What do you get when you have a TV show producer, a community center, and a former boy band? You get Absolutely Devoted to You starring Kimberley Sustad and Jesse Metcalfe. Absolutely Devoted to You will premiere Saturday at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel and be available to stream the next day on Hallmark+.
Absolutely Devoted to You is part of the Hallmark Channel 25th birthday event. The event also includes Toast to Italy and Aussie at Heart.
An ambitious TV producer, Kaitlin, devises a brilliant plan to reunite a 90’s boy band for an annual summer beach bash, but her idea is derailed when she falls for the band’s reluctant lead singer, Derrick.
Fans are happy to see Jesse Metcalfe return to Hallmark Channel. He was a mainstay for a long time, then took time away after he left Chesapeake Shores. This is a role made for Jesse. He’s often incorporated music into his roles, and this is no different. This time he’s not a rock star or country star; he’s a former Boy Band star. Derrick is a former boy bander turned community center mentor. He works with teens and tries to be there for all of them.
Kimberley Sustad is never a bad idea. She shines no matter what role she’s in, and this role was no different. Kaitlin is a morning show TV producer who needs to get former boy band Absolutely Yeah back together to keep her job, along with others on her team. Kaitlin sets out to get this band back together and hits a roadblock with Derrick. She digs in and helps the community center that means so much to Derrick and ends up getting close to Derrick.
Kimberley and Jesse have great chemistry. It works. Lynda Boyd plays the Community center leader, Lucille. She is always fun. She can be sweet and gruff at the same time. Tetiana Ostapowych and Barry W. Levy star as Merrie and Mason, the morning show hosts that Kaitlin works for. Merrie is over the top and the one pushing Kaitlin super hard for the reunion of Absolutely Yeah with Derrick leading.
Matheus Severo, Drew Henderson, and Doron Bell star as the other three members of Absolutely Yeah. Community center boy band kids are played by Graham Verchere, Elijah Westgate, Romar Dungo, and Connor Wong.
The formula is one that is familiar. The tropes are there. The heart is there. Hallmark Channel means there is always heart at the center. This is no different. The thing that had me worried is the boy band angle. This could go horribly wrong. It did not. As an original Blockhead and fan of boy bands, they did a fine job. I would have liked to see more of them, but I think that would have made it not work.
Absolutely Devoted to You is directed by Stacey N. Harding. Stacey has directed many Hallmark Channel projects over the years. The team of Ali Spuck, Casie Tabariou, and Matthew Willis wrote the movie. Ali Spuck and Casie Tabariou have previously worked together on movies such as Scouting for Christmas and Aloha Heart. Matthew Willis was the script coordinator on many Hallmark Channel movies. This is the first time that the three have teamed up on a project. The writing on this movie is full of heart and humor. It’s well written, directed, and acted.
This was a movie I was worried about. I didn’t want the boy band storyline to be a joke. The creative team did a good job. It was a joy to watch.
Chemistry, Charm, and Boy Bands Take Center Stage in Hallmark Channel’s Absolutely Devoted to You – Review
