Review

October Kiss: Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

As soon as the first notes of the cheerful, generic instrumental music waft through the air, you know you're in for a classic Hallmark experience. "October Kiss", with its cutesy title that sounds like it was brainstormed during a pumpkin spice latte binge, is the reason Hallmark movies exist — and why we secretly love them.

In classic Hallmark holiday movie fashion, "October Kiss" follows Poppy, a perennially peppy protagonist with an enthusiasm for autumn that borders on the maniacal. She's the kind of person who not only runs through a pumpkin patch with childlike joy but might also be found arguing with leaves about whether they've reached peak color yet. Spoiler alert: they haven’t.

The plot pivots around Poppy's most significant challenge yet: babysitting her widowed boss's kids. Naturally, she's just as good at engaging with little humans as she is at pairing scarves with her outfits. Of course, it wouldn't be a Hallmark favorite without the professional man in need of a little spontaneity in his life. Enter Ryan, the businessman with an endless supply of suits and zero knowledge of what a "fun-sized" Halloween candy bar is.

As Poppy charms her way through baking pumpkin cookies and decorating the house in every shade of orange imaginable, Ryan inevitably finds himself falling under the spell of her contagious enthusiasm and decorative gourds. If you've seen any Hallmark holiday movies, you already know where this is headed: magical fall-themed love with a kiss as inevitable as the changing seasons.

"October Kiss" sprinkles just the right amount of Halloween whimsy that makes it the perfect background noise for carving a pumpkin or contemplating the fleeting nature of PSL season. It might not win any Oscars, but it definitely captures that feel-good, cozy vibe that makes you reach for a knit blanket and a mug of hot chocolate you definitely don't need.

So, if you're looking for a formulaic but fun romp through crunchy leaves and predictable romantic misadventures, "October Kiss" is your kettle corn. Just remember, in the magical world of Hallmark, every autumn breeze brings the whisper of love and a reminder that sometimes, October kisses are the sweetest of all.