Kiss at Pine Lake (2012 TV Movie) User Reviews (13)

enjoyable, takes you back

[asinyne · 7/10 · 20 May 2012]

This is sort of a sweet, sentimental movie. Its not a great film by any means but it is pleasant enough. If you ever attended a summer camp or had a summer girlfriend/boyfriend this might be right up your alley. The scenery is nice and the extensive use of natural lighting was especially memorable. The actor who plays the corporate bad guy wanting to buy and destroy the camp; he is a real hoot and steals a lot scenes. Barry Watson also does a good job as the zany optimist who owns the camp.

...I liked this, the thing that made it for me was the interesting plot device involving the old girlfriend undertaking the mission to buy the camp away from her old summer beau. She is stuck in a fun paradox. While this is hardly heavy drama, there were some pretty touching scenes as old lovers rediscover each other. I almost watched this twice, it was fun.

The Best Way to See the Future is to Remember the Past

[boblipton · 6/10 · 19 May 2012]

This Hallmark Channel TV movie about two kids who had a summer camp romance and in some ways moved on, but in other ways did not is a pretty good romantic comedy for the channel. It is strengthened by some nice photography of the woods-and-lake scenery around the camp and by a change from the usual way that the characters are handled. Like most of them, he's a bit goofy, but successful in the world with a wide streak of philanthropy that leads him to rescue the failing camp where he first met her; she is trying to buy the property for development, but is not the usual brittle-but-ready-to-fall damsel that populates most of these Hallmark romcoms.

The plot line, including the message that we must accept our pasts and not move on, but build from them, is fairly well foreshadowed early on, but it's all very pleasantly executed and if you have any taste for this sort of movie, you'll have a fine time.

Outdoor Cinematography

[kgd50 · 7/10 · 6 October 2019]

Some spectacular outdoor shots on location at Evans Lake, Brackendale British Columbia. (North of Vancouver).

Hallmark

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 10 October 2019]

Luke Garvey and Zoe McDowell have a summer camp fling. They kiss in the end and promise to stay in touch. They don't. Fifteen years later, Luke Garvey (Barry Watson) is a rich philanthropist. He buys the camp to run it as it was during his childhood. The camp is in desperate need of repairs but he is short of cash. Zoe McDowell (Mia Kirshner) is a high-powered lawyer and she is ordered to buy the camp from under the new owner to be torn down.

There is a movie called Indian Summer which has a very similar story. That one is much better but this one is fine. The villain is trying too hard. The pairing of Watson and Kirshner has a sincere romantic feel. They are good together and that keeps the movie going. The plot isn't that complex. It's a very simple romance feel-good Hallmark movie. I just don't like the villain constantly being villainous for every second on screen.

Enjoyable, but I wish they would have devoted more screen time to the younger leads

[rabscuttle-91187 · 6/10 · 29 November 2022]

Overall this is a slightly above-average Hallmark movies, with likable characters, great scenery (with British Columbia standing in for Northern Oregon), some nice scenes of the camp and its buildings & grounds, and no annoying supporting characters (except for Shoreman, who was supposed to be the heavy).

I only wish they had shown more of the actors who played the younger versions of the adult characters, but alas they are only seen for the first few minutes of the film. A few more scenes of them together, especially of the two leads, would have fleshed things out a little more.

The younger actors did a good job in playing the characters as teenagers. Overall, the film would have been better served by showing the chemistry between the leads was really genuine had they had more screen time.

Filmed near Vancouver, BC

[Cilica · 4/10 · 4 August 2020]

The scenery is wonderful, I've grown up at camps like this one or even this one as I live in Vancouver, BC. I gave the movie a 4 because of the location and Barry Watson who is able to carry the movie along. Mia Kirshner drags the movie down with a well I'm here I might as well but I'm choosing not to act . . . The storyline is non-sensical - If a philanthropist buys a run-down camp who knows it needs an upgrade to code. Ok so, where is his money and why is he looking for handouts, and didn't pay the outstanding loans? The buyer would have known the camp would be shut down for upgrades. Dialogue is bad - "who cares about camps anymore, no one goes, they only go to computer camps" - ugh? The movie is poorly written. I think I'll write a Hallmark movie - my dialogue will be improved from here.

I've got camp spirit how bout you

[jewelch · 5/10 · 14 January 2021]

Look, the movie didn't change my life. It didn't have a story line that blew my mind, and the acting isn't genius. With that said, I still gave it 5 stars because I thought it worth watching. It wasn't bad and it is a good movie to watch if you don't want a movie that is all about explosions, manipulation, and all the other garbage. Good, wholesome, and the actors are cute and fun to watch. If you like Hallmark movies you will like this one. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 1/13/2021

The Wonderful Past Depicted at 'This Lake' ***1/2

[edwagreen · 9/10 · 28 May 2012]

One summer of teenage love ends with the summer itself and we then fast forward to 15 years later.

