Jake: I know we’re excited to review Spring Breakthrough because we both loved the story and how the film featured an entirely Black cast, which is sometimes still hard to find on Hallmark Channel.
Sir Mallard Jones: Yes.
J: So, let’s give this movie a full five Diversity Ducks.
SMJ: But we wouldn’t have minded seeing representation from other marginalized communities, dear boy. Make sure you write that in.
J: Yeah, we’ve got it.
SMJ: Great. So other than a fantastic cast of color, can I just get on with talking about what I liked the very best about Spring Breakthrough? I’m entertaining the Royal Family from Sweden this week, so time’s running a little short for me today.
—Swedish Royal Family (1857), public domain image (Wikimedia Commons). Design: Star Tavares
J: Oh, wow, I had no idea. Okay, so let’s hear all about what you liked best.
SMJ: EVERYTHING!
J: Could you maybe be more specific for the people who came to Romancey Pants for unbiased reviews of movies like Spring Breakthrough?
SMJ: Yes! I loved, loved, loved Keesha Sharp as Monica Rollins—a feisty single mom who actually never got to enjoy a Spring Break as a college student because she was too busy studying hard and being a young mother. And it’s because of this that Monica puts extremely high expectations on her newly engaged daughter Vivian (played by Rhyon Nicole Brown). Monica does her absolute best to get dear Viv to postpone her wedding because she’s still in college, and she fears her daughter will repeat the “mistakes” of her mother if she weds too young.
It was so, so good, I tell you! The stakes were so high one got air sick!
J: That wasn’t air sickness. That was the Wasabi peas we told you to stay away from.
SMJ: Balderdash!
Can I take this moment to speak incredibly highly of the tall, dark, HANDSOME man that played Clark—Monica’s eventual love interest?
J: Eventual because they’re opposites, Monica and Clark. Monica holds so much fear after losing her job…
SMJ: Oh, it was terrible! Watching her get canned nearly ripped the heart from my trembling duck breast!
J: This, combined with Vivian’s pending nuptials, sends her into a tailspin of fear. For Monica, fear surfaces as extremely controlling behavior, and Clark just ain’t that kind of guy.
SMJ: No, no! He is laid back, grounded, playful…broad shouldered…just a long, tall drink of delicious manliness with a smashing smile!
—Image of Demetrius Grosse courtesy of Hallmark Mahogany. Design by Star Tavares in Canva.
J: Demetrius Grosse played Clark as a really cool guy who had to work extra hard to get Monica to take a deep breath and finally release the pressure she put on herself and pretty much every other person around her. Including Clark.
SMJ: And including Clark’s Godson Shawn (played by Akono Dixon), who was her daughter Vivian’s fiancé! Imagine being so rude to someone you’ve only just met! Believe me—no one looks forward to the holidays after experiencing that kind of behavior!
J: But Monica comes around, thanks to a little self-reflection and encouragement from Aunt (and bestie) Denise, who’s played by Laticia A King.
SMJ: And because of Clark, of course.
J: Before you depart to play host to the Royal Swedes, is there anything else you liked about Spring Breakthrough?
SMJ: Yes!
J: Okay, and what is that?
SMJ: I liked very much the way Monica said “Woo-woo” during that very, very funny golfing scene!
J: Right, she was being snarky to Clark about his views on life, implying that he was being too new agey for his advice to be taken seriously.
SMJ: And she couldn’t hit the ball! Oh, the way I quack-laughed! Did you hear my quack-laughing, transcriptionist?
J: Yes, I certainly did. Keesha Sharp was very, very funny in that scene, and so was Demetrius Grosse.
SMJ: He was also stunning. In every scene of that film. I wonder if he got paid by the minute to look that sexy?
—Image of Demetrius Grosse courtesy of Hallmark Mahogany. Design by Star Tavares in Canva.
J: If he did, then he’s got a really, really good agent.
SMJ: I mean, how could he look that sexy the WHOLE TIME??
J: Some guys just have it, I guess.
SMJ: Oh! I also want to mention Samantha Herman. If it wasn’t for Ms. Herman, I never would have been able to see Demetrius Grosse drip with molten sex from scene to scene to scene….
J: Samantha Herman wrote Spring Breakthrough. And we can add some of her other Hallmark films to our watchlist because she’s got a few I know you’re going to like.
SMJ: Do they star Demetrius Grosse???
J: I don’t think so, but….
SMJ: Well, I’ll watch them because I liked Spring Breakthrough, but what a missed opportunity, really, when you think about…. Oh! Look! There’s dear Carl XVI Gustaf and sweet Victoria!
Oh, yes, well…it looks like he’s parked his Saab right on my rose bushes again. I must skidaddle (that’s skidäddlen, in Swedish) first to save my Double Delights and then off I go to the kitchen to reheat the meatballs I made for them last night. Royal Swedes certainly do love their meatballs!
J: Off you go, then.
SMJ: Tata, romance-loving audience!
J: Sir Mallard Jones and I give Spring Breakthrough five flippers up, making this one an absolute must-watch! At time of publication, you can watch it here:
Prime Video (via Hallmark Movies Now subscription)
Peacock (via subscription)
Philo (via subscription)
The Roku Channel (via subscription)
Fubo TV (via subscription)
YouTube (via subscription)
Sling (via subscription)
Featured image courtesy of Hallmark (via screenshot); graphic design by Star Tavares.
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