Love in Zion National: A National Park Romance movie review

IN A NUTSHELL:

The romance is directed by Sam Irvin. The writing credits go to Jacob Cooney and Bryar Freed.

Assistant curator, Lauren, is out to prove a set of ancient vases belong to the Pueblo Nation. While in Zion, she meets Adam, a native Puebloan park ranger, who helps her on her mission.

THINGS I LIKED:

• I had never seen any of the actors in anything before. They all did a fine job and include Cindy Busby, David Gridley, Raquel Gardner, Michelle, Murphy, Monique Filips, Bourke Floyd, and Liam Woodrum.
• Zion means “sanctuary.” If you’re hoping this movie will include a lot of beautiful scenery of the famous national park, you’re in for a real treat. The cinematography is gorgeous.
• The movie shows a passion for nature.
• I appreciate that some of the characters work very hard to ensure some ancient artifacts are protected and restored to their rightful owners.
• We learn a little bit about Indian culture.
• It made me laugh that Lauren talked about how she grew up hiking around Zion National Park and knew her way around the national park, but then got lost within minutes. Ha ha
• Fun fact: Zion National Park is 229 square miles of beautiful red rock landscapes and vistas. It’s one of the most filmed national parks in the USA.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• Sadly, the Anasazi disappeared about 1000 years ago, so the plot line of the story doesn’t actually work. I live in Las Vegas near a street called Anasazi! A few years ago, I visited a museum on the UNLV campus that showcased a number of Anasazi artifacts. I wonder why the writers chose to feature the Anasazi Native Americans, rather than an actual tribe that had living descendants today.
• It drove me nuts how Cindy Busby mispronounced the name of the park.
• The leading lady’s character is a bit cocky and unlikeable.
• The difference between the leading couple distracted me. He looked way younger than her. He’s actually 32, although he looks much younger. Cindy Busby is 40 years old.
• Some of the dialogue is not very good.
• It always annoys me when characters hide things from each other and don’t just communicate.
• There was no chemistry between the leading couple. The final kiss was super forced.
• The Kachina doll looked like it was bought out of a souvenir shop rather than a handmade artifact passed down through generations like we were supposed to believe.
• Are hikers allowed to actually light fires in Zions National Park? I’m thinking no. That didn’t seem believable.
• It just looked like not much thought went into the details. For example, the Ranger and museum curator took off for a week-long trek in the park with just a little backpack. Where were their water bottles, food, and supplies?
• She was staying in a big room somewhere on site and didn’t bother to put out the fire in the fireplace right before leaving for a week-long trek in the park. Stuff like that bugs me. How about you?
• It was said that some judge was going to decide on the case any minute now. Without all of the facts or witnesses? That’s not how the law works.
• Shouldn’t the Park Ranger prohibit bad guys from removing artifacts from the park? It’s hard to believe he’s the only Ranger in the entire park.
• As an author coach, I have several clients who write fantastic romantic comedies. I wish Hallmark would tap into their talents rather than try to rush a script through and miss all of the details that make a story rich and enjoyable.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

• The movie is definitely clean enough for family viewing.
• There’s nothing really controversial or offensive in the content.

To see the full review, go to Movie Review Mom YouTube channel!