Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Bea Swanson This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Antoine J. Bachmann (warning: mild spoilers)take a simple but cute idea, the desperate guy abandoned by his fiancée, flies from the UK to the US (supposed to be Maine, but actually filmed in British Columbia), chooses his destination because the town is called "Hope", and on day two meets the cutest sweetest girl in the whole region, but also with a wild fun side so you don't get bored.add some pretty solid names in acting: Colin Firth (sure he was less famous then), Minnie Driver. Add a cute blonde who can act namely Heather Graham. In the "supporting" roles put actors of such caliber that they can do much better than just "support": Mary Steenburgen, Frank Collison, and of course Oliver Platt (who was nicely leaner back then).so, in theory, you could have done something bordering on the very good, cute, touching, powerful, and so on.but, unfortunately, the script lacks power, the direction lacks power, the whole plot logic could have been made both better and denser.so at the end of the day, we're left with a film which is fine to watch on a lazy evening with the wife, and has its cute moments - but could have been seriously better. Maybe it was too ambitious, too big budget a film, to good a crew of actors, for director Mark Hermann. Too bad.

Spikeopath Hope Springs is directed by Mark Herman, who also writes the screenplay from the novel "New Cardiff" written by Charles Webb. It stars Colin Firth, Heather Graham, Minnie Driver, Mary Steenburgen, Frank Collison and Oliver Platt. Shot on location in British Columbia, photography is by Ashley Rowe and the music by John Altman. Plot sees Firth as a depressed artist, who after being dumped by his fiancée, Vera (Driver), retreats to little town Vermont for some R & R. However, when he meets odd care home nurse Mandy (Graham), an unlikely romance begins to form, but Vera turns up to try and put a spanner in the works.The sort of film that you watch because there is nothing else on and you want a light and breezy time filler before going to bed. For an hour, Herman's film delivers on its quirky promise, boasting genuine laughs, good acting performances and a zippy soundtrack (Ash/Blink 182/Garbage). But then it runs out of steam and you find yourself wondering just what is the point of the central romance? Is it just a case of two people finding each other in unusual circumstances? Because, like, love is everywhere! These basic rom-com values are easy to stomach (why else watch a rom-com?), as long as the comedy is broad and fills out the narrative to the end. But that doesn't happen here and the supporting character actors are badly wasted: very annoying in the case of Steenburgen, who playing the foxy/slinky hotel owner had a character that had the potential to provide more laughs in the story.On the plus side it's good fare from Firth, even tho it's about as challenging as asking him to read a book, and Graham can't be accused of lacking gusto and petite charm. While "Mr Unique Face" Frank Collison gets a bit more dialogue than he usually does in films. There's also much to enjoy with Ashley Rowe's photography, some lovely choice of colour lenses for the Autumnal back drop. It's a blip on the CV of director Herman, a CV that boasts the likes of Brassed Off, Little Voice & The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas, but you sense that the material could have made for a great movie. But what started off so well sadly descends into being laborious and unadventurous. 5/10

Gordon-11 This film is about an English artist who goes to Hope in America to forget his sorrow after discovering that his fiancée is about to marry someone else."Hope Springs" is a light-hearted, bubbly, energetic and fun comedy. The story is vibrantly fun and engaging. It successfully balances between the typically English polite long-winded dialog and vibrant fun. These polar opposites clash together and create great chemistry. The main characters, Mandy and Colin are likable and sweet, which is essential in an enjoyable romantic comedy. I enjoyed watching "Hope Springs" a lot, I think it deserved to be a commercial success.

gnewikowsm-1 I was seriously disappointed with this film which I felt lacked in romance and comedy. However, this man, though fighting some issues lives out every man's dream... two beautiful women fighting over him both of which are eager to just strip and jump all over him, without the man having to do any persuading and he actually asks them not to (very unrealistic and definitely NOT romantic). And the one who the "romance" is suppose to occur with asks this depressed man, recently broken up with his fiancé' to go somewhere to help as a friend then proceeds to down an entire bottle of alcohol like it was water then drive him high speed through town running stop lights and the like to return to his apartment where she quickly strips to dance naked and "free" in front of him.... wow! Oh yeah, they only met the day before this (How Romantic!!NOT!!) And the whole movie is just as odd! I am so glad that I only rented this movie!