Finding a movie that feels like a warm blanket is kinda the whole point of Hallmark’s Fall Harvest lineup, isn't it? Honestly, Falling for Vermont hits that sweet spot perfectly. It follows a stressed-out author, Angela Young, who decides to ditch her hectic book tour, ends up in a car accident during a storm, and—classic trope alert—wakes up with zero memory of who she is. She gets taken in by a handsome local doctor in a town so charming it feels like a postcard. But the real reason this movie stays on repeat for so many fans isn't just the maple syrup aesthetic; it’s the chemistry. The cast of Falling for Vermont managed to take a predictable "amnesia in a small town" plot and make it feel surprisingly sincere.
Most people recognize the leads immediately. You've got Julie Gonzalo and Benjamin Ayres steering the ship, and their rapport is what prevents the movie from drifting into "too cheesy to watch" territory. It’s that specific brand of Hallmark magic where you know exactly how it ends, but you’re still rooting for the characters to figure it out.
Julie Gonzalo as the Lost Best-Selling Author
Julie Gonzalo plays Angela Young, or "Elizabeth" as the town calls her while she’s trying to piece her brain back together. If Gonzalo looks familiar, it’s probably because she’s been a staple in both high-stakes TV and romantic comedies for years. She was the "mean girl" Parker Lee in Veronica Mars and later starred as Pamela Rebecca Barnes on the Dallas reboot.
In this film, she has to play two very different versions of the same person. There’s the high-strung, over-scheduled Angela we see at the beginning, and then there’s the softened, curious version of her that emerges in the Vermont woods. Gonzalo brings a vulnerability to the role that makes you actually feel for her confusion. It’s not just "oh no, I forgot my name," it’s more of a "maybe I like this version of myself better."
She’s spoken in interviews before about how filming these movies is a bit of a whirlwind—usually shot in about three weeks—but her performance here doesn't feel rushed. She makes the transition from a city-slicker icon to a woman who enjoys teaching kids and making cider feel earned.
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Benjamin Ayres: The Doctor Next Door
Then we have Benjamin Ayres. He plays Dr. Jeff Callis, a widower and father who is basically the human embodiment of a flannel shirt. Ayres is a Hallmark veteran, but many people actually know him from the medical drama Saving Hope, where he played Dr. Zach Miller.
The dynamic between him and Gonzalo is the engine of the movie. Jeff isn't just a love interest; he's the person providing the safety net Angela didn't know she needed. Ayres plays the role with a specific kind of quiet patience. He isn't pushing her to remember; he's just letting her exist. It’s a nice change from the typical "will-they-won-t-they" where the guy is overly aggressive or arrogant.
Jeff has two kids in the movie, played by Lauren McNamara and Christian Convery. These aren't just background props. The interaction between the cast of Falling for Vermont kids and Gonzalo’s character is what builds the emotional stakes. When "Elizabeth" starts helping them with their problems, the audience starts dreading the moment her real identity is inevitably revealed.
The Supporting Players Making Hopkin’s Gove Feel Real
A movie like this lives or dies by its secondary characters. If the town feels empty, the romance feels fake.
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- Peter Benson as Brad: Brad is Angela’s manager and boyfriend back in the "real world." Benson is great at playing characters who are technically "the wrong guy" without being a total villain. He's just... wrong for her. He views Angela as a brand to be managed, which contrasts sharply with how Jeff sees her.
- Barbara Kottmeier as Cynthia: She plays the sisterly figure/town friend role. Every Hallmark town needs that one person who facilitates the gossip and helps the newcomer fit in.
- Jenn Griffin as Mrs. Beane: The quirky local presence that adds flavor to the small-town vibe.
Why the Cast of Falling for Vermont Stands Out
Usually, amnesia plots are frustrating. You’re sitting there yelling at the screen, "Just look at a newspaper!" or "Check your car registration!" But the writing and the acting choices here make the delay feel plausible. Angela’s car ended up in a ravine, and she had no ID on her. The town of Hopkin’s Grove (which, fun fact, was actually filmed in British Columbia, not Vermont) feels isolated enough that you buy into the premise.
What’s interesting is how the cast of Falling for Vermont handles the climax. When Brad finally tracks her down, the tension isn't just about the lie—it’s about the loss of the life she just built. Peter Benson plays the "discovery" scene with a mix of relief and business-like detachment that makes you realize why Angela was so stressed in the first place.
Misconceptions About the Filming Locations
One thing fans always get wrong is where this movie was shot. People flock to Vermont every fall looking for Hopkin's Grove. You won't find it.
Like a huge chunk of Hallmark’s catalog, this was filmed in Canada. Specifically, areas around Agassiz and Squamish in British Columbia. The production designers did a killer job of making the Pacific Northwest look like the Northeast. They swapped out the local flora, focused on the "leaf peeping" colors, and leaned heavily into the maple syrup motifs. If you look closely at some of the mountain peaks in the background, they're a little too jagged for the Green Mountains of Vermont, but for most viewers, the illusion holds up perfectly.
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The Chemistry Factor
Why does this specific group of actors work so well? It’s the lack of ego. In a lot of TV movies, you can tell when an actor feels "above" the material. You don't get that here. Gonzalo and Ayres have worked together in the Hallmark universe multiple times, including the Chronicle Mysteries series. That pre-existing comfort level means they don't have to spend the first half of the movie "finding" their rhythm. They already have it.
Behind the Scenes Tidbits
- Christian Convery, who played the son, went on to become a huge star in Netflix’s Sweet Tooth. Seeing him here as a young kid is a trip for fans of his later work.
- The movie was directed by David Weaver, who is a pro at the "Fall" aesthetic. He knows exactly how to light a scene to make the orange and yellow leaves pop against the actors' skin tones.
- The script was written by Jennifer Notas Shapiro, who has a knack for writing female leads who are successful but unfulfilled—a staple of the genre.
Actionable Steps for Fans of the Cast
If you loved the cast of Falling for Vermont, you don't have to stop there. These actors are incredibly prolific in this specific niche of television.
- Follow the Lead Duo: Check out the Chronicle Mysteries. It’s a series of movies where Julie Gonzalo and Benjamin Ayres play a podcaster and a journalist solving crimes. It’s a bit darker than Falling for Vermont but carries that same incredible lead chemistry.
- Explore the "Fall Harvest" Backlog: If it’s the Vermont vibe you’re after, Sweet Autumn and Falling for You (another Tyler Hynes/Taylor Cole classic) offer similar atmospheric beats.
- Track the Kids' Careers: Keep an eye on Christian Convery’s projects. It’s rare for a Hallmark kid actor to transition into major prestige TV, but he’s the exception.
- Watch for Re-Airings: Hallmark usually puts this on a heavy rotation starting in late September. It's often paired with The Birthday Wish, which also stars Peter Benson.
There is something deeply satisfying about watching a character lose everything only to find a better version of themselves. The cast of Falling for Vermont sells that journey with enough heart to make you forget you're watching a movie that was filmed in 15 days in a town that doesn't exist. It’s comfort food for the brain, and sometimes, that’s exactly what the doctor—Jeff Callis, preferably—ordered.
Instead of just re-watching the same three scenes, try looking into the other collaborations between Gonzalo and Ayres. Their work on the Chronicle Mysteries provides a much deeper look at their acting range while keeping that familiar rapport that made their Vermont outing so memorable.