Megan and Wendy are back with a fresh episode of Girls Gone Hallmark, diving into Hallmark’s newest film, The Magic of Lemon Drops. Adapted from the Rachel Linden novel The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, your favorite Hallmark podcasters delve into everything from the directorial choices and vibrant color palette to the standout performances, offering their enthusiastic insights on this delightful Hallmark movie.

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About The Magic of Lemon Drops – (Hallmark Channel – 2024)

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• “The Magic of Lemon Drops” was directed by Maclain Nelson, a multi-talented writer, actor, and director. This marks his 17th directing credit, with previous work including “Branching Out,” “Haul Out the Holly,” “Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up,” and “A Heidelberg Christmas” for the network. He is also married to fellow director Clare Niederpruem (“Savoring Paris).
  
• The teleplay is by Tracy Andreen, a prolific Hallmark screenwriter. “The Magic of Lemondrops” is her 33rd writing credit, following her work on films such as “Sweeter Than Chocolate,” “Friends & Family Christmas,” “The Holiday Sitter,” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.”
  
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  • The script is adapted from Rachel Linden’s 2022 novel, “The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.” Buy it here on Amazon (affiliate link)
    
  
  
  
• Lyndsy Fonseca stars as Lolly. With 51 acting credits to her name, she’s appeared in Hallmark films like “Where Are You, Christmas?” and “North to Home.” However, her experience goes beyond those credits — she’s appeared in nearly 120 episodes of the daytime soap “The Young and the Restless,” several episodes of “9-1-1: Lone Star,” and is perhaps best known for her role as the daughter in “How I Met Your Mother.”
  
• Ian Harding takes on the role of Rory. With 31 acting credits to his name, he’s co-starred in the Hallmark hit “Ghosts of Christmas Always” and will soon be seen as Josh Hill in the upcoming limited series “Holidazed” on Hallmark+. Fans of “Pretty Little Liars” will recognize him as Ezra Fitz.
  
• Mariam Bernstein stars as Aunt Gert. Since beginning her career in 1991, Bernstein has accumulated 33 acting credits. Her work with Hallmark includes roles in “Hanukkah on Rye,” “A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe,” and “Francesca Quinn, PI,” among others.
  
• Stephanie Sy plays Lolly’s friend Eve. You might remember her from last year’s “A Santa Summit” and “Miracle in Bethlehem, PA.” According to IMDb, she has four upcoming projects, including a theatrical release titled “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” starring Judy Greer and Lauren Graham. Additionally, IMDb lists Sy as starring in what appears to be a Hallmark Christmas movie called “A Carol For Two,” written by Nina Weinman and directed by Jeff Beesley.
  
• Sydney Sabiston plays Daphne. With just 9 acting credits, she has appeared in the series “Acting Good” alongside friend of the show Erik Athavale. For Hallmark, she’s been seen in “Holiday Hotline” and “Under the Christmas Sky.”
  
• John B. Lowe takes on the role of Marty. With an impressive 99 acting credits to his name, Lowe will soon be seen in the upcoming Hallmark movie “Haunted Wedding.” You may remember him from Hallmark favorites such as “Miracle in Bethlehem, PA,” “Holiday Hotline,” and “Two Turtle Doves.”
  
• Isla Verot plays Rory’s young daughter, Sam. This marks her third acting credit and her second Hallmark project. She previously had an uncredited role in “Miracle in Bethlehem, PA,” and she’s also set to appear in the previously mentioned theatrical release “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Buy the book on Amazon
  
• Henriette Ivanans plays Lolly’s mom Irene. With a notable collection of Hallmark films on her resume, including “Never Been Chris’d,” “Made For Each Other,” and “Love Strikes Twice,” she will also be appear in the upcoming movie “Autumn at Apple Hill” alongside Erin Cahill and Wes Brown.
  
• “The Magic of Lemon Drops” was filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada during the first three weeks of June 2024.
  

Watch the Trailer for The Magic of Lemon Drops

Our Thoughts on The Magic of Lemon Drops

This is a summary of our detailed discussion on “Girls Gone Hallmark,” and we invite you to join our community of listeners for more in-depth chats on Hallmark movies.

Our Review of The Magic of Lemon Drops

In “The Magic of Lemon Drops,” magic and reality blend seamlessly as Lolly’s life takes a turn after receiving three magical lemon drops from her aunt. The film, directed by McLean Nelson and written by Tracy Andreen, takes us through Lolly’s journey as she experiences alternate realities based on different life choices. Starring Lindsay Fonseca, Ian Harding, Miriam Bernstein, and more, this film is a beautiful mix of magical realism and heartwarming storytelling.

What We Liked

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• Visual Appeal: The movie is the most visually appealing Hallmark movie we’ve ever seen. The use of colors, especially the blues and yellows, in scenes like the farmer’s market and the picnic, brought a cohesive and bright visual theme throughout the film.
  
• Natural Performances: Lindsay Fonseca and Ian Harding delivered outstanding performances that felt incredibly natural. Their chemistry made the connection between their characters believable. We also loved all the supporting characters, particularly Miriam Bernstein as Aunt Gert and Stephanie Sy as Eve.
  
• Relatable Themes: The alternate realities were profoundly touching, especially the segments with Lolly’s mom. The choices in each reality came with their consequences, highlighting the butterfly effect of our decisions.
  
• Unique Choices: We enjoyed the director’s choices, such as the camera angles and intimate settings, which made emotional moments stand out more effectively.
  
• Sweet Ending: The ending with Lolly and Rory was sweet and realistic. Despite needing more resolution on their future, the scene at the dock, followed by the unexpected push into the pool by the lively dog, wrapped up the story on a joyful note.
  

What We Wished For

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• More Resolution: We would have liked more clarity on Lolly and Rory’s future. How will Lolly manage her burgeoning lollies pops business while Rory co-parents his daughter? A flash forward or a sequel could address these lingering questions.
  

One specific wish was regarding Lolly telling her sister, Daphne, she couldn’t go to Bali. Daphne, being a grown woman, should make her decisions, and we felt this conversation could have been handled differently.

Moments We Noticed: Did You See That?

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• Hallmark Wine: We’re 99% sure they were drinking Hallmark wine during the picnic scene with Lolly and her mom. The label appeared to have an “H,” and it felt like a fun Easter egg.
  
• ASMR Tingles: This might be the first Hallmark movie to use the phrase “ASMR tingles,” which was a unique inclusion.
  
• Lindsay Fonseca’s Husband Cameo: Thanks to a tip from Girls Gone Hallmark listener Mackie, we learned that one of the dating profiles that pop up for Lolly in the first alternate reality features Lindsay Fonseca’s real-life husband, Noah Bean. His profile message, “Hey girl, what’s up?” added a fun, personal touch to the scene.
  

Final Rating

We gave “The Magic of Lemon Drops” five stars. It was a refreshing change from the usual Hallmark fare, combining magical realism with heartfelt storytelling. This summer feels like a celebration of powerful women with strong performances from Lindsay Fonseca, Autumn Reeser in “Junebug,” and Bethany Joy Lenz in “Savoring Paris.”

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