The Stars Between Us Review: Hallmark’s Eclipse Romance Falls Short

Hallmark Channel’s Loveuary lineup promised sweeping romance under rare celestial skies. The Stars Between Us, though, has sparked a surprisingly divided reaction.

It’s centered on a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse and a connection that flickers across seven years. The film aims for cosmic destiny, but one sharp-tongued critic wonders if this love story was written in the stars—or just lost in orbit.

A Romance Written in the Stars… or Just in Theory?

The premise is undeniably swoon-worthy. During a historic solar eclipse in Carbondale, Illinois, two strangers meet in the Path of Totality.

Malcolm Brooks, a brainy applied physics PhD candidate with a serious telescope setup, crosses paths with Kim Gallagher. She’s an astronomy enthusiast waiting for her fiancé to return with eclipse glasses.

Their connection is instant, electric, and intellectually charged. They bond over the cosmos.

She encourages his passion. He feels seen in a way he hasn’t in years.

And then—just like the eclipse—it’s over. Blink and you’ll miss it.

A Seven-Year Cosmic Cliffhanger

Fast-forward seven years. The universe lines up again: another eclipse, the same town, and the same two people, now changed by life.

Kim is divorced, trying to balance motherhood with a shaky return to her career as a part-time Chicago newswriter. Malcolm is now an astronomy professor in Arizona, chasing academic validation and hoping to publish a manuscript with help from his elusive mentor, Dr. Stanley Longford.

On paper, this is Hallmark gold—fate, timing, second chances. But here’s where things start to wobble.

The Problem With Almost Love

The biggest critique lobbed at The Stars Between Us is that the central romance feels more theoretical than tangible. Kim and Malcolm, supposedly the heart of the story, only meaningfully interact three times across the entire film.

That’s a risky move for a romance built on destiny. Instead of watching their relationship unfold, viewers are mostly told about their connection rather than shown it.

In a genre that thrives on lingering glances and emotional build-up, that absence is glaring. You can’t help but notice what’s missing.

When the Side Characters Steal the Show

Ironically, the emotional heft of the film doesn’t belong to the star-crossed leads at all. It’s the supporting cast that brings real spark.

Sarah Drew shines as Kim, bringing warmth and vulnerability to a woman who feels she pressed pause on her dreams. But it’s her dynamic with coworker Claire, played by Donna Benedicto, that gives the movie its most authentic moments.

Their friendship feels lived-in, supportive, and refreshingly real. Then there’s Reed, the awkward first-time segment producer and nephew of Kim’s boss.

What starts as mild comic relief turns into a surprisingly heartfelt arc of professional growth and personal confidence. Even Claire’s budding romance with Malcolm’s friend Travis develops more convincingly than the main love story.

That’s a twist I didn’t see coming, and maybe the filmmakers didn’t either.

A Unique Concept That Doesn’t Fully Ignite

Let’s give credit where it’s due: building a romance around solar eclipses is wonderfully original. Hallmark has done its share of small-town bakers and Christmas princes, so anchoring a love story to a rare celestial event feels fresh and ambitious.

But originality alone can’t carry a film. You need more than a clever premise.

Clunky Dialogue and Missed Emotional Beats

Several moments stumble under the weight of awkward, overly explanatory dialogue. Instead of letting chemistry simmer, the script leans into wordy exchanges about cosmic phenomena and destiny.

The result? More cringey than charming. One particularly amusing interaction involves Malcolm being questioned about whether his mentor is the coolest astronomer of all time.

The exchange highlights a light awkwardness that works better comedically than romantically. Unfortunately, these moments point to a deeper issue: we learn about Malcolm’s academic pursuits, but we don’t really get to know him as a person.

Beyond his passion for the cosmos, his emotional interior remains frustratingly vague. You’re left wanting more.

Kim’s Story Is the Real Heartbeat

If there’s one emotional throughline that resonates, it’s Kim’s professional and personal comeback. She returns to work after five years of raising her daughter, already feeling behind.

Her on-camera freeze during a broadcast is painfully relatable. The pressure of proving herself—as a journalist and as a woman rediscovering her ambition—adds genuine stakes.

A Career Comeback Worth Rooting For

Her decision to volunteer to cover the eclipse becomes more than a plot device. It’s symbolic—she’s stepping back into the Path of Totality, both literally and figuratively.

The mentorship and camaraderie she shares with Claire and even Reed feel more earned than her romantic destiny with Malcolm. That’s both the film’s strength and its Achilles heel.

Is It a Stream or a Skip?

The critic’s verdict leans firmly toward skip it. The reasoning boils down to a few key issues:

• Underdeveloped central romance that lacks screen time and depth
• Telling rather than showing when it comes to emotional connection
• Side characters with stronger chemistry than the main couple
• Dialogue that veers into clunky territory instead of charming

Yet, it’s not a total wash. Fans of Sarah Drew might still find plenty to enjoy in her layered portrayal of a woman rebuilding her life.

If you love astronomy-themed romances like One Starry Christmas or Love Amongst the Stars, you might appreciate the cosmic backdrop. There’s something about eclipses and second chances that’s hard to resist, even if the film doesn’t quite stick the landing.

The Hallmark Formula vs. Risk-Taking

What makes this entry fascinating is how it tries to stretch the Hallmark formula. It dares to hinge its love story on timing, missed chances, and emotional maturity rather than instant proximity.

But bold ideas need bold execution. Without sustained interaction between its leads, the concept feels like a promise never fully realized.

Final Thoughts: A Love Story That Almost Aligns

The Stars Between Us kicks off with a striking metaphor: love as rare and fleeting as a total solar eclipse. That idea lingers—the thought that some connections burn bright, vanish, and maybe, if the universe feels generous, reappear years later when the timing is finally right.

Honestly, it’s a beautiful setup. But the emotional punch just doesn’t quite get there.

What actually sticks with you are the friendships. The career redemption arcs. Those side romances that, weirdly enough, end up stealing the spotlight.

The film’s got charm, sure. Still, it doesn’t quite make its main love story feel like destiny—at least, not for me.

If you’re in the mood for a gentle, low-stakes Hallmark escape with a cosmic twist, maybe give it a shot. But if you want a sweeping, heart-thumping romance that leaves you reeling, this eclipse might just pass by without much shadow at all.