To Barcelona, With Love left me so disappointed that I put off watching Barcelona, Forever, dreading another letdown starring Alison Sweeney and Ashley Williams. I was genuinely afraid. I genuinely dislike writing negative reviews, and critiquing that film was tough. But this time, I’m excited—because Barcelona, Forever completely won me over.
I fell in love not just with the movie, but with its characters, the accents, and the charm of Spain itself. It all has to do with chemistry and the execution of that chemistry.
While the first film was a fresh direction for Hallmark, its execution faltered. A female-led franchise featuring two of Hallmark’s most notable stars was promising, but the lack of chemistry between Allison Sweeney and Alejandro Tous, as well as a lackluster story that made it fall flat.
In contrast, Barcelona, Forever thrives on the undeniable chemistry between Miguel Brocca and Ashley Williams. Their dynamic and onscreen chemistry had me sat. I was hooked on the tropes. The classic tropes—enemies to lovers and a fake engagement—were used effectively, keeping me genuinely curious about what would happen next.
The film opens with Erica getting engaged to Nico and Anna returning to Barcelona for the celebration. Erica is struggling to start her first book, while Anna has become a successful travel writer. Their lives have evolved, and their friendship feels natural, unsurprising given the real-life friendship between Sweeney and Williams.
But what truly elevates this film isn’t the friendship—it’s the electricity between Javier and Anna. Miguel Brocca and Ashley Williams convincingly capture the magic of love at first sight. We have said it before and will say it again – love those two. They are what made Barcelona, Forever such a joy to watch.
Anna and Javier don’t exactly meet under the best of circumstances. While dining at a restaurant in Spain, Anna falls in love with a dish made with a rare, limited-edition saffron. Intrigued, she tries to buy some, only to be shocked by the high price. She voices her skepticism, unaware that the man standing behind her is from the very family that grows the saffron. Her blunt reaction is awkward, but also human—she simply doesn’t understand its value.
That moment reflects Anna’s charm: her innocence, vulnerability, as well as her fierce ambition to make travel writing her career. She finds joy in the little things, and that makes her a character you can’t help but root for. As fate continues to bring her and Javier together, it starts to feel like something bigger is at play. We are always here for what is bigger and fate.
One unexpected evening together changes everything for the two. They connect deeply, and though both are headed in different directions, it’s clear they don’t want the night to end. H*** we don’t want the night to end. Before parting, Javier takes a leap and kisses her – a moment that may or may not have earned some cheers from the couch.
Javier doesn’t expect to see Anna again. His life is intentionally private, so much so that his family’s town isn’t even on the map. But in classic rom-com fashion, fate intervenes. Anna’s car won’t charge, and with no lodging nearby, she prepares to sleep in her vehicle—until Javier insists she stay at his house.
His family, steeped in tradition, complicates things further. What Anna doesn’t know is that when she first met Javier, he was on his way to meet a matchmaker. His family expects him to marry before the saffron harvest. So when they discover Anna in his home, they mistake her for his fiancée—and are absolutely thrilled.
Javier is a man weighed down by secrets and family expectations. He’s torn between honoring their traditions and pursuing the life he actually wants. In a twist of convenience, he and Anna agree to pretend they’re engaged. It is a lie that benefits them both for very different reasons.
Meanwhile, Erica arrives in Javier’s secluded, unknown town to support Anna, all while confronting her own struggles. She’s wrestling with fear—fear of what she’s writing, and what she isn’t. Like many writers, she’s caught in a moment of identity shift, unsure of who she is or where she’s headed. But if she wants to chase her dreams, she has no choice but to face that fear head-on.
Of course, Nico eventually shows up, and while his presence is meant to complicate things, the lack of chemistry between him and Erica makes their scenes fall flat. Honestly, watching them interact was like watching paint dry—awkward, dull, and hard to sit through.
As expected, the truth about Anna and Javier’s “engagement” eventually comes out. And while the reveal feels inevitable, there were moments surrounding it that didn’t sit right. Javier’s family invades Erica’s privacy, and no one calls it out, which feels like a violation and should’ve been addressed. Similarly, when Erica exposes Anna’s secret, it felt like there should’ve been more fallout. But Anna, instead of reacting with anger, simply understands.
And maybe that’s part of what makes Anna so compelling—her empathy, even when it’s not entirely deserved.
By the end, relationships are mended and family dynamics addressed. It’s hard to say, but I truly wasn’t interested in most of it. I was interested in the love that was developing.
What stood out most was how Javier and Anna’s relationship wasn’t rushed. Instead, it unfolded naturally, with time, tension, moments of understanding, and tenderness.
Anna finds comfort in living with Javier’s family, and through it all, she falls in love—not just with Javier, but with the life they begin to imagine together. When Javier tells her he can’t picture a future without her, it doesn’t feel forced and fake —it feels honest. Their story isn’t perfect, and their lives are complicated, but they’re willing to figure it out.
Who doesn’t love that?
As for Erica and Nico, they do get married, though the film brushes over their story with a quick scene of them leaving a chapel. I honestly was disinterested. Their relationship lacked spark, and I found myself wishing those final minutes had been spent on Javier and Anna instead.
If there’s ever a sequel focused solely on Javier and Anna, I’d watch it in a heartbeat. Barcelona, Forever wasn’t flawless, but it gave us a couple with real chemistry and the promise of a love story worth exploring.
It was absolutely worth watching.
