LOVE ON RETREAT

LOVE ON RETREAT is a romantic comedy on UPtv about a young overworked woman who finds herself attracted to her demanding female boss’ handsome, adventure-seeking brother when her boss orders her to work with the brother to develop activities for the company’s annual retreat in Clearwater, Florida. LOVE ON RETREAT features funny well-written scenes, fun chemistry between the romantic leads and a pro-family message, but there are references to being more “zen-like” and three scenes about doing a morning yoga-stretching exercise class during the retreat.

As the movie opens, Jenny Lee has her hands full working as her boss, Gwen’s, personal assistant and social media manager. Her day starts with doing a livestream makeup tip on the company’s website. Gwen enters the office just as Jenny finishes the livestream video. However, when Jenny tries to tell Gwen about a new idea Jenny has for the company’s brick and mortar store, Gwen informs her she’s decided to close the store and focus only on online sales. It’s then that Jenny realizes she forgot to turn off the livestream broadcasts. As a result, Gwen’s decision to close the store was just broadcast to all their customers, who aren’t at all pleased about the decision.

Gwen’s younger brother, Nate, suddenly arrives, causing another comical problem. Then, Gwen informs Jenny that closing the company’s brick and mortar store is not the only big change she’s making. Gwen also wants to change her company’s focus from just makeup products to a wellness business that also offers people tips on how to achieve mental and emotional health, not just physical health and skincare. Also, Gwen wants Jenny to work with Nate to develop wellness activities for the company’s employees at the upcoming retreat.

On the retreat, Jenny starts working with Nate, but she discovers Nate has been an adventure-seeking world traveler who’s done sky diving, free climbing and even swimming with sharks. At the retreat, Gwen also informs Jenny she’s looking to create a new social media team for the new wellness company. However, Gwen tells Jenny she doesn’t think Jenny is right for the new job. Jenny pleads with Gwen to let her compete for the job. Gwen agrees, but only if Jenny works with Nate to find a better work-life balance. When Jenny asks what that means, Gwen tells her to work with Nate and let him “guide you to your zen.”

The problem is, Nate can’t define for Jenny how to be more zen. He says he just “goes with the flow” and tries to be open to whatever adventure comes his way. I can go with the flow, Jenny says.

A complication occurs when Nate learns that the person his sister is thinking of hiring for the new social media position is none other than his old girlfriend, Brooke, who suddenly broke off their engagement a few years ago. Jenny learns she’ll be competing with Brooke for the job, but Nate doesn’t tell Jenny that Brooke and he used to be engaged.

So, when Nate and Jenny start to fall for each other, what will happen when Jenny finds out about their past?

LOVE ON RETREAT has many funny moments. For example, the movie makes fun of the boss’ penchant for concocting sour-tasting green health smoothies with lemon and pepper. Also, there’s some really nice chemistry between Ansley Gordon and Jonathan Stoddard as Jenny and Nate. When their characters share some laughs together, viewers do too.

LOVE ON RETREAT has some pro-family values. For example, Nate learns that Jenny has a good relationship with her mother and her sister, and Nate decides he’d like to have a closer relationship with his own sister. Also, Nate tells Jenny he’s starting to think that he’d like to settle down and start a family of his own.

The movie has no faith content, however. It’s also marred by the comical references to becoming more “zen like.” Finally, there are three scenes during the retreat where Nate and Jenny lead brief yoga stretching exercises in the morning.