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Photo Credit: Chris Helcermanas-Benge/Hallmark and ABC

[Warning: General spoilers in photos, article, and video.]

Katharine McPhee (Smash) and Mike Vogel (Under the Dome) headline ABC’s newest installment of the Hallmark Hall of Fame franchise, a romantic confection called In My Dreams. A thematic cousin to The Lake House with dreams standing in for time-jumping letters, the film is a sweet story of two people who dream about each other but never quite meet in real-life. They anticipate every night’s sleep as a chance to see each other, until they learn there’s a clock on them–if they’re to believe a story about a local fountain granting them their wishes. If you take a leap of faith in the fantasy, it’s an enjoyable love story.

McPhee is Natalie, a young woman flailing at running her late mother’s Italian restaurant. Nick (Vogel) is a budding architect chafing under the thumb of his boss and ready to be out on his own. They first nearly-meet at a local fountain–Nick is with his past-ready-to-see-him-settle-down mom (JoBeth Williams) and Natalie is with her BFF/head waitress, Sharla (Scoundrels‘ Jessalyn Wanlim). Both are talked into making wishes at the fountain, but we don’t know exactly what the wishes are.

Photo Credit: Erik Heinila/Hallmark and ABC

Photo Credit: Erik Heinila/Hallmark and ABC

Photo Credit: Erik Heinila/Hallmark and ABC

The first night, they fall asleep at the same time and meet, but they don’t think much of it until it happens again and again and it starts to feel like dream dating. Since this is Hallmark, they spend their nights together talking and getting to know each other (although their last names never come up) and their conversations prompt each of them to make changes in their real lives. Then real life gets in the way, but since this is Hallmark,  love rings true in the end.

McPhee is lovely as a woman torn between what she promised her mother and trying to find her own path. She has a nice energy with Vogel, and Antonio Cupo (Bomb Girls) is charming and sweet as Mario, Natalie’s new chef, who is a huge flirt but a good guy.

I was a little tentative about Vogel being a sweetheart here because of who he played on Bates Motel (100% my problem) but he sells it. Nick is a nice guy who’s loyal to his family, and his work buddy Joe (Hart of Dixie‘s Joe Massingill), and when old ties pull at him, he gives an ex-girlfriend (Lost Girl‘s Rachel Skarsten) one more chance.

Photo Credit: Erik Heinila/Hallmark and ABC

Photo Credit: Erik Heinila/Hallmark and ABC

Photo Credit: Erik Heinila/Hallmark and ABC

The movie was filmed in Vancouver, and has a great scene on one of my favorite expansion bridges–the Capilano. Also look for a few familiar faces in the supporting cast, including two from When Calls the Heart — Erica Carroll and Lilah Fitzgerald.

In My Dreams airs Sunday night at 9/8c on ABC and then repeats on Hallmark Channel next Saturday. Here are a few sneak peeks: