‘Taking A Shot At Love’ Hallmark Movie Premiere: Trailer, Synopsis, Cast

Christmas has come and gone, and we’ve officially popped the champagne to usher in a New Year—and so has Hallmark, with their January “New Year, New Movies” event. Kicking off the festivities, and the new slate of films coming in 2021, is “Taking A Shot at Love,” starring Alexa PenaVega and Luke Macfarlane.

Neither of the film’s stars should be unfamiliar faces to Hallmark fans, as both have previously featured in several projects before. PenaVega has worked with her husband on titles such as the “Picture Perfect Mysteries” series of films on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries, as well as “Love at Sea,” in the past, and also starred in several other titles. Those include “Christmas Made to Order,” “Enchanted Christmas” and “Ms. Matched.”

As for Macfarlane, his staple titles in recent years have included “The Mistletoe Promise,” “the Birthday wish,” “Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle,” “A Shoe Addict’s Christmas,” “Just Ass Romance,” “Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen,” “A Valentine’s Match” and “Chateau Christmas.”

This will, however, be the first time the two work together on a Hallmark film. So what’s in store for fans? According to a synopsis, a reluctant partnership could turn into something much more.

“Jenna (PenaVega) is a former professional dancer who now teaches ballet to children in her Connecticut town. Jenna’s sports agent cousin convinces her to take on his NHL client Ryan “Coop” Cooper (Macfarlane), a star player for the NY Rangers, who has been nursing the same injury that sidelined Jenna’s dance career years before,” the synopsis reads. “At first, Coop doesn’t embrace the ballet as therapy plan but ultimately agrees to it as it’s his best chance to get back out on the ice and do what he loves. Likewise, Jenna isn’t sold on her cousin’s proposal but her dance school is struggling and the money from this job would allow her to continue to follow her passion and spread her love of dance.”

After both agree to the plan and Ryan moves into her guest house for his lessons and treatment, things predictably get off to a bumpy start, but soon, as the two get to know each other better, things start to change.

“As Jenna and Ryan spend more time together outside of ballet class—taking in the local Winterfest Arts Fair, enjoying game night with her neighbors and best friends during a power outage on a snowy night—it's clear there’s a growing attraction between them,” the synopsis continues.

However, the treatment will soon do what was necessary, the Ryan will need to head back to New York to resume his career—meaning both he and Jenna will need to decide if their futures are what they always wanted, or if they have since both resolved to try something new.

“Jenna and Ryan must each consider the paths they want to take and just maybe, love will find its way,” the synopsis concludes.

Will love find a way to work?

“Taking A Shot At Love” premieres Saturday, Jan. 2 at 9 p.m. EST on Hallmark Channel.