Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Falling Together’

9/22/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Falling Together’.

It is definitely safe to say, that we are living in some very frustrating times right now. After all, nothing seems to be going right around the globe, mainly because the planet is deeply divided. For war rages over ideology and vendetta and political battles are playing out everywhere and that fury has spilled over into everyday life as well. Since these days so many people have negative things to say, and they are digging in politically as well, and to top it all off, it just feels as though flashing a smile at someone on the street or saying hello, will be met with utter disdain and potentially fury.

Which does beg some serious questions. Such as, what is the real cause of this jaded nature of the world right now? And how on earth do we get away from it? Because it would be nice to lower the temperature and return to a daily life where we don’t have to walk on eggshells and worry through and through. Well, it’s enough of a concern that creatives are starting to ponder upon the answers, because more often than not… storytelling is always a great place to explore such matters and find some actual answers. And it just so happens… that Hallmark opted to offer up a story last night, that does indeed ponder upon how best to answer those questions.

A feat that Falling Together accomplishes by introducing us to Natalie Calder. A happy, go lucky individual that is about to make a big change to her life. In that, she’s accepted a new job at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and is heading there to start a new chapter. Because she’s never lived anywhere else, nor has she taken a chance in this manner and well… at first… her decision to take this gig seems to be a poor one. Simply because her new apartment building is filled to the brim with sour neighbors who don’t speak, and harbors a super named Mark Wallace, that could care less about anything but his job. Which is the opposite of what she is used to, since her prior home was unified. Which prompts Natalie to step in, and try and make life better in her building, to bring a little joy and a little unity to a sour world.

Which is the perfect way to explore how best to answer those two questions. For Natalie’s push to make life better in her building and bring people together uncovers some fascinating things about where we are as a world right now. For starters, her journey informs us and her, that the world is a bit of a traumatized place at the moment and there’s merit to that. Because we just went through some stunningly tough times via the pandemic and through other world events, and trauma can push people to be reserved, to be untrusting of others and that makes for a poignant answer to an important question. One that sets up how we change course on such matters and bring back a measure of kindness.

Which the show theorizes, starts with us, and stars with the little things. Such as showing kindness to strangers or taking the time to listen one another and our troubles so that we all feel as though we matter, that our struggles matter. Not to mention, this story informs us that we also need to just preach unity, and an end to the anger that we see. So, that everyone understands that this isn’t who we are and not what we are about. Which is perhaps a bit of a saccharine message that some will roll their eyes at, but… the movie’s not wrong. After all, a little bit of kindness and an open ear, do wonders, and this story does task us with quite the question… are we doing either of those things enough?

All of which gives rise to a fascinating Hallmark film, one that offers an uplifting journey and a grad examination of a topic that quite frankly, we do need to face right now. Because the temperature is high in the USA and around the world and we can be the ones to bring it down, and that makes for a delightfully heartwarming and satisfying feature. One that truly is thoughtful and lovely and does show us the way when it comes to our biggest concerns about the world right now. And truly… one cannot go wrong with a film that makes a positive message its priority and takes the time to remind us that a simple kind act a day, could make quite the difference in a chaotic world.

Watch ‘Falling Together’

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