This is still another wonderful Hallmark film as it deals with the reconnecting of the past, and putting good times over money. It's also the story of land Realtors and their greed.

When our young lady, now grown and working for the developer, goes to Pine Lake as the representative of the boss, who wants to buy the land and take apart the camp, she meets her summer love who now owns the camp from his retired uncle.

The two seem to connect and all goes beautifully until he finds out why she came up to the lake.

This is a story of following your dreams, hopes and ambitions. The ending might have been a little inane but it made a very good point.

Camp love

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 27 June 2023]

Watched 'Kiss at Pine Lake' primarily because of liking the idea of the story. It may not be life changing or original, but it did sound very cute and have seen a lot of films recently that went the serious themed route and mostly did it well. Have seen some of the cast in other things and liked them enough to keep watching them, seeing Brennan Elliott in an early supporting role prior to the romantic lead roles he would be cast in regularly later was an interest point.

'Kiss at Pine Lake' was watchable enough and worth a watch for fans of the genre, thanks to a great male lead, good production values, some nice emotional impact and its good intentions. It didn't really wow me though and instead left me with mixed feelings, due to not all the cast working, the romantic chemistry not igniting enough and the flawed story execution. Have certainly seen far worse films recently than 'Kiss at Pine Lake', but also have seen a lot better. This is one of the middling ones.

The best thing about 'Kiss at Pine Lake' is Barry Watson, who is an incredibly likeable and charming lead. There are moments of sweet understated chemistry between him and Mia Kirshner. Generally the supporting cast are more than competent and do sincerely with what they are given.

Furthermore, the production values are attractive with the picturesque scenery being very easy on the eye. The film has enough moments where it is sweet, charming and poignant, and its good intentions in its approach to the subject were obvious and commendable.

However, 'Kiss at Pine Lake' could have been a good deal better. Kirshner looks and sounds bored in her blandly written role. On the whole, her and Watson's chemistry was too lukewarm and took too much time to get anywhere. Do agree that the villain was too overplayed and very annoying, also found him too at odds with the rest of the film. Concerning Elliott, having mentioned him as an interest point in the first paragraph, he definitely went on to much better things, this role doesn't suit him and it looked as if he knew that.

While there are emotional investment and good intentions, for me the story was too draggy and does too little new with familiar and overused territory. The dialogue could have been tighter and less awkward sounding and the ending has a too neat quality.

Concluding, watchable but rather average. 5/10.

Mia Kirshner's Acting Was Painful

[whytejamaican · 3/10 · 25 February 2018]

Whoever the casting director was needs to be fired. Mia Kirshner's acting was so dry, expressionless and void of emotion, that she pulled the movie down. She is aptly named Mia because her personality was M.I.A. in this movie. Barry Watson did a great job and really played his role well. This movie would've been a lot better with a strong female lead and someone that had chemistry with Barry Watson.

Bad even for a stereotypical Hallmark movie

[jalapenoman · 2/10 · 21 May 2012]

This one was awful even for the stereotypical Hallmark movie. The script was awful, the acting was weak, the editing was bad, the continuity was terrible....

It was either this or an NBA playoff game the other night. I should have watched the NBA (and I hate pro basketball).

The actress who played Zoe as a girl was taller than the one who played her as an adult (that's great casting for you).

Most Hallmark movies are overly sentimental and sappy, but are at least entertaining. This one was almost campy funny in places (no pun intended).

Excellent

[buzz41595 · 10/10 · 4 March 2023]

Wow, did this bring back personal memories! I loved this Hallmark Movie and has watched it many times, and it never gets old. Contrary to some other reviews I think it is one of the best love stories on Hallmark. Not only was the storyline great but the musical scores were great as well. This is one of the movies that has a timeless quality to it that I find lacking in most other shows. Perhaps Hallmark take note that this movie has multiple qualities, drama, comedy and a rich storyline. It is now 2023 and the film was released in 2012 but the film doesn't have the 'old' feel to it. I highly recommend Kiss At Pine Lake!h.

Goof "Young Zoe taller" not physiologically correct.

[jgefl · 9/10 · 15 May 2023]

Bonjour,

The said Goof: (The actress who plays Zoe as a teenager is taller than the actress who plays the character as an adult) is not a goof.

At 8-12 years old, girls are often taller than boys.

At ±15 years old, girls stop growing up. Feminine hormones result.

At ±15 years old, boys continue to grow up until ±19 years old.

Voilà ! This is why Luke is taller at 30 years old.

Merci de votre attention,

Jean-Guy Émond :-)

TO FILL THE SPACES : A boy and a girl fall in love during summer camp and promise to stay in touch, but they don't. Fifteen years later they meet again in the same camp under very different circumstances. What will happen to the camp and will they try again?