Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving is the latest installment of the Hallmark Channel’s four-part Hearts Around the Table film series. This time, the found family-centered franchise revolves around the former foster son and current educator, Josh (Jake Epstein), and his rivalry-turned-romance with new teacher Ella (Stephanie Bennett). Josh wants to secure funding for his sports team, while Ella wants it for the afterschool music group. But perhaps in the midst of their clash for the cash, there’s a real chance that sparks will fly.
The Gist: Longtime foster parent Angie Hartman (Mindy Cohn) has taken in a new child in music-loving teen Gina Taylor (Millie Davis), who will become a new student at East Heights High School, where Angie’s former foster kid, Josh Adler (Jake Epstein), works as a math teacher and championship winning track coach. In addition to Josh, Gina will also receive the help of foster brother Rory Nelson (Justice James) and Angie’s other former foster kids who are now all grown up: Jenna Whitaker (Ashley Newbrough), Shari Adams (Mishael Morgan), and Kiki Mercer (Kathryn Davis).
Ella Hawthorne (Stephanie Bennett) is the new English teacher who has just come to the suburban public school from teaching at a private institution right in Washington D.C. On her first day of work, she gets a little turned around, and Josh kindly helps point her in the right direction. Gina is not only one of Ella’s new students, but she’s also one of the few members of the struggling afterschool music club that Ella is now in charge of. When they’re both dismayed to find the music room neglected and falling apart, Ella is inspired to take rehearsal outside, drawing the attention and annoyance of Josh, who is coaching the track team nearby. Their bickering is only interrupted by the school principal (Al Bernstein), who breaks the bad news that all school activities will soon have their funding cut in half.
This sparks a little rivalry between Josh and Ella as they each plead their case to the PTA for why they deserve to be the one program worth funding. In the process of their fight to get their beloved students the support and facilities they deserve, the two teachers end up learning more about one another and even come to the conclusion that maybe they could get everything they want if they team up instead. At the same time, Angie and Kiki help Gina to get to the root of her learning difficulties, and Jenna’s boyfriend, Andrew (Steve Lund), tries to find a way to propose. There’s a lot going on, but this found family is determined to make it through, leaning on each other every step of the way.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving might remind you of some other Hallmark movies about teachers, like To Her, With Love, which features educators falling in love while working together to save the school art department.
Performance Worth Watching: It was said in the reviews for Hearts Around The Table: Jenna’s First Love and Hearts Around The Table: Shari’s Second Act, but it remains true that Mindy Cohn is the standout of the Hearts Around the Table film franchise. She is effortlessly likable and earnest as devoted foster mother Angie from the very start.
Memorable Dialogue: “Veggies in tummy makes cupcakes more yummy.” Something about a grown man saying this is kind of haunting. What’s even crazier is that this is Josh’s first line in the movie. Really sets the tone for his vibe.
Sex and Skin: None.
Our Take: Found family is a sweet trope, but even the warmth of Angie and her brood of past and present foster kids isn’t enough to make Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving feel like a must-watch movie. In any romance, the story and its success tend to hinge on the central couple, but unfortunately, I don’t think that Josh and Ella have what it takes to keep viewers feeling invested and satisfied. While a rivals-to-lovers relationship can be a very enticing arc, the two characters lack the depth, personality, and charm to pull it off. Quick back-and-forth quips and dialogue don’t always equate to wit or romantic tension, and it also doesn’t make up for a lack of chemistry.
I think that from his first line, Josh is just a bit off-putting, as he takes Hallmark romance cheesiness to another level with a “Where’s my hug at?” cringy vibe that was probably intended to be more of an awkwardly charming Nice Guy persona. Ella just feels a bit two-dimensional in comparison, like this fantasy of a teacher that Josh can project onto. I mean, even if it’s an accident, he kind of commands her plans and poaches her funding, and I know that he fixes it, but she still forgives him awfully fast… and even proclaims her love for him. What has it been, a month? I know that this is normal for romance movies, but they didn’t really ever make you feel engaged enough to have you feeling on board with everything by the end.
The highlights for me were the moments between Angie, Kiki, and Gina. These found family scenes are where the movie shines and is a solid base for the Hearts Around the Table series to be built upon. However, these ladies’ engaging instances of support and connection aren’t the main focus of this movie and therefore aren’t enough to make the entire tale a triumph.
Our Call: With a central romance and two main characters that are underwhelming and difficult to feel truly invested in, Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving ultimately feels a bit hollow. Maybe if I’d watched the previous two films, I’d feel more connected to Josh and his story, but if you’re like me and this is your first taste of Hearts Around the Table, I’d say this one is worth passing on. SKIP IT.
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