Hallmark Channel Started Spring Into Love with the Charming ‘Two For Tee’ – Review. ‘Two For Tee’ premiered last weekend on Hallmark Channel to start the Spring Into Love event that airs every year. Janel Parrish and Chris McNally star as artist Tee and handyman Will.
The premise of the movie is that Tee is a Chinese American pottery artist who meets a new community center handyman, Will. As she learns about her family’s traditions through art, can she and Will save the center from closure?
The movie is not only beautifully cultural, but it’s also one of the more romantic movies. Chris McNally’s Will could be one of the more romantic characters that I have seen in Hallmark movies. For lack of a better term, he wooed Tee. Yes, he professes his crush on her, but he backs up that crush with thoughtful and meaningful gestures and words. Who wouldn’t be smitten by Will?
Janel Parrish shines in the way she floats between an artist trying to find her voice, a retro shop owner, a community center teacher, a friend, and a daughter of a Chinese mother, who misses her roots.
Tee runs the learning center’s pottery class. Her regulars are Harry, a veteran, Carmen, his wife and dance enthusiast, and Georgina, who is an avid reader. These are Tee’s people. Tee owns a funky retro shop with her cousin, Theo. Her mother is a Chinese immigrant who came for college, fell in love, and stayed here. After Tee’s dad died, she raised Tee alone. Tee’s mom lost touch with her family in China. Tee helps her find a cousin and reconnect.
Will is new to town and is a handyman and constructor. He is a single dad to middle schooler, Natalie. Natalie loves to go into Tee’s shop with her mom. She also loves spending time with Will at the Learning Tree community center.
Natalie is played by the talented newcomer, Alex MacIsaac. Alex starred in season 13 of ‘When Calls The Heart‘ as displaced child, Gwen, from Benson Hills, and is fostered by Rosemary and Lee Coulter. Chris McNally stars as Lucas in ‘When Calls The Heart.’
There are some charming moments between Will and Tee. He brings the lantern festival to her after it gets washed out. He fills the community center with red lanterns and candles. They dance in the candlelight to Chinese music. He encourages her in her art and takes time to learn her culture. Will doesn’t seem ruffled by anything. He describes himself as a chill guy. To me, Will is one of the most Charming Hallmark leading men.
The rest of the cast is perfect. David Kaye shines as witty cousin Theo. The best lines of the movie are between Theo and Tee. Theo hands Tee a cosmopolitan, and she says, “A cosmo, how 2003.” Theo responds, ” Early millennium is back in style.” Also, when Tee oversleeps, and Theo calls her, “Did you run away to Vegas where you married Pedro Pascale in a ceremony performed by an Elvis impersonator?” She says, “Oddly specific and I’m open to it, but no.” The writing in this movie is fantastic.
Garry Chalke plays Veteran Harry. I enjoy him immensely when he’s in a movie. He’d be what my husband calls the Santa guy. He says that every Hallmark movie has an older man who is like Santa. Garry Chalke frequently plays that warm older guy in a movie.
One of the best parts is the Chinese representation. The Chinese art, a little bit of history, the music, the food, the dresses. This was done very beautifully.
‘Two for Tee’ is written by Matt Johnson and Justine Wentzell-Chang. The movie is directed by Michael Robison. Matt Johnson is known for being a writer on the Kitten Bowl. Justine Wentzell-Chang has previously worked on ‘A Big Fat Family Christmas.’ Michael Robison has directed at least 30 Hallmark Channel movies, such as the ‘Hailey Dean Mysteries,’ ‘Holiday Crashers, the extremely popular ‘It Was Always You,’ and most recently ‘The Stars Between Us.’
I know that this became a Chris McNally as Will appreciation post, but this movie is fantastic. I would give this a 4.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets. Spring Into Love is off to a great start.
Hallmark Channel Started Spring Into Love with the Charming ‘Two For Tee’ – Review
