This documentary is nearly twenty years old now, and it follows a gay couple as they navigate the stressful and exciting journey of their first pregnancy through surrogacy. You get to see it all— the hope, the nerves, and the dramatic hurdles they have to clear along the way. Back in the day, this was probably a massive deal, but since I’ve known a few gay couples who’ve gone through this exact process, some parts felt a bit dated to me. I liked bits and pieces of it, but I also felt like the film stays pretty surface-level. It doesn't really dive into the deep, complicated reality of life after the baby actually arrives. If only raising a kid were actually as simple as this movie makes it look! Erik and Mark have been together in New York for ten years, and since they feel solid in their relationship, they decide they’re ready to raise a child. They start the hunt for a surrogate and eventually connect with Wen, a wife and mom from Maine who agrees to carry the baby for a standard...
Ellie and Leo are best friends. Ellie is a former concert pianist who’s begrudgingly working in hospitality and event planning. Leo is a successful romance novelist with writer’s block and has been single for a while. Ellie gets fired for being too distracted at her latest job, the two friends come up with an idea to swap their homes. Ellie will go to Leo’s house in the country to clear her head, and Leo will go to Ellie’s apartment in the city to find new inspiration for his novel. What happens is destined. Leo's neighbor and friend Sam ropes Ellie into helping a string quartet get ready for a performance, thereby not only igniting the parked musician inside her and eventually also maybe finding love. On the other hand, enter Matt, a chef friend of Ellie, who not only catches Leo's attention but also someone who inspires and encourages him to write something new. Of course, during the Cours the two men also realize that they both may finally have found some love in each other because they both make each other a better person. Of course, as expected, there is a minimal drama of sorts, where both Ellie and Leo purposely don't follow their heart since they know they have to go back home eventually, but they come to senses and decide to listen to their heart and let destiny take its own course.
This is a quintessential holiday autumn movie, the like that you see around Christmas when we are overloaded with such movies. The kind of movies, which you can watch and enjoy right when they come and around the season they are meant to be seen. Rightly so, as you an imagine form the title, this is a fall movie. We’re talking leaves, we’re talking warm tones, sweaters, blazers, puffy vests, and steaming cups of coffee. This isn’t just notes of autumn — it’s a whole symphony of autumn! Notes of Autumn uses the trimmings of the fall season to decorate every scene, kinda like how the holiday romances pack every set with evergreens and snow. It will make you feel like it’s fall even if the actual weather outside doesn’t. And that is what this film is trying to do. If you start nitpicking the story details, it is very predictable and honestly doesn't offer anything new. It's the chatters that try to make it charming. Ellie is an eternal optimist, who is trying to put down he love of music and realize her true potential and love both in profession and for a person. As a renowned author dealing with writer's block, Leo does a good job of playing his part. As predictable as the film is, it is held together by its four leads and the charm they exude, even though at time it feels too much and maybe a bit unreal in 2023. But hey, aren't films supposed to be a medium for disbelief. Finding love for love and not lust was clearly the aim here. And all you get are two kisses towards the end. I enjoyed the character set-up, and the natural flow of the film. It was relatable instead of sensational, and I loved that.
This film delivers exactly what it promises as a Hallmark film. A holiday quintessential romantic film and this time with a gay storyline too. Watch it with the exact expectations and it delivers what ir promises. Nothing more, nothing less. (6.5/10)
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