SOULMATES is filled with heart, charm, and small-town USA; so much so that I’m surprised that Hallmark didn’t want this little gem. A perfect little romcom to warm your heart on those crisp fall and winter nights.
Directed by Timothy Armstrong with script by Stephanie Lynn and Alexandra Case who also star as BFF’s Jessamine “Jess” Burr and Samantha “Sam” Templeton, SOULMATES is a late 20-somethings coming of age story. Sam and Jess, lifelong besties growing up in smalltown Vermont, are now at a major crossroads in their lives and in their friendship. Always there for one another through thick and thin, life throws them a major curveball when Jess meets Landon. Handsome, successful, and seemingly caring, Landon comes to town courtesy of his employer, Peterson Maple Syrup, a major corporation intent on not only buying out the local homemade maple syrup company but buying out the generational locals and eliminating the beloved small-town way of life. As Jess puts her relationship with Landon before Sam and the good of the town as well as her own family farm, Sam takes it upon herself to do whatever it takes to not only save her friendship with Jess but save the townspeople from the corporate greed monster.
One of the great strengths of SOULMATES is the depth and texture of the characters, and not just Jess and Sam, but the supporting players, not the least of which is Mark Famiglietti’s Landon. Each and every character is believable and when it comes to the townspeople, each looks and feels as if they stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting. They feel real, resonant; they have you longing for a quieter gentler world like this where neighbors help neighbors, little community gatherings are held in a field or someone’s barn is the norm, and the hustle and bustle is only as hustling and bustling as you make it.
Notable is the tacit commentary about climate change making reference to it being so warm that the farm produced 50 gallons less this year and could be less next year if the weather stays the same. Similarly, we get commentary throughout the story as a whole about corporate takeover of small town mom & pop businesses, local farms, not to mention false and misleading advertising. And it’s a nice touch that the filmmakers elected to not make Peterson Maple Syrup totally villainous but rather, ultimately somewhat heroic. But let’s not overlook the cinematic pop culture girlie BFF Julia Roberts obsession for the perfect romance and love, most notably from “Notting Hill.” However, the beauty of this story is that we get all of that subtext under the charm of BFFs and the more than believable jealousy that kicks in when one finds love and the other doesn’t.
The relationship between Sam and Jess is beyond believable, authentic, and resonant (as is the casting of Stephanie Lynn and Alexandra Case – there is not a minute you don’t believe they are BFFs) for multiple age brackets and demographics. A secondary plot of Samantha finding love also plays very well thanks in large part to Zachary Spicer’s Colin. Alice Barrett’s Rita provides the motherly sage advice that comes with a touch of humor without being lecturing. The townsfolk are people you would love to have as neighbors and the town is idyllic, harkening to days gone by and even a little bit of “over the river and through the woods” nostalgia.
Well familiar with the work of director Timothy Armstrong thanks to “Cowgirls ‘n Angels” and “A Cowgirl’s Story”, Armstrong keeps the film tonally light with easy-breezy pacing. Cinematography is beauteous; simple and clean and not only captures the breathtaking beauty of a Vermont Fall with all of the leaves turning colors, but celebrates it. A few real money shots pop up thanks to a “falling in love montage” in the first half of the film, particularly one at golden hour when Landon picks Jessamine up in the air for a “Princess Diaries” foot lift kiss.
Charming and sweet, SOULMATES will touch your heart and your soul.
Directed by Timothy Armstrong
Written by Stephanie Lynn and Alexandra Case
Cast: Stephanie Lynn, Alexandra Case, Mark Famiglietti, Zachary Spicer, Alice Barrett
by debbie elias, 10/09/2021
