her to stay with him, she does what she feels is right for herself and their daughter, Rosie.

Like many children from a broken home, Rosie keeps hoping her parents will reunite. 

Two Strikes Against the Movie

Just One Kiss is engaging and entertaining and takes a different path from other cookie cutter romances, which is a welcome relief.

It's ironic, though, that Mia doubts Casey's long-term recovery from alcholism, yet she is the one we see drinking throughout the movie.  There are multiple scenes showing her with wine or beer.

It is also revolting that Hallmark continues to add the perversity of homosexuality to so many of their new movies.  Gays comprise 3% of the American population, and we can assume the majority of that number does not watch Hallmark movies.  Regardless, Hallmark caters to a finite minority by attempting to normalize and glorify sin.  Nick and Derek are a gay couple in Just One Kiss, and naturally, they have to be biracial too.  Throw in Tony's Asian ex who is now married to a white guy, along with Mia mentioning her dad is Mexican and her mom is Jewish, and Hallmark has successfully checked all of their identity politics boxes for diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Hallmark is little more than a propaganda network these days.